Mater Transformation was a pioneer of lean methodology in Irish healthcare, using an interdisciplinary collective leadership approach to help healthcare teams redesign systems and processes. Within ten years of being founded, the Mater Lean Academy, a collaboration with our academic partner UCD Health Systems, has enabled 430 graduates from 53 healthcare organisations to deliver improvements in the healthcare system by generating time and cost savings, improving quality of care and enhancing the experience of the service for both patients and healthcare staff. In addition, over 3,500 healthcare staff nationally have undertaken the Mater Lean Academy's one day Fundamentals of Process
Improvement Programme.
In 2016, Mater Transformation began working with the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) to explore the potential for design based innovation at the Mater Hospital. Within seven years, this collaboration connected over 150 design students with healthcare workers to provide a new perspective on more than 70 different healthcare challenges. The two organisations have also collaborated on large-scale design-led innovation through funding secured from sources such as HSE Spark Innovation, Sláintecare Integration Fund and the Public Service Innovation Fund. Many of the solutions that have emerged are now enhancing the patient experience, resolving challenges, addressing quality and safety issues and empowering patients through enhanced educational and support tools.