Archive for December, 2010
The Integration of Technology and Quality
While putting together an article about infection-control technology, I spoke with an administrator who discussed spending over $200,000 on hand washing education. That doesnt sound like leading-edge stuff but its an important part of the process. Considering whats at stake with new legislative directives, providers will have to cover all bases for the changes to come. Read More »
Ultrasound Microbubbles Expand Value
Microbubbles consist of shells ranging from 1-4 micrometers in diameter that are injected with a gas and have the ability to reflect ultrasound waves. Because microbubbles reflect ultrasound waves differently than tissue, a unique sonogram is produced with these contrast agents. Currently, their primary focus is in echocardiography for the diagnosis of cardiac conditions but they are evolving to other applications, such as tumor identification and liver diseases. Additionally, microbubbles can be used to deliver drug therapy to a specific site. Read More »
Deep Impact
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index (CPI) for medical care has risen 3.3% and prescription drug costs rose an average 4.4% last year. Because of this, pharmaceutical costs are a major focal point for controlling expenses, especially since pharmaceuticals represent the third largest (15%) hospital cost, behind labor (50%) and supplies (20%). Read More »
Can You Improve Margins in Spinal Surgery?
Why cant we break-even on our spine cases? Its not the first time someone has asked me this and I am sure it wont be the last. However, its important to keep in mind is that spinal surgery is one of the more challenging procedures for a hospital to perform. Patients can spend up to six hours in the OR and days in recovery and surgeons use a wide variety of mechanical implants and biological materials. These alone can make up over 50% of the costs. So, even in a best-case scenario, there is little room for extra costs. Read More »
Remote Monitoring: Simple and Effective
Fascinating remote monitoring technology may be a simple solution to help reduce hospital readmissions. It is estimated that unplanned hospital readmissions cost Americans over $17 billion a year and, therefore, has become a focus for cost reduction in upcoming legislation. Even in its basic form, the technology has the ability to transmit a patients vital signs to a central location either by phone or over the internet. Telemedicine is not revolutionary; it is simply good medicine to follow-up on a patient once they leave the hospital. Read More »
Value-Based Purchasing Comes to Healthcare
Although value and quality may be an old cliché that always turns up in car ads, for a patient paying the bill, shouldnt they have the same mindset for a new knee or hip that costs as much as a car? Starting Oct. 1, 2012, CMS will institute the national hospital value-based purchasing (VBP) program as mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Its amazing how some hospitals really get the connection that technology can have a large impact on value and patients outcomes. Read More »
Barcoding Nets Both Safety and Lower Costs
Each year, adverse drug events cost an estimated $2 billion a year to treat. So, how can hospitals achieve the right medication, right dose, right patient, right time, and right route? According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, barcoding technology may be the answer. Read More »
High Value in Coronary CT Angiography
For years, the gold standard for diagnosing chest pain has been a cath lab procedure. However, along with being invasive and costly, it is a time-consuming procedure. Coronary CT angiography has been an evolving technology for years. Early 8- and 16-slice systems offered limited ability to produce high diagnostic quality images due to motion artifacts from natural movement of the heart. The new generation of 64-slice (with ECG gating) technology has allowed coronary CT angiography systems to overcome motion artifacts and, thus, become highly accurate in ruling out the narrowing of the coronary arteries. Read More »
Value of Healthcare IT
As Dr. Skiba said, the basic goal of IT is improving outcomes and reducing waste. Considering healthcare wastes $1.2 trillion every year, there is lot of potential for savings. One recent study placed an emphasis on direct operational savings, which were seen in reduced medical records and better charge capture and coding ($210 billion). Read More »