The Role of Lean Process Improvement in Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices in Behavioral Health Care.
To effectively implement evidence-based practices (EBP) in behavioral health care, an organization needs to have operating structures and processes that can address core EBP implementation factors and stages. Lean, a widely used quality improvement process, can potentially address the factors crucial to successful implementation of EBP. This article provides an overview of Lean and the relationship between Lean process improvement steps, and EBP implementation models. Examples of how Lean process improvement methodologies can be used to help plan and carry out implementation of EBP in mental health delivery systems are presented along with limitations and recommendations for future research and clinical application.
Group Health Cooperative, 950 Pacific Ave Suite 900, Tacoma, WA, 98402, USA. steinfeld.b@ghc.org.
Bradley
B
Steinfeld
Children's Hospital, 6901 Sand Point Way, Seattle, WA 98145, 98145, USA. Jennifer.Scott@seattlechildrens.org.
Jennifer
J
Scott
Group Health Cooperative, 322 W. North River Drive, Spokane 99201, WA, USA. Vilander.g@ghc.or.
Gavin
G
Vilander
Group Health Cooperative, 1730 Minor Ave, Seattle, WA 98401, 98101, USA. Marx.l@ghc.org.
Larry
L
Marx
, Seattle, WA, USA. mpquirk@msn.com.
Michael
M
Quirk
Molina Healthcare of Washington, Bothell, WA, USA. julie.lindberg@molinahealthcare.com.
Julie
J
Lindberg
Evidence Based Practice Institute, Seattle, WA, USA. k.koerner@comcast.net.
Kelly
K
Koerner
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*