Stacy E.F. Melanson, MD, PhD
Department of Pathology, Clinical Laboratories Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Ellen M. Goonan, MS, MT(ASCP)SH
Department of Pathology, Clinical Laboratories Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Margaret M. Lobo
Department of Pathology, Clinical Laboratories Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Jonathan M. Baum, MBA
Center for Clinical Excellence, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

José D. Paredes, MS
Center for Clinical Excellence, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Katherine S. Santos
Center for Clinical Excellence, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Michael L. Gustafson, MD, MBA
Center for Clinical Excellence, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Milenko J. Tanasijevic, MD, MBA
Department of Pathology, Clinical Laboratories Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Keywords: Lean; Phlebotomy; Specimen collection; Process improvement; Clinical laboratories

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

• describe Lean/Toyota production system principles.
• apply Lean principles to the clinical laboratory.
• discuss how to conduct and monitor Lean process improvement.