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App Of The Week: Lean Healthcare

HUNTINGTON WOODS -- The first iPad app for lean healthcare was released in November 2012 and is now selling worldwide. 

"Practical Lean for Healthcare" is the brainchild of Todd Sperl and Don Tapping, two Michigan-based business owners who previously collaborated on lean health care books.  

The app was created to help associates, managers and executives working in health care learn how the principles of Lean Management can help save money without reducing staff plus improve performance indicators like patient satisfaction and safety. 

The app has had international appeal, selling in the United States, Canada, Netherlands, South Africa, Belgium, the United Kingdom., Philippines, Germany, Vietnam, Chile, Austria, Norway, Czech Republic, Colombia and Saudi Arabia.

According to Don Tapping, MCS Media owner and author of the app, "The amount of information out there on lean in health care can be overwhelming. So our goal was to compile the best information and deliver it in a compelling format through the use of video, audio and case studies. This first app is an introduction to lean. Lean and its problem solving counterpart, Six Sigma, offer the health care community the opportunity to obtain long term, sustainable results, which is why we plan to release additional apps."

Todd Sperl, owner of Lean Fox Solutions and lean health care lecturer, added: "I'm constantly looking for ways in which technology can enhance our lives. Today you can find an app for just about anything, so I was surprised that there were no apps specific to lean healthcare until ours. My hope is that users will be motivated by the lean healthcare success stories to become a change agent at their hospital, clinic or physician group practice. We included a tool so users can assess different areas of their own organization or department, the results are tabulated, and then our Improvement Guide provides a practical starting point to introduce lean practices."

MCS Media Inc. is a publishing company based in Chelsea, founded by lean expert and best-selling author, Don Tapping. The lean store offers books written by Don and his colleagues as well as lean Six Sigma implementation aids and workshops. For more information, visit www.TheLeanStore.com

Based in Huntington Woods, Lean Fox Solutions is a provider of lean and change management services that help health care organizations improve the patient experience across the continuum of care, while providing a positive return on investment. The organization was founded by Todd Sperl in 2008. For more information, visit www.Lean FoxSolutions.com

Preview the app at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/practical-lean-for-healthcare/id580374014?mt=8

The cost of the app is $3.99. It is compatible with the iPad and requires iOS 5.0 or later.

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