Course Content
Program Description: This online certificate program is designed for healthcare professionals seeking to develop Lean Practitioner expertise within diagnostic laboratory and clinical settings. Through interactive modules, real-world healthcare case studies, and applied assignments, participants will build a strong foundation in Lean principles, methods, and techniques inspired by the Toyota Production System—a globally recognized model for efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement.
As a Lean Practitioner in healthcare, you will play a critical role in improving laboratory and clinical operations by:
- Identifying waste and inefficiencies across laboratory and patient care workflows
- Applying Lean tools to improve turnaround times (TATs), patient flow, and care delivery
- Leading data-driven problem-solving initiatives to enhance quality and outcomes
- Partnering with leadership to foster a culture of continuous improvement
- Supporting teams in sustaining measurable, patient-centered improvements
Your Roles as a Lean Practitioner
In this role, you will collaborate closely with laboratory and healthcare leadership to build and sustain a Lean culture focused on safety, quality, and efficiency. You will:
- Establish Lean foundations across clinical operations
- Train and mentor staff in Lean methodologies and continuous improvement practices
- Facilitate Kaizen events and Gemba Walks to evaluate real-time workflows and patient pathways
- Apply root cause analysis to reduce errors and eliminate inefficiencies
- Improve process standardization, reduce diagnostic errors, and enhance patient safety
- Ensure compliance with regulatory standards such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) while optimizing operational performance
This program prepares you to drive meaningful, sustainable improvements that directly impact patient care, quality, and healthcare system performance.
Course Agenda
In this course, you will develop the skills and techniques needed to help your organization systematically eliminate waste and maximize value in healthcare operations. Through a structured, hands-on learning approach, you will gain practical knowledge of Lean principles and methodologies.
This Program Includes:
✔ 7 Course Modules – Covering key Lean concepts and their application in healthcare settings.
✔ Instructional Video Presentations – Engaging content to reinforce learning.
✔ 7 Quizzes – One quiz per module to assess comprehension.
✔ 3 Reflection Points – Designed to encourage critical thinking and deeper analysis.
✔ Course Project (7 Assignments) – Apply learned concepts by identifying and eliminating a recurring defect in your lab’s workflow.
Course Text
We will use the following book throughout this course: The New Lean Healthcare Pocket Guide XL – Tools for the Elimination of Waste in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities. Click here to review the book:
Virtual Group Instruction
Our live virtual classrooms provide teams with an interactive learning experience, allowing for deep1er exploration of course concepts and real-world application in their work environment. These sessions offer a collaborative space where participants can:
✔ Engage in weekly live discussions with the instructor.
✔ Ask questions and gain clarity on course content.
✔ Share lessons learned and best practices with peers.
✔ Brainstorm strategies for implementing change in their organization.
For more details on virtual team sessions, including available dates and times, please contact your instructor.
Course Project
The course project consists of seven assignments, each designed to help you apply Lean tools learned throughout the course in your real-world work environment. These assignments provide hands-on experience in identifying inefficiencies, streamlining processes, and implementing sustainable improvements.
Throughout the course, we will reference The New Lean Healthcare Pocket Guide XL – Tools for the Elimination of Waste in Hospitals, Clinics, and Other Healthcare Facilities to support your learning.
Additionally, we offer live virtual classrooms to help teams explore lessons in greater depth and apply concepts effectively. These weekly instructor-led sessions provide an opportunity to:
✔ Ask questions and clarify course content.
✔ Share insights and lessons learned with fellow participants.
✔ Brainstorm strategies for implementing Lean methodologies in your organization.
For more information on virtual team sessions, including dates and times, please contact your instructor.
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
✔ Explain the principles, methodologies, and tools of Lean as they apply to specific healthcare workflows.
✔ Apply Lean principles to develop a laboratory-specific improvement strategy.
✔ Plan and execute a 5S event, including preparation, implementation, and leadership oversight.
✔ Conduct a “Go and See” observation event to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities.
✔ Analyze wasteful activities within a current state value stream map.
✔ Interpret the A3 problem-solving approach, understanding its structure and application.
✔ Define and implement a Kaizen event, including its purpose, process, and expected outcomes.
This course will equip you with practical Lean tools and techniques to drive continuous improvement.
