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Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality

Lean Practitioner for Healthcare Certificate Course

doctors collaborating

Now more than ever, the pressure is on to provide high quality care while increasing efficiency and reducing costs. If you are looking for ways to heal health care from within, Lean could be your answer. Armed with Lean tools and techniques, your frontline staff can identify waste in their health care delivery processes and then reduce or eliminate that waste.

Participants have two options for completing the Lean Practitioner for Healthcare training:

  1. 2-day in-person training that includes didactic content, a simulation and opportunities for participants to practice applying the concepts of Lean management.
  2. Comprehensive virtual program combining asynchronous learning modules with virtual coaching and support.

Lean Tools and Techniques

  • A3 (project planning and documentation)
  • 7 Wastes (Defects, Overproduction, Motion, Over-processing, Waiting, Inventory, Transportation)
  • Value Stream Mapping (to identify waste of waiting, inventory and non-value-added activity)
  • Spaghetti Diagramming (to identify waste of motion and transportation)
  • Operational Methods Sheets (to promote standard work)
  • 5 S (Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize, Sustain)
  • Kaizen (rapid improvement events)
  • Mistake-Proofing (Eliminate, Replace, Facilitate, Detect, Mitigate)
  • Visual Management (Kanban, One-piece flow)
  • Control Plans

Who Should Attend

Health care professionals, including executives, physicians, nurses, hospital and medical office administration staff, industrial and management engineers, laboratory and specialized health care services staff, clinical staff, pharmacy staff and all others interested in applying Lean methodology to a health care system.

Read our FAQs on our Lean Practitioner & Lean Sigma Green Belt courses

Option One: In-Person Lean Practitioner Course

Join the Johns Hopkins Lean instructors at the Armstrong Institute for an engaging 2-day Lean Practitioner Course. In this live course, participants will learn critical Lean tools and techniques and apply them in a healthcare-focused simulation. 

The Participant Experience

As participants are introduced to Lean tools, we offer opportunities to utilize them in practice exercises and simulation. 

Please note that to earn a Lean Practitioner Certificate of Training, participants are expected to participate fully in the two days of trainings and pass the Lean Practitioner exam.

Participants who have earned a Lean Practitioner Certificate of Training are eligible to complete a Lean Practitioner project and earn Lean Practitioner Certification.

Upcoming Workshops:

Participation and exam: $1,750 per participant (Group discounts are available. Please email LeanSigma@jhmi.edu for details.)
Lean Practitioner Project Certification: (optional) $250
Johns Hopkins Medicine employees: No cost but seats are limited.

Please see our Cancellation/No Show & Refund Policy.

Option Two: Asynchronous Lean Practitioner Course

To better accommodate your busy schedules, we are offer our Lean Practitioner course in an asynchronous format. This means that you can watch the content videos each week when it’s convenient for you. During this 4-week course, you will dive into one module each of the first 3 weeks: Define, Measure/Analyze and Improve/Control. During each week, you will complete and turn in assignments, which provide an opportunity for you to apply some of the concepts taught. During the 4th week, you will take the Lean Practitioner Certificate of Training Exam. We recommend you allot 2-3 hours each week to complete this coursework. 

To support your learning, our Lean Sigma Team will hold a series of review/office hours to answer your questions and clarify concepts. While these synchronous sessions are not required, attendance is highly recommended.

Upcoming workshops:

Participation and exam: $750 per participant for standard registrants
Lean Practitioner Project Certification: (optional) $250
Johns Hopkins Medicine employees: No cost but seats are limited.

Email LeanSigma@jhmi.edu if you have any questions.

Please see our Cancellation/No Show & Refund Policy.

Facilitators

Laura Winner, Dr.PH, R.N., B.S.N., M.B.A.
Senior Director of Operational Excellence, Lean Sigma Deployment 

Scott Burkett, B.S., C.S.S.B.B.
Assistant Director, Lean Sigma Deployment

Wilson Lamy, B.S., C.S.S.M.B.B.
Assistant Director, Lean Sigma Deployment

Erica Reinhardt, M.B.A., M.S., R.D., C.L.S.S.B.B.
Assistant Director, Lean Sigma Deployment (Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center campus) 

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