Approximately 5.5 million emergency department (ED) patients and inpatients are transferred between hospitals each year. An efficient, reliable patient transfer process is a critical aspect of optimal care delivery and operations.
Unfortunately, a perfect storm of converging issues is creating an unacceptable patient transfer scenario in U.S. hospitals. Ongoing staffing shortages and turnover result in resource challenges, which in turn contribute to burnout for the remaining staff resulting in a perpetual cycle.
The good news: A recent analysis reveals that outsourced transfer services—like those offered through Conduit—hold strong potential to make a positive difference and deliver significant financial impact. For hospitals, outsourced transfer services can lead to a nearly 3:1 return on investment.
Advantages of Optimizing Patient Transfers
When intra-facility movement within a large health system is optimized, there are impactful advantages, such as:
- Patients are more likely to receive appropriate care in a timely manner.
- Streamlined processes improve access and operational efficiency for the health system.
- Patients are more likely to receive coordinated care within the health system.
- Hospital staff face fewer stressors that can reduce errors or omissions in care delivery
Outsourcing Transfer Center Processes
Hospitals and health systems need support when managing the complexities of the patient transfer process. Most lack in-house resources, operational capacity or expertise to adequately address patient transfer from both the patient care and health system perspective. An optimal approach requires:
- Standardized processes across physicians, clinicians and administrative staff
- Ongoing governance and oversight along with evaluation and reporting
- Dedicated nurse driven resources to facilitate transfer processes, including understanding facility capability, identifying optimal in-network options, communicating with providers and coordinating transportation and care needs.
For these reasons, the business case for outsourcing patient transfer operations is often an easy one to make. Benefits of outsourcing a patient transfer center model include:
- Designated transfer resources to improve operational efficiency
- Support in service line development
- Growth in market share through coordinated care and becoming the preferred choice for patient transfers with a streamlined, hassle-free process.
- Data visibility aligned with organization strategy
- Improvement in emergency department throughput, including waiting times and transfer completion
- Network load balancing
- Reduction in transfer delays
Health Systems Realize Nearly 3:1 ROI With Conduit Health Partners
In 2024, Conduit Health Partners engaged the services of third-party research firm, Eliciting Insights, to conduct an analysis of Conduit’s transfer center services provided to a large health system.
The results revealed significant retention of patients related to outsourced patient transfer services:
- Conduit’s transfer center effectively coordinated 18,000 transfers within the large health system over 12 months, ensuring continued coordination of care for patients in addition to providing $279M in net revenue.
- Conduit’s transfer center is predicted to contribute $23M in future revenue by appropriately enabling a patient to continue on their care journey within the integrated health system.
For a full breakdown of the calculations and return on investment, please review the whitepaper.
Unlock the Full Potential of Your Health System
As the health care landscape grows more complex, outsourcing patient transfer services is becoming a necessity for health systems seeking to improve care coordination, increase patient retention, and drive financial success.
Download the whitepaper to explore how Conduit Health Partners can speed care, strengthen revenue and increase patient retention and acquisition for your health system.
