Patient Bed Replacement Project Update

The ad-hoc Value Analysis bed replacement team, led by Bindi Shah and Hal Brown, has been working diligently to coordinate a Systemwide bed replacement plan for WellStar. The team has identified all of the beds that are to be replaced and the optimal bed surface mix for each facility. WellStar primarily uses a high cost bed surface (Hill-Rom Versacare integrated-air surface) for medical surgical units at all facilities. While this surface is well-suited for higher acuity patients, it is not needed for all patients. Thus, the team selected a less costly non-air surface (Hill-Rom AccuMax VPC foam) to be utilized for our ambulatory patients that do not meet the clinical criteria required for an integrated air surface. Once the bed replacement plan is complete, WellStar, with the exception of Windy Hill, will have a mix of integrated air and foam surface beds in their medical surgical units. The bed surface mix was determined by CNO leadership following an in-depth review of patient data.

To capitalize on our ability to act as an integrated delivery network, the team also developed a master plan which entails transferring some of our newer integrated air surface beds to other WellStar facilities and replacing them with foam surface beds. An integrated air surface bed is approximately $3,021 more than the foam surface bed. By changing the utilization of our bed surfaces (purchasing a mix of integrated air surfaces and foam surfaces), WellStar will avoid more than $1.5 million in costs, and $150,000 will be avoided through inter-facility transfers. Additionally, through strategic negotiations, the Purchasing Department was also able to negotiate an additional $777,961 in contract savings.

Nursing, Facilities Engineering and Environmental Services teams are working with Hill-Rom to determine the best process for deploying and/or changing out beds. CNOs are currently working with Value Analysis to determine project leads for each facility.

Lastly, all beds will be labeled (FOAM, AIR, ICU, and LABOR) to identify the type of bed. New beds are expected to begin arriving at WellStar facilities beginning in October.