Teaching cost accountability

Goal: To plan and maintain a unit supply and equipment budget.

• Issue reports that list all supplies, equipment, and actual utilization on a monthly and annual basis.

• Conduct monthly reviews of reports by the clinical team to identify opportunities for cost reduction.

• Post list of supplies and equipment used in the unit, along with individual prices.

• Consider new or different vendors and the elimination of items with little benefit to patients.

• Hold annual budget planning sessions with staff based on historical usage, projected changes in services, and cost increases.

• Require daily attention to unit supply costs by all staff members.

Source: CPM Resource Center, Grand Rapids, MI.