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Review
. 2014 Jun;52(6):1812-7.
doi: 10.1128/JCM.00099-14. Epub 2014 Feb 26.

The role of the clinical laboratory in the future of health care: lean microbiology

Linoj Samuel  1 , Susan Novak-Weekley  2
Affiliations
Review

The role of the clinical laboratory in the future of health care: lean microbiology

Linoj Samuel et al. J Clin Microbiol. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

This commentary will introduce lean concepts into the clinical microbiology laboratory. The practice of lean in the clinical microbiology laboratory can remove waste, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. Lean, Six Sigma, and other such management initiatives are useful tools and can provide dividends but must be accompanied by organizational leadership commitment to sustaining the lean culture in the laboratory setting and providing resources and time to work through the process.

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Figures

FIG 1
FIG 1
Lean process improvements allowed the HFHS Core Microbiology Laboratory to take on additional work during the integration process, without a comparable increase in staffing.
FIG 2
FIG 2
Plan-do-check-act cycle of continuous improvement. (Reproduced from reference with permission from the publisher. © 2010–2014 American Society for Clinical Pathology. © 2010–2014 American Journal of Clinical Pathology.)
FIG 3
FIG 3
Change in number of corrected reports based on daily report review.
None
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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