How do you improve healthcare without blaming the people working inside it? In this episode, I explore how Mayo Clinic turns systems problems into measurable change—using DMAIC, root cause analysis (RCA), simulation, frontline observation, and an institutional culture of quality improvement.

Drawing on four recent Mayo Clinic projects, we look at:

• how structured education, participation tracking, and simulated RCA increased radiology residents’ participation in safety-event investigations by 33%;

• how a one-hour simulated RCA improved residents’ comfort with RCA participation, understanding of what to expect, and ability to identify system issues;

• how low-cost, workflow-embedded changes to privacy, wait-time communication, and physical comfort raised top-box nuclear medicine waiting-area comfort scores from 76% to 85% ...