Saving our hospitals

[RN92]

Recently, my hospital sent out a memo. They were trying to cut back costs and if anyone had ideas on ways to do that - they would have a drawing out of those ideas every week and the person would get something (i dont remember).

I thought it would be cute to make a list here of IDEAS on ways to save money. Please add to the list if you have an idea. We all need to pitch in and help support our community hospitals, right. (Yeah, right)

1. Reuse bedpans,urinals, foley bags. After each pt, just wash them out for the next pt.

2. Stop using alcohol pads. Soapy wet rag works just as good.

3. Gloves are way too expensive to be using on every pt. Just use them on the dirty pts

4. Paper towels for drying hands. Brisk waves in the air will dry them fast - or just wipe them on your pants

5. Everyone bring your own toilet paper to work

6. never throw extra meds (partial doses) away. We can collect them and repackage them. For example: left over phenergan IV 12.5 - 2 of them will give us a whole other bottle of 25mg

7. Pts should be prepared to come to the ER. Let them bring their own gowns and personal belongings bag.

[RN92]

8. No need for ID bracelets. Just use a marker and write their name and account number on their arm or forehead.

[gerry79]

If the linen is not soiled, dont change it. Just remake the bed for the next patient.

Replace the housekeeping staff and have the nursing staff do all of the cleaning between patients.

Get rid of the cooks and kitchen staff. Have the nurses prepare food the day before their shift and bring it in for their patients.

Also the nursing staff will bring in soap and toiletries every week for their patients.

The nursing staff shall also bring in books and videos/DVD's and donate them to the hospital library.

These steps should save the hospital a considerable amount of money, and boost patient morale!

[Titiana]

Replace the housekeeping staff and have the nursing staff do all of the cleaning between patients.

Don't forget we'll get rid of all those aides as well.

Instead of nursing staff, we just have the nursing students do all the dirty work.

OH, yeah, that's right, they already do.

Lol, currently a nursing student and whenever we on the floor the aides are on permant break.LOL

[HyperRNRachel]

Replace the housekeeping staff and have the nursing staff do all of the cleaning between patients.

Don't forget we'll get rid of all those aides as well.

Instead of nursing staff, we just have the nursing students do all the dirty work.

OH, yeah, that's right, they already do.

Lol, currently a nursing student and whenever we on the floor the aides are on permant break.LOL

I'm a student too and I was thinking the same thing. Nursing students show up on the floor and the only people that are happy about it are the aides! :chuckle

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

Memo To: All Hospital Staff

From: Administration/Groundskeeper

Subject: New Cost Cutting Measures

Effective January 1 this hospital will be initiating the following cost cutting measures.

Food services will be discontinued. Patients waiting to be fed will need to let their families know to bring in something or may make arrangements with Subway, Pizza Hut or Sizzler etc. before mealtime. Coin operated telephones will be available in the patient rooms for this purpose as well as for other calls patient's wish to make.

Housekeeping and physiotherapy are being combined. Mops will be issued to those patients who are ambulatory, thus providing "range of motion" exercise as well as a clean environment. Family members and friends of patients may also sign up to clean the room of non-ambulatory patients for special discount on their final bills. Time cards will be provided.

As you can see on the "from" line above, Administration is assuming Groundskeeping duties. If an Administrator cannot be reached by calling his/her office it is suggested that you walk outside and listen for the sound of a lawn mower or Whipper Snipper.

Engineering is being eliminated. The hospital has subscribed to the TIME-LIFE "Do IT Yourself" series of maintenance books. These books can be checked out from Administration and a toolbox will be standard equipment on all nursing units. We will be receiving the series at a rate of one volume every other month. We already have the volume on Basic Wiring, but if a non-electrical problem occurs, please try to handle it as best you can until the appropriate volume arrives.

Physicians will be informed that they may not order more than two X-rays per patient stay. This is due to the turnaround time required for the "Rabbit" photo lab. Two prints will be provided for the price of one, and physicians are being advised to clip coupons from the Sunday paper if they want extra sets. "Rabbit" will also honour competitors coupons for one-hour processing in an emergency situation, so if you come across any coupons, please cut them out and send them to the Accident and Emergency Department.

In light of the extremely hot weather the Electricity Company has been asked to install individual meters in each patient's room and staff offices etc., so that the electrical consumption can be monitored and appropriately billed. Fans will be available for sale or lease in the hospital Gift shop.

The hospital will no longer employ a security guard. Each charge nurse will be issued with a .38 caliber revolver and 12 rounds of ammunition. An additional 12 rounds will be stored in the Pharmacy. In addition to routine nursing duties, Charge Nurses will rotate the patrolling of the hospital grounds. A bicycle and helmet will be provided for patrolling the Car Parks. In light of the similarity of monitoring equipment, ICU will now take over the security surveillance duties. The ICU CNC will be responsible for watching Cardiac and security monitors as well as continuing previous secretarial duties.

In addition to the current recycling programs, a bin for the collection of unused fruit and bread will soon be provided on each floor. Families, patients and the few remaining employees will be encouraged to contribute discarded produce. The resulting mouldy compost will be utilised by the Pharmacy for the nosocomial production of antibiotics. These antibiotics will also be available for purchase through the hospital pharmacy and will coincidentally, soon be the only antibiotics on the "Standard Hospital Drug List".