Hospital Access Management – February 1, 2009
February 1, 2009
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Is your hospital shortchanging its front end? Show them these figures
Even though patient access has a major impact on the hospital financially, the department often is still shortchanged. This is especially true now, with hospitals looking to cut costs anywhere they can, implementing hiring freezes, and asking departments to do more with less. -
A bigger salary in this economy?
Fair or not, patient access managers have historically had lower salaries than patient account managers. But this is something that just might be ripe for change even in today's down economy. -
With collections, all eyes are on patient access
Patient access professionals report being under intense pressure to help the hospital's bottom line. -
Zero in on the registration errors being made by staff
To increase collections, you need accurate information at registration. -
Are complaints piling up? First find out the facts
Vicki Lyons, patient access manager at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, KY, says that she goes to "every extreme" not to have to terminate an employee. That means always taking the time to find out the facts, whether a complaint comes from a patient, family member, or another hospital employee. -
If complaints are piling up, talk to staff directly
Considering the amount of turnover in the average patient access department, the last thing you probably want is to lose a staff member. However, there are times when a staff person has to be terminated never a pleasant task, but at times, a necessary one.