Hospital Access Management – April 1, 2003
April 1, 2003
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‘Seamless’ new call center improves facility’s customer service and billing
Providence Health System in Portland, OR, has improved customer service and gained staff efficiency by creating a call center that allows patients to handle physician and hospital billing questions with one telephone call. -
LOS reduced as system hones case management
Its been more than a decade since Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network in Allentown, PA, took its discharge planning and utilization management functions and created a resource utilization department with a single director, says Susan Lawrence, MS, CPHQ, administrator of quality and case management. -
Mission: Improve, expand centralized outpatient reg
When Anthony M. Bruno, MPA, MEd, took on the challenge of creating an access department at Philadelphias Presbyterian Medical Center, part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS), one of his first hires was Colette Howerton, who became the new manager for outpatient access services. -
Career Paths: Veteran AM moves to collections, gets results
Martine Saber, CHAM, had something of an awakening when she assumed her current position as director of support services for HCA Healthcare in Palm Harbor, FL. As a longtime patient access director, she was well aware of the importance of getting it right at the point of registration, and worked diligently with her staff to foster the creation of accurate claims. -
HIPAA security rule now in its final form
Final security standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for protecting patient health information when it is maintained or transmitted electronically have been adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). -
EMTALA issues involved in smallpox vaccinations
Whether or not your hospital staff decide to participate in a voluntary smallpox vaccination program, there are Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) issues involved by virtue of the fact that anyone is giving them, says Stephen Frew, JD, a longtime specialist in EMTALA compliance. -
Try to avoid sensitive material in your e-mail
The SCPIE Companies, an insurer in Los Angeles, recently offered its own advice on reducing the risk of e-mail communication in health care. In addition to endorsing the eRisk guidelines, SCPIE says health care providers must be careful about when they choose to use e-mail. -
NAHAM conference scheduled May 3-6
The National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM) will hold its annual conference and exposition, Expedition to Excellence, May 3-6 at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel. -
AHRQ launches web site to aid in quality measure
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has launched a web-based National Quality Measures Clearinghouse (NQMC) designed to be a one-stop shop for hospitals, physicians, health plans and others interested in quality measures. -
Bill to help hospitals fund immigrant care
In what is likely to be welcome news for hospitals burdened with the cost of caring for undocumented aliens, federal legislation has been introduced that would reimburse providers for the cost of emergency care for these individuals. -
Bush signs funding bill giving more to hospitals
More than $800 million in increased spending for hospitals is included in the omnibus spending bill signed in late February by President Bush.