The Role of Leadership in Lean Healthcare Transformation: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract This study explores the efficacy of Lean Management principles within healthcare settings, focusing on waste reduction and process efficiency. By integrating Lean methodologies, healthcare facilities aim to optimize operations and improve patient outcomes. Our analysis underscores the critical role of leadership in spearheading Lean initiatives, which are essential for fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence in healthcare. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, the study incorporates a literature review and quantitative analysis of data collected from multiple public and private healthcare institutions. Correlation analysis identified relationships among various types of waste. Kruskal–Wallis tests indicated significant differences in waste perception based on seniority for waiting time and overproduction. Regression analysis explained 20.1% of the variance in the use of waste reduction methods, with age, Lean Management knowledge, gender, and managerial position as significant predictors. These findings highlight the importance of leadership and targeted training for the successful implementation of Lean Management practices in healthcare. This study contributes original insights by quantitatively identifying key leadership and demographic factors that influence Lean Management adoption in Romanian healthcare institutions, providing a structured framework for understanding waste reduction across varied healthcare environments. Our findings emphasize the role of targeted leadership strategies and demographic adaptability as critical drivers in achieving waste reduction and operational efficiency through Lean principles.