Process Excellence
Jessica
Experience Information
Employer: Mercy Health Saint Mary's
Job Title: Process Excellence Intern
Major: Health Professions
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Mercy Health Saint Mary's is a non-profit healthcare organization. They are patient-centered hospital with a variety of services including but not limited to; primary care, Bariatric surgery, Cancer care,Emergency & Urgent care, Hear & Vascular, Neurosciences, and Orthopedic Medicine.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
The internship I completed was in Process Excellence which uses management philosophies like lean to help healthcare improve quality while reducing costs and becoming more efficient overall. As a process excellence Intern I observed the Consultant during her advising/coaching sessions with clinical and administrative staff on designing as well as implementing system-wide interventions to improve clinical, process, operational and service outcomes. I got to participate in using lean tools such as value stream mapping to make improvements to the patient wait times in Wege Lab. I also helped implement a Kanban system in Cytology, Histology, and Specimen control. I also partook in developing a standard work for the process excellence department and a structure or idea for a training system for new specialists. In addition to implementing lean tools I as able to observe managers meetings which helped me better understand the value and importance of the Process excellence consultant.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge during this internship. Going into it I knew nothing about process excellence or lean. Coming out I can now tell you that; The main focus of Process Excellence is on collaborating with managers along with their colleagues to find new ways for process improvement to occur by using lean methods and tools. Px teaches and coaches individuals as well as teams on lean thinking and guides the process of interdisciplinary teams while ensuring that all members are participating and being heard. They find ways on creating a safer,better environment for frontline employees while assuring patient safety and satisfactory outcomes. Everything must add value to the customer and once healthcare finds ways to do this quality and safety will increase and decrease the amount of money being "wasted".
Favorite Part of the Experience
Everything. I loved every minute of it and I found something that I am extremely passionate about!
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
It has completely changed my entire future career goals. I enjoy this field so much that I plan on continuing my education in it and would love to do this for the REST OF MY LIFE!!