Lean management in healthcare organizations

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine lean management practices in the healthcare sector. By conducting a literature review on the applicability of lean management tools in healthcare institutions, hospital cases where lean management has been implemented were analyzed. Materials and Methods: This review, designed on a literature-based approach, covers studies conducted between 2020 and 2025, while also referring to several classical works and sources to highlight the historical development of lean management. Results: The reviewed studies reveal that lean management tools have been successfully applied in various areas of healthcare services, yielding positive outcomes in terms of both operational efficiency and patient satisfaction. Tools such as kaizen, kanban, just-in-time production, six sigma, value stream mapping, and poka-yoke have proven effective in standardizing processes, optimizing resource utilization, and reducing error rates in healthcare institutions. Furthermore, the sustainability of lean management transformation critically depends on an organizational culture open to change, strong leadership support, and active stakeholder engagement. Discussion and Conclusion: Recent global challenges, including wars, political instability, rising customs tariffs, high inflation rates, and increasing production costs, have directly affected the healthcare sector. These developments threaten the financial sustainability of healthcare institutions and necessitate the adoption of more efficient methods of resource utilization. In the face of rising cost pressures, the search for greater efficiency has renewed the relevance of lean management practices. Moreover, the inability of traditional healthcare management approaches to adequately respond to growing patient demand has led to a decline in service quality, reduced patient satisfaction, and increased workload among healthcare professionals. The resulting workload contributes to higher levels of burnout, thereby negatively impacting productivity. Therefore, restructuring healthcare service delivery processes in line with lean management principles is of critical importance for enhancing institutional efficiency as well as ensuring patient and employee satisfaction.