title: Five steps to cost savings: adjusting ventilator humidification protocols.
abstract: Given the current U.S. economy, hospitals are forced to cut expenses. However, these initiatives should not compromise patient safety. William Beaumont Hospital's respiratory care and clinical engineering departments identified a possible cost savings opportunity, which involved adjusting their ventilator humidification techniques. Five steps describe the methodological approach that the departments followed to develop a cost-savings model and to maintain patient safety standards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Engineering & Technology Management, Beaumont Services Company, 3601 W Thirteen Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48073-6769, USA.
authors.forename: Rani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gebara
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Najarian
authors.forename: J Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Narla
mesh_terms: D017046:Cost Savings / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008824:Michigan; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012449:Safety; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000191:economics*