novaces

Apr 23, 2010

New White Paper Shows Positive Impact of Lean Six Sigma and Process Improvement Programs on Military Health System and Veterans’ Hospitals

Continuous Process Improvement (CPI), including methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma and Theory of Constraints, can significantly improve operational capabilities, financial performance and patient outcomes for military and veteran hospitals. However, there are deployment challenges that are specific to these organizations that must be overcome to achieve long-term success.

New Orleans, LA (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 23, 2010 — NOVACES, a leading provider of healthcare Lean Six Sigma, continuous process improvement (CPI) and quality improvement consulting and training services, today published a white paper that explores the similarities, differences and opportunities for future collaboration between the United States military healthcare system and the Veterans Health Administration. Written by Charles Mount, a retired U.S. Navy captain and director of healthcare services for NOVACES, the insightful article demonstrates that continuous process improvement, including methodologies such as Lean Six Sigma and Theory of Constraints, can significantly improve operational capabilities, financial performance and patient outcomes for military and veteran hospitals.

The new military healthcare white paper is available on the NOVACES web site at: www.novaces.com/hc_military.php.

“Sharing best practices between the military and veterans healthcare systems offers significant opportunities for advances in patient healthcare delivery and cost containment,” commented Mount. “Yet despite the many successes that have been achieved from continuous process improvement programs, there are deployment challenges that must be overcome before results can be sustained. At NOVACES, we view our role as an experienced guide to help our clients circumvent many of the common deployment hurdles.”

NOVACES is an active proponent of cross-pollinating successful Lean Six Sigma projects to continue improving the performance of military and VA hospitals and the quality of care provided to the military, their families and the nation’s veterans. As part of its CPI programs, NOVACES helps healthcare organizations improve safety, drive down costs, streamline clinical and operational processes, and improve the timeliness of how these systems respond to beneficiaries.

The company’s proprietary healthcare Lean Six Sigma deployment roadmap, SystemCPI, effectively addresses many of the complex challenges faced by hospitals and health providers, including issues related to cost controls, billing and collections, patient and procedure coding, core quality indicators, patient and visitor safety, patient throughput and discharge processes, data and patient records management, patient satisfaction and medical claims processing as well as pharmacy, laboratory and technology workflow.

“The opportunities for collaboration between the VA and military medicine are clear,” says Mount. “Both systems have tremendous passion for providing the best possible care to those who serve our nation so proudly. Both must confront the ever-increasing challenges of today’s healthcare environment. By working together, the VA and military medicine can maximize the delivery of patient care and, at the same time, achieve the most appropriate use of scarce resources.”

Apr 4, 2010

NOVACES Webinar Series Focuses on Linking the Improvement of Healthcare Quality with Finance Using Lean Six Sigma

The live webinars offer a unique opportunity to learn how process improvement best practices can be applied immediately in hospitals to simultaneously improve healthcare quality and solve financial challenges.

New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) April 4, 2010 — In response to heightened interest during the ongoing healthcare debate, NOVACES announces that it will offer its Breakthrough Performance Webinars on a regular basis, expanding coverage to a host of case histories dealing with continuous process improvement applications in hospitals. The program, conducted by the company’s healthcare division, will draw upon extensive experience with the difficult decisions facing hospitals to manage complex processes, reduce costs and improve patient care delivery.

Healthcare, similar to any complex business operation, requires a framework built upon industry’s best practices in process improvement and innovation to improve quality and control costs. Unnecessary inefficiencies, including those that are associated with the administrative, operational and logistical processes, prevent the delivery of the best possible care.

A key solution to these problems is the implementation of Lean Six Sigma programs that are designed for the healthcare environment. Lean (a rapid and simple approach to drive non-value added activities, or waste, out of processes) and Six Sigma (a rigorous, data-driven, problem-solving method) have demonstrated remarkable successes in hospitals that have employed these proven methodologies. These successes are not limited to private sector healthcare. Military healthcare and the Veterans Health Administration are also experiencing positive results from Lean Six Sigma programs.

In the next live conference, Dan Chauncey, director of deployment services for NOVACES, and Master Black Belt and change facilitator, Vickie Kamataris, will present how more that 100 improvement opportunities were identified and a deployment plan was put into place in less than 14 days for the hospital system highlighted in the case study. The interactive program also will review examples of the improvements that were generated in the first 90 days, including a reduction of CMS Core Measure Failures for Congestive Heart Failure discharge from 30 percent to 6 percent and a 44 percent improvement in Emergency Department length of stay.

“The implementation of process improvement programs in hospitals does not have to be complicated,” says Chauncey. “Yet, the effort needs to allow for a host of implementation issues such as strategic alignment, project selection, and the ability to progress towards self-sufficiency.” The program also will identify the two primary reasons for unsuccessful Lean Six Sigma deployments.

This webinar will be held Tuesday, April 6, 2010 beginning at 1:00 pm EDT and is free to registered attendees. Go to www.novaces.com/healthcare/hospital-lean-six-sigma.php to register or for more information on process excellence for healthcare please visit www.novaces.com/healthcare. Webinar attendees are eligible to receive a complimentary assessment of their organization’s readiness for Lean Six Sigma.

Feb 23, 2010

NOVACES to Exhibit at Society for Health Systems and American Society for Quality Conference

NOVACES will showcase its portfolio of healthcare process improvement consulting and training solutions, including Lean Six Sigma, designed to tackle the complex challenges faced by today’s hospitals and large medical centers.



