Each year, Partners spends millions of dollars in printer services—including contracts for leased printers—for administrative areas throughout the system. The goal is to make printing more efficient and less expensive in these areas through printing optimization.

A pilot project was conducted last year at the Schrafft Center in Charlestown, where 1,100 Partners employees work. More than 80 percent of LaserJet and DeskJet printers were removed, and most employees now use strategically located multi-functional devices (MFDs) throughout the building. MFDs are machines with both color and black-and-white printing capabilities that can copy, scan, print and fax documents.

Before the project began, 75 percent of printing occurred on LaserJet and DeskJet printers; now, it’s 31 percent. In addition, Schrafft staff have increased their use of duplex printing (printing on both sides of a sheet of paper) and limited the frequency of color printing. Not only does this cut costs, but it reduces the amount of power and paper being used, a significant environmental benefit. All printing equipment in the building also now receives toner and maintenance services from a single vendor, resulting in additional cost savings.

The project is being rolled out at six additional Partners administrative buildings this year: Wellesley Gateway, One Constitution Center, One Cabot Road, 101 Merrimac, 101 Huntington and 50 Staniford. The project does not include printing in clinical areas since clinical area printing needs and requirements are often technologically complex.

The initiative at the Schrafft Center alone is expected to save more than $200,000 annually. When implemented throughout other Partners administrative sites, the savings could reach $800,000 to $1 million.

If you have cost-saving ideas, email patientaffordability@partners.org.