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Phlebotomists Save Money Self-Monitoring Use of Butterfly Needles

  • Reviewing the department's budget together
  • Researching the costs and benefits of different types of needles
  • Self-monitoring to reduce usage of butterfly needles

What can your team do to identify areas or products where savings can be found? What else could your team do to cut expenses?

 

 

Though all needles make most of us cringe, not all needles cost the same. In Vancouver, Washington, phlebotomists were using expensive butterfly needles on almost all of their patients. However, in many cases, the less expensive regular needles were appropriate to use. Through self-monitoring, phlebotomists made more deliberate decisions about when to use butterfly needles and noticeably reduced needle expenses.    

Archived content
Live, non-archived content
TTP Blurb
Phlebotomists saved money after seeing that standard needles can be just as effective as a butterfly needles and costs less.
Why This Matters
Keeping costs down helps keep Kaiser Permanente affordable for members and patients
Test of Change
Phlebotomists self-monitoring butterfly needle usage
Short Teaser

Study guide, steps and tips for great results.

Medium Teaser

Is your team using an expensive item when a less-costly one would suffice? Find out how these phlebotomists saved money by reducing their use of butterfly needles and relying on affordable options.  

Long Teaser

Is your team using an expensive item when a less-costly one would suffice? Find out how these phlebotomists saved money by reducing their use of butterfly needles and relying on affordable options.  

Nav Section
Preview Image
A butterfly needle
Landing Page Title
Saving Money One Needle at a Time
Topics
Affordability
Region
Northwest
Communicator
Jennifer Gladwell
Editor (if known)
Tyra Ferlatte
Role
Frontline Workers
Keywords
butterfly needle
Date of publication
This has been edited
0
Department
Laboratory
Content Type
Team-Tested Practice
Content Goal
Inform
High Res Photo Set
yellow and blue butterfly

Yes, we know this is a butterfly, not a butterfly needle.

Stat Icon
Big Number
$5,000
Explanation

in savings when the team reduced needle expenses in two quarters, compared to the same period the previous year