Quebec to Reduce Healthcare Cost Increases Via Lean Six Sigma

In an effort to keep the costs of universal health coverage down despite an aging population, the Canadian province of Quebec adopted a Lean Six Sigma-based approach, according to the Pan American Health Organization.

"There is no perfect health system, but we are striving for both excellence and sustainability," said Quebec's Minister of Health and Social Services Yves Bolduc, in a recent presentation at PAHO headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The focus on process improvement efforts such as eliminating ineffective or wasteful practices, promoting coordinated teamwork among health professionals, emphasizing integrated care models and encouraging the use of electronic medical records and tele-medicine has led Quebec to become home to "one of the best healthcare systems in the world," according to Bolduc, as quoted by the news source.

The resulting efficiencies - which include the reduction of unnecessary referrals and the improvement of patient outcomes - lowered the province's annual increase in healthcare costs from 5.7 percent in 2009 to 2010 to a projected 5 percent over the next three years, according to the news source.

Since 1970, it has been compulsory for every eligible resident or temporary resident to be covered under Quebec's Health Insurance Plan, according to the provincial government's website.

Quebec to Reduce Healthcare Cost Increases Via Lean Six Sigma
Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:46:38 GMT

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