Over the last few weeks, there has been a great deal of press and conversation about Canadian Healthcare. The politicians are dividing up a pot of newly found money for healthcare and the public is wondering why the waiting lists for many of the critical care areas are so long. It appears the healthcare system is broken down.

Growing up in Canada, the one differentiator between Canada and the rest of the world was our fantastic healthcare, which served all Canadians. We were the envy of all countries. Today, the envy has turned to smirks and sometimes laughter created by the dissatisfaction and frustration of the present healthcare service that is received.

Canadian Healthcare Facts

I caught the end of a talk show the other day and within the span of 20 minutes I heard some astounding healthcare facts:

• Canadians in the Ottawa and Regina area can wait between 50 and 70 weeks for an MRI
• Doctors who work in hospitals make on average only $95, 000 per year
• Midwives make 4 times as much as Obstetricians when delivering a baby
• A cook in a hospital makes approximately 50% more than a cook in the private industry

The number of healthcare administrators making more than $100,000 per year has tripled since 1996 » There are 55,000 administrators in healthcare - more than the number of actual healthcare providers

Lean Healthcare Potential Solutions

If these facts are even partially correct then I must agree the 'system' is either broke or on the verge of breaking.

As with any problem there are several options:

• Do nothing - doing nothing is just not an option for any of us
• Privatize parts or all of the system - privatization may be the answer if the current environment can't be fixed or parts can't be fixed. This option brings in emotional as well as practical issues and challenges. Most Canadians expect equal access to all levels of medical treatment and the amount of money in your bank account should not be the main factor in determining who gets treatment and who doesn't.
• Pour a ton of money into all areas to compensate for the present problems - point improvements - pouring money into parts of a broken system without a proper understanding of the entire system and the interconnectivity of each part will only sub-optimize the results and more than likely hide the problems. And while we are hiding the problems they will of course get worse and be tougher to solve down the road when they surface again (which will definitely happen). Initially, everyone will feel good that they are fixing the concerns and improving the service but this feeling of accomplishment will soon start to turn to frustration again and the money will be used up.
• The 'Right' Choice - Focus our energies on understanding the current 'systems' and determ
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  t Canadian Healthcare. The politicians are dividing up a pot of newly found money for healthcare and the public is wondering why the waiting lists for many of the critical care areas are so long. It appears the healthcare system is broken down.

  Growing up in Canada, the one differentiator between Canada and the rest of the world was our fantastic healthcare, which served all Canadians. We were the envy of all countries. Today, the envy has turned to smirks and sometimes laughter created by the dissatisfaction and frustration of the present healthcare service that is received.

  Canadian Healthcare Facts

  I caught the end of a talk show the other day and within the span of 20 minutes I heard some astounding healthcare facts:

  • Canadians in the Ottawa and Regina area can wait between 50 and 70 weeks for an MRI
  • Doctors who work in hospitals make on average only $95, 000 per year
  • Midwives make 4 times as much as Obstetricians when delivering a baby
  • A cook in a hospital makes approximately 50% more than a cook in the private industry

  The number of healthcare administrators making more than $100,000 per year has tripled since 1996 » There are 55,000 administrators in healthcare - more than the number of actual healthcare providers

  Lean Healthcare Potential Solutions

  If these facts are even partially correct then I must agree the 'system' is either broke or on the verge of breaking.

  As with any problem there are several options:

  • Do nothing - doing nothing is just not an option for any of us
  • Privatize parts or all of the system - privatization may be the answer if the current environment can't be fixed or parts can't be fixed. This option brings in emotional as well as practical issues and challenges. Most Canadians expect equal access to all levels of medical treatment and the amount of money in your bank account should not be the main factor in determining who gets treatment and who doesn't.
  • Pour a ton of money into all areas to compensate for the present problems - point improvements - pouring money into parts of a broken system without a proper understanding of the entire system and the interconnectivity of each part will only sub-optimize the results and more than likely hide the problems. And while we are hiding the problems they will of course get worse and be tougher to solve down the road when they surface again (which will definitely happen). Initially, everyone will feel good that they are fixing the concerns and improving the service but this feeling of accomplishment will soon start to turn to frustration again and the money will be used up.
  • The 'Right' Choice - Focus our energies on understanding the current 'systems' and deter
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    rd some astounding healthcare facts:
    • Canadians in the Ottawa and Regina area can wait between 50 and 70 weeks for an MRI
    • Doctors who work in hospitals make on average only $95, 000 per year
    • Midwives make 4 times as much as Obstetricians when delivering a baby
    • A cook in a hospital makes approximately 50% more than a cook in the private industry

    The number of healthcare administrators making more than $100,000 per year has tripled since 1996 » There are 55,000 administrators in healthcare - more than the number of actual healthcare providers

    Lean Healthcare Potential Solutions

    If these facts are even partially correct then I must agree the 'system' is either broke or on the verge of breaking.

