Process Improvement: Healthcare Management Council Partner William Beaumont Hospital, Troy Tracks Down Lost Patient Trackers, Saves Thousands With Laundry Incentives

Like socks lost in the washing machine, William Beaumont Hospital Troy was losing patient tracking devices when patients were discharged from the Emergency Center. Their simple solution saved them over $20,000 in the first 16 months. Hospitals around the country are under tremendous pressure to cut costs, as reimbursements decline. The Healthcare Management Council's KnowledgeWeb (http://www.HMC-Benchmarks.com/hospital/tools_kw.shtml) shares cost-cutting ideas generated at Partner facilities to help hospital managers keep their facilities competitive.

(PRWEB) January 21, 2004 --The Emergency Center at William Beaumont hospital, Troy had a problem with losing patient trackers (computer chips designed to track patients). Upon discharge, the trackers were often left attached to patient gowns or included with their bedding and were inadvertently sent to the laundry service and lost. Each tracker cost the hospital $95 to replace.

A Lost and Found Process Improvement Committee was formed to address multiple issues within the hospital. Committee members included staff from Public Relations, Nursing Administration, Surgical Services, Patient Registration and Emergency Administration. As a result of the Lost and Found Process Improvement Committee, more cost-effective procedures for the hospital were developed, such as the Recovery Program that rewards laundry service employees with a $25 gift certificate for every five (5) trackers they return to the hospital. In 2002, 169 trackers were returned and 24 gift certificates were given out. In the first four months of 2003, 60 trackers have been returned, and nine gift certificates have been given out. The success of this program has saved the hospital $20,930 in the last 16 months.

This performance improvement measure, using similar incentives, could be used to recover other frequently "lost" items such as telemetry transmitters & wheelchairs.

This idea is part of HMC's collection of "Successes and Good Ideas," articles highlighting successful performance improvement measures in health care. For more information on these articles and other HMC hospital networking events visit http://www.HMC-Benchmarks.com/hospital/ccs.shtml.

Contact: Shelley Burns (SHBurns@HMCOnline.net)
The Healthcare Management Council, Inc.
Area: Hospital Performance Improvement
Web site: http://www.HMC-Benchmarks.com
Phone: (262) 242-9471
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