Hospital Access Management 2008-03-01

Call centers have key role to play in pandemic planning

Call centers will be the first line of defense for the hospitals they serve if a pandemic — such as an outbreak of avian flu — should hit the United States, say a variety of health care professionals working to prepare for such an eventuality.

Script 'introducing' DPs aids in 'Message' delivery

Two new auditing processes and a script for "introducing" discharge planners to their patients are the latest innovations at Stevens Hospital in Edmunds, WA, part of its response to the revised "Important Message from Medicare" (IM).

Director creates script for use in bed control

At California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles "we never want [staff] to say, 'We do not have any beds,'" says Elizabeth Oliver, director for access care for the facility, which is part of Catholic Healthcare West (CHW).

Incident highlights lack of HIPAA understanding

A 2007 lawsuit involving an incident at a Louisiana hospital illustrates the lack of understanding among providers regarding the provisions and applications of the HIPAA privacy rule, notes Elizabeth H. Hogue, Esq., a Burtonsville, MD-based attorney specializing in health care issues.

Security at U.S. hospitals called 'growing concern'

A recent security-related incident at a U.S. hospital is of "significant concern" and should serve as a wake-up call to health care leaders, suggests Stephen Frew, JD, a web site publisher (www.medlaw.com) and risk management specialist.

News Brief: Longer ED waits highlighted in study

Emergency department patients waited an average of 30 minutes to see a physician in 2004, eight minutes longer than in 1997, according to a study of U.S. ED visits published on-line recently by Health Affairs.

News Brief: '50-mile rule' does not cover where patients can go

A fee schedule change affecting payment for ground ambulance charges under Section 414 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 provides increased payments for urban and rural services, adds an increased payment for ambulance transports originating in certain low-density population areas, and provides a 25% bonus on the mileage rate for ground transports of 51 miles or greater.

News Brief: Hospitals, health systems on 'Best Companies' list

The 2008 Fortune magazine list of "100 Best Companies to Work For" includes 11 hospitals and health systems, including Methodist Hospital System in Houston, which placed 10th.

News Brief: CAHs can participate in OP quality reporting

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted a request from the American Hospital Association (AHA) to allow critical access hospitals to submit and publicly report outpatient quality data along with other hospitals.

Hospital Access Management – March 1, 2008

March 1, 2008