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Process Optimization | Healthcare

Healthcare Delivery Management: Reducing Antibiotic Use Through Delayed Prescribing at Maccabi Health Insurance

Maccabi Health Insurance faced the challenge of curbing the overuse of antibiotics for flu-like illnesses without compromising patient care. Doctors frequently prescribed antibiotics for viral illnesses, which led to the risk of resistance and high reimbursement costs. As part of its care management efforts based on “The BOLD Way” methodology, the BOLD KBC Center for Innovation developed the “Delayed Prescription” concept as part of its care management efforts, based on the “Division” mindset—a radical shift in perspective: prescribing antibiotics only when necessary after a brief observation period. In a study involving 55,000 patients, antibiotic use was reduced by 12–16%, while patient satisfaction remained unchanged.

Health Care Delivery Management by the Numbers

Patients examined at

Reducing the Use of Antibiotics
Worsening of symptoms

The Customer

Maccabi Health Insurance

The client is Maccabi Health Insurance, which offers a wide range of services, from health insurance to primary care. A key problem was the excessive prescribing of antibiotics for flu-like illnesses, which fostered antibiotic resistance and resulted in high reimbursement costs. Managing care was strategically necessary, but it had to ensure the quality of care.

The Project

Managing Healthcare Delivery Through “Delayed Prescription”

The BOLD KBC Center for Innovation, in collaboration with the client, conducted an innovation workshop using “The BOLD Way” method, in which the “Division” thinking pattern was applied in a disruptive manner: The prescription was physically divided into two sections. The upper section contained medications to relieve symptoms, while the lower section contained an antibiotic. The doctor was instructed to initially prescribe only the symptom-relieving medications. The patient received the antibiotic only if his condition did not improve after a few days and he returned to the pharmacy. 

This simple concept of delayed prescribing was validated in a study involving 55,000 patients. The results showed a significant reduction in antibiotic use while maintaining patient satisfaction, without any worsening of symptoms or an increase in the duration of illness.

Portrait photo of John Dowling, a partner at Kemény Boehme Consultants (KBC). A man with short, graying hair and square dark glasses looks calmly and confidently into the camera. He is wearing a dark navy blue suit over a light blue shirt without a tie, with one hand in his pants pocket.
Portrait photo of John Dowling, a partner at Kemény Boehme Consultants (KBC). A man with short, graying hair and square dark glasses looks calmly and confidently into the camera. He is wearing a dark navy blue suit over a light blue shirt without a tie, with one hand in his pants pocket.

This Is How We View Healthcare Delivery Management

For the BOLD KBC Center for Innovation, healthcare delivery management means enabling targeted behavioral change through intelligent intervention design, rather than relying exclusively on complex technological solutions. A radically new perspective on existing processes reveals levers that conventional methods fail to tap into, leading to measurable improvements for both patients and the healthcare system.

John Dowling, Partner at KBC

The result

Sustainable Reduction in Antibiotic Use Through Supply Management

The introduction of the “delayed prescription” concept led to a significant reduction in antibiotic use compared to immediate prescribing. Depending on the age group, the reduction ranged from 12% to 16% among the 55,000 patients studied. At the same time, there was no significant worsening of symptoms or duration of illness, no higher rate of complications, and in some cases even fewer follow-up visits to the doctor. Patient satisfaction remained similar to that seen with immediate antibiotic administration. 

The project demonstrates that targeted management of healthcare provision has significant positive effects. Delayed prescribing is a strategic tool for preventing antibiotic resistance and a means of reducing costs.

Portrait photo of John Dowling, a partner at Kemény Boehme Consultants (KBC). A man with short, gray-streaked hair and distinctive dark brown rectangular glasses looks calmly and intently into the camera. He is wearing a dark blue suit with a matching jacket and pants over a light blue shirt without a tie; one hand is casually in his pants pocket, the other loosely at his side, and he maintains an upright and confident posture.
Portrait photo of John Dowling, a partner at Kemény Boehme Consultants (KBC). A man with short, gray-streaked hair and distinctive dark brown rectangular glasses looks calmly and intently into the camera. He is wearing a dark blue suit with a matching jacket and pants over a light blue shirt without a tie; one hand is casually in his pants pocket, the other loosely at his side, and he maintains an upright and confident posture.
John Dowling
Partners

Facing a similar challenge? Talk to us

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