Hospitals Collaborate to Drive Down Supply Costs for Laparoscopic Appendectomies
May 30, 2010
Posted by chcablogadmin in : Cost Reduction, Group Purchasing
Next week, another 11 hospitals will join a recent project to drive down supply costs for laparoscopic appendectomies across CHCA hospitals. Previously, seven Owner Hospitals participated in a unique study to evaluate total supply costs and product choices for laparoscopic appendectomies using COMPARE as one of the data sources. They found a three-fold difference in supply costs among physicians — costs ranged from $500 to $1,500 per case — with no difference in time spent per case in the OR. Finding variation of this magnitude showcases the power of comparative data and of children’s hospitals performing “better together.” Improvements happened because Little Rock, Madera and Miami (with supply costs of less than a third of the highest cost hospital) were willing to share data, operational information and procedures with the rest of the group. Now, they have indentified $700,000 in savings for all seven hospital participants. Other work is underway to duplicate this model in new projects aimed at lowering costs and improving care in OR including equipment sterilization replacement, first case start time and turnover time.
Thanks to all participating hospitals for your leadership.
To become part of the laparoscopic appendectomy project or to find out more about the other studies, contact Kory Kittle (kory.kittle@chca.com) or Jennifer Gedney (jennifer.gedney@chca.com).
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