--- title: "Physician engagement: Lean primary care transformation. | Sutter Health" description: "Effective strategies for selecting and presenting metrics to practicing physicians are an important part of a successful quality improvement effort." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/physician-engagement-lean-primary-care-transformation-1055312390" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Physician engagement: Lean primary care transformation. # Physician engagement with metrics in Lean primary care transformation. Gray CP, Yakir M, & Hung DY. _Qual Manag Health Care. 27(3):117-122. doi: 10.1097/QMH.0000000000000182._ 2018-07-01 ## Abstract OBJECTIVE: Data and metrics play important roles in quality and process improvement efforts. For one specific process improvement method, Lean or Lean health care, data and metrics are central components, allowing users to identify areas that need improvement and to assess the degree to which improvements have been realized. This article explores the role that metrics and measurement played in a wide-reaching "Lean"-based continuous quality improvement effort carried out in the primary care departments of a large, ambulatory care health care organization. METHODS: This article is based on qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with physicians, staff, and health care leaders. RESULTS: Suggestions for improving the ways that metrics may be optimally used, presented, and approached while carrying out health care improvement efforts include having accurate and compelling data throughout the improvement process, ensuring that metrics are professionally meaningful to physicians, and presenting metrics in a manner that increases the likelihood that they will be digested and ultimately used to improve health care. CONCLUSIONS: Effective strategies for selecting and presenting metrics to practicing physicians are an important part of a successful quality improvement effort. [PubMed abstract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29944622) ## Research topics - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Ready for change? The role of physician and staff engagement, burnout, and workplace attributes.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/md-staff-engagemt-burnout-wkplace-change-1055312510) Hung D, Chen PH. J Ambul Care Manage. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2016 Nov 23 - Publication ### [Factors influencing quality of patient interaction at community pharmacy drive-through and walk-in counseling areas.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pt-interaction-at-drive-through-walk-in-pharmacy-1055312851) Odukoya OK, Chui MA, Pu J. Int J Pharm Pract. 22(4):246-56. doi: 10.1111/ijpp.12073. Epub 2013 Oct 25. 2014 Aug 01 - Publication ### [Comment on: Measuring the volume-outcome relation for complex hospital surgery.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/comment-vol-outcome-relation-complex-hosp-surg-1055312432) Luft HS. Appl Health Econ Health Policy. doi: 10.1007/s40258-017-0334-x. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2017 Jun 03 - Publication ### [Creating a “Zone of Openness” at the Doctor’s Office.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/create-a-zone-of-openness-at-the-doctors-office-1055312775) Tai-Seale M. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute website. 2013 Sep 10 - Publication ### [Scaling Lean in primary care: impacts on system performance.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/scaling-lean-primary-care-system-perf-impact-1055312322) Hung DY, Harrison MI, Martinez MC, Luft HS. Am J Manag Care. 23(3):161-168. 2017 Mar 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/physician-engagement-lean-primary-care-transformation-1055312390#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Physician engagement: Lean primary care transformation."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/physician-engagement-lean-primary-care-transformation-1055312390#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Physician engagement with metrics in Lean primary care transformation.","headline":"Physician engagement: Lean primary care transformation.","abstract":"OBJECTIVE: Data and metrics play important roles in quality and process improvement efforts. For one specific process improvement method, Lean or Lean health care, data and metrics are central components, allowing users to identify areas that need improvement and to assess the degree to which improvements have been realized. This article explores the role that metrics and measurement played in a wide-reaching \"Lean\"-based continuous quality improvement effort carried out in the primary care departments of a large, ambulatory care health care organization. METHODS: This article is based on qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with physicians, staff, and health care leaders. RESULTS: Suggestions for improving the ways that metrics may be optimally used, presented, and approached while carrying out health care improvement efforts include having accurate and compelling data throughout the improvement process, ensuring that metrics are professionally meaningful to physicians, and presenting metrics in a manner that increases the likelihood that they will be digested and ultimately used to improve health care. 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