Hospital Access Management – October 1, 2008
October 1, 2008
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Technology dollars finally flowing to patient access: Make your voice heard
For many years, patient access was "the red-headed stepchild of the revenue cycle, straddling the fence between patient care and financials," says James Hicks, CHAA, CHAM, CAM, patient access manager at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton, NC. -
Training can get you a tech-savvy staff
New associates starting right out of school or from some other service industry bring limited or no knowledge of the health care industry to the table. They may or may not have well-developed computer skills. As for medical terminology, it's likely to be a foreign language to them. -
Hospital averages $6M in front-end collections
An enterprise-wide master patient index is used at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, a system of six hospitals, several off-campus diagnostic and treatment centers, free-standing surgical centers, and urgent care centers. -
Do you collect info in a 'patient-centric' way?
If you're not collecting accurate, complete information in a "patient-centric" way, you're not maximizing either cash collection or patient satisfaction. -
Make employees feel as if they got a raise
It can be a vicious cycle: Turnover causes undue stress to personnel due to staffing shortages, plus the added burden of bringing new personnel up to speed. This leads to more turnover. -
Consider all groups with flex time policy
Happier employees that's what Holly Hiryak, MNSc, RN, CHAM, director of hospital admissions/access services at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR, would like to see. -
Make staff aware of payer requirements
Automobile and accidental injury regulations, the Medicare as Secondary Payer questionnaire, and workers' compensation guidelines are just a few of the many issues with which the patient access professional and case manager must be educated and competent.