University hospitals want to compare finances in a new collaborative project

We see that we have a trend of higher cost and this is a problem for the entire healthcare system. Then maybe we can learn from each other about how to better distribute resources, which of course is the ulterior motive. But also, we’re becoming more aware so we put resources in the right areas, says Elva Obbard, chief financial officer at Academic Hospital.

It has recently taken the first step towards a “normative collaboration” between Akademiska, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg and Skene University Hospital.

– We’re just at the beginning dig. We’ve only had time to determine that there is an interest and have also booked a few meetings in the future to see areas where it might be interesting to move forward and delve into.

The question about the engagement was also put to Karolinska University Hospital, which has not yet responded. Ylva Opard also turned to the Swedish municipalities and regions, SKR, with the question of whether the organization could consider coordinating a project with all seven university hospitals. SKR gave a positive response and is now looking into the interest of other hospitals.

According to an issue that is being addressed in the Akademiska Hospital Board at the beginning of next week, the purpose of the modular collaboration is, among other things, to “obtain improved analyzes and comparisons regarding the distribution of resources for each operational area”. Resources in this case mean money.

Do we have a model for how the money will be distributed? Does the one shouting the loudest get the most or do we have facts behind it? Elva Obbard says the money is then used to buy other resources, such as employees.

One hospital will get the most money, and another hospital will get the least money per work area, so how do you know which one is better?

– We could have different ambitions there. We can have higher ambitions in plastic surgery because that’s where we want to put the resources, but there has to be an idea behind that.

Ylva Opard explains that the new highly specialized national care system means that some hospitals will have higher costs in certain areas. In the case of Akademiska, for example, it would be a conscious choice to spend more money on plastic surgery and other activities associated with a hospital’s mission regarding burn care.

So there is no danger of it becoming a race to the bottom and everyone adjusting to the hospital spending the least amount of money per field of activity?

– No, we must understand how we allocate resources and that there is awareness.

As for the economic forecast, it is very bleak. Skåne University Hospital has been budgeted for a score of zero, but the latest “scheduled earnings forecast” indicates that the hospital will face a shortfall of SEK 700 million for the full year. In the Akademiska budget, 2022 was supposed to end at minus 200 million kroner, in the latest forecasts, the red figures were half a billion kroner.

How dangerous is it?

– It’s millions of crowns. In percentage terms, Elva Obbard says it’s a 2.7 percent budget skew.

Lakartidningen.se 2022-09-22