How Scripps Health Brewed Up a Plan That Saved $350K

Apparently, the physicians have gotten over it, or they sought comfort from an outsourced barista. "We have had tremendous support from our physician partners across the system," Collins says.

"The pods are nice, (but) they are expensive and not where we need to focus our resources," which should be on providing patients high quality care, excellent clinical outcomes and a positive experience at each of our facilities.”

Areas of the hospital that always had free coffee continue to offer it, such as in areas open to patients and families on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis, including the emergency department, nursing units or physician respite areas like the surgical lounge.

Throughout the system, Scripps has saved $150 million per year on just these sorts of examinations.

"We need to eliminate things that don't create value," Collins said in a hospital newsletter. "This was an opportunity for us to reduce the variation across the system, work together, and save money."

Van Gorder says that as a former police officer, he long ago learned how to survive on any sort of coffee. And if someone must have a more expensive concoction, well, he says, "Sure. They can just go to the store and buy it."

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