Top 3 Reasons Utilization Savings are Sustainable
By Anne Marie Orlando, RN, MBA, RCIS, CVAHP, Treasurer, Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals Clinical Program Director, Blue.Point Supply Chain Solutions
Utilization projects in healthcare value analysis strive to answer several essential questions. How are the specific products used? How should these products be used? What might cause misuse? Is there variation in product, practice, or both? Ultimately, utilization specifically addresses the practice and not necessarily the product. When an organization looks more closely at utilization, the savings that result can be sustainable.
Here is the top 3 reasons utilization savings are sustainable over conventional savings strategies.
- Utilization savings are not contract-dependent. As a contract rolls, tier levels change, or organization obligations shift, savings garnered by utilization projects are not affected. The tenant of utilization centers around the clinical effectiveness of a product type and not necessarily a specific product.
- Utilization savings become part of an organization’s clinical practice. When reviewing utilization opportunities, best practice is to establish and educate staff on ‘criteria for use.’ This is especially important for high-dollar supplies and/or supplies with specific indications for use set forth by manufacturers. As these criteria become part of the organization’s practice and protocol, utilization is sustained.
- Utilization savings are centered around clinical quality and guidelines. As Value Analysis teams execute on projects, changes made to clinical practice are based on solid clinical evidence. Only when this evidence changes through research or the guidance of organizations, such as Infusion Nurses Society (INS) or Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), should utilization change.
How do you approach utilization savings at your organization?
