Performance enhancement and continuous improvement in Healthcare: How Lean Six Sigma “hits the target”

This article explores the potentials of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in Healthcare, presenting and discussing one case study developed adopting an action research approach. The article aims are threefold: a) evaluate performance improvement in the Healthcare institution under analysis; b) discuss the potentialities of LSS tools and principles when applied to Healthcare organizations; c) highlight the factors enabling a LSS intervention in a Healthcare setting. The expected results are multifaceted. First, improvements are anticipated to relate to the performance of professionals in terms of increased efficiency, as well as to cost savings and time reductions in providing care services. Second, the case study underlines that Healthcare institutions would greatly benefit from a combined use of Lean and Six Sigma. Third, the case study is presented as a successful implementation of LSS due to a few key factors: institutional leadership, communication, personnel training, and employee empowerment.