Earning Your “Gait Belt” in Lean: “Stopping the Line” Through a Staffing Response Team

As the health care industry struggles to adopt Lean practices from our colleagues in manufacturing, translating those concepts to the frontline staff and leaders can be challenging. In an effort to increase value to our patients by eliminating waste, increasing standardization, and engaging the expert frontline staff in problem solving, many of us struggle with translating the core concepts of Lean, let alone earning a coveted green or black belt. Health care systems such as Virginia Mason, Theta Care, and Stanford may have successfully implemented many of the practices that will earn a green or black belt of distinction, but for many of us, just like a “gait belt,” we are looking for something to provide security and support to stabilize our efforts. We continue to require reinforcement that we are following the core principles of Lean and are heading in the right direction.