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Editorial
. 2020 Dec;35(12):3650-3655.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06246-7. Epub 2020 Sep 28.

Utilizing Lean Leadership Principles to Build an Academic Primary Care Practice of the Future

Sasha Morduchowicz  1 , Jonathan S Lee  2 , Lei Choi  3 , Coleen Kivlahan  4 , Dan Null  3 , Susan Smith  1 , Mitchell D Feldman  3
Affiliations
Editorial

Utilizing Lean Leadership Principles to Build an Academic Primary Care Practice of the Future

Sasha Morduchowicz et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

This Perspective presents a case study of multidimensional clinical transformation in an academic general internal medicine practice. In the face of increasing internal and external pressures, health systems and individual medical practices have pursued multiple strategies to improve quality, patient experience, and efficiency, while reducing staff and provider stress and burnout. We describe a Lean-informed approach that emphasizes the importance of organizational alignment in goals, evidence-based problem solving, and leadership behaviors to support a culture of continuous improvement. Our aim in this Perspective is to provide a real-world example of a feasible process for the planning, preparation, and execution of effective transformation, and to present lessons that may be useful to other academic health center practices seeking to develop innovative models to achieve the quadruple aim.

Keywords: Lean; academic transformation; burnout; change management; continuous improvement; leadership behaviors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sample DGIM value stream map. This value stream map depicts the process of receiving and responding to electronic patient messages and was created by a multidisciplinary team including primary care and physician leaders, frontline providers, clinical and administrative staff, internal medicine residents, and Lean and electronic health record consultants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Transformation event timeline.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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