Hospital Access Management – April 1, 2004
April 1, 2004
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Expanding access department tackles revamp of medical records
When the director of medical records at the Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania Medical Center-Presbyterian left for another position, it presented yet another opportunity for the hospitals proactive patient access department to take a leadership role. -
Program targets patient, physician satisfaction
A new preadmission program at the University of California Davis Health System is building a stronger link between hospital and physicians office and identifying issues much earlier in the process issues that might affect length of stay. -
Centralized access unit is ‘vision for the future’
As the University of California, Davis, Health System goes forward with the successful implementation of its preadmission discharge planning and utilization review program, Karen A. Warne, RN, manager for patient services and transfer center, keeps in mind a next step toward seamless patient access. -
Access Feedback: Bedside registration may be best EMTALA defense
Hospitals wishing to protect themselves from EMTALA-related complaints and the scrutiny follows are well advised to embrace the growing trend toward bedside registration, suggests Peggy Nakamura, RN, MBA, JD, assistant vice president, chief risk officer and associate counsel for Sacramento, CA-based Adventist Health. -
Financial aid guidelines recommended by CHA
The California Healthcare Association (CHA) has adopted a new set of voluntary guidelines on financial aid, charity care, and discount payments for its member hospitals, including a recommendation that hospitals provide financial assistance for patients at or below 300% of the poverty level. -
HHS secretary clarifies financial aid policies
Recent guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services recognizes that a good-faith determination of financial need may vary depending on the individual patients circumstances and that hospitals should have flexibility to take into account relevant variables. -
News briefs
Poll indicates hospitals feeling HIPAA burnout; Charity, bad debt costs up by almost $1 billion; CMS quality initiative participation increasing; ED volume increasing, most hospitals report