Red Bank, NJ (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 23, 2010 — NOVACES, an international provider of healthcare Lean Six Sigma, continuous process improvement (CPI) and quality management consulting and training services, has announced plans to exhibit at an annual conference jointly hosted by the Society for Health Systems and the American Society for Quality in Atlanta, Georgia on February 25 – 28, 2010. NOVACES will offer complimentary quality improvement consultations to attending representatives of hospitals, medical centers, large physician practices and healthcare facilities at booth number 203.



“With our strategic focus on the medical industry, this conference is an ideal forum to reach out to and connect with professionals tasked with the management of healthcare process and quality improvement,” noted Brian MacClaren, chief operating officer of NOVACES. “We plan to leverage this event to share case studies and showcase best practices that illustrate the impact Lean Six Sigma can have on organizational improvement, financial performance and clinical excellence.”



The company’s proprietary healthcare Lean Six Sigma program, SystemCPI, effectively addresses many of the complex challenges faced by today’s hospitals and health providers, including issues related to cost controls, billing and collections, patient and procedure coding, core quality indicators, patient and visitor safety, patient throughput and discharge processes, data and patient records management, patient satisfaction and medical claims processing as well as pharmacy, laboratory and technology workflow. NOVACES will meet with healthcare professionals including administrators, physician leaders, clinical managers, information systems professionals and quality improvement staff.



For more information about healthcare and hospital process improvement and quality excellence solutions, visit www.novaces.com or call 1.877.577.6888.



About NOVACES

NOVACES is an international provider of healthcare Lean Six Sigma, continuous process improvement (CPI) and quality management consulting and training services. By leveraging over two decades of applied research, the company delivers today’s most effective methods for generating breakthroughs in operational capabilities and financial performance. NOVACES serves hospitals, medical centers, large physician networks and practices, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. Employing our SystemCPI methodology, the experts at NOVACES provide an integrated framework to deploy and manage a process improvement program that incorporates Constraints Management tools to achieve faster and better return on investment. For more information, visit www.novaces.com or call 1.877.577.6888.



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Dec 16, 2009

Lean Six Sigma Training Simulation Introduced by NOVACES at the National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care

The training simulation called MediSim provides hands-on experience during training courses to teach how Lean Six Sigma tools are used to improve patient care processes in hospitals

New Orleans, LA December 16, 2009 — NOVACES introduced its MediSim simulation package for healthcare performance improvement training as an exhibitor at the National Forum on Quality Improvement, which ran from December 6-9 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center. Used during Lean and Six Sigma training, MediSim enables practical application of concepts and tools, such as process mapping, mistake proofing, and visual management. As a result, participants can practice being change leaders in various exercises that are based on real-world scenarios for process improvement in hospitals.

MediSim is the latest addition to NOVACES’ portfolio of industry-specific process improvement training tools. From its SystemCPI deployment roadmap that quickly builds self-sufficiency in process improvement to its customized Lean Six Sigma training for healthcare, the company’s process improvement solutions help healthcare organizations solve their most challenging problems to achieve operational and financial performance goals.

With MediSim, hospitals that are implementing Lean Six Sigma now have an effective teaching tool that can be used in various levels of training including Lean Expert, Green Belt or Black Belt. The simulation significantly reduces the large investment and lead-time required for an organization to develop a custom training simulation. Organizations that use MediSim report increased training effectiveness and buy-in for the process improvement program.

“The real advantage of this simulation is that participants can directly relate to a real healthcare challenge during the training course,” said Master Black Belt Vickie Kamataris of NOVACES, who developed and tested MediSim. “This simulation allows participants to apply appropriate improvement tools and generate interactive dialogues about topics that are essential to developing very capable Lean Six Sigma practitioners,” Kamataris emphasized.The MediSim Simulation Kit includes supplies, equipment, training materials, exercises, and on-site facilitator training. MediSim is available for license on an annual unlimited use or per training basis.

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About NOVACES

NOVACES is a leading provider of continuous process improvement (CPI) consulting and training services to both the public and private sectors. By leveraging over two decades of applied research experience, the company is capable of delivering today’s most effective methods for generating breakthroughs in operational capabilities and financial performance. Employing its SystemCPI methodology, the company provides an integrated framework to deploy and manage a process improvement program that incorporates Constraints Management tools to achieve faster and better return on investment.

Jun 18, 2009

SPECIAL WEBINAR: “How to Optimize Lean Six Sigma Mentoring Programs to Boost Self-Sufficiency and ROI

When: Jun 18, 2009, 2-3 pm ET

Presented in association with the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals

Register here >>

Thursday, June 18, 2-3 pm ET

The demand to get more out of process improvement programs is unrelenting. Among the many facets of a successful Lean Six Sigma deployment is a formal mentoring program to enhance training and maximize project returns. Learn how to:

• Align coaching and mentoring activities with a deployment plan
• Develop metrics for setting goals and measuring success
• Design enduring coaching, mentoring and apprenticeship programs
• Increase Black Belt and Green Belt effectiveness
• Avoid common mistakes that prevent the most successful outcomes

Apr 29, 2009

NOVACES Introduces SystemCPI to Guide Planning and Management of Lean Six Sigma Deployments