ABSTRACT
The American healthcare system is filled with redundant and often conflicting regulations which burden patients, providers, and payers, as well as creating waste. Americans who should benefit from this system instead struggle with high cost, poor quality, and unequal access. Many Americans without healthcare have substantial barriers to accessing healthcare, and even those with private healthcare have high deductible co-payments when they do attempt to access care. Patricia Gabow, the Chief Executive Officer for Denver Health, decided there needed to be a change. She was a successful leader, and while Denver Health was not a struggling organization, she realized there was still room for improvement and she went about doing just that. Denver Health’s Lean transformation earned the Shingo Bronze Medallion in 2011. Before inducing such a transformation, Dr. Gabow was a practicing nephrologist and academic researcher, serving as chief of nephrology, director of medical services, and chief medical officer at Denver Health.
