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![Two nurse examine supplies in their supply closet](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/simple_surprising_savings_1.jpg)
Simple, Surprising Savings
Team saves thousands simply by reducing supply waste.
- Keeping costs down helps keep Kaiser Permanente affordable for members and patients.
- Mobilizing all UBT members to use stickers to indicate which supplies they use—and which they could live without
![Purple-capped specimen vials](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs23464_rag_12_07_24-245-scr.jpg)
Right Team, Right Tool, Right Test
Reduced lab errors from ten percent to three percent within five months.
- The faster and more accurately patients get their lab results back, the more satisfied they are.
- Standardize workflow for processing lab specimens and orders
![Manager with eco-friendly rechargeable batteries](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs23499_rag_12_07_26-003-scr_1.jpg)
Go Green
Eco-projects are saving an estimated $12,000 a year at one medical center.
- Green projects protect the environment, save money and help workers build career skills.
- Enroll the entire EVS department in a green skills certification class
![Two girls carefully measure cooking oil as their mentor looks on](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs36532_lm_15_11_06-091-scr.jpg)
For the Love of Kids
Nearly 35 children took part in this farm-to-table initiative.
- The 2015 National Agreement calls for greater union engagement in community benefit programs.
- Involve childen in growing and cooking their own healthy food
![Doctors and nurses huddle around a computer](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/vid-135_why_speaking_up_matters2_1.jpg)
Why Speaking Up Matters
Patients suffer fewer hospital-acquired infections and staff has high morale and low turnover.
- Speaking up leads to fewer patient infections and more satisfied staff.
- Physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers and other caregivers take part in multidisciplinary daily patient rounding together
![Mother with baby and care provider in the NICU](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/vlcsnap-2015-03-05-13h52m16s117.png)
Giving Patients a Voice
Improvements suggested by a parent advisory council ease the stress of new moms and dads whose babies are in the NICU.
- Unit-based teams make innovations that have a big impact when they include patients in their improvement efforts.
- Members of this NICU host a bimonthly parent advisory council and include moms and dads members in the department’s tests of change
![Pharmacy technician amid bins of pills at the Central Refill Pharmacy](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs34343_lm_15_05_11-069-scr.jpg)
An Rx for Efficiency
Overtime use dropped by 75 percent, with an initial cost savings of $180,000.
- Patients need to get their medication quickly and easily. The Central Refill Pharmacy found a way to make that happen more efficiently.
- Expand the night shift to prevent big backlogs
![Members of UNAC/UHCP show off their inventions during an innovation workshop](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/invent_our_future.jpg)
Invent Our Future
Frontline innovation with new technology and service models are improving care and keeping KP a health care leader.
- Clinical quality, patient satisfaction and employee growth and development all improve when we experiment with new technologies and ways of providing care.
- Sending smartphone photos of patients’ rashes to dermatologist for faster diagnoses and treatment
![Two men in blue shirts examing packages in a supply room](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/vid-120_coming_in_from_cold_1.jpg)
Coming In From the Cold
Packages get where they need to go quickly –instead of piling up outside in the snow
- Supplies and other deliveries are kept safe and secure, delivered quickly and efficiently
- Conduct a motion analysis of sorting and delivering packages
![A cute little blonde girl smiling](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/vid-132_speak_up_change_a_life_1.jpg)
Speak Up, Change a Life
Epilepsy patients benefit from better technology after a doctor and tech team up to advocate for it.
- New testing technology meant better care and less stress for epilepsy patients, all while KP saves money and time.
- Physician and union worker team up to advocate for advanced technology
![Nurse giving a female patient a flu shot](https://bargaining2021.org/sites/default/files/rs32438_rag_14_11_10-064-scr_0.jpg)
How a Flu Shot Can Help Catch Cancer
Sixty percent of women overdue for mammograms got same-day appointments.
- Early detection of cancer means treatment can start sooner.
- Medical imaging department blocks out time for same-day appointments to accommodate referrals from the flu clinic