Lean Quality Management In Healthcare

Abstract

This paper aimed to systematically review the literature on lean management in healthcare. Google Scholar was used to identify and select papers. PRISMA flow diagram was used to filter and select the suitable papers for this review. This process yielded 30 papers. The reviewed papers unequivocally demonstrated the usefulness of lean management in healthcare. It increases efficiency, reduces wastage, reduces cost, reduces patient wait times and improves the performance of healthcare organisations despite some barriers and challenges. However, the uptake of lean management by healthcare organisations has been slow. Government support, funding, guidelines, and standards may increase the level of lean management adoption by healthcare organisations. More studies using experimental approaches, especially in developing countries, are required. This research has implications for the management of hospitals.