On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout sits down with Dr. Mary Reich Cooper and Michael Anderson from the Jefferson College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University. The conversation explores how Lean Six Sigma and operational excellence are put to work in healthcare settings. Michael is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Mary brings experience as a physician and holds a law degree. Their unique backgrounds shape the way they tackle challenges at Jefferson, from managing change to finding better ways to support patients and staff. This episode also looks at the realities of standardizing care in a people-focused environment and the ongoing effort to improve handoffs in healthcare. With a few nods to football (Fly, Eagles Fly) and life in Philadelphia, you will get a look at continuous improvement in action at one of the country's leading academic health institutions.

In this episode, you will hear about:

2:46 - Medicine, Law, and Lean Six Sigma

5:53 - Informatics

7:26 - Leveraging diverse backgrounds while collaborating

11:40 - Healthcare and "widgets"

13:14 - Lean Six Sigma and patient safety

15:56 - Advice for other healthcare organizations

18:44 - Using Lean Six Sigma to fight staff burnout

20:40 - Continuous improvement in the healthcare curriculum

22:08 - What healthcare can learn from other sectors

23:16 - Handoffs in healthcare

25:32 - Future trends in process improvement and healthcare

A Philly Special in Healthcare