Working Wonders

For Patricia Knopf, two ideas are better than one

Senior vice president of operations Mark Holtz (left) and chief operating officer Lou Liebhaber (right) present Patricia Knopf, R.N., with her Working Wonders rewards.

When LVH–Muhlenberg’s post-anesthesia care unit needed to cut costs, Patricia Knopf, R.N., found numerous Working Wonders. Her approved ideas include:

• Less laundry. Knowing patients already have blankets on their beds, Knopf suggested litters be made up with just a sheet instead of a sheet and blanket to save on laundry costs. Now, when the transporter picks up the patient for surgery, the blanket comes with the patient.
• Ice packs instead of a rented machine. After reading studies about the effectiveness of ice packs in cooling the incision site of total knee replacements, she suggested discontinuing the rental of cold therapy units and using ice packs.

What does Knopf have planned for her reward money? “I just helped pay for my son’s wedding, so I’m going to build up my bank account and buy myself a new stove,” she says.

How It Adds Up
IDEA - Using fewer blankets to save on laundry costs
BY - Patricia Knopf, R.N.
ANNUAL SAVINGS - $1,422
AWARD AMOUNT - $142 total

How It Adds Up
IDEA - Replacing costly rental equipment with ice packs
BY - Patricia Knopf, R.N.
ANNUAL SAVINGS - $17,761
AWARD AMOUNT - $1776 total

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