24 Modern Healthcare | August 19, 2019
Cost reduction
Conrad Emmerich
Senior vice president of operations
Wake Forest Baptist Health
Emmerich oversaw implementation
of a real-time location system that
tracks more than 17,000 pieces of
medical equipment. It’s helped improve
utilization trends and inform purchasing
decisions. The program has generated
more than $3.5 million in savings by
avoiding equipment purchases. An
automated temperature-control system
has been deployed for more than 1,100
temperature-controlled units that store
vaccines, insulin and blood. Real-time
technology also keeps patients informed
of wait times, which have dropped by
50% because of the system.Steve Hess
Chief information offi cer
UCHealth
Among the innovations Hess
has pioneered at UCHealth
is a machine-learning
initiative that not only
created effi ciencies in the
operating room, but increased
revenue by $10 million.
It redesigned scheduling
across the system to better
manage OR availability. The
real-time program gave
surgeons greater control of
scheduling procedures. Hess
also launched an innovation
center, which uses data to
reduce variation and improve
workfl ow.Ritu Jain
Executive director of medical affairs | Stamford Health
Jain implemented a mobile program to capture data on physician
spend—total dollars spent on physician contracts. Previously,
the paper-based process was burdensome and inaccurate. The
new process tracks physician activity in real time, gets necessary
approvals and makes payments to doctors, all online. The initiative
has saved money—$103,000 annually—and achieved widespread
adoption among physicians. Additionally, prior to the technology,
Stamford was not submitting physician administrative data on CMS
cost reports. That’s changed and has helped increase revenue.
Dr. Nicholas Desai
Chief medical information offi cer
Houston Methodist
Desai launched a program providing
real-time clinical and fi nancial data at
the point of care. At pilot site Houston
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, the
average cost savings was $105 per
admission. The program is being
rolled out systemwide, with predicted
savings of $18 million to $20 million.
Patient safety is also a factor; only
medication alerts approved by the
system’s pharmacy and therapeutics
committee are displayed.Justin Hammerling
Associate vice president
ProMedica Innovations
To solve the problem of claims denials, Hammerling and his team worked to
develop a solution called I/O Surg. It allows for the correct billing code and
patient status to be submitted in just two clicks. During the fi rst six months
of implementation in 2017, the system reduced claims denials by
$1.36 million. As use of the tool is expanded to other service lines
and the overall revenue cycle, reimbursement is expected to climb
and staff will spend less time chasing denials.