Recently, leaders from across the WVU Medicine system convened at the West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources to complete an intensive Six Sigma training course. This collaborative initiative marks a significant step in the system’s commitment to data-driven quality improvement and patient safety.
Six Sigma is primarily a customer-centric strategy designed to drive process improvement. While it utilizes various tools and techniques, its fundamental purpose is to enhance customer service. Furthermore, Six Sigma is implemented through a structured, project-based approach.
The three-day program, hosted by the WVU Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), focused on the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology—Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control—to eliminate process variations and enhance operational efficiency. Participants engaged in rigorous coursework designed to translate complex engineering principles into actionable healthcare solutions, targeting areas from medication safety to nursing resource management.
“By integrating engineering-based process improvements into our clinical and administrative workflows, we are better equipped to reduce errors and elevate the standard of care for our patients,” said Maura Mullen, MSN, RN, CCRN, Director of Nursing Resources at WVU Medicine United Hospital Center.
The training underscores WVU Medicine’s broader strategy of fostering a culture of continuous improvement and empowering its leadership to solve critical healthcare challenges through evidence-based practices.
The participating cohort included key leaders from several regional facilities: Mary Beach, MHA, BS, CHC, CPMA, CPC, COC, CPC-H, CCS, CPC-I, Director of Compliance & Local Compliance Officer, at WVU Medicine Berkeley & Jefferson Medical Centers; Lisa Price, Ambulatory, at Thomas Memorial Hospital; Beverly Angus, RN, MSN, MBA, Quality Manager: Risk, Safety, and Accreditation, at Jackson General Hospital; Karla Tucker, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, at St. Joseph’s Hospital; Maura Mullen, MSN, RN, CCRN, Director of Nursing Resources, at United Hospital Center, Christina Deusenberry, PharmD, BCPS, and Caity Frail, PharmD, MS, BCACP, Medication Safety Specialists, at Ruby Memorial Hospital; Danelle Conaway, MSW, LICSW, MHA, CCM, Population Health
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