As we prepare for the trip, I am thinking about why I am going on the field seminar. I am interested in process improvement in healthcare delivery. I have observed the operations at many US hospitals and learned about projects such as decreasing ER wait times and improving patient flow. While each US hospital has different challenges, they are all part of a similar culture and are part of the same nationwide healthcare system. Solutions, therefore, are often developed with a like-minded framework. I decided to go to India to observe a healthcare system that is radically different than what I have experienced in the US. There are much diverse challenges in India, such as a much lower percentage of insured patients and environmental health risks. I want to see how the clinics and hospitals overcome these challenges. I hope to come back with more creative problem solving skills as I embark on a career in process improvement in healthcare delivery.
