Case Study: Applying Lean Thinking in Clinical Pathology
This article discusses the case of the application of lean thinking in Clinical Pathology – specifically in histocompatibility and Immunogenetics in the UK’s NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) organisation. It’s not only an excellent example of the application of lean in a broad healthcare environment, but it also demonstrates how lean can be used in highly technical and ‘non-traditional’ contexts, where core principles are used to guide improvements using a variety of tools, to deliver greater value. It demonstrates the importance of adapting the implementation approach to the fit the needs of the service under consideration and the need to ensure a human dimension is built in to the programme.
