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ED Patients in Observation Status Are Focus of Recent Med/Mal Cases

Sending a patient to an observation unit is not legally analogous to admitting a patient to the hospital.

Deconstructing the Duty to Warn Doctrine

It has been the generally accepted standard that a provider must warn a third party of the potential harm from a patient when there is significant threat of harm toward a reasonably identifiable person. However, the delicate balance of these ethical challenges has come under recent assault.

How to Avoid Financial Disasters

Here are three things patient access must do well.

Know Patients’ Propensity to Pay

Connecting patients with affordable payment options and/or financial assistance in advance of services is essential in today’s healthcare environment.

Guide Physicians Through Peer-to-Peer Requests

It’s not easy to persuade a busy physician to engage in a time-consuming conversation with an insurance company representative.

Expect Payers to Demand ‘Peer-to-Peer’ for Many More Claims

These requests require the patient’s physician to consult with the payer’s physician before a claim is approved.

‘Efficient’ Registrars Can Trigger EMTALA Violation

A registrar who’s simply trying to save the patient some time actually might cause a problem.

Does Patient Lack ID or Insurance Card?

It can lead to fraud, theft, or worse.

Patients Didn’t Know Registration Was Complete

One health system made a small change in how it gauges patient satisfaction, which paid big dividends for all parties.

Patient Access: Key to Patient Experience

Six tips confident, well-trained registrars can use to diffuse a patient’s fear, anxiety, and confusion.