Hospital Access Management – July 1, 2009
July 1, 2009
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Don't take 'no' for an answer: Revamp your denial management process
The number of claims denials was always an important metric for patient access, but now it's front and center, in more ways than one. -
Automation is key to pinpoint denial trends
"With layoffs now hitting hospitals and legislation and government bodies reducing payments, health care facilities cannot afford not to automate," says Katherine Murphy, CHAM, director of access services for Nebo Systems, a subsidiary of Passport Health Communications in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Murphy also is a delegate to the National Associate of Healthcare Access Management and the president of the Illinois Access Association. -
Brace yourself for dramatic rise in self-pay accounts
The number of self-pay accounts is increasing significantly in many patient access departments due to rising unemployment and other factors. -
Motivate your staff: Get involved in goal-setting
Anna Dapelo-Garcia, director of patient admitting services at Stanford (CA) Hospital & Clinics, says that since staff have become involved in setting specific goals, she has noticed "an increase in their engagement. They are excited and proud to be part of their unit, department, and organization." -
To get results, emphasize positive things staff do
To really motivate your staff, you'll need to do more than simply check a "meets expectation" box on their annual reviews. -
Save on training costs with low-cost online education
Training and education costs often are the first items on the chopping block when it's time for budget cuts. By offering education online, costs can be cut while quality is maintained. -
ED collections doubled with these changes
What's the toughest challenge if you want to get serious about emergency department point-of-service (POS) collections? "Changing behavior with the staff as well as the patients," says Denise Helm, director of patient access at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Las Vegas. "Both prefer the 'bill me later' approach."