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  • June 2010 (Revised June 2010)
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Virginia Mason Medical Center (Abridged)

By: Richard M.J. Bohmer
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:14
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Abstract

In 2000, Dr. Gary Kaplan became CEO of the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. The hospital was facing significant challenges: it was losing money for the first time in its history, staff morale had plummeted, and area hospitals presented ardent competition. Considerable change was imminent. Within his first few months, Kaplan had rallied the organization around a new strategic direction: to become the quality leader in health care. What Kaplan and his administrators lacked was an effective tool to execute their strategy. Soon thereafter, a series of serendipitous events led to the discovery of the Toyota production system, and the Virginia Mason Medical Center became entrenched in an overwhelming challenge: how to institute a production model in health care.

Keywords

History; Competition; Operations; Leadership Style; Problems and Challenges; Change Management; Health Care and Treatment; Business Strategy; Growth and Development Strategy; Health Industry; Seattle

Citation

Bohmer, Richard M.J. "Virginia Mason Medical Center (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 610-055, June 2010. (Revised June 2010.)
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