David P. Langford of Langford International, Inc., first implemented quality learning tools, techniques, theories and philosophies in the educational environment almost two decades ago, when many people still thought that quality management was only important in manufacturing. Since then, organizations as different as insurance, banking, construction, government, education and healthcare have come to understand the importance of quality. Process improvement, understanding systems and satisfying or delighting customers have been embraced by many leaders in organizations who seek to succeed in our global marketplace.

One ongoing example of quality learning and learning about quality in the Greater Lansing area is the Capital Area Health Education Partnership program (CAHEP). CAHEP is a collaborative effort between the public education community and area healthcare providers to prepare high school students to become future healthcare employees.

It is the purpose of CAHEP to provide high school students with direction and exposure to health careers, as well as to prepare students for the transition into post-secondary training and/or healthcare employment. From the beginning, the staff and curriculum writers of the program understood the importance of process improvement and quality learning in healthcare.  

Before starting the program two years ago, nurse and CAHEP teacher Laurie Miller had the opportunity to attend a four-day Quality Learning Seminar offered by David Langford and Langford International. Laurie was delighted to discover that the quality learning concepts and tools that Langford shared fit perfectly into healthcare and healthcare education. They also fit into the way she herself sees healthcare and the direction that future healthcare workers need to be heading—as critical thinkers and problem solvers.

Langford’s quality learning includes many of the same principles as Dr. W. Edwards Deming (Langford’s own mentor). However, Langford takes them from their beginnings in manufacturing and creates the tools and concepts that fit better in education and healthcare.

Here are just a few of the ways that CAHEP students use Langford’s quality learning:

• The students are treated as adult learners—taking ownership of their learning.

• Move from learning for just the grade, to learning for the purpose of learning.

• Learn to apply levels of learning and move beyond just the information level to knowledge, know-how and wisdom.

• Create a portfolio of their work, learning to document and defend what they have learned.

• Learn and apply statistical and problem-solving tools for process improvement.

• Work in teams and learn to collaborate.

Not only does Langford’s quality learning fit well into the field of healthcare, CAHEP’s partners are pleased to see the results of the program. Partners collaborate with CAHEP reinforcing “do not teach these students what they need to know right now—rather to become the healthcare workers of the future.” Skills needed for those future workers include those mentioned above, such as working in teams and being critical thinkers.

Beyond all of the quality learning in the classrooms supplied by Sparrow Health System and Ingham Regional Medical Center, the highlight of the program for the students is working with their assigned mentors and having the opportunity to job shadow their mentors and other healthcare staff.

Laurie Miller and CAHEP’s new instructor Gail D. Harvey (also a nurse) look forward to the opportunity to hear David Langford speak when he visits Lansing this summer from his home in Montana. He will be speaking at Lansing Community College’s Capital Quality Initiative breakfast program on July 22. To learn more, contact CQI at 517-483-1363 or on the Web at www.capitalquality.org.

For information about CAHEP, call the Ingham Intermediate School District Capital Area Career Center at 517-244-1302 or www.inghamisd.org/caccweb.

		Adrian Bass is director of Capital QUality Initiative (CQI) at Lansing COmmunity College. CQI inspires continuous inprovement and excellence through learning opportunities for individuals and organizations to promote quality.