How to accelerate financial recovery by focusing on post-op efficiency

As facilities work to return to pre-pandemic levels of efficiency and income in the face of the latest COVID surge, surgical procedures are a critical source of revenue—but common complications post-surgery can increase costs and negatively impact patient care. On September 30, a panel of experts explored the scope of this problem and what facilities can do to combat it.

1 Risk of post-operative surgical complications has increased.

Since COVID-19, the likelihood of complications post-surgery has intensified. Many patients have postponed necessary care throughout the pandemic, causing more high-risk surgeries to be conducted because chronic and acute diseases progressed further. Moreover, some people who had COVID-19 are still experiencing side effects from the virus, which raises the risk for complications after surgery.

2 Post-operative pulmonary complications increase length of stay and costs.

Data prior to COVID shows about 37.5% 1,2 of surgical hospital patients are at-risk for a post-operative pulmonary complication (PPC). Of those, 11.3% 1,2,3 of patients will actually experience a PPC after surgery. Such an event adds on average three days3 to a hospital stay, increasing expenses for the facility. A hospital with 200 beds and performing 2,484 surgeries per year will on average have 2814 patients experience a post-operative surgical complication, adding $1.05 5,6,7 million in costs per year. If a 200-bed hospital was able to reduce post-operative surgical complications by one-third, 64 new patients could receive surgery at that hospital, driving more revenue.

3 Technology solutions can help enhance post-operative care.

Staffing is a huge challenge for hospitals right now, largely due to workforce shortages. Deploying innovative, effective technology is a crucial tactic hospital leaders should deploy to free up staff time while also helping to decrease patient length of stay and reduce readmissions. Furthermore, administrators are focusing on technology enhancements that can improve efficiencies rather than expecting a technology to save big dollars to be worth the investment.

4 Oscillation and lung expansion therapy (OLE) has been proven to reduce post-operative pulmonary complications.

The Volara ® System from Hillrom provides OLE therapy in three ways using one device: continuous positive expiratory pressure (CPEP) to expand airways; continuous high-frequency oscillation (CHFO) pulses to dislodge mucus; and nebulized medications with greater deposition. The Volara System has been shown to improve aeration and alveolar recruitment, to resolve atelectasis, and to improve pulmonary function, helping to prevent complications with mucus plugging. Time on the ventilator is proven to decrease by 64% from 94.1 hours to 29.7 hours for high-risk surgical patients. 8

5 Implementing the Volara System can lead to cost savings for hospitals.

A 2019 study in the Journal of the

American College of Surgeons of 419 subjects using the OLE therapy found it led to improved outcomes. There was a 31% reduction in post-operative pulmonary complications for all patients. 8 Average length of stay for intensive-care unit patients declined by two days while overall hospital length of stay dropped by 1.6 days overall. 8 Based on current post-operative surgical complication rates, the financial impact of the Volara system for a hospital can be nearly $1 million. 4,5,6

A list of studies and statistics referenced in this article can also be accessed at the below webinar link.