Unit-Based Teams Are Getting ResultsExamples of Success: Affordability

May 2014

Saving the Hassle and Cost of Lost ID Cards

Visit LMPartnership.org for ideas and tools for your team.

RESULTSCards destroyed per quarter and

associated costs

FEATURED TEAMMembership Administration, Mid-Atlantic States

WHAT THEY DIDTo improve service and capture lost revenue, this UBT reduced the number of member ID cards being sent to incorrect addresses—and ultimately destroyed. Team members:•Corrected member addresses by conferring with members, employer groups and KP departments•Remailed original cards rather than issuing duplicates•Worked with call center colleagues to prevent replacement cards from again going to an incorrect address

Colorado Couriers Save Jobs and Money

Visit LMPartnership.org for ideas and tools for your team.

RESULTSImproved timeliness of deliveries—and savings of more than $375,000 a year.

FEATURED TEAMColorado Couriers

WHAT THEY DID

The Couriers unit-based team, concerned about the outsourcing of delivery services, streamlined operations by:•Improving its routes and workflows•Hiring an additional person to reduce reliance on contractors•Using new technology to better schedule and track orders

Change in Tubing Saves $25,000

Visit LMPartnership.org for ideas and tools for your team.

RESULTSReduced the cost of IV tubing by 85 percent,

saving about $25,000 a year.

FEATURED TEAMOncology, Interstate Medical Office , Northwest

WHAT THEY DIDTeam members assessed their use of supplies and switched from expensive specialized tubing to deliver certain IV medications to standardized tubing, when equally safe and effective.

Speedy Slides Boost Morale, Efficiency

Visit LMPartnership.org for ideas and tools for your team.

RESULTSPercentage of slides distributed to

pathologists by 8 a.m.

FEATURED TEAMHistology, Regional Laboratory, Northwest

WHAT THEY DIDTo improve turnaround times, reduce rework and boost morale, the team (which prepares tissue slides for review by pathologists), began:•Using a display board to track turnaround times•Incorporating turnaround time and quality assurance discussions in huddles•Meeting weekly with sponsors and pathologists to improve communication

Smart Scheduling Reduces Waste

Visit LMPartnership.org for ideas and tools for your team.

FEATURED TEAMOncology Pharmacy, Woodland Hills , Southern California

WHAT THEY DIDTo reduce waste of expensive medication, team members:•Schedule back-to-back appointments for patients getting infusions of the same drugs, to avoid discarding unused medication•Use smaller vials of two commonly used drugs

RESULTSAverage weekly waste of medication was

cut in half, for savings of more than $114,000 a year