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At Catholic Health Initiatives in Lincoln, NE, the patient access department is forming a workgroup to do a better job of helping patients with financial counseling at the time of their emergency department (ED) visit, says Lauree M. Miller, director of patient access.
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At Medical College of Central Georgia in Macon, the Care Partners Program offers financial assistance for chronically ill patients in order to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, says Jane Gray, CPA, FACHE, FHFMA, assistant vice president for the revenue cycle.
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Occasionally, individuals pose as others to "share" insurance coverage with family members or friends, reports Jane Gray, CPA, FACHE, FHFMA, assistant vice president for the revenue cycle at the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon. In one such case, the medical records of a woman who delivered a full-term baby showed she had a full term delivery just three months earlier.
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Patient access staff at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver rely on patient identifiers to prevent identity theft and ask for identification at every visit, whether it's a scheduled appointment or an ER visit, says Roxana Newton, CHAA, patient registration and central scheduling supervisor.
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This is a two-part series on patient identification processes used by patient access departments. Inside, we cover processes used to verify a patient's identity, the expected impact of healthcare reform, and how to involve patients in the process. Next month, we'll report on new biometric technology being implemented by a growing number of hospitals.
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The clinician has just reviewed instructions on proper oral contraceptive (OC) use with the patient, a 22-year-old mother of three. He asks if there any questions and sends her to the front desk with a supply of pill packs and written instructions. But how does he know she received the information she needs to take her pills properly?
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At St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT, the prenatal education tries to deliver "consistent and positive messages about breastfeeding," says Laurie Mastrone, RNC, IBCLC, a lactation consultant.
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In response to the surgeon general's "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding," in last month's issue we covered best practice for initiating breastfeeding after birth, writing policy for education, and follow-up education after discharge. This month, we discuss prenatal breastfeeding education and what to cover in the curriculum.
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While electronic readers seem to be an innovative way to educate patients, the fact that they are new means there will be problems to address when implementing them.
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What content should go on electronic readers, such as iPads and Nooks, purchased for use in community health libraries and facility-based resource centers?
