loved to dream, create, and build new things Ifrom a young age. The connec on to becoming an engineer was not necessarily hard to make for me as an individual, but how this would play out in my career always le me feeling uncertain. My goals have always been to impact society and leave the world be er than it was when I entered it. O en mes, when people think of industrial engineering, they are le to ponder the impact of manufacturing or supply chain op miza on. While these are essen al applica ons, the core principles of efficiency, op miza on, and process improvement are incredibly valuable – and I would argue even more impacul – within the healthcare space. While working in my current role at CHRISTUS Health, I've seen firsthand the power of applying problem-solving methodologies to enhance pa ent care and improve opera onal efficiency. I have been blessed with a career that offers a unique blend of problem-solving with a deeply meaningful purpose.Healthcare is constantly changing and evolving and con nues to face problems rela ng to cost, quality of experience, and accessibility to care. These complex problems are precisely what industrial engineers are trained to evaluate! As we seek to analyze processes, iden fy barriers and bolenecks, and design soluons to reduce waste and improve opera ons, this can be addressed in a myriad of ways across the care con nuum. For example, while working at CHRISTUS Health, I have been challenged to opmize pa ent flow in a clinic to increase pa ent experience, implement lean principles in opera ng rooms to reduce wait mes, and even evaluate spacing and layout to ensure pa ents have a smooth visit in our facili es. Though the projects may vary, the ul mate goal remains to improve pa ent experience and access to care and ensure everyone who walks in our doors receives the best possible care.What sets a career in healthcare apart from other industries is the direct connecon to pa ent care and the tangible results of improved labor. Unlike in manufacturing, where success is o en measured in units produced, in my role, success is measured in lives touched and improved. Both types of success are valuable, but knowing that your work directly contributes to be er pa ent outcomes can bring a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment to your daily work. This career allows me to see the real difference we make in our pa ents' lives.The beauty of industrial engineering lies in its versa lity. The skills we possess, whether it's data analysis, process mapping, simula on, or human factors engineering, are highly transferable to the healthcare se ng. The Ins tute of Industrial & Systems Engineers underscores the importance of industrial engineering in healthcare and the value engineers bring to the table in this arcle a b o u t w o r k i n g i n h e a l t h c a r e : h ps://www.iise.org/details.aspx?id=50195. Whether you're interested in supply chain, opera ons, or hospital ac va ons, you can leverage your experse to make a real difference in healthcare. My team is privileged to work across our health system to deploy our knowledge to create be er pa ent-centered care throughout our communies.If you're an industrial engineer looking to leverage your skills into a meaningful and impacul career, I strongly encourage you to explore healthcare. While the day-to-day can be challenging, the reward of crea ng a be er system is exceponally sa sfying. Don't let your tradi onal views of industrial engineering limit a career that you would genuinely love. The skills possessed by industrial engineers are highly sought a er in healthcare, especially in the process improvement space, and the opportunity to make an impact is immense.As someone who took a few detours before landing on this career path, I'm passionate about sharing my experiences and connecng with other curious engineers about a healthcare career. Don't hesitate to contact me with any ques ons about industrial engineering, healthcare, how to bridge the gap, or even unconven onal career transions; I would be more than happy to share! Let's work together to build be er healthcare systems, one process at a me.Beyond the Factory Floor
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