Cost Containment Proj- Help!

Nurses General Nursing

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I need help! I'm a new RN in a master's program with only school clinicals experience. I have to complete a cost containment project in my nursing economics class where some type of change in my "imaginary" facility (can be a hospital, home health, clinic, etc.) results in an overall cost savings of 5% or, at least, $20,000 or more. It can be any type of change as long as it's rational and supportable.

The problem is that I've had so little floor time that I have absolutely no clue how to approach this task. I'm sure that many of you have encountered situations/supplies/labor/etc in your facilities that you thought were inefficient or could be improved and wished you could change. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!

Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Instead of 2 imaginary ER docs in the ER during the busy time (usually noon to midnight) have a doc, a Nurse practicioner and maybe add a nursing assintant to decrease turn around time.

Or, better yet, make all of top management prove they're earning their pay. Then give them all a 2% pay cut for being so useless.

Implement a system where staff can make suggestions to save bucks in return for a financial reward. Nobody see's ways to cut costs like the people in the trenches.

Thanks for your comments dthfytr.

Anyone else out there with other thoughts or experiences? I'd love to hear from you!

Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

Linens! They are a huge expense and most hospitals I've worked for frequently throw fresh linens in the soiled linen bag because they're ripped or stained. These get laundered and returned to the hospital only to repeat the same process. You could come up with a protocol for only changing linen q48 hours unless soiled or something like that. You could then come up with a system where the ripped/stained linen goes in a special container back to the linen company at their expense so the hospital doesn't get charged. Sounds so simple but you'd be surprised how many hospitals eat the cost for icky linen. It's expensive! More than half the linen load we get from our linen company is filthy and we just toss it into soiled linen bins like we were the ones who dirtied them.

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