4 Hospitals That Saved Money in Innovative Ways

New technologies have allowed some hospitals and health systems to change and improve their internal processes — and find cost savings along the way.

Here are four hospitals that saved money in unique ways using solutions from Vocera, a technology and communications firm.

1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (Little Rock, Ark.). UAMS, the only academic medical center in Arkansas, looked to reduce fall rates and fall-related injuries, which can cost upwards of $25,000 per incident. Two nurses at UAMS created a scale to identify which patients are most susceptible to falling in the hospital. Combined with overhead paging and fall alarms, UAMS was able to reduce falls by 11 percent, while fall-related injuries dropped 60 percent. Officials estimated this initiative saved $1.27 million annually.

2. Northern Westchester Hospital (Mount Kisco, N.Y.). Northern Westchester strived to be in the top 1 percent nationally for patient satisfaction scores. The hospital implemented a new communication system with its nurse call system. Within a few months of the integration, Northern Westchester's HCAHPS scores for nurse responsiveness in maternity and medical/surgical units soared to the top 1 percent in the nation. Hospitals could save thousands within CMS' Value-Based Purchasing program, which factors patient satisfaction scores into Medicare reimbursement.

3. Central Maine Medical Center (Lewiston). CMMC was able to save $300,000 in labor costs by optimizing staffing and capacity in the operating room. OR delays fell 26 percent, and time spent on procedures dropped 2.7 percent thanks to improved communication throughout the perioperative processes. The $300,000 in savings came through decreasing full-time equivalents and paid hours due to enhanced productivity.

4. Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (Crosby, Minn.). Similar to Central Maine Medical Center, CRMC was able to improve its bottom line through enhanced communications in its OR. After implementing a new communication system throughout the perioperative process, the hospital witnessed fewer delays, less background noise and increased productivity. When combining the improved OR cycle time and increased surgical case volume (as well as factoring in higher labor costs), CRMC estimates it boosted net revenue by almost $2 million per year.

More Articles on Hospital Savings:
3 Tips for Reducing Supply Chain Costs
6 Ways Hospitals Can Save Money Without Killing a Budget
Hospitals Feeling the Squeeze: 4 CFOs on Today's Most Pressing Financial Issues

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