Implementing Lean Healthcare in a Public Medical System: Enhancing Public Health Services in Taiwan

Abstract Issue/problem Taipei City Hospital, as a major public institution, undertakes wide-ranging public health responsibilities including cancer screenings, vaccinations, maternal-child care, infectious disease control, and much more. Faced with workforce shortages and increasing demands, the hospital initiated Lean Healthcare in 2016 to improve service efficiency and sustain quality public health delivery. Description of the problem The Lean initiative aimed to reduce waste, streamline workflows, and enhance team coordination across hospital branches. International experts were engaged for training and strategy development. Key interventions targeted improvements in administrative procedures, clinical logistics, cancer screening processes, vaccine distribution, and newborn care systems. Results Between 2016 and 2023, 165 teams implemented Lean projects. Outcomes included: 94.2% reduction in PCR processing time (22.4h to 1.29h), boosting pandemic response. 76% decrease in inpatient supply errors. 26-minute reduction in outpatient pharmacy wait times, allowing 13 more patients/day. NT$8.37 million/year saved by optimizing staffing at community screening stations. Streamlined public health service workflows, improving capacity and patient satisfaction. Lessons Lean Healthcare methods can strengthen public hospitals’ ability to meet large-scale health demands. Staff engagement, international exchange, and continuous training were key to sustaining improvements. The experience in Taipei demonstrates Lean's potential to support public health delivery in resource-limited settings. Key messages • Public hospitals must innovate operationally to meet expanding health needs. • Lean Healthcare offers a scalable model to enhance efficiency and service quality in public health systems.