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The Lean Post / Articles / Developing 35,000 Problem Solvers: OhioHealth’s Journey in Lean Healthcare with Alli Kulp and Emily Swaney 

WLEI podcast with OhioHealth

Coaching

Developing 35,000 Problem Solvers: OhioHealth’s Journey in Lean Healthcare with Alli Kulp and Emily Swaney 

By Alli Kulp, Matthew Savas and Emily Swaney

March 5, 2024

How one large healthcare system is developing problem-solving skills across 35,000 employees through standardized lean processes, daily huddles, and leadership assessment tools.

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In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with Emily Swaney and Alli Kulp from OhioHealth. Emily is the senior director of OhioHealth’s lean promotion office, leading the organization’s continuous improvement team. Alli is a senior advisor in the lean promotion office and previously worked as a registered nurse.

In our discussion, we explore: 

  • The lean journey at OhioHealth since 2006 and their goal of creating a culture of 35,000 problem solvers. 
  • OhioHealth’s strategic goal deployment process and how they cascade goals throughout such a large healthcare system. 
  • How lean daily management and problem solving are implemented at the frontlines through huddles and visual boards. 
  • Tools OhioHealth has developed to assess lean leadership behaviors and the management system to drive progress. 

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Written by:

Alli Kulp|
Matthew Savas
|Emily Swaney

About Matthew Savas

Matt serves as content director at the Lean Enterprise Institute responsible for the institute’s content strategy in all mediums. He previously served as Director of the Lean Global Network, where he supported the network’s 30+ institutes and partners to spread lean thinking around the globe.  Matt has a BA in East…

Read more about Matthew Savas

About Alli Kulp and Emily Swaney

 

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