Adapting the Lean Enterprise Self Assessment Tool for health care

Abstract

The Lean Enterprise Self Assessment Tool (LESAT) is a product of the Lean Advancement Initiative (LAI) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This tool has been applied by many organizations to gage their progress toward lean enterprise management, however applying this tool in health care organizations has been inhibited by language and underlying assumptions from product manufacturing. An adaptation of the LESAT specifically for health care is proposed. Review of the literature and special reports on health care are used in determining the recommended changes. "Product life cycle" is reinterpreted as a health care service cycle and context specific enterprise level processes and practices are presented. Comparison to other industry measures shows the content the LESAT for health care to cover all key issues and practices for high quality health care delivery.