Case Study

Restoring Control and Reducing Telecom Spend by 31% Across 80+ Facilities

Executive Summary

  • Audit-led engagement validating telecom spend across a multi-site healthcare system
  • 31% reduction identified and realized across voice, data, mobility, and toll-free services
    Findings supported by invoice-level and contract-level evidence
  • Savings validated only after appearing on carrier invoices
  • Engagement established a defensible operating baseline supporting audit and compliance requirements


The Challenge

The healthcare system supported a complex telecommunications environment across hospitals, outpatient facilities, and administrative offices. Over time, acquisitions, site expansions, and service changes created a fragmented operating model with limited visibility into service inventory, billing accuracy, and contract compliance. Leadership suspected material overbilling but lacked confidence in existing records and prior assessments. Earlier reviews identified issues but failed to withstand compliance scrutiny or produce sustained results. The organization required a defensible audit approach capable of reducing costs without introducing operational or regulatory risk.

The DBC Approach

Dev-Byrne & Company conducted a comprehensive, audit-led review focused on accuracy, validation, and execution readiness. The engagement included:

  • Validation of billed services against active inventory across all facilities
  • Review of carrier contracts, tariffs, and applied discounts
  • Identification of zero-usage, duplicate, and legacy services
  • Historical billing analysis to confirm compliance and claim eligibility
 

All findings were documented with invoice-level evidence and reviewed with Finance, IT, and Operations stakeholders. Recommendations were prioritized based on financial impact and execution risk, ensuring corrective actions could be implemented without disrupting patient care.

The Outcome

  • 31% reduction in telecom spend identified and validated
  • Material annual savings across voice, data, mobility, and toll-free services
  • Sustained monthly cost reductions confirmed through invoice review
  • Improved visibility across inventory, billing, and contract compliance
  • Clear separation between identified, approved, and realized savings supporting audit readiness
 

Savings were only counted after appearing on carrier invoices, reinforcing financial confidence and compliance discipline. 

What Changed

Beyond cost reduction, the healthcare system established a more disciplined operating baseline. Service inventory accuracy improved, billing validation became repeatable, and execution ownership was clarified across teams. This reduced the risk of regression and lowered the internal effort required to maintain ongoing cost control.

Why It Worked

  • Audit-led methodology grounded in invoice-level and contract-level evidence
  • Vendor-neutral execution focused on accuracy and defensibility
  • Disciplined validation that prevented regression
  • Clear distinction between findings and verified results
 

The organization transitioned from reactive cost correction to a controlled, defensible approach to managing telecom spend.

Considering Your Approach

Organizations managing complex technology environments often benefit from a disciplined review of inventory accuracy, contract alignment, execution ownership, and sourcing decisions. A structured discussion can help determine whether audit, consulting, or sourcing support is appropriate for your environment.