Almost 17 Years Later: Reflections on Lean Hospitals and the Journey of Improvement

The blog postIt's hard to believe, but it's been almost 17 years since the first edition of Lean Hospitals was published–an effort that eventually received the Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award and has since reached tens of thousands of healthcare professionals around the world.When I wrote that first edition, Lean in healthcare was still new territory. Many leaders were still asking, “Will Lean work in healthcare?” Today, the better question is “How can we make it work–and sustain it?”To mark the occasion, I've been reflecting on some of the key ideas from the book–concepts that continue to resonate with readers, leaders, and improvement professionals.