Improving Healthcare with Six Sigma Certification

The healthcare industry faces immense challenges – an aging population, rising costs, staff shortages and increasing regulation. To overcome these hurdles and provide superior care healthcare organizations are turning to process improvement methodologies like Lean Six Sigma. This data-driven approach helps reduce errors and defects while maximizing efficiency. For healthcare professionals, obtaining Six Sigma certification can be a career booster, opening doors to exciting opportunities. In this article, we’ll explore how Six Sigma certification helps transform healthcare.

The Urgent Need for Improvement in Healthcare

The statistics paint a sobering picture of the healthcare sector:

• Medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death in the US claiming over 250,000 lives annually [1].

• The average hospitalized patient is subject to at least one medication error per day [2],

• Healthcare spending continues to rise exponentially, reaching $4.1 trillion in 2020 [3].

• The US faces a shortage of up to 122,000 physicians by 2032 as demand outpaces supply [4].

While regulatory mandates like the Affordable Care Act have attempted systemic fixes, real change must also come from within healthcare organizations. Clinical and non-clinical processes need optimization to deliver consistent, high-value care.

This is where Lean Six Sigma comes in. This data-driven methodology, already successful in manufacturing, can transform healthcare processes. By reducing defects and variability, improving cycle times, and removing waste, Lean Six Sigma enables care providers to improve clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.

For instance, Six Sigma techniques have helped hospitals to [5]:

• Shorten ER wait times by 20%

• Increase the number of surgical cases by 8%

• Reduce ICU mortality rates by 68%

• Cut lab report turnaround time from 78 to 24 hours

The Role of Six Sigma Certification

Six Sigma belts are globally recognized credentials that certify an individual’s knowledge of Six Sigma principles and ability to lead projects. While not mandatory, certification helps professionals master the statistical tools and process improvement frameworks of Lean Six Sigma.

The five levels of Six Sigma certification are:

• White Belt: Introductory knowledge
• Yellow Belt: Basic project skills
• Green Belt: Leads smaller projects and assists Black Belts
• Black Belt: Leads complex projects with cross-functional scope
• Master Black Belt: Coaches Black Belts and develops Six Sigma infrastructure

Here are five key benefits of obtaining Six Sigma certification for healthcare professionals:

1. Learn a Structured Problem-solving Approach

By teaching a structured framework to identify, analyze and solve problems, Six Sigma builds capabilities in:

• Defining projects accurately
• Gathering data through surveys or measurements
• Performing statistical analysis like hypothesis testing
• Developing solutions and control plans

Equipped with this toolkit, healthcare staff can methodically tackle pressing issues like long patient wait times, wrong-site surgeries or medication errors.

2. Drive Data-based Decisions

Healthcare has traditionally relied on the experience and intuition of physicians and administrators. While valuable, this approach has shortcomings.

Six Sigma certification instills a data-oriented mindset using metrics to guide decisions. By gathering and analyzing data, hidden factors causing poor performance come to light. This prevents knee-jerk reactions or guesses when problems arise.

3. Lead Interdisciplinary Teams

Certified Six Sigma experts possess soft skills like team building, communication, and project management. These allow them to spearhead process improvement initiatives involving diverse teams including physicians, nurses, techs, and support staff.

Six Sigma belts act as “glue” integrating clinical, financial and operational perspectives for enterprise-wide improvement.

4. Spearhead Large-Scale Change

With their breadth of knowledge and leadership capability, Black Belts are well-equipped to drive organizational transformation.

They educate leadership on Six Sigma, build internal capability, and lead complex projects like:

• Reducing medication errors by redesigning pharmacy processes

• Improving clinical pathways to lower readmission rates

• Using telehealth to provide care access in rural areas

5. Enhance Career Prospects

Six Sigma expertise gives certified professionals an edge for leadership roles or lucrative positions like:

• Process improvement manager
• Quality director
• Operations excellence head
• Lean healthcare consultant

According to ASQ, Six Sigma Black Belts earn over $100,000 on average – a powerful reason for certification [6].

Choosing the Right Six Sigma Certification

With many training providers offering certifications, it’s essential to pick a reputed institution. Here are key factors to assess:

• Accredited programs: Seek out certifications accredited by the Council for Six Sigma Certification – the industry gold standard.

• Comprehensive curriculum: Programs should teach all aspects of Lean Six Sigma, from basic statistics to analysis tools to project execution.

• Flexibility: Look for self-paced online programs fitting your schedule. Avoid rigid bootcamps.

• Reputed clients: Opt for providers whose credentials are trusted by leaders like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and other major healthcare systems.

• Industry focus: Programs tailored to healthcare with relevant case studies are ideal.

• Lifetime validity: The certification should not require periodic renewals or fees.

Choosing an accredited certification from a trusted provider is well worth the effort and offers long-term value.

Real-World Success Stories

While Six Sigma has helped countless healthcare organizations, these examples illustrate the power of certification:

• Memorial Hermann Healthcare trained over 2000 staff in Lean Six Sigma, achieving almost $250 million in financial gains [7].

• Children’s Medical Center Dallas drastically reduced waiting times by applying Six Sigma, improving patient experience [8].

• Atlantic Health System saved $6 million annually after 750 employees got Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification [9].

• Novant Health trimmed turnaround times for clinical procedures by 50% using Lean Six Sigma [10].

Six Sigma Certification – A Wise Investment

For healthcare professionals, Six Sigma certification from reputed institutions opens the door to becoming a process excellence expert. They can drive higher quality, better efficiency and help their organizations thrive amidst today’s challenges.

While the journey requires commitment, the payoff is rewarding careers where you can make a real difference to patient care. As more healthcare providers adopt Lean Six Sigma, certified experts will be in high demand.

So rather than being disrupted by change, use Six Sigma certification to master change. You can play a leading role in shaping the future of healthcare delivery.