Ask Jeeves: concierge services for hospitals.

Based on anecdotal evidence—both verbal and written—from nurses, they appreciate the value these services have on their personal and professional lives. On average, a single nurse will save as many as five hours per month by using a hospital’s concierge service. When that number is multiplied by an average of 500 requests per month placed by a hospital’s staff, a hospital can save its nurses as much as $300,000 per year in personal time (when multiplied by a $25 per hour salary). To illustrate further, assuming a hospital has 600 nurses making 500 requests in a month, the following estimates would hold true: 500 requests multiplied by two hours saved per request, multiplied by $25 per hour equals a $25,000 cost savings, or recovered productivity, per month. In terms of cost savings to the hospital—specifically regarding recruitment and retention— the value isn’t available in hard numbers, but is likely worth many times the amount a hospital saves its nurses in lost personal time.