Why Deming Matter in Healthcare

When it comes to Deming, I have noticed that there are three categories. Firstly, they are superfans like me; secondly, they have heard of him but don't know why he matters; and thirdly, they have never heard of him. According to my conversations, most people I meet fall into the second category. Deming's Journey to Profound Knowledge covers his life and learning journey. I thought a simple overview "Why Deming Matters" series in different industries would be a helpful at a high level to educate people about his management philosophy.

Deming and Healthcare

Dr. Deming's principles have been applied to healthcare and have significantly impacted the industry. Here are some reasons why Dr. Deming matters to healthcare:

Data-driven quality improvement

According to Dr. Deming, meaningful quality improvement must be based on data. Data can be used in healthcare to identify improvement areas and measure the effectiveness of interventions.

Managing processes of care

Managing care means managing the processes of care, not managing doctors and nurses, according to Dr. Brent James. Frontline workers are the ones who understand and own the methods of care, which is an essential application of Deming's principles in healthcare.

Engaging clinicians

The quality improvement efforts of clinicians are crucial to achieving value in healthcare. For quality improvement initiatives to succeed, clinicians must understand and own the processes of care.

Value-based systems

In healthcare, Dr. Deming's principles have dramatically improved value-based systems. Healthcare organizations can reduce costs and improve patient outcomes by focusing on value.

Paradigm shifts

Throughout healthcare, Dr. Deming's principles have influenced paradigm shifts. Adopting lean methodologies in healthcare, which have improved patient safety and reduced waste, is one example of his emphasis on continuous improvement.

Deming's 14 points for Management

Dr. Deming's 14 points for Management can be applied to healthcare. For example, consistency of purpose can be pursued to improve quality and service in healthcare.