Using Six Sigma to Lower Medical Costs, while Improving Patient Service and Outcomes

CIGNA’s Leslie Benke and Smarter Solutions’ Forrest Breyfogle team up in discussion of using Six Sigma to Lower Medical Costs, while Improving Patient Service and Outcomes at the ASQ World Conference in May 2005. In regards to Six Sigma helping to change paradigms, they find that lower medical costs do not have to equate to lower quality outcomes. In addition, CIGNA focuses on its 3-tier approach to Six Sigma in proving the cross-divisional/business paradigm. Both find that Six Sigma data analysis tool provide new insights into medical services utilization, costs, and proactive solutions for improved clinical outcomes, leveraging benefits and resulting in more robust solutions.