Improvement in prescription renewal handling by application of the Lean process.

The health care industry, challenged to deliver improved quality of care at lower cost, may benefit from application of Lean methodologies used by other industries to meet similar challenges. Management of phone requests for renewals of prescriptions at this ambulatory care setting was wrought with delays, extra steps, and ineffective work practices. Lean methodologies assisted in identifying a prescription renewal process with more value and less waste, mbulatory care leaders and staff may successfully apply Lean methods to achieve cost-effective care with improved quality of care for many of the care and business processes.