Lean Health Care? It Works! by Patricia Panchak
In 1971, the U.S. spent 7.5% of its gross national product on health care — about $75 billion. We now spend 14.5%, which is about $1.3 trillion.
The article was written in 2003, by 2005 health care spending reached 15.3% of the USA economy.
A group of Iowa manufacturing executives has already taken Jimmerson’s recommendation a few steps further: They’re teaming up with their health-care providers, showing them the benefits, educating them on the principles and practices, and helping them to implement lean. “We’re doing this with the hopes that somewhere along the line, we’re going to save some money and that maybe our health-care costs won’t be so astronomical,” says David Speer, director of LeanSigma at Maytag Appliances, Newton, Iowa.
The problems to fix in health care are huge and will take a long time to fix but we need to build on the efforts of those who have been working on improvements. Read more articles on improving the health care system.
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