post if you agree or disagree with the post It is possible to still deliver quality health care and keep costs down. My org

It is possible to still deliver quality health care and keep costs down. My organization uses 555 cost savings programs. Several representatives from the hospital were sent to six sigma training to bring ideas back for saving money. Once they returned from training, teams were formed, and the brainstorming began. The ideas consisted of cost cutting to profit increasing. In the respiratory therapy department, one way that we could contribute to the 555 plans was to open more outpatient slots for pulmonary function testing. This was done by modifying the schedule from 60-minute intervals to 30-minute intervals. Our profits increased by 40% in the first year. Another way we contributed was to look at all our supplies to see if there was an equal but cheaper alternative on the market. Sometimes we spent money to save money. Our department purchased heaters for the ventilator circuits to be heated and humidified. Studies have shown that patients placed on heated, humidified ventilation will have fewer days on the ventilator, which in turn saves the hospital money and gives the patient a better outcome. One failed 555 idea that I remember was when the dietary department decided to cut costs by switching the coffee from community to Maxwell House. There were many disgruntled employees when this happened, so the coffee was quickly changed back. The hospital decided to choose its battles wisely. There was never an idea that was too trivial to try. If things did not work out, then the change could always be reverted.