February 2015

There are some hospitals that make very little money from the patients that are cared for, and there are some that are strictly nonprofit. Most hospitals have an operating budget, and there are some was that they can save money so that other projects are funded.

One of the things that hospitals can do to save money is to make sure all of the documents given to patients are detailed. There are some things that might be left out when the hospital draws up payment plans or when there are services offered that could put the hospital at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving payments. Yosef Meystel and others in the field have developed ways for large businesses like hospitals to save as much money as possible and still operate with the best services.

There is a lot of trash and debris that gets thrown out of hospitals. In order to make a little money to put back in the budget, hospitals can recycle these items instead of simply throwing them in a dumpster. One idea is to get smaller dumpsters as well so that workers are thinking about how much trash is thrown away compared to how much is recycled. Small bins can be set up at various locations inside the hospital so that visitors can recycle cups and other items that they have while they are seeing family members and friends. When the bins are full, they can be taken to a recycling facility and exchanged for money. It might not be a lot of money each trip, but this will add up so that the business can get items like gloves or care packages.

Some hospitals have practicing of washing and removing lint from all of the towels that are used in the building. This is something that can use more energy, therefore using more money. If hospitals would only remove the lint on the items used in the operating rooms, then this would save time and money in the laundry department. There are also alternatives to the detergents that are used. Larger washing machines and dryers might seem like they would cost more, but they can save money because the staff can wash more items at one time instead of several smaller loads. Cleaning supplies can be purchased from a wholesale company to save money as well. These items don’t have to be top of the line brands, either. Some hospitals use the best brands available, and this is where they are losing money that can be spent on employees and patient services. There are some items like gowns and blankets that can be purchased in bundles instead of being purchased a few items at a time. The hospital knows that these items will be used, so it’s best to make a large order instead of smaller orders because there are often discounts with larger orders. Some companies will also offer discounts for businesses that order on a regular basis. Bake sales and fundraisers are other ways that hospitals can raise money.