Innovative testing technology helps hospital save $3.7M

Kettering Medical Center has realized a positive financial impact of $3.7 million in the past year as the result of a change in standard operating procedures using a new innovative testing technology that diagnoses a wide variety of infectious diseases faster and more accurately than traditional testing.

"This unique diagnostic technology allows us to diagnose patients faster, and the faster we can provide treatment the faster our patients heal," said Carol Quinter, Ph.D., Director of Kettering Laboratory Clinical Services and Technical Director of DIATHERIX Laboratory at Kettering Medical Center. "This technology, developed by DIATHERIX Laboratories, is a game changer for the healthcare industry. Hospital savings are directly tied to reducing patient infection rates, decreasing the days patients need to be kept in isolation and prescribing fewer antibiotics."

In 2010, Kettering Medical Center partnered with DIATHERIX Laboratories and together the two organizations established the only on-site hospital laboratory in the country utilizing the diagnostic technology called TEM-PCR.

"When we began our partnership with Kettering in August 2010, we were anticipating a financial impact of roughly $225,000 in the first year so we are incredibly pleased with the $3.7 million results," said Dennis Grimaud, Chairman and CEO of DIATHERIX, Inc. "Our technology has been so successful at Kettering because the administration, physicians, scientists, nurses and pharmacists all embraced this innovation and were open to change. As a result, they have experienced a dramatic improvement in patient outcomes and utilization of hospital resources."

The DIATHERIX test takes about six hours to perform, compared to conventional technology requiring a minimum of 48 hours, which has had an enormous impact on the management of patients.

"My ability to provide the best care for my patients has dramatically improved because of this innovative technology and has been especially rewarding in my care of patients with MRSA and other multi-drug resistant organisms, where antibiotic decision-making has such an impact on patient morbidity and mortality," said Catherine Bacheller, M.D., for infectious disease at Kettering Medical Center. "Within a day, I have at my fingertips all the information I need to directly target the organism causing infection and to stop unnecessary, broad spectrum antibiotics with their associated side effects, toxicity and healthcare costs."

The Kettering Health Network has seven hospitals: Kettering, Grandview, Sycamore, Southview, Greene Memorial, Fort Hamilton and Kettering Behavioral Health. Soin Hospital, currently under construction in Beavercreek, will be the eighth hospital in the network and will open in early 2012. Kettering Health Network is recognized as a 2011 Thomson Reuters Top Ten Health Systems for the third consecutive year, and Kettering Medical Center is recognized as a 2011 Thomson Reuters Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital.  The legacy of Charles Kettering was that of innovation.  Kettering continues to be a pioneer in innovation improving the quality and health of the communities it serves.