Hospital Access Management – November 1, 2008
November 1, 2008
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Don't make a mistake when asking for technology dollars
If you are being inundated with sales pitches from technology vendors these days, it's not too surprising. A number of solutions are aimed at improving patient access processes, such as compliance with new admission/registration requirements. -
Rounding means payer requirements are met
Patient access staff often overlook or misinterpret payer requirements, which can cost the hospital thousands of dollars. Yet keeping staff current with all the various rules is a full-time job in itself. -
Staff are first to use palm scanners to ID patients
Instead of asking a patient to show you a driver's license, how about identifying patients by the unique vein patterns in their hands? A new palm scanning device is used by patient access staff at Carolinas HealthCare System, the first health care provider in the United States to implement this technology. -
Morale boosts don't need to have a big price tag
Improving morale of patient access staff is difficult, but it doesn't have to be expensive. -
Is quick reg process best for transfers?
Patient transfer admissions pose a "bittersweet" issue for patient access managers, says Terry D. Long, RN, BSN, MBA, NEA-BC, director of the patient transfer center at Texas Health Resources in Arlington. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Threat modeling to protect patient information
A health care organization might have in place the best information technology (IT) protections available, but complacency can be a dangerous thing considering the gold mine of personal information stored by a hospital. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: HHS fines health system for breach of privacy
On July 15, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) entered into an agreement with Seattle-based Providence Health & Services to settle potential violations of HIPAA privacy rules. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: HHS guidance emphasizes what can be divulged
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued new guidance for providers on talking about patients' health information with and in the presence of other parties — with an emphasis on what can be discussed. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Privacy hindered by not so private hospital rooms
Despite increasing demand for privacy surrounding health information, North American hospitals lag behind European counterparts when it comes to one of the most visible impediments to privacy — multi-bed hospital rooms. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: HHS lacking in approach to health info privacy
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may have given rise to — and oversees — HIPAA privacy regulations, but according to a report by the General Accounting Office (GAO), the agency's approach to ensuring the privacy of health information still needs some work. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: New rule would update rules for etransmissions
On Aug. 22, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a proposed rule that would adopt updated versions of the standards for electronic transactions under HIPAA.