Can implementing Lean initiatives help?
With declining revenues, escalating costs and demand for increased value and quality, the Lean management philosophy and workshops create a sense of purpose, team problem solving and long-term thinking by proactively engaging staff. In three years with a new ‘Lean’ approach, our medical centers have eliminated 502 unnecessary process steps and reduced distances staff travels to carry out their jobs by 1,702 miles. We expect $57 million in net revenue returned over a decade. Most importantly, we are improving the care of our patients.
Do electronic medical records improve care?
EMRs allow clinicians immediate access to a patient’s health and medical history, minimize waste and inefficiency of manual and paper-based processes, maximize clinical quality and patient outcomes at points of decision-making, reduce medical errors and improve patient care. Physician offices can link to our hospital EMRs, and patients can access their records through an online portal.
What about retail health centers?
Retail health clinics offer convenient and affordable care for consumers seeking treatment for common medical conditions, basic health needs and immunizations. Our clinics located within three ALBERTSONS/Sav-On Pharmacy stores are staffed by highly trained nurse practitioners with close oversight by physicians. Clinics offer treatment for common illnesses like colds, flu, earaches, sore throats, sinus infection, skin conditions, minor wounds and school physicals.
Where can employers start?
Make prevention a part of your business. Begin with simple screenings to make employees aware of their health status. Offer sessions that share advice, activities and coaching to reach and maintain goals. Identify employee advocates to motivate others to follow their lead. Engage your employees’ families to extend healthy habits at home. MemorialCare’s business outreach programs include workplace education, health prevention, screenings, an immunization program and health fairs. Our experts help employers identify cost reduction strategies through benefit audits and partnerships that ensure you achieve competitive prices and packages. Memorialcare.org has free online tools, calculators, guides and referrals to physicians that help your work force reach a healthier life. MemorialCare’s Presidents’ Partnership sponsors annual programs that inform and engage employers on issues they all face and seeks solutions that address the challenges and costs of health care. Working together, we can identify improvements and advocate for better care for communities we serve.
BARRY ARBUCKLE, Ph.D., is president and CEO of MemorialCare Medical Centers (www.memorialcare.org) and past chair of the California Hospital Association. Reach him at [email protected] or (562) 933-9708. The not-for-profit MemorialCare Health System includes Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and San Clemente. For additional information on excellence in health care, please visit memorialcare.org.