Anesthesia Services Driving Efficiency
LifeLinc conducts ongoing evaluations of all procedures and protocols to ensure our service is optimized for each facility. We know that financial efficiencies are a key part of every facility’s success and as such, we look for every opportunity to reduce costs. Below are a couple of examples of ways LifeLinc has achieved cost-cutting measures through clinical data analysis and working collaboratively with our clients.
Regional Hospital
Cost Savings
LifeLinc’s clinical management team recently corresponded with a hospital client’s administration, surgical and pharmacy team to effectively save a regional hospital client over $150,000. By evaluating order sets for total joint procedures, the team identified the use of a medication not typically reimbursed by Medicare/Medicaid. They then recommended an alternate medication that achieved the same outcome but was exponentially cheaper than the previous orders. In addition, they evaluated data on fresh gas flow rate being utilized for procedures and recommended a small reduction. Through continued evaluation and not accepting “the status quo,” the team was able to implement small cost-saving measures while still maintaining a high standard of clinical quality.
Regional Hospital
Cost Savings
LifeLinc’s clinical leadership is instrumental in evaluating and improving LifeLinc’s evidence-based protocols. LifeLinc offers our facilities innovative processes that eliminate unnecessary testing and reduce case cancellations. Recently, LifeLinc evaluated data on the type and screen protocol for Total Knee Arthroplasties at a partnering hospital system. We found that less than 2% of patients received a blood transfusion for TKA, and of the patients who needed a transfusion, only 44% had received the lab. We concluded the screen was an unnecessary expenditure being financially absorbed by the hospital system and offering little clinical benefit. By eliminating this test, the hospital system will save over $950,000 in the next fiscal year.