The healthcare industry is facing a significant financial crisis, which is why staff need to find smart ways to reduce costs while still providing excellent levels of care. However, consistent routines are an essential part of proving high levels of care, which makes implementing change significantly challenging. Alongside this, each change has to be weighed up financially, as there will likely be a cost associated with pushing forward. Below, we’ve gathered together a series of ways that hospitals can reduce outgoings but retain a commitment to outstanding care. 

Manage Inventory Effectively

Hospital inventory is unique, especially when it comes to medication because it has to be stored and handled correctly to avoid being spoiled and costing more money. To reduce outgoing costs, hospitals need to have a proper inventory management plan in place, which involves tracking inventory usage and implementing software to make life easier. Further, by shopping around for online medical supplies, outgoings can be reduced with cheaper suppliers. 

Innovative Ways to Remain Switched On

Hospitals aren’t like other businesses because the lights are always on, as there’s always a need for treatment. However, keeping the lights switched on guzzles up an enormous portion of the budget, which needs to be reduced – here are some ideas to get you started:

• Remove redundant light switches, like near the now digital charts. 
• Install switches to control areas that don’t need to be lit 100% of the time. 
• Take out bulbs in fixtures that hold multiple – working on a dimmer light can work in some cases. 
• Use more energy-efficient lightbulbs. 

An Investment in Employees

Hospital staff are the key to delivering excelling levels of healthcare, but they need to be fighting fit to operate at their best. Therefore, just as you would a piece of technology, invest in the entire team to improve its efficiency. For example, if you need more experienced nurses, fund members of your team to take courses. If your team feels stressed at work, create a decent space to unwind on breaks. 

Focus on Patient Experiences

In the UK, the NHS is facing serious turmoil, with staff going on strikes and many hospitals only catering to certain levels of medical conditions. Naturally, this environment causes a lack of distrust and unrest in society, which can leave them ignoring serious problems or turning to private care. By focusing on offering excellence in customer service, these private hospitals can win over NHS patience, which will increase the bottom line. 

Strive for Energy Efficiency

Becoming more energy efficient is a combined goal across numerous industries, and this needs to extend to your hospital. This doesn’t mean choosing a couple of rooms to make it efficient, it means going all the way and making sure every single room gets the treatment – including the toilets. Going sustainable will likely have a slightly high investment cost, but its long-term impact on the bottom line will make it worthwhile. 

Hospitals need to cut outgoings to make way for better levels of care. However, reducing outgoings often starts with investment, like creating better facilities for staff and turning rooms into beacons for sustainability.