Research Paper on:
Proposal to Implement a Change in a Healthcare Facility for the Reduction of Oxygen Costs

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Implementing the Change 3 5. Methods of Evaluation 4 References 5 1. Change which will be implemented It is proposed that a change is introduced at a healthcare facility in order to reduce  the overall cost of providing the patient with oxygen targeting both piped and cylinder supplies. Henron (1954) noted that in a hospital setting oxygen was an important was water;  as such it is an extremely important resource, used by almost all departments and a wide range of patients with different healthcare issues. Therefore the change is to reduce  the total cost, but without reducing any quality of care or access to oxygen where and when needed, without compromising any medical needs. In this change the total cost is  not only the direct cost of the oxygen but indirect costs associated with the purchase and distribution process. 2. Rationale for Selecting the Change The change has been selected  due to its essential nature and the way on which oxygen is seen as an ever present resource, and as such may be overlooked in favour of changes that have  the potential for higher levels of savings. The current economic climate is placing pressure on healthcare organizations, both for and not for profit organization, who are facing constraints in their  ability to increase process as well as cost increases above the general rate of inflation (Stafford, 2009). For any unnecessary cost this represents an opportunity cost (Baye, 2007), where funds  may be better directed at other areas which add value and may improve patient care. Oxygen costs are targeted as a way of finding viable costs for reduction, if effective  changes to reduce these costs, without impacting on patient care, are successful this the change may be expanded to other areas, such as other anaesthetic gases and medical resources.