Tag: Melissa Kozak
Efficiencies: Get out of the box
August 28, 2017Melissa Kozak
A. The issue of wasted supplies has been carefully studied in healthcare, as providers continue to look for ways to cut costs. While the federal government continues to debate the future of the Affordable Care Act, one thing is clear: waste will likely stand out as lawmakers look for funding. The National Academy of Medicine estimates that the U.S. health care system wastes $765 billion a year.For example, every year, as a home infusion nurse, I know that home infusion companies spend millions of...
Efficiencies: Go out and talk to your patients
July 31, 2017Melissa Kozak
A. The best way is to go out and talk to your patients. Find out what their current experience is. It may sound too simple, but it's a critical step rarely taken.As a home infusion nurse, I saw on a daily basis how frustrated patients were with their care. And I was shocked when I learned how much money my bosses wasted delivering experiences that only frustrated their patients. If you are spending money to keep your patients happy, and it mostly makes your patients mad, that money is worse than...
Efficiencies: Explore phone alternatives
June 26, 2017Melissa Kozak
A. When you ask companies why they provide phone support, they'll usually say because their customers often want real help from a real person, right away.In a lot of businesses, phone support can actually deliver that. If you call your credit card company, you'll reach a real person who can pull up your account, and resolve your problem right away.But if a patient or caregiver calls your home infusion company after hours, the person they reach cannot actually help them. They can only initiate the...
Efficiencies: Evaluate business processes
May 23, 2017Melissa Kozak
A. If you're like many home infusion providers, you focus most of your attention on improving the health of your patients. But what about the financial health of your business? While you've been staying on top of clinical best practices and regulatory issues, you haven't had time to evaluate your business processes and check out some of the latest technology advancements that can actually help you significantly improve efficiencies.As more physician groups, health systems and payers recognize the...