Data Analysis and Related Applications 3

12Lean Management as an Improvement Factor in Health Services. The Case of Venizeleio General Hospital of Crete, Greece

In recent years, the issue of lean management has been of great concern to the health sector, as its previous application in other sectors has shown how significant the benefits it can bring are for the organizations that adopt it. The work examines the degree of application of the simple management in the health units of Greece and specifically in the Venizeleio General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, examining the views of the employees.

The research sample consisted of 83 employees of the Venizeleio General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, who were selected according to the convenient sampling. The research method used was quantitative and the research tool used was the questionnaire. The research data were analyzed according to the SPSS statistical package.

The results of the research showed that the Venizeleio General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, has adopted and applies the principles of simple management to a significant degree. It was also found that employees have knowledge of simple management issues, while understanding the benefits of its implementation. In addition, the hospital staff are positive about acquiring additional knowledge about simple management.

12.1. Introduction

In the 21st century, the health sector has faced a multitude of fiscal problems: as the demand for health services increases, so does their cost (Toussaint and Berry 2013