I just was completing an example within one of the early beta tests within the Saskatoon health region to apply Lean principles, which was applied to a given lab relating to in-surgery testing, where there were dramatic improvements in performance; significant improvements in turnaround times; significant improvements in accuracy; and more interestingly, a freeing up of 1,000 square feet in the lab space.
This is very incremental in nature, but it's indeed transformational, because it engages front-line staff in identifying things that will save steps and improve customer focus.
One of the individuals who is participating as a volunteer on our committee happens to be serving on the health region. As they have broadened their implementation of Lean principles in Saskatoon over the last 18 months or so, they have been able to reduce components of their surgical wait list from 24 months in 2010 to an objective of three months in 2013. They are on track to achieve that objective. There are eight innovation sites occurring within the health care system in Saskatoon. They have a target relating to implementing Lean principles to their emergency room wait procedures through 2013.