What a Great Model for Any Hospital Value Analysis Program
Last week I was on site at a client’s location conducting an advanced 1-day LEAN Value Analysis Training Program for their value analysis team leaders and team members. This was this client’s annual value analysis refresher course which I think is a perfect model for all value analysis programs to emulate. Why? Because too often hospitals start their value analysis program without any training whosoever (they just tell their teams to “Go Save Money”). Therein lies the problem! That’s why I like this client’s value analysis model: Annual refresher course to keep their VA teams on target, on budget and on the money each and every year!
Let’s face it value analysis is not as easy as it looks. If you were to tell me that you could establish a Six Sigma Teams without training black, yellow and green belts and then expect these teams to achieve Six Sigma outcomes you would be just kidding yourself. Your team members would need extensive training in Six Sigma to accomplish superior results. Value analysis is a discipline very much like Six Sigma or Lean Management. To be proficient at value analysis you need to have extensive, continuous and up-to-date training for peak performance!
That’s why this client not only began their VA program with extensive training for all their team leaders and team members, but they also realize that this education is never ending and that in order to continually improve their VA program they must refresh their VA training each and every year.
For example, this client told me that they contracted with a trainer last year who focused on evidenced based management. This year they hired our firm for advanced value analysis training as well. This is not a one-time event for this client, but an ongoing stratagem to continue to hire the best value analysis trainers and on an annual basis give their VA teams new and even better strategies, tactics and techniques that they can employ to boost their VA team’s performance.
It was also important to note that this client had their Chief Operating Officer attend this training session and then spoke to the group during a break. He reaffirmed how important all of their VA work is to their hospital, especially since their reimbursement is not going to go up any time soon even though higher technology expenses are still pushing their costs up each and every year. I can’t tell you how significant it is to have an executive management sponsor, like this COO, fully engaged and very active in hospital’s VA program! From my perspective, it will certainly make these team leaders’ and team members’ job easier and their teams much more successful.
One of the reasons this client’s VA program has been so successful over the last few years is that they keep the momentum going with VA training each and every year so that their VA teams never lose focus of how important they are to the financial success of their healthcare organization.
It’s easy for any hospital, system or IDN to put a VA team(s) together and say “Go Save Money”. It’s usually followed by capturing some low hanging ripe fruit that’s ready to be harvested. Nevertheless, we have found that the true test of a VA program’s sustainability, profitability and productivity is for them to achieve measurable and meaningful savings after their low hanging fruit has been picked clean!
An annual VA refresher course on the most up to date techniques in value analysis would be a good starting point for you too to keep your VA team(s) focused and motivate each and every year.
Last but not least, it doesn’t take a lot of time, effort or money to do so.
Filed Under: savingsblog • Training
