Beyond Heroes

More about the book

Every healthcare system in the United States should master the ideas in this book and practice them every day. If they did, we would see a revolutionary improvement in medical care outcomes and massive cost reductions." - Paul O'Neill, 72nd Secretary of the U.S. Treasury This book details how ThedaCare Health System in Northeast Wisconsin transformed its culture by redesigning its daily management system. Traditionally, hospitals have depended on individual heroics—relying on standout nurses or physicians to resolve issues—leading to disjointed efforts that compromise safety and quality while driving up costs. This narrative illustrates how ThedaCare moved away from that pattern. The book outlines how ThedaCare teams developed their management system, featuring stories from doctors, nurses, and administrators. It delves into eight essential components of the lean system: Team Huddles, Managing to Established Standards, Problem Solving, Transparency, Advisory Teams, Scorecards, Standard Work for Leaders, and the Physician's role in a Business Performance System. Readers will learn to create a continuous improvement system aligned with strategic goals, effectively cascade information throughout the organization, implement daily employee coaching and mentoring, and build standard work for executives in gemba to support ongoing improvement. This practical guide is invaluable for healthcare leaders, bridging a significant gap i