The core chapters of this book provided detailed information on the concepts, principles and implementation of Lean in the healthcare environment. It was critical to provide the reader with a broad foundation on the application of Lean in healthcare so one can see the how it can be applied throughout the continuum of care from the emergency room to surgery to the laboratory. Lean concepts and tools can begin in any clinical or non-clinical support area within the integrated delivery system and be universally applied. To yield the full benefits there must be a plan to disseminate the identification of waste in order to strive for zero defects, and successfully achieve the goal of triple aim:

1. improving the health of the population, 2. enhancing the experience of care (quality, satisfaction and value), and 3. reducing the per capita cost.