| In today's economy, it's more important than | | | | costs are simply passed on to the consumer. The |
| ever for health care employees to be | | | | problem comes when supplies are wasted. It is |
| cost-efficient. Are your nursing assistants aware | | | | estimated that the average healthcare |
| of what it takes to run your organization-and how | | | | organization wastes more than $1 million in |
| they can affect the financial bottom line? Here is | | | | supplies every year! |
| some information about cost-efficient care that | | | | NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS. A nosocomial |
| you can share with your CNAs: | | | | infection means that the client becomes infected |
| Even Toilet Paper Adds Up! | | | | while in the hospital or long term care facility. If |
| Have you ever looked at a hospital bill and felt | | | | you cause an infection in someone, who do you |
| sicker than when you were actually in the | | | | think is responsible for paying for the extra time |
| hospital? Or, have you or a loved one ever had to | | | | and medication it takes to treat that infection? |
| consider selling your home in order to afford long | | | | Treating nosocomial infections costs billions. |
| term care? There is no doubt about it. The cost | | | | Treating infections from MRSA alone, can cost up |
| of heath care in America is sky-rocketing. | | | | to $4 billion a year. |
| Everything from the price of a room for the | | | | ENERGY. Healthcare facilities use twice as much |
| night, to the cost of a single aspirin seems to be | | | | energy as other businesses. Computer systems, |
| more than the average consumer can handle. | | | | high tech equipment and air handling systems all |
| With prices so high, you'd think health care | | | | use energy-and energy is expensive. Just like |
| facilities would report record profits. The opposite | | | | conserving energy for your family, you can |
| is true. For example, 50 percent of hospitals | | | | conserve energy at your workplace. |
| currently make no profit at all. So, why does | | | | WASTE DISPOSAL. The "green revolution" is |
| health care cost so much for consumers? And, | | | | hitting the healthcare industry. New ideas for |
| why is it still not enough? | | | | recycling, reducing packaging, and creating less |
| It costs a lot of money, hundreds of millions, to | | | | garbage can save your employer money and help |
| run a hospital or long term care facility. Let's look | | | | the planet. |
| at one tiny example-toilet paper. | | | | Ten Thoughts on Cost-Efficient Care |
| - Imagine, a roll of toilet paper costs about 25 | | | | |
| cents. Then, estimate there are 300 patient | | | | 1. Providing cost-efficient care means giving the |
| rooms, each with it's own bathroom. | | | | best (or better) service while minimizing waste. |
| - In addition, there are 20 public and employee | | | | 2. Waste is anything that is discarded without |
| restrooms with 5 stalls each. That's 400 toilets at | | | | being put to use. Things that can be wasted |
| XYZ Hospital that need toilet paper. | | | | include time, supplies, resources, energy, money |
| - At 25 cents per roll, it cost $100 to put just one | | | | and the resources spent on waste disposal itself. |
| roll with each toilet. Let's say the rolls run out | | | | 3. For the average health care workplace, supplies |
| every three days. $100 every three days comes | | | | take up 20% of the budget. Inefficient use of |
| out to $1000 per month-or $12,000 per year. | | | | supplies "steals" money from the budget that |
| And, the hospital cannot charge patients or | | | | might go to employee raises and benefits. |
| employees for toilet paper! | | | | 4. As you begin to pay attention to waste, you |
| So, XYZ Hospital shifts the cost onto other things, | | | | will see there are many areas where resources |
| like aspirin! That's how an aspirin that should cost | | | | can be reserved and the care you provide will |
| one dollar gets a price tag of ten dollars (or | | | | actually improve. |
| more)! | | | | 5. You don't need any special training or an |
| There are many reasons why healthcare costs | | | | advanced degree to make an important |
| are outrageous. Insurance, medication, the cost of | | | | contribution to your workplace, your life, your |
| supplies and employee wages are the biggest | | | | own home, and the planet! |
| factors. | | | | 6. Small changes can have a huge impact. Paying |
| You may be wondering why you should care. | | | | attention to the way you manage your time will |
| Well, it's simple. If the company you work for | | | | not only make you a better employee and |
| makes a profit, there will be more money for | | | | caregiver, but will improve your overall health. |
| you! Read on to find out how you can provide | | | | 7. When you work smarter, you lower your |
| cost-efficient care and help keep medical costs | | | | stress level, expend less energy and find you |
| down. When you do, everyone benefits! | | | | actually still have energy at the end of your shift. |
| Where Does All the Money Go? | | | | 8. Protecting yourself and your clients from injury |
| YOU! Whether you work in acute care, long-term | | | | and infection will cut down on lost wages for you |
| care or home health, the largest portion of your | | | | and lost profits to your employer. |
| employer's budget goes to you! Well, maybe not | | | | 9. Remember: every dollar wasted is passed on |
| you personally... but you as a group of employees. | | | | to the consumer. One day you or a loved one will |
| It takes a lot of money to recruit, train, and keep | | | | be the healthcare consumer. Do you want to pay |
| employees. Your salary, benefits, the cost of | | | | for someone else's wasted time? Do you want to |
| training and continuing education are all | | | | pay more because lights were left on in empty |
| investments your company is making in you! | | | | rooms? |
| SUPPLIES. From dust mops to catheter kits, | | | | 10. The choices you make today to conserve |
| supplies are a necessary part of providing | | | | resources will benefit you, your family, and your |
| healthcare. Most supply expenses make sense. | | | | clients in the future. Use your time, supplies and |
| The cost of the item is added to the cost of | | | | energy wisely! |
| storing it, using it, and disposing of it. Then, those | | | | |