Week 6 Discussion 1: Cost Savings Resulting from Implementation of Quality Improvement Project
Please read the following scenario:
At Sacred Heart Hospital, the CNO went to a conference where he learned about a new mattress that could decrease pressure ulcers significantly. When he returned, he met with the wound nurse specialist and was told that she had wanted these types of mattresses for some time, but the cost was seen as prohibitive. The two of them then met with the vendor, who agreed to loan them three mattresses on trial for 1 month with the expectation that the hospital would purchase at least one (cost $5,000). It was estimated that the cost associated with a stage 3 hospital-acquired pressure ulcer at Sacred Heart was $20,000, which included the extended LOS (average of 5 days) and use of antibiotics and additional supplies to treat the wound. Also, the hospital would not be able to charge the payer for the additional care because it was a “never event” per CMS. The hospital would also be obligated to contact the local public health department because the wound had progressed to a stage 3. The hospital on average had a wound progress from a stage 2 to 3 approximately once a quarter. That would make the loss of revenue on an annual basis equal to $20,000 × 4 = $80,000.
A protocol was developed to determine the appropriate type of patients to be placed on this special mattress and was approved by the nursing and administration leadership. During the trial month, there were two patients who met the parameters of the protocol to be placed on the special mattress; neither patient’s wounds progressed. The wound nurse took ownership of managing who was placed on the mattress. If she was off when a case came up, she was willing to be paged.
Potential savings:
Prevention of pressure ulcers: 1/quarter × $20,000/case = $80,000.
Potential costs of the projects:
Development of the protocol by the wound specialist: $75/hour × 2 hours = $150.
Purchase of the mattresses: $5,000 × 2 = $10,000.
Total costs of the project: $150 + $10,000 = $10,150.
Net Savings = $80,000 – $10,150 = $69,850.
Initial Post
After reading the scenario, respond to the following prompts in an initial post:
Is there a business case for quality in health care? As a DNP, you know how providing care that is measurable (at a financial as well as a quality level) can give you the ability to request additional funding.
Take a moment and ponder a current project you are working on at your place of work. Could you, if requested, determine the costs associated with your project and what the potential savings to the organization could amount to?
Read the following in your Waxman textbook:
Chapter 9, “Ensuring Quality Care While Controlling Costs”
Read the following in your Buppert textbook:
Chapter 15, “Measuring Nurse Practitioner Performance”
4 RESOURCES
Include in-text citations from at least two course materials and two external scholarly resources.
PLEASE USE THESE TWO INTERNAL RESOURCES
Waxman, K. (2022). Financial and Business Management for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing LLC. https://reader2.yuzu.com/books/9780826160164
Dupont, B. J. (2021). The DNP and quality improvement — DNPs worst nightmare. https://www.doctorsofnursingpractice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2021DNPConf_Breakout_DupontB.pdf
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