Hospital Management
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ASCs Can Benchmark With Nursing Indicators
Groundbreaking work to build a benchmarking database of ambulatory nursing outcomes is beginning to benefit ASCs across the United States. People are beginning to understand that it’s important for every member of the team to contribute to overall outcomes and reflect their contribution in outcomes data.
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ASCs That Don’t Negotiate for More Out-of-network Dollars Will Lose
Years ago, ASCs didn’t have to negotiate to receive full reimbursement for out-of-network services. But those days are gone. Now, providers have to negotiate with vendors used by payers to reduce the out-of-network charges. If ASCs are not actively involved in negotiating these rates, then they might end up with as little as 20% of their bill charges.
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Disposing of Hazardous Waste and Drugs: A Confusing Challenge for ASCs
Soon, new guidelines from the United States Pharmacopeia regarding proper disposal of hazardous materials will be made official. ASC administrators and staff should know the main definitions, regulations, and standards regarding hazardous waste, drugs, and controlled substances.
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Tips for Improving an ASC’s Public Image
ASC directors and physicians can act proactively in building a positive public image for their center. There’s no need to wait until bad news occurs or a disaster strikes to think about public relations.
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Leaders Seek Balanced View of Surgery Center Safety Records
Ambulatory surgery center officials are clamoring for a more balanced view after a recent USA Today article highlighted tales of patient deaths following outpatient surgery. Reeling over the potential loss of goodwill, executives point to quality and safety statistics that paint a more complete picture of overall surgery success rates.
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Prior Auth Reform Underway: ‘The Problem Is Real, and It Continues to Get Worse’
The incoming chairman of the American Medical Association discusses the challenges surrounding prior authorization reform.
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Patients Converted to Medicaid: Uninsured Now Under 2%
Many patients have come to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center uninsured — but left with Medicaid coverage. Prior to 2014, the uninsured population was around 6%. Today, it’s under 2%. In-house financial counselors obtain the needed verifications for pending Medicaid applications and routinely enroll all types of patients into Medicaid.
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Poor Productivity? It’s Often Outside Patient Access Control
Payer updates or provider processes often are to blame for inefficiency in patient access. This makes it very tough to measure or improve productivity for anyone.
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Assess Service Skills by Asking How Applicant Handled Difficult Customers
One applicant couldn’t stop yawning as she struggled to answer the question. Her body language — full of shrugs and slouches — sent a message that she couldn’t care less about the customers she’d interacted with. Others have blatantly rolled their eyes to show just how frustrated they’d gotten with a particularly annoying customer.
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Underinvestment in Patient Access? Lack of Compelling Data Could Explain
Hospitals don’t invest in patient access the way facilities invest in clinical areas. One reason is lack of data. Understandably, hospital executives want to see more data that can support these financial decisions.