Intro to A3 Training Fundamentals DHA Network - Europe

July 23, 2024

Program Description: 

This course is offered in support of continuous process improvement (CPI) training requirements across the Defense Health Agency (DHA). 

Conducted by Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Master Black Belts and Black Belts, the course will be offered at a minimum of approximately once per month with flexibility in dates to accommodate MTF operational commitments, facility events, and personnel activities, which may impact the number of attendees.

The course will be offered primarily in a virtually setting and developed for 6-12 participants. Larger class sizes will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Traditional classroom instruction at MTF locations may be available, if requested, dependent on funding and other factors. Planning of course dates will be negotiated and created through DHA Network CPI Support and J-5 Training teams to ensure continuity and oversight for the conduct of the course.

Target Audience

This activity provides continuing education for physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, social workers, psychologists, dentists, dental hygienists, dental technicians, registered dieticians, dietetic technicians, and healthcare executives. A certificate of attendance is available for other attendees.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the 8-Step Practical Problem-Solving (PPS) methodology.
  2. Discuss the A3 as the documentation and communication tool for the 8-Step PPS.
  3. Explain how the DHA has adopted the 8-Step PPS and A3 as the foundation of their continuous improvement program.
  4. Recognize and employ basic improvement tools.
  5. Define DHA Lean Leader Core Competencies.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 2.00 Physician Assistants (AAPA)
    DHA J-7 CEPO has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 2.00 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 11:59pm ET. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
  • 2.00 ACCME Non-Physician CME Credit
    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing education. ACCME Non-Physician CME Credit providers will be provided a certificate of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. ACCME Non-Physician CME Credit providers may receive a maximum of 2.00 hours for completing this Course activity.
  • 2.00 Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
    By attending this program offered by DHA, J-7, CEPO, participants may earn up to 2.00 American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Qualified Education hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation. Participants in this program who wish to have the continuing education hours applied toward ACHE Qualified Education credit must self-report their participation. To self-report, participants must log into their MyACHE account and select ACHE Qualified Education Credit.
  • 2.00 Pharmacists (ACPE)
    JA4008136-0000-24-130-L99-P
    No valid paper/electronic statement of credit will be offered. DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to provide continuing education for Pharmacists. This knowledge based activity will provide a maximum of 2.00 contact hours of pharmacy continuing education credit. Participant CE records will be electronically communicated to CPE Monitor. There is no cost to participate in this activity.
  • 2.00 Pharmacy Technicians (ACPE)
    JA4008136-0000-24-130-L99-T

    No valid paper/electronic statement of credit will be offered. DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to provide continuing education for Pharmacy Technicians. This knowledge based activity will provide a maximum of 2.00 contact hours of pharmacy continuing education credit. Participant CE records will be electronically communicated to CPE Monitor. There is no cost to participate in this activity.

  • 2.00 Dentists and Allied Dental Staff (ADA CERP)

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education (CDE). ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

    DHA, J-7, CEPO designates this activity for 2.00 continuing education credits

  • 2.00 Physicians (ACCME)

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    DHA, J-7, CEPO designated this Course for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 2.00 Nurses (ANCC)
    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Joint Accreditation/ Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) to provide this Continuing Nursing Education Course for a maximum of 2.00 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 2.00 Psychologists (APA)
    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). DHA, J7, CEPO maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. DHA, J-7, CEPO designated this activity for a maximum of 2.00 CE credits. The instructional level of this activity is intermediate. There is no cost to participate.
  • 2.00 Social Workers (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, DHA, J7, CEPO is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 2.00 continuing education credits.

  • 2.00 Certificate of Attendance
  • 2.00 Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (CDR)

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Accredited provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 2.00 Continuing Professional Education units (CPEUs) for completion of this activity/material.

  • 2.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)

    In support of improving patient care, DHA, J-7, CEPO is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team. This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 2.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Course opens: 
07/23/2024
Course expires: 
08/06/2024
Event starts: 
07/23/2024 - 9:00am EDT
Event ends: 
07/23/2024 - 11:00am EDT
Add to calendar: 

Joseph T. Mathers. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
Julie A. Cocklin. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure: DHA J-7 staff, Planning Committee Members and reviewers have no financial or non-financial interest to disclose. All faculty members have no financial or non-financial interest to disclose.

Available Credit

  • 2.00 Physician Assistants (AAPA)
    DHA J-7 CEPO has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 2.00 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 11:59pm ET. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
  • 2.00 ACCME Non-Physician CME Credit
    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing education. ACCME Non-Physician CME Credit providers will be provided a certificate of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. ACCME Non-Physician CME Credit providers may receive a maximum of 2.00 hours for completing this Course activity.
  • 2.00 Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
    By attending this program offered by DHA, J-7, CEPO, participants may earn up to 2.00 American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Qualified Education hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation. Participants in this program who wish to have the continuing education hours applied toward ACHE Qualified Education credit must self-report their participation. To self-report, participants must log into their MyACHE account and select ACHE Qualified Education Credit.
  • 2.00 Pharmacists (ACPE)
    JA4008136-0000-24-130-L99-P
    No valid paper/electronic statement of credit will be offered. DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to provide continuing education for Pharmacists. This knowledge based activity will provide a maximum of 2.00 contact hours of pharmacy continuing education credit. Participant CE records will be electronically communicated to CPE Monitor. There is no cost to participate in this activity.
  • 2.00 Pharmacy Technicians (ACPE)
    JA4008136-0000-24-130-L99-T

    No valid paper/electronic statement of credit will be offered. DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to provide continuing education for Pharmacy Technicians. This knowledge based activity will provide a maximum of 2.00 contact hours of pharmacy continuing education credit. Participant CE records will be electronically communicated to CPE Monitor. There is no cost to participate in this activity.

  • 2.00 Dentists and Allied Dental Staff (ADA CERP)

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education (CDE). ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

    DHA, J-7, CEPO designates this activity for 2.00 continuing education credits

  • 2.00 Physicians (ACCME)

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    DHA, J-7, CEPO designated this Course for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 2.00 Nurses (ANCC)
    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Joint Accreditation/ Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) to provide this Continuing Nursing Education Course for a maximum of 2.00 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 2.00 Psychologists (APA)
    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). DHA, J7, CEPO maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. DHA, J-7, CEPO designated this activity for a maximum of 2.00 CE credits. The instructional level of this activity is intermediate. There is no cost to participate.
  • 2.00 Social Workers (ASWB)

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, DHA, J7, CEPO is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 2.00 continuing education credits.

  • 2.00 Certificate of Attendance
  • 2.00 Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (CDR)

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Accredited provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). CDR Credentialed Practitioners will receive 2.00 Continuing Professional Education units (CPEUs) for completion of this activity/material.

  • 2.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)

    In support of improving patient care, DHA, J-7, CEPO is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team. This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 2.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Please login or create an account to take this course.


Access Codes: Some courses require an access code to register. Please reach out to the point of contact at the organization providing the activity for the registration code. The Continuing Education Program Office (CEPO) does not provide access codes.

Accommodations: CEPO provides captions and transcripts to hearing-impaired learners upon request. For real-time closed captioning, contact CEPO at least three (3) business days before the event. If we cannot arrange for live captioning, a video recording and audio transcript will be provided after the event, typically within ten business days. For events delivered by CEPO’s partners, please contact the course instructor to inquire about accommodations.

For more details, or to submit a request, email dha.ncr.j7.mbx.cepo-cms-support@health.mil.