Exploring Sustainability and Efficiency Improvements in Healthcare: A Qualitative Study

Anastasia Vasileiou (), Eleni Sfakianaki and Georgios Tsekouropoulos
Additional contact information
Anastasia Vasileiou: Department of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patra, Greece
Eleni Sfakianaki: Department of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patra, Greece
Georgios Tsekouropoulos: Department of Organization Management, Marketing & Tourism, Sindos Campus, International Hellenic University, P.O. Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-34

Abstract: The integration of Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) within healthcare systems presents an opportunity to improve operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and the quality of patient care. This study examines healthcare professionals’ initial perceptions of GLSS adoption in their work environments, especially in the context of Industry 4.0, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic constraints. Through semi-structured interviews with healthcare workers and academics, the study reveals a cautious yet optimistic outlook. Participants recognize the potential for significant efficiency gains and waste reduction but also voice concerns about resource limitations and the need for comprehensive training. These preliminary findings provide important insights into the opportunities and challenges associated with implementing GLSS in healthcare, laying a foundation for future research and practical applications aimed at enhancing hospital operations through sustainable practices.

Keywords: green lean six sigma(GLSS); healthcare; process improvement; sustainability; qualitative study; efficiency; implementation challenges (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/19/8306/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/19/8306/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:19:p:8306-:d:1484632

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().