Every Patient Counts Awarded the Shingo Publication Award
February 25, 2026 – the Shingo Institute
Every Patient Counts Awarded the Shingo Publication Award
LOGAN, Utah—February 25, 2026—The Shingo Institute, part of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, is pleased to announce that Every Patient Counts by John Toussaint, Grey Dube, and Irene Serunye has been selected to receive the Shingo Publication Award. This award recognizes authors and publications that advance understanding of operational excellence and embody the principles of the Shingo Model.
Every Patient Counts stands out for its powerful narrative, evidence‑based insights, and unwavering commitment to demonstrating how leadership behaviors directly impact human lives. Set against the backdrop of South Africa’s healthcare system, this remarkable true story tells how leaders fundamentally transformed their own behaviors and unlocked the creativity, problem‑solving capacity, and intrinsic motivation of their teams. By shifting from command‑and‑control to people‑centered approaches, these leaders helped their organizations make measurable and life‑saving improvements. Through vivid storytelling and practical application, the book not only documents the journey of these healthcare leaders but also provides actionable tools that challenge readers to reflect on and elevate their own behaviors.
“Every Patient Counts is a compelling example of how principled leadership can transform organizations and save lives,” said Ken Snyder, Executive Director of the Shingo Institute. “It embodies the ideals of the Shingo Model by demonstrating respect, humility, and a deep commitment to continuous improvement.”
The transformative lessons within these pages have resonated deeply with readers across the healthcare and leadership communities:
Every Patient Counts packs more insights per page than any other book of the many I read on applying lean thinking and practices to healthcare. In addition to learning the ins and outs of introducing lean management to a hospital, the reader benefits from hearing the inspirational story of revolutionizing healthcare delivery where it was desperately needed in Africa. If such improvement is achievable in South Africa, surely it can be anywhere. All that is needed is the knowledge and the will. Kudos to the authors and to the healthcare improvers you will read about in Every Patient Counts. —John Shook, Past Chairmanand CEO, Lean Enterprise Institute
When does a journey begin? With first steps, the preparations, the years that preceded even the idea, when frustration grew about “where we are”? Whatever it was, Mr. Dube and his senior staff began their improvement journey when the opportunity came. When Dr. Toussaint met Mr. Dube, he committed to make Catalysis available to sustain and propel the journey to the next level. The Leratong journey story towards improved quality of care is inspiring. A good place to start a journey. But good preparation and support along the way are also necessary. I commend this book to you to inspire you to start or sustain your journey. —Prof. Norman Faull, Chairman, Lean Institute Africa
Treating a patient, much like transforming an organization, requires a situational approach. They have unique backgrounds, attributes, symptoms, and available resources. In Every Patient Counts, Grey Dube and John Toussaint tell us about the remarkably successful transformation of an under resourced hospital in South Africa. This book is for any leader who relates to the mantra, “reach for your mind before reaching for your wallet,” which is to say, it’s for any leader who embraces the kaizen mindset. —Josh Howell, CEO of Lean Enterprise Institute
Every Patient Counts is an enlightening book that catalogues how Lean Management approach was employed to change the organizational culture, qualitatively improve the quality of healthcare, and save lives at Leratong Hospital, in the Gauteng City Region. This book is a historical record of what was achieved in Leratong Hospital under able and phenomenal leadership. It is also an inspiration and leadership manual on how with dedication, the application of lean management can improve the quality of public services and meet the needs of citizens. I also unreservedly commend this book to the public managers, academics, researchers, and students. —David Makhura, Former Premier, Gauteng Province
The work done by Mr. Grey Dube and the Gauteng Department of Health exemplifies transformative leadership and innovation in healthcare, especially in resource-constrained environments. Through the introduction of Lean management principles at Leratong Hospital, they catalyzed a dramatic transformation in patient care and operational efficiency. The significance of this work lies in its scalability and adaptability. The approach not only improved outcomes at Leratong Hospital, it inspired broader systemic changes within Gauteng’s framework. It demonstrated that in underfunded settings imaginative leadership and continuous improvement yield transformative results. This serves as a model for healthcare systems worldwide to emulate. —Lesiba Arnold Malotana, Head of Department, Gauteng department of Health & Wellness
The Shingo Publication Award, one of the most respected honors in the field of organizational excellence, recognizes authors whose work significantly influences leadership and cultural transformation across the globe, which Every Patient Counts delivers with clarity and purpose. By providing leaders with practical tools to strengthen patient‑centered mindsets and align beliefs, behaviors, and outcomes, Every Patient Counts advances the worldwide conversation on building sustainable, principle‑driven cultures in healthcare.
The authors will be recognized at the Shingo Connect Awards Gala in San Diego, CA on March 19, 2026. Shingo Connect includes workshops, site tours, keynotes, and sessions focused on achieving organizational excellence. Learn more at shingo.org/events. To purchase a copy of Every Patient Counts or other Shingo publications, visit https://shingo.org/books.
About the Authors
Dr. John Toussaint has been a leader in the global Lean healthcare movement for more than 25 years. An internist and former CEO, he has written or co‑authored four books recognized by the Shingo Institute and serves as CEO of Catalysis, a nonprofit education institute that trains healthcare leaders around the world.
Grey Dube spent 40 years in South Africa’s public healthcare sector, including 12 years as CEO of a Gauteng Regional Hospital. He received the 2020 Provincial Service Excellence Award for Innovation, and the hospital achieved numerous accolades under his leadership. A passionate systems designer and coach, he mentors leaders in fundamental behaviors and has shared his expertise at international Lean conferences with Catalysis and the Lean Institute Africa.
Irene Serunye is a former nurse who dedicated 25 of her 40 years in healthcare to clinical practice, education, and management. Her curiosity led her to Lean management, igniting a passion for quality and excellence, and she champions unlocking human potential through coaching. As the CEO’s Lean partner, she pioneered the “buddy system,” driving the adoption of Lean principles with significant organizational impact.
About the Shingo Institute
The Shingo Institute is home to the Shingo Prize, an award recognizing organizations that demonstrate an exceptional culture fostering continuous improvement. Part of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, the Shingo Institute is named after Japanese industrial engineer and Toyota adviser Shigeo Shingo, one of the world's thought leaders in the Toyota Production System.
Drawing from Dr. Shingo’s teachings and years of experience working with organizations worldwide, the Shingo Institute developed the Shingo Model, the basis for its various educational offerings, including workshops, study tours, and conferences. Workshops are available in multiple languages through the Institute's Licensed Affiliates. For more information on workshops and affiliates or to register to attend an event, please visit https://shingo.org.
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