Efficiency
Summary
The Institute of Medicine identified efficiency as one of the Six Aims for Improvement. An efficient health care system uses resources to get the best value. According to the IOM, there are at least two ways to improve efficiency:
- Reduce quality waste (overuse and errors), and
- Reduce administrative or production costs.
HPOE offers two resources for hospital executives on efficiency issues in hospitals. Striving for Top Box: Hospitals Increasing Quality and Efficiency, part of the HPOE Signature Leadership Series, was created to share best practices and key lessons from innovative organizations on a variety of topics including care coordination, health and wellness, equity of care, and new payment and care delivery models. Novant Health (N.C.), Piedmont Health (Ga.) and Banner Health (Az.) are highlighted.
Additionally, Health Care Leader Action Guide: Understanding and Managing Variation builds upon the report of the American Hospital Association's Task Force on Variation in Health Care Spending (January 2011). This guide provides hospitals with a resource to reduce inappropriate variation, thereby improving efficiency.
HPOE features links to many different resources, tools and case studies. Click on any of the topic areas in the blue box below.
