A chronic complaint that I hear from BMETS is that their only job is to save money for their hospitals by reducing repair costs. I suspect that the concept that “Our only job is to save money” is a myth that has been continually reinforced within the biomedical community. I also suspect that this myth has been damaging to the growth of the profession. In all of my years managing in-house programs no administrator has ever suggested to me that it was my only job. You and others who understand the important role that technology plays in the delivery of quality healthcare are qualified to play a much more important role than to just save money. Most administrators would likely be pleased if you played a broader role in your hospital.
Becker’s Hospital Review recently conducted a study to find what CEOs cared most about their hospital’s operations and what they monitored daily. The results of their study in the order of their importance were as follows:
- Outpatient no-shows
- First case start-times
- Patient volume
- “Door-to-doc” time in the emergency department.
- “Decision to admit to departure” time in the Emergency Division
- The number of patients leaving without being seen in the Emergency Division
- Agency and overtime costs
- Major Service issues …. Are any patients upset?
- Major engagement issues …. Are any physicians or employees upset?
This study clearly indicates that CEOs want to know how efficiently and effectively their hospitals are running. They want to be certain that patients and families are satisfied. They are not asking how much money their hospital is saving because they know that organizations can not save their way to success and cutting costs will only take you so far. They understand that if you want to grow you must innovate. You must find ways to improve the services that you presently offer and you must find additional new services that attract new patients. If CEOs care most about efficiency, effectiveness and innovation, why are biomedical programs so focused on just saving money?
Isn’t it time you stopped letting the myth of saving money determine what you do? Shouldn’t you start thinking like your CEO and become more effective, more efficient, and find innovative new services to offer your hospital? It is time to take off your repair hat and find creative ways to better serve your institution.