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Technicians Conquer Swirl of Scratches
This optical lab team reduced scratches to eyeglass lenses by 94% in the first 4 months of the year after performing a step-by-step review of its lens production process.
- Minimizing scratches to eyeglass lenses during the production process reduces the need to replace them. That helps save costs and improve service to members and patients.
- Reviewing each step of the lens preparation procedure to identify and fix the problem causing scratches to new eyeglass lenses.
Better Attendance Brings Big Rewards
Last-minute sick calls dropped by 40% after team members learned about the negative impact of such calls and explored time-off options.
- Decreasing last-minute sick calls protects staff members from stress and burnout that affect morale and performance.
- Educating the entire team on the impact of last-minute sick calls and rewarding them for perfect attendance.
Collaboration Across Teams Reduces Interruptions
Laboratory and emergency departments teamed up to decrease work interruptions caused by non-urgent test result notifications.
- Workplace interruptions can add stress, increase patient errors and cause patients to feel like they’re not receiving good care.
- Lab staff tested the secure chat messaging in Kaiser Permanente’s electronic health record system to notify Emergency Department nurses about non-urgent lab results instead of using their hands-free, voice-controlled wearable communication devices.
UBT Solves Overtime Dilemma
This inpatient nursing team decreased overtime costs by improving change-of-shift communication.
- Reducing overtime costs keeps Kaiser Permanente affordable for our members and leads to workflow efficiencies that enhance patient care.
- Standardizing change-of-shift communication
Promoting Online Care
This team increased kp.org sign-ups by involving everyone in promotion efforts and hosting enrollment fairs.
- We are empowering members to manage their care with digital tools that connect them to their care team from anywhere.
- Involving the entire team in the effort to register members on kp.org
Costco and Goldilocks Inspire Savings
This outpatient pharmacy team saved more than $1 million in five months by increasing bulk purchasing and ordering just the right amount—no more, no less—of high-cost medications for members.
- By ordering the right amount of drugs, the pharmacy saved money and helped keep KP affordable for our members.
- Working with pharmacists to better manage the ordering of specialty drugs
Provide Care With Secondary Tubing
By using secondary tubing , which can be just as safe as primary tubing for many IV uses, this team saved a bunch of money.
- When not medically necessary, primary tubing is wasteful.
- Switching from primary tubing to secondary tubing, whenever appropriate