case studies
- Alle-Kiski Medical Center — Nursing and Central Supply
- University of Maryland Medical Center — Pharmacy, Central Supply and Nursing
- UPMC St. Margaret Hospital — Central Supply, Pharmacy and Nursing
Alle-Kiski Medical Center — Nursing and Central Supply
Natrona Heights, PA
Customer Profile
Alle-Kiski Medical Center consists of Allegheny Valley Hospital and Citizens Ambulatory Care Center. The 250-bed Allegheny Valley Hospital serves as AKMC's inpatient and outpatient facility and offers a broad spectrum of programs, including medical and surgical services, inpatient psychiatric care, cardiology, orthopedics, sports medicine, obstetrics and pediatrics.
A member of the West Penn Allegheny Health System, Alle-Kiski Medical Center annually admits nearly 12,000 patients, logs more than 46,000 emergency and urgent care patients and performs more than 8,200 surgical procedures. More than 300 physicians and 1,100 employees share the hospital's commitment to excellence.
Need to Treat More Patients in Less Time
With volume rapidly rising in the Emergency Department (ED), Alle-Kiski Medical Center had to improve their ED throughput without the luxury of capital investment. Alle-Kiski’s team evaluated workflow redesign and the innovative use of low-cost technology to improve throughput: enter TUG.
TUG: Successful Outcomes
Led by a 50% reduction in lab turnaround time, Alle-Kiski’s ED was able to treat more patients without adding staff or making capital investments, while maintaining a patient visit time better than the national average. The improved ED throughput is credited for increasing admissions and driving additional revenue and profitability for the hospital.
Alle-Kiski Medical Center
ED Objectives
Solution
Results
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University of Maryland Medical Center — Pharmacy, Central Supply and Nursing
Baltimore, Maryland
Customer Profile
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) was created in 1984 when the state-owned University Hospital became a private, not-for-profit organization. It has evolved into a six-hospital system with academic, community and specialty service missions.
The Medical System is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, neurocare, cardiac care, and women’s and children’s health and physical rehabilitation. It also has the world’s largest kidney transplant program.
With the University of Maryland School of Medicine, UMMC has become one of the nation’s finest academic medical centers. Its research efforts have produced many cutting-edge advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
America's Best ER
The R. Adam’s Crowley Shock Trauma Unit is a 102-bed unit specializing in the care of multi-injury, spinal cord, and head trauma, critical illness, and complex orthopedic injury. In May 2004, Reader’s Digest profiled it as America’s Best ER. “To the men and women of this Baltimore trauma unit, speed saves. They’ve helped cut the murder rate in a city that’s as violent as ever. How? By playing beat the clock better than anyone.”
Need to Improve Cycle Time
Prior to TUG, nurses in the Shock Trauma Unit complained that they were waiting too long for first doses, which was hindering patient care. Average cycle time was 74 minutes.
Survey Results
The University of Maryland conducted a pre-TUG and post-TUG study to determine its effect on nursing. As shown below, nursing was extremely positive. Not only did the service level increase, but nursing’s relationship with the pharmacy improved substantially.
Cycle Time
The key objective of Pharmacy was to reduce cycle time, the time from receipt of an order to its delivery at the nursing unit. With TUG, cycle time decreased from 74 minutes to 30 minutes, which dramatically increased nursing satisfaction.
University of Maryland Medical Center
Pharmacy Objectives
Solution
Results
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UPMC St. Margaret Hospital – Central Supply, Pharmacy and Nursing
Pittsburgh, PA
Customer Profile
UMPC St. Margaret (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) is a 185-bed community and teaching hospital serving one-quarter million residents in Pittsburgh’s northern and eastern suburbs. UPMC St. Margaret is known regionally for its expertise in arthritis, gerontology, orthopedics and family medicine. Founded in 1898, UPMC St. Margaret is home to one of the oldest and largest family practice and residency programs in Pennsylvania. The hospital merged with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 1997, combining its capabilities and resources with one of the country’s leading academic medical resources.
Need to Automate Deliveries
Prior to TUG, St. Margaret's Central Supply averaged 60 hand deliveries per day to seven nursing units. Deliveries included IV pumps, medical equipment and medical supplies. Supply Techs spent nine hours per day making deliveries. Central Supply Manager, Judy Hession, recalls that “it was difficult to keep up, especially on evenings and night shifts, when staffing is at a minimum. There were complaints from Nursing about slow deliveries. My staff was discouraged.”
TUG Usage
As Central Supply staff came to rely on TUG, the number of deliveries climbed quickly to about 425 per week (61 per day). They use TUG for virtually all deliveries to the nursing units. The single day record for deliveries is 86.
Uptime
TUG has been extremely reliable, averaging 99% uptime. The Central Supply TUG has never been out of service for recharging.
Time Savings
The average round-trip delivery time is 8.8 minutes. The time saved averages 62.3 hours per week. This is the equivalent of 1.6 FTE of time savings.
Return on Investment
St. Margaret saved 1.5 FTE in Central Supply, at a savings of $25,000 per year. The resulting ROI is 185% over the course of a five-year lease.
UPMC St. Margaret
Central Supply Challenges
Solution
Results
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