Why Financial Drivers Matter in Quality Improvement
At ACHS Consulting, we partner with healthcare organisations to embed Quality Improvement as a strategic priority.
Quality Improvement (QI) is often viewed through a clinical lens, but its financial implications are just as critical. Poor quality care doesn’t just impact patients, it consumes resources, reduces capacity, and places ongoing strain on health systems.
In a recent ACHS Improvement Academy Masterclass, Dr Jane Evans, Group Manager, Improvement and Experience at St Vincent’s Health Australia, highlighted how healthcare organisations can not only improve quality, safety, and patient and staff experience, but also unlock significant financial benefits through QI.
Dr Evans shared findings from her decades of research on how hospitals can better measure and realise the financial gains of improvement initiatives. She noted that while many services demonstrate the ability to quantify benefits, this discipline is often missing in day-to-day improvement efforts. Embedding financial thinking into QI is therefore essential for sustainable change.
Why Poor Quality is Expensive
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Complications extend stays. Each hospital-acquired complication increases length of stay, consumes workforce time, and adds costs across multiple departments.
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Capacity is lost. Preventable harm impacts patients and ties up beds and staff who could otherwise focus on higher-value care.
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Workflow inefficiency. Duplicated tests, poor documentation, and discharge delays create hidden costs, lower throughput, and contribute to burnout.
If you would like to learn more, you can watch the ACHS Masterclass in full on our IA Learning Portal.
Or if you have a specific quality goal or initiative, our consulting team are on hand to support you with the evolving needs of healthcare providers. ACHS Consulting helps organisations embed QI into governance, culture, and strategy, ensuring improvements deliver both clinical and financial value. Click here to book a confidential chat with our Healthcare Consulting Manager to learn more.
Our services include:
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Gap Analysis and Readiness Diagnostics
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Clinical Governance Frameworks
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Risk and Incident Management systems
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Quality Improvement Assurance
Vince was a wealth of knowledge and his experience was evident during our consultation. Every question was answered and he provided a safe space to talk freely. Vince’s report was logical and aligned to the standards and the recommendations were made in order of priority which was extremely appreciated. In addition, I would like to express gratitude for the fast turnaround of his report which was received within a week of commencing consultation. Thank you!
– ACHS Consulting Client
We help services prioritise harm domains, resource realistically, engage finance teams early, and monitor equity outcomes across populations. Contact ACHS Consulting today to find our how we can support your organisation.
