Windows of opportunities available in tight economic times

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital has developed a culture around the Accreditation process and quality assurance. All staff members are regularly challenged to ask themselves the question, 'What are we doing now that we could do better?' During the financial year 1990-91, over 350 quality assurance programmes were undertaken addressing more than 150 individual issues. Many aspects of a clinical nature were addressed and these will be dealt with briefly. The main focus of this paper is to indicate the windows of opportunity available to hospitals in tight economic times. Programmes were undertaken in every department throughout the hospital and, in the financial year under review, savings of $351,589 were not only identified but accomplished. These savings are ongoing during the next 5 years and will amount to approximately $1.75 million. The Auxiliaries of The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital have assisted the hospital and over the last 10 years have raised $2.5 million without any direct public appeals.