Guthrie Center, Iowa, says warming patients costs $5 to $10 per case.
They focus on the clinical benefits, such as faster healing and recov-
ery times, which means less time in a stretcher and faster discharge.
"We do this because it is a standard of care and to keep our patients
comfortable," says Ms. Terwilliger.
Patient satisfaction is priceless
Charles Golden, MSN, CRNA, of Img Anesthesia Services in Nashville,
Tenn., perhaps says it best: "A warm patient is a happy patient."
Happy patients are good for business. Positive reviews of your facili-
ty could result.
"A comfortable patient may give a good review," says Krystie
Berberich, BSN, administrator at The Kidney & Hypertension
Centers Lifeline Vascular Access Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. "An
uncomfortable patient is very likely to give a poor review of the
facility."
One respondent at a facility that warms all patients with a forced-air
warming system says patient satisfaction scores for patient comfort
throughout the surgical process have improved. The surveys also see
fewer complaints of unmanaged pain.
"There is a small cost per patient, which saves recovery time from
hypothermia," another respondent notes. "The cost of unhappy, cold
patients should be measurable."
Above and beyond
To say the least, the staff at Advanced Surgical Center leaves no
patient warming box unchecked. Keeping patients warm and cozy is
clearly a central component in the overall clinical strategy at the ASC
in Duncanville, Texas.
The forced-air warming system is turned on before the patients
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