Hospital Access Management – February 1, 2007
February 1, 2007
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Patient intake center aims to improve patient satisfaction, POS collections
A longtime dream of "one call does it all" is becoming reality with the creation of a centralized patient access intake center (PAIC) for the 13 hospitals that make up Texas Health Resources (THR), says Jeff Ferrell, director of the new center. -
Preregistered patients qualify for 'express line'
The implementation of an express registration line at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano (TX) is helping patient access staff consistently meet the goal of having 90% of preregistered patients on the way to their scheduled service within five minutes of arrival. -
Revised charity guidelines put focus on the front end
Revised guidelines from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) on how hospitals should measure and report bad debt and charity care put the spotlight squarely on patient access staff. -
Consumer-driven health plans not so alluring
Americans are not signing up for consumer-driven health plans (CDHP) that offer reduced premiums with higher deductibles of $1,000 or more for employee-only coverage and $2,000 or more for family coverage, according to a recent survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and The Commonwealth Fund. -
Difficult cases make staffing models obsolete
With increasingly complex cases and more and more uninsured patients, traditional case management staffing models have become obsolete. -
'Thick divide' still exists between many ED staffs
When the pressures of working in the highly charged atmosphere of the emergency department (ED) collide with the internal "caste" system often created by staff, the situation is ripe for conflict between nurses and ED registration staff. -
'Urgent care' after triage not easy decision to make
One of the EMTALA-related questions he hears most frequently from providers is whether it is permissible to send patients to an urgent care setting following triage in the emergency department (ED). -
News Briefs
Health care organizations have a critical need for qualified clinical coding professionals, according to a recent survey by the American Health Information Management Association and the American Hospital Association Central Office. -
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HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Realities of disclosure: When docs violate patient privacy
While patients assume their doctors will work to maintain trust and privacy in their relationships with patients, research has shown that health care providers often disclose personal information to patients' family members. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Few privacy complaints are investigated further
The Department of Health and Human Services found that less than 25% of the total medical privacy complaints lodged with the agency merited further federal investigation of the health care organizations involved. -
HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Wellness program final rule issued for employers
The federal Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury have issued final rules to guide employers in complying with HIPAA nondiscrimination provisions and implementation of wellness programs.