Healthcare Heist: A Productivity Mystery

For many healthcare leaders, productivity remains a management mystery. They often operate “in the dark” when it comes to how to effectively benchmark, set realistic performance goals, and routinely track progress. Given its mixed perception and seemingly negative reputation, organizations tend to avoid productivity initiatives out of fear or apprehension. The reality: productivity is multifaceted, produces positive results, and can actually be fun! In the spirit of the season, Altius is investigating the Healthcare Heist, a case of “who done it?” that spotlights operational challenges that productivity can help resolve. Remember, when it comes to inefficiencies, there is never just one suspect!

The Stage is Set: Productivity has gone missing. Was it misplaced in the Emergency Room? Did it slip through Patient Access? Or perhaps, it was sabotaged by inaction.

  • Scene of the Crime: The Emergency Room

The ER is always buzzing, but when border patients linger and throughput slows, it can feel like a haunted house with no exits. Who is behind this slowdown? Lagging turnaround times for test results? Inpatient bed delays?

Clue: Productivity, last seen waiting in the hallway, tangled in a queue of admitted patients.

  • Scene of the Crime: Patient Access

Next stop—admitting. Errors in registration are the perfect alibi for lost time. A wrong insurance entry or missed demographic detail can send staff scrambling and stall patient care.

Clue: Productivity, last spotted buried under rework and denials.

The Plot Twist: Just like in any good mystery, there is no single culprit. Productivity in healthcare is not stolen by one person, one department, or one process—it is a conspiracy of small inefficiencies that, together, impact overall performance.

Solving the Case: The good news? Every clue also points to a solution.

  • Border patients/throughput: Better care coordination and bed management strategies can clear bottlenecks.
  • Errors in registration: Training, automation, and clearly defined processes can reduce mistakes.
  • Collaboration across departments: Productivity thrives when all the “suspects” stop pointing fingers and start working together.

Case Closed? Not exactly. In healthcare, productivity will always be a moving target. The trick is to treat it like an ongoing investigation: gather the evidence, test the processes, and keep teams engaged in solving the puzzle.

Like a mystery with many twists, workflow challenges often arise from interconnected factors—not a single source. The real opportunity lies not in finding “who done it,” but in uncovering how resources can be more appropriately utilized. By focusing on collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement, healthcare leaders can turn operational complexities into a clear path forward—one where productivity supports patients, providers, and staff.

So, gather your team, follow the clues, and start solving your own productivity mystery. Every improvement, no matter how small, brings your organization one step closer to a better, more efficient future!

Altius offers the data, tools, and support needed for hospitals and health systems to realize improved performance, empowered leadership, sustained cost-savings, and enhanced operations. To learn more, contact us today or visit our site for more info!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *