Lean management practices in healthcare sector: a literature review

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to synthesise the extent to which lean implementation in healthcare has been studied in the literature since its inception a decade ago. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based upon a literature review of mostly academic articles published mainly in the fields of operations management and medicine. Findings The current state of the literature on lean healthcare implementation is primarily evaluative (benefits-oriented), descriptive (process-oriented) and rarely holistic (interaction of lean implementation and clinical practice). Originality/value This paper identifies further research directions for academics, and provides an overview of findings relevant to healthcare stakeholders interested in lean implementation.