PRESS RELEASE: Healthcare Organizations Learn To Improve
Processes for Dramatic Results

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Dale Tuttle
American Society for Quality
Phone: 800-248-1946
Email: dtuttle@asq.org
Website: http://qihc.asq.org

MILWAUKEE, WI USA -- PATIENT SAFETY UPDATE NEWS SERVICE(TM) -- January 19, 2006: Healthcare organizations constantly struggle with organizational challenges. Is it possible to improve processes in order to reduce waste, improve patient and employee satisfaction, and ultimately increase the bottom line? The American Society for Quality (ASQ) helps make it possible. ASQ offers public courses specifically designed to meet the demanding operational needs of the healthcare industry. These courses offer the opportunity for participants to learn from healthcare quality experts, while networking with other professionals who share similar goals.

For years ASQ has assisted healthcare providers in improving the quality of care they provide, helping to:

  • Reduce medical errors
  • Increase patient-handling capacity and flow
  • Eliminate waste and rework
  • Increase patient’s view of value

Learn how your organization can reap the benefits of quality improvement by attending one of the following courses offered in the month of February:

  • Blended Six Sigma Green Belt Training for Healthcare
    February 20 – 22, 2006,
    Phoenix, AZ Course #06149

    Click Here to Register

    This unique learning opportunity combines the best of e-learning, Web facilitated seminars, and traditional classroom instruction by an ASQ Master Black Belt. Learn how the traditional tools of a Six Sigma Green Belt are incorporated into the healthcare environment to improve operations such as: emergency department throughput, laboratory and radiology cycle times, supply chain management, and claims adjudication cycle times and costs, just to name a few.

  • Lean Six Sigma for Healthcare Executives
    February 23 – 24, 2006,
    San Antonio, TX Course #06163

    Click Here to Register

    Lean Six Sigma is an innovative system to reduce costs and optimize throughput. This approach maintains and enhances quality through the systematic removal of process waste and delays. Using real-life healthcare case studies, you’ll learn about various cost reduction methods, and how staff core competencies and organizational resources affect cost reduction.

  • Lean Thinking Applied to Healthcare
    February 21 – 22, 2006,
    San Antonio, TX Course #06164

    Click Here to Register

    Engage people from the frontline up to senior management by using this philosophy and powerful set of tools to eliminate waste from processes and patient flow, both in healthcare ambulatory and acute care settings. By applying lean thinking in your organization, you’ll notice fast and dramatic results without closing down a function or delivery area.

  • Quality Audits for Improved Performance – Applications for Healthcare
    February 22 – 23, 2006,
    San Antonio, TX Course #06165

    Click Here to Register

    Using the ASQ Certified Quality Auditor Body of Knowledge as our guide, you’ll learn the basic information necessary to conduct both internal and external auditing in any healthcare organization. Gain an understanding on how to conduct an audit of systems and processes, while preparing for the improvement of current practices.

  • Statistical Process Control for Healthcare
    February 22 – 23, 2006,
    San Antonio, TX Course #06125

    Click Here to Register

    Learn how to use statistical process control for healthcare, focusing on the use of control charts to understand and improve existing processes. No prior knowledge of statistics is necessary to attend this course – case studies and various levels of examples will be provided to demonstrate the methodologies and how to incorporate them into your organization. *Attendees should bring a laptop computer to class.

  • Taking the Baldrige Road to Excellent Healthcare Results
    February 20 – 21, 2006,
    San Antonio, TX Course #06162

    Click Here to Register

    Using the Baldrige criteria, healthcare facilities can steadily improve interactions at all levels and between all stakeholders, resulting in reduced waste, rework, and errors, while improving overall performance. By incorporating the components of the Baldrige criteria, you will gain a look at the major systems and focus on opportunities for change within your organization.

REGISTERING FOR A COURSE IS EASY:

Visit www.asq.org/healthcare and find the course that interests you.
Call our Customer Care Center at 800-248-1946.

ASQ AND THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY:

ASQ is the world’s leading authority on quality, with nearly 100,000 individual and organizational members. Membership in ASQ provides the opportunity to directly access learning and networking opportunities, professional development, and knowledge exchange. With various membership levels available, you can choose the option that best fits your needs. Join the Healthcare Division to be a part of a diverse group of healthcare professionals with a common interest in advancing healthcare quality improvement. For more information, visit www.asq.org/membership.

OTHER ASQ HEALTHCARE OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Healthcare Blog
    ASQ’s healthcare blog is a unique information exchange that enables you to connect with other ASQ members in the healthcare profession in a relaxed, open, Internet-based environment.
    www.asq.org/blog

  • Six Sigma for Healthcare
    ASQ has developed Six Sigma, a highly effective improvement process, specifically for healthcare organizations. This training program addresses complexities that continuously challenge healthcare managers.

    To mark ASQ’s 60th Anniversary in 2006, ASQ is offering Six Sigma Black Belt Training at a special promotional rate for courses running through June 2006. The next class will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, February 13-17, 2006. For more information please call 800-248-1946 or visit www.asq.org/healthcaresixsigma