Lean Six Sigma Black Belts graduate at Womack

By Sameria Zavala, Womack Army Medical Center Public AffairsNovember 5, 2015

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BRAGG, N.C.-- Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) employees graduated from the Regional Health Command Atlantic (Provisional) (RHC-A (P)) Lean Six Sigma Black Belt program, Oct. 23.

The Lean Six Sigma (L6S) program is designed to improve productivity ultimately speeding up processes while improving quality and eliminating the waste in any process.

Col. John Melton, WAMC chief of staff, addressed graduates and supporters during the graduation ceremony.

"At the beginning of fiscal year 2015, Womack started off with an operating budget of 315 million dollars," said Melton. "For fiscal year 2016, we are starting off at 380 million dollars. In the last 12 months, we've recaptured over 55 clinical examine rooms, brought on board nearly 400 DA civilians and 150 contractors. There is a lot of investment that is going on at the strategic level."

RHC-A (P) master black belt instructors, Patrice McCray, Ed. D. and Bruce Willis, sent from Fort Belvoir, Virginia to Fort Bragg, North Carolina taught 20 WAMC employees over the course of four months, one 40-hour work week per month.

"I have really enjoyed working with the Womack staff," said McCray. "Since we have spent so much time together, it has become more of a family feel."

"As a black belt, that individual is expected to lead projects," said Willis. "The green belt has the tools to lead, but is ultimately there to assist the black belt. The green belt course is a two-week course over a two-month period and the yellow belt course is two-day course. We are looking at fixing entire systems not just one project."

There are 35 active L6S projects, 26 projects were generated out the green belt and black belt courses at WAMC.

"Anybody can tell me what they cannot do with what they do not have, but the expectation of professionals is to be able to articulate what you can do with what you've got," said Melton. "Because it has never been about do more with less, it's always been about do better with what you have."

Monica Spell, WAMC Department of Surgery supervisory health system specialist, took on the project of improving the timeliness of performance review in the Department of Nursing.

"The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course was a great opportunity to put many tools in my toolbox," said Spell. "I am excited to work with my Department of Surgery team using the 'Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control' model to help increase our operative cases in the operating room. This will further contribute to WAMC's stretch goal."

Melton closed out the ceremony with encouraging words to the graduates.

"If you are not part of the solution, you are by definition the problem," said Melton. "I see L6S as a culture shift for us. I want us to be very excited about this. I need each of you to go forward and be advocates for this.

"Congratulations on a lot of hard work. I personally and professionally have expectations of you and I know you will not disappoint."

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