Challenges: 

The TDABC approach needed sophisticated software and expertise to scale organization-wide, requiring strong support, especially in impacted areas. Process mapping, education on TDABC, and sensitivity to capacity cost rates were crucial. MD Anderson aimed for all care centers to adopt TDABC for costing and decision-making within five years. Key challenges included understanding cost trends, comparing center performance, identifying resource utilization, and reducing process costs while maintaining quality. The tool had to provide relevant, timely information and be seen not as surveillance, but as an activity log that enhanced productivity and visibility.

Solutions: 

Our team at Agency39A leveraged design thinking, research, strategic planning, user experience design, product design, and front-end development to optimize workflows and enhance decision-making at MD Anderson. Through design research, we identified organizational needs, mapped roles to requirements, and prioritized features for future-state application using design sprints. We developed new workflows and information architecture through comprehensive user experience design and planning. Partnering with MD Anderson's IT and innovation technology teams, we implemented and deployed a scalable platform that translated cost engines, process maps, and event triggers into intuitive software. This platform, with its user-friendly interfaces, is now used across departments by a wide range of clinical and non-clinical users, effectively visualizing and managing resources.

Results: 

Agency39A designed and implemented a comprehensive platform to capture the direct cost of care across all treatment modalities for MD Anderson. Our web-based costing tool accurately calculates total direct labor costs for specific treatment plans based on modality, complexity, and fractionation. Within months, we identified significant time expenditures, including 1,000 administrative hours, 250 physician hours, 250 clinical staff hours, and 100 medical physics hours related to radiation therapy costs. This effort resulted in $2.25M in annual salary savings and continues to generate savings as new team members are added. Additionally, we uncovered $12M in annually recurring unidentified patient fees, showcasing Agency39A's capability to deliver impactful, cost-saving solutions.