It’s been called a “demographic watershed.” During the next 15 years alone, the worldwide population of individuals aged 65 and older is projected to increase more than 60 percent, from 617 million to about 1 billion, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report.

Increasingly, countries are asking themselves: How can we ensure a high quality of care for our growing aging population while keeping our healthcare costs under control?

The answer? More efficiency. Less waste. Reduced error. Quicker turnaround. Improved patient outcomes. Which is, of course, where lean, Six Sigma, and quality improvement come in.

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