Watch the video above: doctors in Saskatoon are looking to apply the lean system to health care
SASKATOON – Modeling a health care system using a car manufacturer’s approach to production. It seems like an odd match but that’s exactly what Saskatchewan is doing.
“The lean system basically is based on the Toyota model of production, and it’s based on looking for efficiencies,” explained George Pylypchuk, vice president of practitioner staff affairs with the Saskatoon Health Region.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health says the current system doesn’t work nearly as well as it could: wait times could be lowered, productivity could be improved, and methods could use an update. One of its solutions is training doctors with the lean program.
“If we have a system where we can reduce the errors to zero would be the ideal. We would also be able to reduce our expenditures and use our economy to improve our system,” Pylypchuk explained.
Close to one hundred physicians gathered for a lean training session at Saskatoon City Hospital on Saturday.
“Our job I think is to try and cut the waste, make it more efficient, and get everyone working in a timely manner,” said Dr. Roy Chernoff.
Saskatchewan is the first jurisdiction in the world to apply lean on a provincial scale.
Doctors in the province are being paid more than $30,000 each to take the training.
The system has not been without controversy. The four-year initiative could cost the province upwards of $30 million, leaving some to question whether the money would be better spent elsewhere.
“I think we need to look beyond cost as much as we look forward to patient benefit,” he said.
The training stretches out over 22 eight-hour days spread over several years.
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