Safe Savings – 5 Ways Clinics Can Cut Costs Without Compromising Patient Care

Today’s economy is uncertain, which means every business needs to cut costs and save money where they can. This includes hospitals, doctor’s clinics, dentist’s offices, and all other members of the medical industry.

The problem with cutting costs, however, especially in the medical field, is that you must do so without compromising patient care. After all, without patients, there is no need for medical facilities, which means patient care and satisfaction is of utmost importance. If your clinic is looking to cut costs without sacrificing patient care, take a look at the suggestions below.

1. Buy Wholesale Medical Supplies

Purchasing medical supplies in bulk can often save time and money. Many distributors sell wholesale medical supplies at a discount based on the number of items you purchase. The more you buy, the more you save. Since it’s hard to know precisely which supplies you’re going to need at what time, you must keep everything stocked and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Buying in bulk allows this to happen while saving you money at the same time.

2. Adopt Technologies that Allow Staff to Work Smarter, Not Harder

Unfortunately, there is a growing lack of qualified nursing personnel in the medical field today. This decline in nursing is predicted to continue for a decade or more. As such, it’s important to make the work environment convenient and hassle-free for the nurses and doctors you have.

You can do this by adopting technologies like staff scheduling software, wearable biosensors to automatically detect vital signs, and productive analytics tools that allow medical staff to work smarter, not harder. A happy staff member is one that stays on board, which means you won’t spend money training replacements over and over again.

3. Automate Administrative Duties

Medical staff and caregivers spend as much as 57% of their workdays conducting administrative tasks, which eats into the amount of time they can spend with their patients. Automating as many of these repetitive tasks as possible not only creates more time for caregivers to spend with their patients but also increases efficiency and time management. A few of the administrative areas that can be automated for greater care and efficiency include fall prevention and detection, vital sign monitoring, and medication administration.

4. Consider Remote Monitoring Technology for In-Home Care

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, many clinics and hospitals have adopted in-home care and virtual visits to safely care for and monitor patients from the comfort of their own homes. This not only helps patients feel more comfortable in their own surroundings, but it cuts overhead costs for the medical facilities that have implemented these practices. Furthermore, in-home care and virtual visits minimize overscheduling and overcrowding issues and reduce staff fatigue and burn-out.

5. Make Energy-Efficient Changes to the Lighting System

The lights are always on in medical facilities, especially in hospitals where patients need care both day and night. Not many people give the lights a second thought, but making energy-efficient changes to the lighting system can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings each year. Here are a few changes to consider:

• Reduce lightbulbs in fixtures with multiple bulbs;
• Consider energy-efficient lighting options;
• Get rid of light fixtures in unnecessary areas;
• Install light switches in areas where lights aren’t necessary 24 hours a day.

By purchasing medical supplies in bulk, adopting technologies to increase efficiency and employee health and satisfaction, and making energy-efficient changes where possible, clinics can cut costs without compromising patient care.