Lower Healthcare Spending with...A Checklist?

Health care spending is out of control for a number of reasons: the health insurance system, U.S. lifestyle, lack of preventive care, prescription drug costs, administrative costs etc. A cure-all solution for health care spending is near impossible. Atul Gawande has a solution that can make a difference and it doesn't involve a controversial bill or fancy new medial technology. It's as common as something you and I use every day: A Checklist.



In the video above, Atul Gawande, a surgeon at Bringham & Women's Hospital, explains his idea for a 19 point hospital checklist. His checklist is something surgeons, doctors and nurses can use to prevent mistakes, infections and deaths during hospital stays. His checklist was initially tested in 8 hospital worldwide. In these 8 hospitals there was a 1/3 reduction in infections and deaths during surgery. A hospital in Michigan implemented the checklist and saw a 2/3 reduction of infections, saved 1,500 lives and over 200 million dollars.

This checklist is being used in less than 1/4 of U.S. hospitals. Imagine if this was required by all hospitals? Hospital infections are negative externalities that cost the health care system a ton of money. A low cost solution like Atul's could save a lot of lives and money.

Are there other simple fixes like Atul Gawande's checklist that can contribute to lower health care spending? Can an idea as simple as a checklist really save lives and money?