How To Have Medical Practitioners Engaged With Lean Six Sigma?

The healthcare industry is one of the most complicated ones when it comes to incorporating quality systems like Lean Six Sigma. Also, it is the role that medical practitioners play in the industry that is the most important. Most of the process modifications can be optimized only with the involvement of medical practitioners. This is why it becomes highly crucial that these practitioners take active part in undertaking Lean Six Sigma certification in India and implementing the methodologies within their healthcare institute for improving quality. However, most medical practitioners are seen to avoid and resist such changes and methodologies.

Why do medical practitioners resist Lean Six Sigma?

Many doctors believe that their actions do not influence other system processes like dispensing, nursing, invoicing, and payments. Others know the effect of their actions of these processes, but they prefer ignoring the fact. Why? This is because if doctors agree to this fact, they will have to implement changes for betterment, which makes their processes difficult. But, the fact remains that medical practitioners plays a major role in the processes carried out in healthcare facilities. The major reasons why doctors do not get involved in Lean Six Sigma are stated below.

• They are not interested in the proposed results of Lean Six Sigma projects.
• They believe detailed analysis to be a waste of time, and instead believe in hiring more staff and resources.
• They believe that they must be additionally paid for implementing any activities that benefit the healthcare facility they work in.
• There is very less mutual agreement among doctors to emphasize on specific areas or relevant solutions, which means lack of teamwork.

Is it right for medical practitioners to avoid Lean Six Sigma?

Obviously not! This is the answer to the above highlighted question. The above few reasons clearly show that doctors are not right when they try to avoid using Lean Six Sigma methodologies within their healthcare facilities. So, how do you get them involved? How do you have them being involved effectively with the improvement processes? Read further to know.

How to have medical practitioners engaged with Lean Six Sigma?

First of all, you need to try and get a complete understanding of the demands and thoughts of medical practitioners. Simultaneously, you must also gain insight into the assistance needed within the specific processes that need to be improved. After this information, you can go ahead with the following procedures.

• You need to find projects that can make medical practitioners happy, which they will certainly take up on their own.
• Medical practitioners should be well trained in all aspects of healthcare, may it be their practices, or other functions like financial management or environmental legislation. This can help in creating a better future vision. You can have them undergo a Lean Six Sigma certification in India from professionals like TQMI too.
• You need to build trust between the hospital administrators and doctors, which is not easy in present day’s scenario. This has resulted because hospital management teams have acted against the interests of doctors, only to limit their financial losses, as a result of which cooperation is almost nil between the two. Therefore, building trust is half the battle won!
• One of the most influential ways could be finding people who can influence medical practitioners to promote changes within their healthcare facility.