    As with any problem there are several options:

    • Do nothing - doing nothing is just not an option for any of us
    • Privatize parts or all of the system - privatization may be the answer if the current environment can't be fixed or parts can't be fixed. This option brings in emotional as well as practical issues and challenges. Most Canadians expect equal access to all levels of medical treatment and the amount of money in your bank account should not be the main factor in determining who gets treatment and who doesn't.
    • Pour a ton of money into all areas to compensate for the present problems - point improvements - pouring money into parts of a broken system without a proper understanding of the entire system and the interconnectivity of each part will only sub-optimize the results and more than likely hide the problems. And while we are hiding the problems they will of course get worse and be tougher to solve down the road when they surface again (which will definitely happen). Initially, everyone will feel good that they are fixing the concerns and improving the service but this feeling of accomplishment will soon start to turn to frustration again and the money will be used up.
    • The 'Right' Choice - Focus our energies on understanding the current 'systems' and deter
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      rrect then I must agree the 'system' is either broke or on the verge of breaking.

      As with any problem there are several options:

      • Do nothing - doing nothing is just not an option for any of us
      • Privatize parts or all of the system - privatization may be the answer if the current environment can't be fixed or parts can't be fixed. This option brings in emotional as well as practical issues and challenges. Most Canadians expect equal access to all levels of medical treatment and the amount of money in your bank account should not be the main factor in determining who gets treatment and who doesn't.
      • Pour a ton of money into all areas to compensate for the present problems - point improvements - pouring money into parts of a broken system without a proper understanding of the entire system and the interconnectivity of each part will only sub-optimize the results and more than likely hide the problems. And while we are hiding the problems they will of course get worse and be tougher to solve down the road when they surface again (which will definitely happen). Initially, everyone will feel good that they are fixing the concerns and improving the service but this feeling of accomplishment will soon start to turn to frustration again and the money will be used up.
      • The 'Right' Choice - Focus our energies on understanding the current 'systems' and deter
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        resent problems - point improvements - pouring money into parts of a broken system without a proper understanding of the entire system and the interconnectivity of each part will only sub-optimize the results and more than likely hide the problems. And while we are hiding the problems they will of course get worse and be tougher to solve down the road when they surface again (which will definitely happen). Initially, everyone will feel good that they are fixing the concerns and improving the service but this feeling of accomplishment will soon start to turn to frustration again and the money will be used up.
      • The 'Right' Choice - Focus our energies on understanding the current 'systems' and determining how to implement a proper plan that will create better service to the patient while making it faster and less costly - understand the potential of the current system and transform it to maximize it's effectiveness so we don't buy unnecessary equipment and assets. We need to remove the existing 'waste' by following a Plan that gives' system' improvements that will impact the patient/client.

      Lean Healthcare The Method

      If we don't do this, then 'how do we know how much more equipment we need, how much more space and people we need?' By understanding our Current State and removing the 'waste' to create the desired or Future State, we will be able to make very effective decisions on doing what is right. We won't waste our time on doing 'point' improvements (we call it 'Exciting Chaos') that do little or nothing to improve the service to the patient and has little impact on improving the quality and costs.

      Map the current state of the entire 'system' (end to end including information/communication through the actual hands-on activities), identify all the value and non-value activities, determine the present Turnaround Times TAT, determine the present costs and quality issues. Once that is complete (takes normally a day), then design a Future State (6 months out) which removes the pure waste in the system (takes a day or two), develop and detailed Implementation Plan (two days max) that outlines the tools, the people and the sequence of events to remove the waste for the entire system. Lean Healthcare Results

      This Plan will tell us where we need to spend the $$ and effort and will maximize the impact to the patient and the budgets of the organizations. Then, and only then, will we be able to accurately determine what equipment purchases and building requirements are needed. Then execute the Implementation Plan and get immediate results. Without an Implementation Plan the moneys will be wasted and just mask the problems so that we have to go after even more $$ n the coming years. The results we have experienced are greater than 50% improvement (within 6 months) using the existing assets.

      Note: We are working with a world-renowned healthcare provider and hospital in the U.S. and their waiting list for an MRI is 2 to 5 days and they want to get better.

      It is a simple process. The politicians have done their job of dividing up the money, so let's not waste this opportunity to make everyone of those dollars have the desired impact and result in 'doing more with less and doing it faster and better'!

      Let's choose the best option and become the envy of the world again and more importantly start saving more lives! It's our choice to make, let's not throw the opportunity away.

      Remember in order to get a better result; we have to stop doing the same things we did that