Lean Program Named National L.E.A.P. Award Winner

East Jefferson General Hospital’s Pharmacy Department has earned the Gold L.E.A.P. (Lean Excellence Award in Pharmacy) Award from Baxter Healthcare Corporation for their outstanding work in reducing waste through Lean concepts and tools. Over 190 pharmacies throughout the United States submitted award applications, but the review committee singled out the EJGH Pharmacy for its efforts.

“We are extremely proud that our Pharmacy team has been recognized by an outside, national organization,” says Dr. Mark Peters, EJGH President, and CEO. “They put a tremendous amount of work into a Lean project that realized substantial savings to the hospital. It represents practical solutions for effectively moving our organization forward.”

The L.E.A.P award is in its second year and is hosted by Baxter Healthcare Corporation to pharmacies that use the Lean initiative to implement waste cutting measures in the area of pharmacy. The EJGH Pharmacy’s work in reducing the usage of IV bags has resulted in a projected annual saving of over $500,000 when compared to previous years.

In addition to the award, Baxter generously donated $1,500 to a charity of choice. The Pharmacy asked that the money be donated to the EJGH Foundation to support the capital campaign to expand our Outpatient Oncology Infusion Center.

“On behalf of the Foundation and our Board, I would like to thank and commend our Pharmacy staff,” says Rebecca Leonard McWilliams, EJGH Foundation Director of Development. “Pharmacy, in particular, plays such a leading role in the infusion program here at EJGH. This is a great honor for them, and we are especially grateful because the money will be directly used to benefit cancer patients in our community.