The health departments comprising the Northeastern Partnership are committed to continuous quality improvement. One means to achieve quality improvement was to apply models from successful businesses.
In conjunction with consultants, the Northeastern Partnership has reviewed business model assets such as Lean and Six Sigma which can be applied toward solving high priority public health problems and organizational challenges. These models map current business practices and develop teams that can look at tailoring new business practices in ways that address local public health department issues, such as billing practices, clinic efficiency, and client satisfaction with services at the local health department.
Lean trainings, as well as two on-site kaizen events, were provided to each health department in the Partnership using the Lean model. During the kaizen events, staff and facilitators work together on-site to analyze and improve upon practices and procedures. Health departments reported great improvements to their clinic efficiencies, and a positive return on their investment thanks to the Lean trainings and kaizen events.
Additionally, some of the health departments in the Northeastern Partnership partnered with the North Carolina Center for Quality Improvement to look at other areas of improvement using their QI 101 course, which also utilizes concepts from Lean.