GE and iSixSigma Partner To Advance Healthcare Quality

GE and iSixSigma LLC announced a strategic alliance to launch an internet portal focused specifically on the healthcare application of Six Sigma - a rigorous, data-driven method for process and quality improvement. The primary purpose for this co-branded portal is to facilitate improvements in healthcare quality and efficiency by providing free and easy access to educational and reference materials, case studies, best practices and other information designed for healthcare professionals.

"Today's healthcare organization faces tough challenges," said Paul Mirabella, President and CEO for Healthcare Services, "including concerns over medical errors, malpractice, workforce shortages, inefficient operations and rising costs. Along with new technologies, meeting these challenges and improving service quality will require a new knowledge base and access to relevant resources. By aligning our respective content and technical expertise, GE Healthcare and iSixSigma will assist healthcare professionals in finding and using these resources to create sustainable change."

The General Electric Company was an early and ardent supporter of this methodology, achieving impressive cost savings and productivity improvement across its global businesses. In 1997, Healthcare Services began working with customers to translate this methodology into the language of healthcare delivery. GE's Six Sigma experts have successfully introduced the approach to more than 1500 healthcare facilities worldwide.

"The iSixSigma/GE Healthcare healthcare portal will bring together two industry leaders and leverage their respective core competencies to help transform the way healthcare is delivered and administered around the world," said Michael Cyger, Managing Director of iSixSigma. "By working together and continually expanding the resources available on the portal, we're equipping the community to solve healthcare's greatest problems. We hope that our combined efforts will foster and generate waves of innovation throughout the healthcare industry."

The iSixSigma/GE Healthcare healthcare portal features an interactive discussion forum, original and insightful articles, newsletters, free tools, professional development and other useful resources. Original article submissions are welcomed from Six Sigma and industry experts, consultants and others interested in sharing information and improving healthcare quality.

iSixSigma and GE Healthcare share a common vision to promote the use of the healthcare portal as a global learning and communications platform for improving processes across the healthcare industry, with the goal to create a more efficient, cost effective and higher quality system for delivering patient care.