Healthcare Finance News recently highlighted how Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is using TeleTracking software to maintain its edge in Philadelphia’s highly competitive healthcare market, and attain $1.5 million ROI in reduced ED diversion alone!
The move to TeleTracking was a major part of TJUH’s effort to improve its operational efficiency, according to Megan Johnston, MHSA, who directs the hospital’s patient flow management center. The case for change was made by TJUH’s goals to improve patient care and lower costs, and focused challenges in:
In the first 18 months of operation, the hospital achieved significant improvements in several key areas:
Revenue Growth:
Efficiency Gains:
Operational Improvement:
And, in the first year of operation, the new system helped Jefferson realize a $1.5 million return on investment measured only by reduction it its ED left without being seen rates. At press time, the additional revenue and cost savings of the other outcomes measures had not yet been included in the return on investment measure.
Johnston told HFM that TeleTracking’s capacity management software, with built-in business analytics capabilities, helped reduce emergency room boarding and ambulance diversion, as well as improve the number of patient transfers and overall patient satisfaction.
TeleTracking’s capacity management software delivers real time information about every point in the patient flow continuum, so managers know “who’s in the beds, who is taking care of people in those beds, how quickly beds are being cleaned, and how quickly patients are being moved,” explained Jason Harber, TeleTracking Vice President of Product Management.
“You’re seeing in real time what capacity is, current vs. budgeted, so you’re not shocked at the end of the month. You know daily whether you’re making the numbers you thought you were,” Harber said.
Because the software breaks down silos and improves overall communications, trouble spots that cause congestion can be avoided and patient movement can be optimized. This frees up space in the units so new patients may be admitted.
“As a teaching hospital and tertiary care center, external transfers and critical care patients are really a critical part of our mission,” Johnston said. In addition to the need to maintain optimal patient safety, “a number of competing systems are all within a couple of miles of us. External transfers and volume in general is critical for us to remain competitive.”
“TeleTracking gives you real-time information,” Johnston said. “And that allows you to be much more pro-active. And in patient flow, that’s where you really want to be.”
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