Overview
Hospitals are under constant pressure to improve operational efficiency while maintaining high standards of cleanliness and compliance. Traditional, paper-based inspection methods are labor-intensive, error-prone, and inefficient. By transitioning to an app-based inspection platform, hospitals can modernize their EVS workflows, reduce costs, and improve outcomes. Below, I have highlighted some key areas where these savings occur. These figures are based on a 250-bed acute care hospital, but the table below gives you a range based on the size of your facility.
- HAI Prevention
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are costly and life-threatening. On average, one HAI costs approximately $20,000 to treat. App-based inspections and real-time cleaning verification tools help reduce surface contamination, improve compliance, and ensure cleaning standards are met consistently. In our model, a 250-bed hospital using app-based inspections prevents approximately 1.25 HAIs per year, resulting in annual savings of $25,000.
- Reduced Cleaning Rework
Without standardized checklists and feedback loops, cleaning errors often go unnoticed until flagged during audits or follow-ups. App-based inspections help identify missed steps immediately, reducing the need for rework. In this scenario, an average of 1 hour of cleaning rework is saved per bed annually. Across 250 beds, that translates into 250 labor hours saved. At an average EVS wage of $20/hour, this results in $5,000 in savings.
- Reduced Time Inspecting Cleanliness
App-based systems streamline the inspection process through mobile checklists and automated scoring. Inspections are faster and more focused, allowing your supervisors to cover more ground in less time. With an estimated time savings of 1 hour per bed per year, a 250-bed hospital saves 250 hours per year. At $30/hour, this equates to $7,500 in labor savings.
- Reduced Time Entering Inspection Data
Paper inspections require manual data entry into spreadsheets or reports. App-based tools eliminate this step by capturing data at the source and storing it securely in the cloud. This frees up administrative staff for higher-value tasks.
It requires an average of 4 hours per week to enter this data, which is totally eliminated with automation. The hospital saves 208 admin hours. At an administrative wage of $30/hour, the annual savings is $6,240.
- Reduced Audit Prep Time – Joint Commission
Preparing for regulatory audits like those from The Joint Commission can require hundreds of man-hours of scrambling to gather paperwork, especially when using paper logs. App-based systems allow instant access to digital inspection records, trend reports, and compliance data. If 80 hours of audit prep time are avoided annually, and those hours are worked by admin staff and senior management, at a weighted average of $50/hour, the savings amount to $4,000.
- Avoided Regulatory Fines
Missing documentation, incomplete logs, or cleaning lapses can lead to regulatory fines or lost reimbursements. With app-based inspections providing real-time compliance tracking and documentation, these risks are greatly reduced. While it is impossible to estimate and exact amount, there is a reduced risk and therefore a savings. No value is attributed in this model.
Conclusion
The combined financial impact of switching to app-based cleaning inspections is substantial. With over $47,000 in annual savings, hospitals can reallocate resources, improve service delivery, and enhance patient safety. This also positions EVS departments as strategic contributors to operational efficiency and compliance.