Continuous System Improvement

We have been recognized for our efforts for improving patient safety and quality of care. We actively apply Lean management principles to improve healthcare delivery. Used effectively in manufacturing companies for decades, Lean thinking begins with identifying and driving out waste so that all work adds values and better serves each customer.

This work requires adopting a paradigm shift from expecting errors and defects, to believing that the perfect patient experience is possible. Key to accomplishing this is understanding that caregivers who do the work know what the problems are and have the best solutions. Improvement strategies range from small-scale ideas tested and implemented immediately to long-range planning that redesigns new spaces and processes.

Winona Health was one of the first healthcare systems in the region to apply the methods and scientific rigor of the Toyota Production System to healthcare. Winona Health’s adaptation of this method is now an organization-wide philosophy and improvement approach called Continuous Systems Improvement (CSI).

Continuous System Improvement removes waste, such as rework or waiting time, from systems and processes, which improves quality and safety in delivering the best healthcare to patients and families. Improving quality and safety also helps reduce costs. Winona Health is dedicated to making ongoing improvements to healthcare quality, safety, delivery, cost and patient engagement.

• Patients and families come first. Our patients and their individual needs are the only variation in that should occur when delivering consistent healthcare services.
• Cost reduction is a direct result of focusing on better care. If we improve our processes, cost savings for patients and families will follow.
• Engaging and empowering staff is key. Continuous System Improvement can revolutionize our culture if providers, care givers and employees are engaged in identifying problems and eliminating barriers to patient care.
• Continuous System Improvement is on-going. This approach truly is continuous.

For more information, request a site visit to Winona Health.

Winona Health recognized for Performance Excellence

The Performance Excellence Network (PEN); formerly the Minnesota Council for Quality, has given Winona Health numerous awards for performance excellence. The award is based on the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and is the culmination of a rigorous evaluation of the organization’s management system. Evaluation criteria include leadership, strategic planning, customer-focused processes, measurement systems, workforce processes, and operations.

The Performance Excellence Network gives organizational improvement awards in four categories – commitment, advancement, achievement and excellence. Winona Health has been consistently recognized with the achievement award.

The Baldrige framework and the Performance Excellence Network have helped us continually evaluate our performance from a systemic perspective,” says Rachelle Schultz, President/ CEO of Winona Health. “We believe that our clinical outcomes are very good, but combining Baldrige criteria with other quality tools, helps improve aspects of our system such as workforce management, leadership, planning, and use of data. Achieving high performance outcomes requires managing the whole system.”