Every Wednesday this month, RAND will highlight a few small ideas for saving big health care dollars. Last week, small ideas No. 4-7 ranged from boosting use of retail clinics to replacing brand-name drugs with generic medications. This week, we explore ideas for preventing three common infections. These could enhance patient safety, as well as contain costs.
With the United States spending $2.8 trillion per year on health care, America can't afford to leave money on the table.
Thinking small could save big.
— Pete Wilmoth
Small Idea #8
Prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)
Rationale
Recommended practices for prevention of CLABSIs include hand hygiene, barrier precautions, use of chlorihexidine and topical antibiotics, education, checklists, and catheter kits. All of these can lead to cost reduction.
Estimated annual savings1
$18 million
Feasibility
- Political: High
- Operational: Medium
Learn More
Small Idea #9
Prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia
Rationale
Prevention bundles, including head-of-bed elevation, sedation vacations, oral care with chlorhexidine, and subglottic suctioning endotracheal tubes can prevent infections, leading to cost reduction.
Estimated annual savings1
$47 million
Feasibility
- Political: High
- Operational: Medium
Learn More
Small Idea #10
Prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections
Rationale
Numerous strategies to encourage appropriate catheter use can reduce infections and lead to cost reduction: education, reminders (e.g., checklist, verbal/written/electronic reminders, etc.), stop orders, and more.
Estimated annual savings1
$100 million
Feasibility
- Political: High
- Operational: Medium
Learn More
1All estimates are in 2012 dollars.
