Baylor Health Care System Saves $2.7 Million in One Year

• 12 May 2009

Baylor Health Care System has used ACTION O-I comparative database to assist in benchmarking and cost reduction efforts for years, and was one of the original hospitals to assist in the tool’s development. ACTION O-I is the largest financial and operational comparative database in healthcare, and includes data from more than 850 healthcare organizations nationwide.

As a result, when VHA Southwest presented its ACTION O-I Coordinators’ Council with an opportunity to reduce organizationwide costs in January 2005, Jennifer Walker, Baylor’s decision support coordinator and a council member, wasted no time taking advantage of the opportunity. ACTION O-I reports showed pharmacy, the ED and the O.R. to be the top potential areas of opportunity for participating members, so nine ACTION O-I coordinators, including Walker, developed a methodology by which to pursue savings opportunities. The VHA Southwest initiative, launched in March 2005, saved Baylor $2.7 million in just one year.