An article in the February 16 issue of Workforce Management discussed the formation of a new alliance between automakers and healthcare insurers and providers. The goal is to adapt lean manufacturing practices to eliminate costly healthcare inefficiencies and improve the quality of care.
An April 2008 PricewaterhouseCoopers study estimated that, of the $2.1 trillion spent on healthcare in America, nearly $1.2 trillion was spent on inefficient administration and treating preventable conditions. Since a majority of these costs are passed along to the business owners providing healthcare, the struggling automotive industry was very interested in approaching medical professionals to see what a partnership might develop.
One of the services the automakers have offered is the expertise of their engineers. The engineers, equipped with knowledge and experience in lean manufacturing and other quality methodologies, volunteer in doctor’s offices. The benefit is two-fold: Healthcare providers can improve care and eliminate inefficiencies; automotive engineers may find job opportunities in the healthcare field.
Evidence that the latter may already be occurring is that the number of healthcare providers looking for quality professionals is increasing in the ASQ Career Center. Joseph Fortuna and Lou Ann Lathrop, ASQ members, were interviewed for the article. Lathrop is a program volunteer. Initial successes with the program indicate that this approach could be broadened to more medical facilities. House calls may be back in fashion.