In this episode, I interviewed Sarah Cook, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt consultant from Pepper Foster Consulting in Portland, Oregon. She shares her journey from the VA medical center to becoming a performance engineer in healthcare. She discusses the application of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to healthcare, the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems, and the critical importance of data-driven decision-making. We also discussed practical strategies for process improvement in healthcare, building trust, and mitigating risks effectively. Learn about a project she worked on reducing surgical infection rates, implementing daily tiered huddles, and the significance of psychological safety in fostering a good improvement culture. We also talked about valuable insights on monitoring data fluctuations, creating effective visual charts, and using control charts to monitor processes. This episode is a must-watch for anyone looking to drive sustainable improvements in healthcare.* 00:20 Journey into Lean and Process Improvement * 02:16 Impact of COVID on Healthcare Processes * 05:19 Lean vs. Six Sigma in Quality Improvement * 07:42 Challenges and Successes in Process Improvement * 15:39 Building Trust and Managing Change * 21:56 Building Trust in Conversations * 22:36 Mistakes in the Clinical Laboratory * 23:32 Addressing Shame and Fear in Healthcare * 26:36 Proactive Risk Mitigation * 32:33 The Importance of Small Improvements * 36:31 Reacting to Data Fluctuations * 38:49 Visualizing Process Improvements * 39:48 Conclusion and Contact InformationListen to the podcast on this page, or watch the video below, or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya6gXyUcads Links* Sarah Cook – LinkedIn* Email: [email protected] * Pepper Foster * Measures of Success by Mark GrabanIf you enjoy this podcast, please follow us on your favorite podcast app. Any ratings you could give us, or shares across social media would be greatly appreciated!* Read full show notes | Subscribe or rate this podcastPromotions* FREE online course called “Lean Six Sigma and the Environment” * OpEx Six Sigma Online Training and Certification * Creative Safety Supply – Free 5S GuideHave you ordered the book, “a href="https://amzn.