Winona Health and Winona State University have received a $216,965 grant from Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP). The three-organizations celebrated this partnership at an official grant-signing ceremony held on Thursday, April 7, 11 a.m., at Winona Health's B.A. Miller Auditorium located in Community Memorial Hospital.
The three-year MJSP grant will be used by Winona State and Winona Health to create and deliver a Lean in Healthcare training program that incorporates the healthcare system's integrated information technology, including its community-wide electronic medical record.
"We are pleased to be partnering with Winona State University on this grant program, which will train our staff on new ways to evaluate and improve our many clinical and support processes," said Rachelle Schultz, Winona Health president/chief executive officer. "Lean training is another quality improvement method Winona Health is adopting on our quest for excellence."
In the grant's first two years, Winona Health department managers and supervisors participate in several WSU-provided workshops, including basic lean methods. Winona Health then applies what they have learned on projects within their institution. In the grant's third year, a "train-the-trainer"
program will be used, in which managers and supervisors will educate their staffs on lean concepts.
"At the end of three years, all 875 Winona Health employees will share a common understanding and language for the lean performance improvement system because of this grant," said WSU's Dr. Kimberlee Snyder, grant co-investigator and Chair of the Management Information Systems and Operations Department in the College of Business.
Snyder said lean improvement concepts have typically been applied in the manufacturing industry. The uniqueness of this model is that the training is customized for healthcare workers and incorporates elements of Winona Health's electronic medical record, which is a the forefront of the healthcare industry.
Developing this model and understanding the healthcare culture gives Winona State more understanding and expertise in assisting other healthcare organizations in the state of Minnesota, the region and beyond, said Barb Larsen, WSU's customized training administrator for continuing education.
"This project will allow faculty to focus on learning and strengthening relationships community-wide."
A joint WSU-Winona Health Steering Committee will oversee grant implementation.
For additional details on this grant, or Thursday's grant-signing ceremony, contact Elizabeth Hough, 507-457-4161.
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