Becky Johnson, clinical director of Lincoln (Neb.) Endoscopy Center, discusses three practices that have helped the center cut costs without compromising the ability to provide quality care.
1. Carefully sift through physicians' suggestions. It is critical for endoscopy centers to not only work with physicians on what equipment is needed but also come to a reasonable conclusion on what will be a final purchase.
"Physicians bring me suggestions on what to purchase all the time. If they see something new they want it, and it falls on the administration to look at it," Ms. Johnson says. "Even though some suggestions seem like a good idea, some of them just need to stay in a hospital setting."
2. Measure cost, frequency of use and reimbursement. Ms. Johnson focuses on the cost of any new equipment as well as how often the equipment will be used and the amount of money that will be reimbursed from payors when using the equipment.
"We've talked about [purchasing] equipment for monitoring pH in the esophagus and hemorrhoidal banding, but based on how frequently physicians would even use those, how much it cost and lack of reimbursement from insurance companies, the research didn't support it," she says.
3. Network with others in the industry. Ms. Johnson goes to at least one large conference every year focusing on GI to glean better practices in ordering supplies and keep up with advancing technology in the industry.
"Going to these conferences helps me to get ideas on buying supplies or get leverage for contracting and pricing on products from different vendors when I see them there," she says.
1. Carefully sift through physicians' suggestions. It is critical for endoscopy centers to not only work with physicians on what equipment is needed but also come to a reasonable conclusion on what will be a final purchase.
"Physicians bring me suggestions on what to purchase all the time. If they see something new they want it, and it falls on the administration to look at it," Ms. Johnson says. "Even though some suggestions seem like a good idea, some of them just need to stay in a hospital setting."
2. Measure cost, frequency of use and reimbursement. Ms. Johnson focuses on the cost of any new equipment as well as how often the equipment will be used and the amount of money that will be reimbursed from payors when using the equipment.
"We've talked about [purchasing] equipment for monitoring pH in the esophagus and hemorrhoidal banding, but based on how frequently physicians would even use those, how much it cost and lack of reimbursement from insurance companies, the research didn't support it," she says.
3. Network with others in the industry. Ms. Johnson goes to at least one large conference every year focusing on GI to glean better practices in ordering supplies and keep up with advancing technology in the industry.
"Going to these conferences helps me to get ideas on buying supplies or get leverage for contracting and pricing on products from different vendors when I see them there," she says.