Top Three Flex Activities in 2009

1. Quality Improvement (including Lean Management)
2. Network Development (regional health planning, health system integration, regional hospital networks, etc.)
3. EMS system evaluation, planning, development and training

Flex Program Success Story

The most exciting new program that we are developing is Lean Management implementation. This is a quality improvement tool based upon the Toyota Production System model that has seen tremendous success in hospitals of all sizes. The Denver Health System is a great large system example of what can be done with Lean implementation. ThedaCare Health System in Wisconsin has also used Lean successfully in its CAHs. In North Carolina we have successfully begun implementation of Lean in three small rural hospitals, two of which are CAHs. Based upon this success we are targeting five small rural hospitals for implementation, four of which are CAHs. This tool for quality improvement has shown significant impacts on improving processes and outcomes as well as a tremendous positive impact on employee engagement and overall morale. We believe that running "lean" hospitals is the way of the future.

Most Significant Achievement

The single most significant achievement of our Flex program has been the conversion of the now 22 CAHs and the related stabilization of necessary revenue streams required to keep these facilities viable. There have been many other achievements of the Flex program but this is most notable, showing huge return on investment of Flex dollars and sustaining the anchor hospital of many rural NC communities.

Flex Program Details

Location: State Office
Number of CAHs: 22
Web site: http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/orhcc/

State Rural Health Plan
Rural Assistance Center State Resources