UCD SNMHS & The Mater Lean Academy

University College Dublin (UCD) School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, and the Mater Lean Academy have collaborated since 2013 in the delivery of healthcare specific, Lean and Six Sigma programmes with a person centred ethos that work to translate theory into practice for healthcare workers and support staff, enabling real and meaningful improvements for patients and care providers alike.

In this way, over the last 9 years, 430 graduates from 7 hospital groups, community organisations and private hospitals have delivered long-standing improvements in the healthcare system by generating time and cost savings, improving quality of care and enhancing the experience of the service for both patients and healthcare staff. This has included improvement in experiences and outcomes for staff and patients in areas as diverse as Stroke Thrombolysis, Stroke Therapy, Patient Scheduling, Procurement, Data coding, ward and unit design, Rehabilitation, Hip Fracture Pathways, Pharmacy, Pathology, Radiology, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oncology and Community Health. Additionally over 2000 healthcare staff nationally have undertaken our 1 day Fundamentals of Process Improvement Programme, giving them an understanding of the processes they work on, in and with on a daily basis.

Our programmes are delivered by a team of experienced change agents who are based in the Mater Hospital and affiliated with UCD School of Nursing Midwifery and Health Systems. As well teaching, our Mater Lean Academy facilitators work as part of the Mater Hospital’s Transformation Team. They are uniquely positioned between frontline workers and senior management to build the understanding of how to bridge the gap between organisational strategic planning and the everyday challenges experience by staff and patients. Alongside our graduates, they are responsible for driving change and implementing sustainable results.