ABSTRACT
The belief that lean thinking and innovation do not mix well is based on a superficial understanding of both. Yet, it is common. “When we first raised the notion of standard work, our doctors were aghast,” recalls CEO Dr. Gary Kaplan. “You heard, ‘This is cookbook medicine, standardized mediocrity,’ and so on.” Similarly, Hospital Quality and Safety administrative director Joanie Ching, RN, recalls that when she was considering taking a job at Virginia Mason several years ago, friends counseled her to reconsider, saying that with its emphasis on lean she would not be allowed to be as creative as they knew she liked to be.
