Transition to 21st Century Healthcare

This book explains why the fundamental structures of 20th century American healthcare have failed to keep up with American industry in terms of quality and cost. It describes how this has led to the introduction of industrial mass production concepts in American healthcare, such as Lean and Six Sigma, and how the resulting industrialization breaks down the 20th century model and opens the way for a new vision of healthcare. Exploring the links between healthcare history, quality history, and the current state of healthcare, the book will help healthcare leaders and quality professionals recognize, understand, and respond to the changes currently under way in American healthcare. It provides clear guidance on the role of industrialized quality in breaking down 20th century assumptions and building the foundation for 21st century healthcare. As readers grasp the transformative effects of the macro-level changes resulting from industrialization, the book provides simple assessment tools to assist leaders and quality professionals in evaluating organizational development. It describes ten transitions that arise out of industrialization that healthcare organizations need to traverse and provides the tools to assess the transitions that indicate whether an organization is progressing towards the 21st century American healthcare model. The book explains that the rate of transition to the 21st century healthcare model is based on the level of acceptance and implementation of industrialized quality. It concludes by sharing insights into the future of American healthcare and the importance of creating a vision to assist in the transition to this future. Helping healthcare leaders and quality professionals understand the need to use the transitions to create clear visions of the future and use these visions to guide and motivate their organizations, the book provides the tools, understanding, and roadmap you need to successfully transition your organization toward the 21st century American healthcare model.