Mistake-proofing healthcare: Why stopping processes may be a good start

Two significant concerns in healthcare are spiraling costs and medical errors. These two concerns are correlated: eliminating medical errors leads to significant cost reductions. We provide an example, ThedaCare Inc., where both problems are improved by providing mechanisms that stop healthcare processes. While businesses often view having their processes stopped as a negative, increasing the stoppages, or creating process failures, is often a precursor to improved performance. A good rule of thumb is: if in doubt, stop. This concept of creating or engineering stoppages in the processes is linked to two “lean” concepts that come from the Toyota Production System: jidoka and poka-yoke. A spectrum of methods for stopping processes is discussed, ranging from warnings in the work environment to mechanical devices designed to stop processes and empower humans to stop the process. The preliminary results achieved at ThedaCare demonstrate the financial and medical improvements that may be obtainable from utilizing these methods.