final New AtlantiCare GB Presentation Template (1) (2)

Institution Overview:
- Locations:
  - Galloway (Heart & Cath Lab, 349 beds)
  - Atlantic City (Trauma Unit, 244 beds)
- Additional Locations: 8 cardiology sites across various cities.
Current Challenge:
- Manual tracking of supply barcodes in the Cath lab leading to financial losses due to expired and misplaced inventory.
Project Goal:
- Automation of data capture to improve charge tracking and reduce waste in the cardiac catheterization lab.

Problem Definition:
- The Cath lab’s outdated ordering system causes a significant monthly waste of $50,000-75,000 in expired supplies due to:
  - Outdated documentation and charging platform.
  - High error margin that leads to missed billing opportunities.
  - Inconsistent inventory tracking harming accurate financial reporting.
Project Objectives/Goals:
- Aim to reduce the cost of expired inventory by 60% within six months.
Scope:
- In Scope: Cardiac Cath & Electro-Physiology (EP) Labs.
- Out of Scope: Other departments or services not related to Cath & EP labs.

Procedure Documentation Flow:
- Patient request initiated in Cerner, followed by registration in STAR.
- Information is added to Xims, and supplies are charted upon completion of procedures.
- Supply sheets processed for reorder after procedure completion and passed through various stages for billing and documentation, leading to tracking of supplies and charges.

Monthly Financial Trends for 2023:
- Data representation of expenses related to Cath lab supplies over each month of the year, showing the trends with specific dollar amounts spent each month.

Key Factors in Cath Lab Operations:
- People Involved: Cath lab nurses, physicians, and documentation coordinators.
- Methods: Implementing barcode scanning for inventory tracking.
- IT Systems: Include Philips System, Cerner, and Xims.
- Environment: Fast pace workflow in Cath lab catering to emergency cases.

Identified Issues:
- Expired inventory and overordering stemming from poor tracking mechanisms.
Proposed Solutions:
- Implement scanning for inventory in/out to minimize expired stock and establish low par orders.
- Rearrange inventory to manage stock better according to physician preferences.

Process Improvement Goals:
- Aimed at reducing documentation time, lowering billing errors, and decreasing overall supply waste impacting charge capture, patient billing, and reporting.

Identified Obstacles:
- Contracts requiring specific usage percentages, issues with provider preferences, and equipment spread across multiple labs that complicate tracking.

Financial Tracking through 2024:
- Detailed monthly financial data focusing on expenses related to inventory handling in the Cath lab throughout 2024.

First-In, First-Out (FIFO) System:
- Implementation date and inventory list, focusing on the need for standardizing supplies and creating preference cards for physicians.

Action Items for Managing Expired Inventory:
- Detailed responsibilities and timing for Cath lab/EP supervisors, including processes for order adjustments based on physician preferences and inventory management practices.

Streamlined Documentation Flow:
- Expected improvements in documentation and charging processes with automated inventory scanning, leading to efficient billing procedures.

Key Improvements:
- Enhanced consumer experiences and streamlined efficiency in the Cath lab through digital processes that replace manual interventions.
Revenue Impact:
- Improved integration with existing systems will sustain and enhance current revenue streams.

Data Acquisition & Project Management:
- The importance of data gathering and team collaboration was highlighted for proactive identification of potential issues.
Improvements for Future Projects:
- Implementation of formal risk management and optimized data collection processes can aid future endeavors.

Broader Implications:
- Opportunities for applying successful inventory automation in other hospital departments, leading to broader waste reduction across radiology and operating rooms.

Contact Information:
- AtlantiCare, regarding any questions or further discussions on the project.