Streamlining Hospital Administrative Procedures to Reduce Costs

Streamlining Hospital Administrative Procedures to Reduce Costs by Claret Onukogu MBA, South University, 2008 BS, Armstrong Atlantic State University, 2005 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University January 2018 Abstract Americans spent nearly $2.6 trillion, or $8,000 per person for medical and administrative costs in 2010. By 2015, healthcare spending in the United States increased to 5.8% reaching $3.2 trillion or $9,990 per individual. By tackling healthcare administrative costs, it is estimated that healthcare providers could reduce these costs by $20 billion yearly. This case study explored strategies for streamlining hospital administrativeAmericans spent nearly $2.6 trillion, or $8,000 per person for medical and administrative costs in 2010. By 2015, healthcare spending in the United States increased to 5.8% reaching $3.2 trillion or $9,990 per individual. By tackling healthcare administrative costs, it is estimated that healthcare providers could reduce these costs by $20 billion yearly. This case study explored strategies for streamlining hospital administrative procedures to reduce costs. The business process reengineering model formed the conceptual framework for this study. Data were gathered through semistructured face-toface interviews guided by open-ended questions with a purposeful sample of 4 hospital managers in Atlanta, Georgia. This study identifies important themes regarding cost reduction and hospital administration based on participant interviews. Themes included participants’ unfavorable perspectives of the Spell out PPACA (PPACA) legislation, employment of physicians, PPACA reimbursement method, follow-up services, hospital administrative governance, and lack of business education. The themes comprised steps hospital managers could take to streamline administrative procedures to reduce costs. The implications for positive social change included the potential to provide strategies for streamlined processes that could lead to savings passed on to patients from low socioeconomic backgrounds through accessibility to affordable healthcare services. Streamlining Hospital Administrative Procedures to Reduce Costs by Claret Onukogu MBA, South University, 2008 BS, Armstrong Atlantic State University, 2005 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University January 2018 Dedication I thank God, the author and finisher of my fate for giving me the gift of intellect to complete my doctoral journey. I thank him for answering my countless prayers for the strength and means to move forward every step of the way during the tedious doctoral journey despite the challenges and obstacles that came my way. Thanks for being my pillar and backbone. I owe so much thanks to my mother, Catherine Ngozi Onukogu for her unwavering love and support. Your zeal and enthusiasm towards my success inspires me to attain greater heights in my life. Your moral support and encouragements fueled my strengths towards completing my doctoral study. I love you. Acknowledgments I would like to offer special thanks and gratitude to my committee chair and mentor, Dr. Brandon Simmons and his predecessors who also contributed to my success in this difficult journey. I would also like to acknowledge and thank my second committee member Dr. Jamie Klein for her valuable suggestions, which contributed to the development and enrichment of my doctoral study. I am also grateful for my university research reviewer (URR) Dr. Janet Booker for her invaluable contributions to the completion of my doctoral study. Thanks to Dr. Freda Turner, the program director of the Doctor of Business Administration program at Walden University, for establishing a rewarding learning opportunity through this program. Thanks to other Walden University faculty who helped me along the way.