Sustainability of performance improvements after 26 Kaizen events in a large academic hospital system: a mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Implementing Kaizen can improve productivity in healthcare but maintaining long-term results has proven challenging. This study aimed to assess improved performance achieved and sustained by Kaizen events and find explanatory factors for the persistence or decline of long-term results.

Methods

Kaizen events were conducted in 26 specialised healthcare units in a large academic hospital system in southern Finland. Primary data for mixed methods analysis was collected from each unit with 21 semi-structured interviews, Kaizen report files and performance metrics.

Results

Fifteen explanatory factors were found in this study. Work culture and motivation for continuous improvement stood out as the most important explanatory factor for the persistence of long-ter

SUBMITTER: Haapatalo E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10462939 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature