Rethinking Bottom Line Growth in O&P
Let’s play a quick word association game. When someone says “improve the bottom line,” what comes to mind? If you’re like most leaders, two classic levers flash before your eyes: raise prices or cut expenses. It’s the oldest playbook in the business world, and it’s been drilled into us since Econ 101.
But what happens when you work in healthcare, where neither lever is really in your control? Payers dictate your fees. Costs—staffing, supplies, compliance—seem to climb higher every year. You’re caught in a vise, squeezed from both sides, with little room to maneuver. So what now? Is the bottom line doomed to stagnate, or worse, shrink?
But wait! There’s a third lever—efficiency and process management—and it’s not just a slow-burn strategy. It can deliver fast, tangible wins that you’ll notice in your next payroll cycle, supply order, or patient care episode. Let’s break down why this is the most powerful (and most underused) tool in your kit
Reimbursement rates are locked in by payers. Costs—staff, supplies, compliance—only go up. You can’t charge more, and you can’t keep slashing expenses without risking quality or burning out your team. The old “raise prices or cut costs” mantra? Useless here.
But what if you could get more out of what you already have—today? The real opportunity isn’t in what you charge or what you spend, but in how you work.
How much time is lost clarifying ambiguous procedures or onboarding new staff who have to “figure it out as they go”? How many appointments run late because workflows are inconsistent? How many supplies get reordered because no one knew they were already there? Or never get returned? These aren’t just annoyances—they’re silent drains on your bottom line, and they’re happening right now.
These little inefficiencies add up—fast. In fact, studies show that administrative waste accounts for up to 25% of total healthcare spending in the U.S. That’s not just a rounding error. That’s a massive drain on your bottom line, and it’s hiding in plain sight.
Worse, inefficiency doesn’t just cost money. It saps morale, frustrates patients, and makes onboarding new team members a slow, painful process. It’s the silent killer of productivity and profit.
Here’s the good news: You have more control than you think. The secret isn’t in what you charge or what you spend, but in how you work. This is where process management comes in. Shave just 10 minutes off every patient intake, and you’ve freed up hours each week. Standardize your supply ordering, and you’ll see fewer rush orders and less waste on your next invoice. These are wins you can measure in days and weeks—not just years.
When you identify inefficiencies, memorialize workflows, and create repeatable processes, you unlock a triple win:
Increased Productivity: Staff spend less time reinventing the wheel and more time on what matters—caring for patients.
Reduced Waste: Clear processes mean fewer mistakes, less duplication, and less wasted time and materials.
Faster Onboarding: Well-documented workflows turn new hires into productive team members faster, reducing the drag of lengthy training periods.
It’s not enough to just “fix” a process. The real value kicks in when you memorialize it—documenting the steps, clarifying roles, and making it part of your organization’s DNA. This isn’t about stifling creativity or turning staff into robots. It’s about freeing your team from chaos so they can focus on what they do best.
When processes are documented and repeatable:
New hires ramp up faster. They don’t have to guess or rely on tribal knowledge.
Quality improves. Everyone knows the best way to get things done.
Adaptation gets easier. When change comes (and it always does), you have a baseline to improve from.
The Bottom Line: Efficiency Pays off Immediately
Here’s the value statement your bottom line will feel right away: Efficiency isn’t just a future benefit. It’s cash in your pocket, time on your calendar, and stress off your plate—starting this week.
In a world where you can’t raise prices or slash costs at will, this is the lever you can pull today. Root out inefficiency, standardize your workflows, and memorialize your processes. You’ll see the difference on your next payroll, supply order, and patient satisfaction survey.
Efficiency isn’t just a buzzword or a long-term dream. In O&P, it’s your fastest path to immediate wins—and it only gets better with time.
In a world where so much is out of your control, this is the lever you can actually pull. It’s not always flashy, but it’s powerful. By rooting out inefficiency, standardizing workflows, and memorializing your processes, you can unlock hidden value, boost morale, and create a foundation for sustainable growth—even when prices and costs are set by forces beyond your reach.
Ready to get started? Join us as we explore workflows and help you see what’s slowing you down--where the waste is hiding? Your bottom line—and your sanity—will thank you. OPIE Anywhere is your ticket to sanity and profitability.