Operational Solutions

The Members in Action series highlights how hospitals and health systems are implementing new value-based strategies to improve health care affordability. This includes the work described below to implement operational solutions.

Inova Health System – Falls Church, Va.
Focus on High-Value Care Improves Outcomes and Value

Inova Health System is involved in an interdisciplinary effort to create value by reducing services that provide little or no clinical value to patients. By standardizing pre-surgical testing processes, there is less confusion for patients and caregivers as to what tests are needed, reduced surgery delays and fewer procedure cancellations. Click here to read more..

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Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Ill.
Using the EHR to Drive Value

Northwestern Medicine created multi-disciplinary teams to maximize the EHR’s capabilities and improve care across the system. These Health System Clinical Collaboratives have resulted in systemwide improvements related to the patient experience, patient safety and the clinical experience, such as fewer duplicate tests, a universal consent form and improved hand-off tools. Click here to read more.

Johns Hopkins Health System – Baltimore, Md.
Implementing evidence-based practice improves care, reduces cost

The Johns Hopkins Health System High Value Care Committee focuses on improving patient care quality, safety and affordability by reducing practices that provide little or no value to patients. To achieve this, the health system ensures the appropriateness of its tests, procedures, treatments and medications. Click here to read more.

Midland Memorial Hospital – Midland, Texas
Predictive analytics creates value through nurse staffing system

Midland Memorial Hospital’s use of predictive analytics to manage the nursing workforce has resulted in higher patient experience scores, lower labor costs, less overtime and higher nurse satisfaction scores. The hospital also has seen a 32-percent reduction in overall nursing turnover and a 43-percent reduction in turnover among newer nurses. Click here to read more.

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Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Volunteers

Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas – Beaumont, TX
Volunteer Pharmacy Courier Program

In response to frustration by patients, nurses and pharmacy staff regarding timely delivery of medications to nursing units, Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas implemented a volunteer pharmacy courier program. The program decreases wait times for patients to receive their medications and allows the nursing staff to spend more time at the bedside. Click here to read more.

Boston Medical Center - Boston, MA
Collaborative Purchases Solar Power, Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions

To decrease operating expenses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Boston Medical Center buys electricity from a solar farmland in North Carolina, as part of a renewable energy project with two other Boston-based entities. Since 2011, through a wide range of energy-saving efforts, BMC has reduced its greenhouse gases by 93%. Click here to read more.

Jefferson Health – Philadelphia, PA
Strategic Relationship with GE Healthcare to Achieve $1 Billion in Efficiencies

Jefferson Health, in Philadelphia, partnered with GE Healthcare in a shared-risk relationship to improve patient care and efficiencies as well as generate cost savings.Click here to read more

Sutter Health – Sacramento, CA
AI Platform Improves Pharmacy Operations

Sutter Health, located in northern California, uses an artificial intelligence platform to reduce inpatient drug spending, decrease lengths of stay and improve quality and safety. Click here to read more

Edgerton Hospital and Health Services – Edgerton, WI
Geothermal Energy System Improves Care and Saves Money

Edgerton (WI) Hospital and Health Services is the first critical access hospital in the country to install a geothermal system, which relies on the earth’s natural temperature to heat and cool buildings. The system paid for itself in 6 years – that’s 9 years ahead of schedule. Click here to read more.

Russell Regional Hospital – Russell, KS
Achievement of ENERGY STAR® 100

Russell Regional Hospital, a critical access hospital, focuses on strategic investments to improve the hospital’s energy performance, which have allowed the hospital to significantly reduce costs and energy use. Click here to read more.

The Value Initiative