Jan 14 issue of NEJM included an interesting Opinion Page piece by Drs Hartzband and Groopman
With all due respect, the good doctors voice opinions that were canards a century ago, and are outright howlers today.
Here are just a few:
- Standardization does not apply in medicine
- People are not cars
- Lean means stop-watching the patient-physician interaction
The authors continually equate Taylorism with Toyota, despite the obvious and well-documented differences in philosophy and practice.
NEJM readers and many of our colleagues, notably Mark Graban, have provided a cogent point by point rebuttal
I’m struck by the authors’ degree of frustration and sense of grievance.
The medical profession is in the midst of epochal change. Used to be most doctors were self-employed. Now most work for large organizations and the trend will only accelerate.
Are physicians comfortable working in teams, thinking laterally, making problems visible, and having their thinking regularly challenged by uppity nurses, patients and others? Perhaps not.
Physicians are very indeed at good scientific thinking and structured problem solving. In my experience, they also quickly absorb other Lean fundamentals – provided we translate them together and prove they work.
Fair enough, no?
So to Drs Hartzband and Groopman, with great respect, please reflect on the all feedback you’ve received.
Lean is not your enemy – quite the contrary.
Best regards,
Pascal
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