title: 1995 Fast Track: cost reduction and improvement.
abstract: To respond to a cost reduction crisis, Strong Memorial Hospital implemented an aggressively managed program of accelerated improvement teams. "Fast-track" teams combined the application of many management tools (total quality management, breakthrough thinking, reengineering, etc.) into one problem-solving process. Teams and managers were charged to work on specific cost reduction strategies. Teams were given additional instruction on interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. Paradoxically, quality improvement in our hospital was advanced more through this effort at cost reduction than had previously been done in the name of quality itself.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Medical Center/Strong Memorial Hospital, NY, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Panzer
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Tuttle
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kolker
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D002017:Budgets; D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000639:trends; D008332:Management Quality Circles; D009518:New York; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods