Challenging, supportive and transformative

For over 25 years, walkerproject, headquartered in St.Gallen, has been working with various organizations from the healthcare sector, but primarily with hospitals in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The consultancy is also in contact with members of St.Gallen Health. Last year, a project was implemented with the Eastern Switzerland Children's Hospital. The team has also visited Empa in St.Gallen as part of an internal training course. And walkerproject developed the functional design for the new emergency center at St.Gallen Cantonal Hospital together with the emergency team. Through its work, the consulting firm is improving the situation of thousands of patients and employees in the long term. Many years after completing the projects, the walkerproject team can see and prove the impact. The team receives recognition and gratitude from employees for what they have achieved together. This fills everyone with great joy. Walkerproject is driven by the people in the healthcare sector - by the patients, but also by the employees of the organizations.

The focus of the work is on lean. Lean is neither a religion nor witchcraft. Lean is unspectacular, something like the operating system of an organization. Continuous improvement is an important part of it. The only question is where? A strategy is needed and this is often lacking. According to Carla Walker, consultant at walkerproject, walkerproject has noticed that new hospitals are being built that lack both a strategy and good functionality. A lot of money is spent on buildings that are not fit for the future. Patients and staff suffer from the functional disadvantages on a daily basis. So walkerproject said to itself: "We can do better".

The "ideal" hospital

According to walkerproject, the "ideal" hospital is characterized by a patient-centric approach, highly qualified staff, efficient workflows and the optimal use of technology. Staff find themselves in an exciting working environment and actively contribute to improvements. Quality and safety are monitored and actively improved. Repetitive tasks are automated and staff can concentrate fully on the patients. In addition, transparent communication and good integration into the healthcare system ensure optimal care. And this is what walkerproject is fully committed to.