Vizient, Inc. today released its latest Medical Device Tech Watch, highlighting data to help reduce readmission rates in heart failure patients and providing a survey of intraoperative imaging modalities. In addition, this issue features one medical center’s journey to increase efficiencies by eliminating its manual “bill only” process for medical devices and products. The full Medical Device Tech Watch can be accessed here.

“The technologies we examine in Tech Watch focus on improving the patient experience and outcomes, reducing the cost to serve, and enabling operations through technology and data,” said Debbie Schuhardt, senior principal, Vizient. “As the healthcare industry evolves and invests in the future, it’s clear that technology and data insights will continue to provide the foundation for providers to meet the needs of their patients.”

This edition contains five articles including:

Reducing heart failure readmissions to improve patient outcomes—Transitioning certain patient- and follow-up care to remote monitoring and assessment for heart failure (HF) patients can reduce the potential for readmissions and free up valuable clinician time and resources for other higher acuity departments. The Vizient Clinical Data Base provides an analysis of more than 380,000 HF patients’ length of stay and average patient cost of care, highlighting opportunities for improved post-discharge practices and reduced readmission rates.

Intraoperative advanced imaging: clinical, financial and operational considerations for adoption—Advances in imaging modalities make near real-time intraoperative images a reality, allowing surgeons to enhance precision, improve quality and outcomes, and decrease the need for surgical revisions. This article provides a survey of intraoperative MRI, CT and ultrasound technologies, reviewing clinical, operational and financial considerations for each. While there is currently no additional reimbursement for the advanced technology, the article lays out strategic considerations for adoption, including increased procedure adoption and staff recruitment.

Transforming the implant bill-only process—When surgeons order implant products that are not pre-purchased, supply chain teams often have difficulty reconciling billing and accounting. These unresolved issues waste significant time for staff who must research and correct discrepancies. One university medical center sought to resolve implant billing issues using a cloud-based platform to automate case usage import from the EMR to the ERP. The result? The center reduced case-date-to-purchase-order-date-time by 70% and reduced bill-only invoice holds by 50%.

Previous issues of Medical Device Tech Watch can be accessed here.

About Vizient, Inc.

Vizient, Inc., the nation’s largest health care performance improvement company, serves more than 60% of the nation’s acute care providers, which includes 97% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 20% of ambulatory care providers. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $130 billion in annual purchasing volume. Vizient’s solutions and services improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.

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