Lean in healthcare – history and recent developments

Purpose -This editorial briefly outlines present applications of lean systems applications in healthcare and then summarises the contributions to this special edition.Design/methodology/approach -A brief background to lean is introduced to provide the context for the subsequent papers in this special issue Findings -The requirements for successful introduction of Lean Systems Thinking (LST) to healthcare organizations share much in common with the requirements for the initial introduction of lean to manufacturing organizations.However, introducing LST in healthcare is further complicated by the necessity of navigating complex social and organisational structures associated with the professional identities of healthcare practitioners.Originality/value -Though there has been a recent increase in the reported research on LST in healthcare, these reports have focused on the gains achieved through the application of lean tools and techniques.This work explores the under-reported socio-technical aspects that greatly affect the success of lean interventions.