(CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL) -- Dr. Michael Nelson has written one of the first books to focus on physician engagement in creating a lean culture, Sustaining Lean in Healthcare: Developing and Engaging Physician Leadership (CRC Press, 2011).

The book begins with the basics of lean (including quality methods such as value stream maps, kanban, heijunka, gemba walks, standard work, kaizen, and more) followed by clinical decision making and the plan-do-study-act cycle.

Next, Nelson describes how to create a physician engagement plan, including its vision and goals, a reward and recognition plan, selecting and developing physician champions, how to approach and engage frontline physicians, and the physicians’ role in sustaining improvements and maintaining the lean culture.

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