What is a fundamental goal of lean management in healthcare?

The fundamental goal of lean management in healthcare is to enhance efficiency by minimizing waste. Lean management focuses on streamlining processes to deliver maximum value to patients while using the least amount of resources. This involves identifying and eliminating any activities or processes that do not add value to patient care, such as unnecessary steps in a procedure or delays in patient flow.

By minimizing waste, healthcare organizations can improve their overall performance, reduce costs, and provide better patient outcomes. This approach is rooted in creating a culture of continuous improvement, where every team member is encouraged to find ways to enhance processes and eliminate inefficiencies.

The other options, while relevant to various aspects of healthcare, do not capture the essence of lean management. Developing new technology, reducing physician workloads, or centralizing decision-making may contribute to improvements in healthcare settings, but they are not the primary focus of lean management principles. Lean management specifically aims at increasing value by eliminating wasteful practices rather than simply reshaping workload or decision-making structures.