Tanya Stinson: Championing Transformative Change in Healthcare Quality and Safety

In a world where medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, as reported by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine, it is imperative to have leaders who are passionate about improving healthcare quality and safety. One such trailblazer is Tanya Stinson, the Founder and Owner of Leaning Towards Change, LLC and a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, who empowers leaders and organizations to achieve transformative change by helping them to make improvements that will positively impact healthcare quality and safety.  

Empathy-Driven Healthcare Consulting  

Tanya's inspiration for founding Leaning Towards Change, LLC, stems from her steadfast desire to help others. When the American College of Healthcare Executives of North Texas (ACHENTX) Student Council approached her to create certification courses, she acknowledged the financial hurdles they encountered while seeking quality education from other sources. In response, Tanya crafted affordable courses and embraced the role of a coach, guiding students through their process improvement journey. This empathetic approach highlights Tanya's commitment to empowering individuals in their quest for healthcare quality improvement.  

Tanya first encountered Lean Six Sigma in 2007 while working at an above-ground strip coal mining operation. However, her son's health challenges ultimately drove her to apply the Lean Six Sigma methodology to the healthcare sector. Combining her Lean Six Sigma expertise with the motivation derived from her son's experiences, Tanya has dedicated her life to transforming the healthcare landscape one improvement at a time. Through her mentorship, effective initiatives, and unwavering devotion to education, she continues to positively impact the lives of both patients and healthcare professionals.  

Transforming Businesses with Custom Quality Solutions  

Leaning Towards Change is a woman-owned minority business that provides exceptional quality, performance, change management, and process improvement coaching, training, and consulting services. Tailoring their approach to meet each client's unique needs, they help businesses identify and eliminate wastes, errors, inefficiencies, and defects in their daily operations. By addressing these non-value-added processes, Leaning Towards Change enables businesses to save time, money, and manpower, ultimately leading to enhanced productivity, safety, and efficiency. Under Tanya's leadership, this innovative consulting firm is dedicated to cultivating streamlined and effective operations, paving the way for enduring change and success across various industries.  

Leaning Towards Change was founded on the principles of helping students and professionals who are passionate about process improvement. Tanya's dedication to providing affordable education sets her consulting firm apart from others in the industry. The company's mission is to change the world, one small improvement at a time, with a focus on change management, process improvement, and quality patient/employee safety.  

Impactful Initiatives in the Healthcare Evolution  

Tanya Stinson's expertise has led to numerous successful initiatives that significantly impact healthcare organizations. Her notable projects, such as Blood Culture Contamination Reduction, Blood Wastage Reduction, Falls Reduction, and ED Discharge Time Reduction, focus on reducing wastes, errors, inefficiencies, and defects. These improvements help healthcare organizations save time, money, and resources while enhancing patient and employee safety and improving quality. Tanya's contributions have led to several healthcare organizations winning Quality and Safety awards, becoming Magnet designated, and Joint Commission accredited.  

Moreover, Tanya's commitment to mentorship and coaching earned her the 2020 ACHENTX Mentor of the Year award. Prioritizing long-term success for her mentees, she has played an instrumental role in developing numerous healthcare professionals, further solidifying her impact on the industry.  

Looking ahead, Tanya envisions the healthcare industry continues to evolve through the appropriate use of AI and technology. She believes that, when used responsibly, these advancements can lead to positive outcomes, such as accelerated learning for students, reduced complications for patients, and minimized human errors during surgeries and procedures. By leveraging her expertise and insights, Tanya aims to play an integral role in shaping the future of healthcare and ensuring the responsible integration of new technologies.  

Empowering Change Through Collaboration and Dedication  

Tanya, a champion of networking and collaboration in healthcare, emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and connecting with others. "Networking to me is THE most important thing," she says. As Co-Chair of the Women's Health Executive Network (WHEN) for ACHENTX, Tanya tackles key issues like the gender pay gap by inviting speakers to conferences to educate women on how to address these challenges.  

For aspiring healthcare professionals, Tanya encourages them to learn as much as they can about quality and process improvement, change management, and to keep setting ambitious goals. Her future plans for Leaning Towards Change, LLC, include expanding the availability of courses online, offering more courses during weekdays and weeknights, and reaching into other countries.  

Tanya's message to readers highlights the significance of healthcare quality, safety, and process improvement, urging the industry to listen to patients and employees, utilize change management, and improve communication and standard works to enhance healthcare outcomes for all.