New Printers + No Jams = Happy Patients

Checking in patients is a full-time job at a busy clinic. When the printer jams, it spells long lines and frustration. A Patient Registration team had this problem. It cost the team about $12,000 a year in jammed paper waste and patients got frustrated. So team members began documenting their wasted paper, toner, and IT time. Within a week, their purchasing department authorized new multimedia printers. The results were immediate. Patient satisfaction when up and costs went down with a savings of $3,631 in four months.

Here's What Worked

• Creating a "tick sheet" for staff to note how much paper and toner is wasted
• Figuring how often IT is called and how many patients are affected
• Getting authorization for newer and more efficient printers

What can your team do to build a business case for better equipment? What else could your team do to reduce wasted time and effort?