Over the past decade, the public health workforce in the US has shrunk by approximately 56,000 positions primarily due to funding issues1. A number of factors impacting hospitals’ financial stability may lead to negative health and economic outcomes.
How much does the USA spend on healthcare ?
The United States spends nearly $4 trillion on healthcare, making it the most expensive system in the world. Yet it produces the worst outcomes in categories such as life expectancy, obesity rates, chronic disease burdens and suicide rates, compared to other high-income countries2.
As pressures build on healthcare systems all over the world, it is important to strike a balance between making savings and delivering on patient experience. According to Rick Gundling, Senior Vice President of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, ‘now is the time for healthcare executives to make forward-thinking budgeting decisions that could ripple across their health systems for years to come’; boosting patient satisfaction and outcomes and strengthening revenues through strategic technology adoption3.
What can healthcare do to reduce costs ?
The answer to the problem is simple – innovative solutions. TriMedika is one company that has been disrupting the healthcare industry, reducing costs in over 1,500 hospitals across 21 countries. Through the introduction of innovative technology, TriMedika are revolutionizing temperature measurement.
Many hospitals don’t realize the hidden costs associated with traditional contact thermometers and the significant impact that this can have on budgets. Research carried out by TriMedika shows that up to 10 contact thermometers are being disposed of in hospitals due to breakages every week, this equates to 520 devices per year. Some manufacturers report breakage and defective rates of up to 70%.
Consequently, hospitals may unnecessarily be replacing multiple devices when there is a more efficient alternative.
Hidden Costs in Healthcare
Another hidden cost is the recurring cost of consumables associated with contact thermometers. With a 900-bed hospital using approximately 2-3 million thermometer probe covers per year, every year4, this recurring cost is significant. The disposal of this contaminated plastic waste is also a monetary cost to hospitals. Typically, this infected waste needs incinerated – another disadvantage of contact thermometers.
Thermometers are essential equipment and used frequently on every hospital ward, every day; therefore these cost inefficiencies can quickly add up.
How can TriMedika help to reduce costs?
A hospital-grade, non-contact thermometer such as TRITEMP™ requires zero consumables which can significantly free up consumables budgets. Breakage rates are negligible so significant cost savings are achieved. Depending on the size of the hospital TRITEMP™ can help save hospitals up to $135,000 on consumables in the first year. This is equivalent to the cost of at least 5 life-saving ventilators.
TRITEMP™ also improves patient care as it never disturbs the patient. With its simple TAP&TAKE technology, nurses don’t need to find or replace probe covers, leaving them more time to care.
By reducing the need for constant restocking and disposal of plastic thermometer consumables, hundreds of thousands could be saved and the lifetime values are significant. Healthcare systems that look at the bigger picture in terms of reducing cost, waste and efficiencies have a greater chance of success.
TRITEMP™ is a low energy device and therefore able to provide up to 20,000 uses with its original batteries. The robust design, created with nurses in mind, is built to stand up to the needs of the busy ward setting.
To find out more about TRITEMP™, visit our website https://trimedika.com or email
FAQ’s
TRITEMP™ thermometers have multiple benefits for hospitals including but not limited to:
• Costs are significantly reduced by removing the need for the purchase and disposal of single-use plastic probe covers that are used with traditional contact thermometers
• Accurate temperature readings within +/- 32.36 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing for quick detection of a patient’s core body temperature
• Removes contact with patients and therefore helps maximize infection control
• Nurses save time at every reading with no probe covers to change, simply TAP&TAKE
The main ways that TRITEMP™ allows hospitals to save money are:
• Eliminates the need for hospitals and IDNs to invest in single use plastic probe covers to be changed between temperature measurements. TRITEMP™ is non-contact so no probe covers are required.
• Eliminates the costs associated with disposing of plastic probe covers, as these are classified as contaminated medical waste. Typically, these would be incinerated as part of the hospital’s infection control policy
• Reduces the amount of time to take an accurate temperature reading, unlocking the full potential of staff and specialists and giving them back time to do what they do best – care
TRITEMP™ is a non-invasive device which is advantageous for patients or situations where contact would be difficult or disruptive. These hospital grade thermometers also eliminate the need for millions of unnecessary contact points with patients, which is essential at any time, but especially during a pandemic. TRITEMP™ is easy to use and provides a quick and accurate reading which increases efficiencies among healthcare staff.
References
- https://www.tfah.org/report-details/publichealthfunding2020/
- https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2021/12/23/american-health-care-is-broken-and-expensive-floridians-say/
- https://www.gehealthcare.com/article/how-covid19-is-reshaping-hospital-technology-budgets
- https://www.henleysmed.com/tritemp-non-contact-thermometer-for-healthcare-professionals-2
