Case Study: Genesis Health System saves $710,000 and cuts pharmacy spend with Cerner ITWorks

This ITWorks client saved $710,000 in the first six months of 2016

Genesis Health System, a 642-bed health system in Davenport, Iowa, faced a 35% rise in pharmacy spend from July 2013 to June 2015. The increase was driven by higher and higher-cost antimicrobial prescribing, longer lengths of stay for patients on antimicrobials, rising C. diff infections, and limited visibility into true medication costs and ordering patterns because of gaps in the pharmacy IT infrastructure.

Partnering with Cerner’s on-site Value Creation Office under an ITWorks agreement, Genesis revamped its Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, deployed Cerner’s Infection Control and analytics tools to flag prescribing exceptions, and implemented Cerner Pharmacy Supply Chain to load actual drug costs and automate inventory. These interventions reduced average daily antimicrobial costs, shortened stays for patients on antimicrobials, helped lower hospital-acquired infections, improved formulary management—and generated more than $710,000 in savings in the first six months of 2016.

Genesis Health System

Kevin Cahill

Director of Pharmacy