This article highlights the challenge that lies in navigating the immeasurable amounts of data collected by EHRs. A software solution specifically designed for surgical services provides visibility into key data points that yield substantial cost savings by reducing waste and producing opportunities for revenue generation.

This group recognized the unnecessary burden on the OR supply chain that results from excess instrumentation. By applying a Lean model, they were able to provide a cost savings of $2.8 million annually for the hospital, while improving quality.

In this review of almost 300,000 surgeries, longer operative duration was independently associated with increased infectious complications and hospital length of stay, after controlling for procedure and patient risk factors. Enhanced communication and efficiency by modernizing the process will improve patient outcomes.

By conducting a manual audit of preference cards for laparoscopic procedures alone, this group provided $450,000 in annual cost savings for the hospital.

Surgical services generate a large percentage of a hospital’s revenue, but also account for a reported 60% of hospital operating costs. Harnessing the power of OpFlow’s data analytics engine enables the hospital to realize rapid time to value in reducing surgical cost, while also improving the delivery of care.

This study demonstrates the significant potential cost savings possible by reducing turnover time between procedures. Improving insight into the surgical plan and providing a unified communication platform on which the surgeon and OR team can rapidly communicate makes realization of these cost savings possible.

This article succinctly captures the objective of cloud-based software solutions in healthcare. By providing infrastructure that works in the background to streamline the process for providers, there is more opportunity to focus on patient care.

This study demonstrates the power of instrument tray rationalization in providing immediate and downstream cost savings. We have found that conducting a similar process in a data-driven manner based on actual instrument usage will yield significant cost savings across all surgical specialty/service lines.

Experiential learning is at the heart of business education at UNC Kenan-Flagler. Throughout their studies in the Executive MBA program, physicians Martyn Knowles and Ben Wood (both MBA ’18) enjoyed a unique opportunity: launching a company that applies business principles to their profession of healthcare.

With the imminent transition to value-based care, the development of innovative solutions that reduce cost while preserving or improving quality of care will be essential. Technological advances in healthcare that improve efficiency and reduce expenses will prove beneficial to hospital systems and patients.

The new wave of technology in healthcare will vastly improve upon current EHR systems. A paradigm shift will occur when tech innovation is implemented to reduce waste through lean methodologies that focus on value-added activities. This is true throughout the entire healthcare industry and the opportunity within surgical services is among those with the greatest potential impact.

"As this digital transformation has taken place, we see the opportunity of care coming back to the hands of physicians. Workplace technology transformation doesn't just improve clinicians' satisfaction, but it supports the organization's overall shift to value-based care models with superior data collection.”

This study at UCSF found that 13% of the total surgical cost was spent on unused or wasted supplies. Providing an interactive platform to surgeons for preference card management, equipped with pricing insights, will lead to surgical cost savings by enabling best value supply selection, a reduction in disposable waste, and less cost variation between surgeons.