Healthcare Woes? Hospital Inefficiencies and Possible Solutions

Posted by Allison on Fri, Feb 27, 2015 @ 11:08 AM

Workflow and organization management are important concepts to healthcare as a whole, but specifically these concepts are key to hospital management. Not only can flaws in workflow hinder the activities of hospitals, but also it can cost a great deal of money to correct flaws. 

A recent survey by the Ponemon Institute of 400 plus healthcare providers discovered that poor communication on its own has an estimated economic impact of $1.75 million per U.S. hospital. Also, the survey found that this inadequate communication alone has an estimated annual economic impact of more than $11 billion industry-wide.  

It is clear that many of these costly issues are complex in nature, but some quick fixes can be implemented to decrease inefficiencies. 

  • In addressing lack of effective communication methods: the use of secure text messaging could increase productivity and minimize economic loss by about 50 %
  • Looking at duplicate documentation requirements: eliminating inefficiency here can allow for more patient time and higher quality patient care and management can fix this by surveying the system to find duplicates and then can address EHR issues with the vendor; next the duplicates can be reconciled with the EHR provider
  • Dealing with patient flow: address processes and review occupancy and manage ORs and facilities by providing a process for scheduling date and time of patient discharge at least one day in advance
  • Ensure appropriate hospital admission: provide practitioners with resources, for example options such as social workers, nursing homes, behavioral health centers, skilled nursing centers and rehab services to eliminate inappropriate hospital stays
  • Avoid incomplete medication reconciliation: try to obtain adequate information from patient, but also use EHR effectively to ensure accuracy 

 

Tags: healthcare, healthIT, patient satisfaction, employee engagement, Scribe, EMR

Are You Ready for ICD-10?

Posted by Allison on Fri, Feb 13, 2015 @ 11:15 AM

Is your practice or organization ready for ICD-10? 

It is clear that ICD-10 needs to be taken seriously. Experts are weighing in, and they are noting that ICD-10 should not be underestimated. For example, Health IT policy director for the Medical Group Management Association, Robert Tennant, wrote on ICD10monitor.com that, "Any organization that looks at the past delays for the coding system and doesn't take the upcoming compliance date seriously is putting their revenue at risk." 

So, since it is vital that your organization take ICD-10 seriously, what can you do to ensure readiness? 

Here are some ways to prepare for the implementation of ICD-10:

  • Have an impact chart - conduct an impact assessment and obtain information discovered by this; assessment will show the area impacted and what changes to organization processes will need to happen, and will bring to light impact on coding and billing and vendor management 
  • Complete Documentation - Make certain that patient documentation is accurate and up-to-date; ensure accurate codes, and most accurate information has been included in patient records. This will facilitate changes tied to ICD-10 and will help make certain no payments are delayed or denied
  • Test - Testing and practice can ensure preparedness; providers can practice billing and coding in old systems but can make sure the information is right to assign the most specific ICD-10 codes

Practices need to maintain systems and continue to improve on implementing technological changes. EMR use can be beneficial, but if not used properly or in the most efficient manners, EMR can be a hassle to organizations. It is important to be prepared and to stay updated on CMS news and continue proper billing and coding and patient record documentation. EMRs benefit practices and organizations by maintaining an electronic paper trail of patient visits and medical conditions and history. Using EMRs can be overwhelming and now with ICD-10 it is clear that physicians and their staff are swamped with work. Hiring a medical scribe could be helpful to your organization. If interested in hiring a medical scribe to help with the proper documentation of patient records please feel free to submit an inquiry on scribesolutions.com. 

 

Information gathered from FierceHealthIT feature on ICD-10 readiness

Tags: ICD10, healthIT, employee engagement, EMR

Flu Prevention and Practice Management

Posted by Allison on Mon, Feb 09, 2015 @ 12:43 AM

As you may have noticed in the news, flu season is taking its toll on communities across the country. 

With issues like Ebola facing physicians recently, and with flu season here for the time being, it is key to ensure that practices guard themselves from gaining more illnessness and spreading flu germs. 

We all know that germs are difficult to contain, this is is not something new. 

flu virus

But, with new technology comes new advances. Because germs are hard to control, practices are now trying out telemedicine to help contain the spread of illnesses like the flu. Telemedicine can help control the spread of the flu because patients can been seen virtually and not face-to-face. By seeing patients via telemedicine, fewer germs are coming into practices. 

But, telemedicine is only being used in a limited number of practices. There are other ways to help block the spread of flu germs.

Here are some tips to prevent the spread of germs:

  1. Incorporate hand-sanitizer gel in busy areas of practices and enforce hand washing and good hygiene 
  2. Offer face masks in practices; offer masks to both patients and workers
  3. Ensure countertops and surfaces are constantly sanitized
  4. Separate sick patients from well patients to the best ability

Tags: healthcare, wellness, healthIT, patient satisfaction, employee engagement

Wellness & Work: They Matter

Posted by Allison Dewan on Tue, Nov 04, 2014 @ 03:42 PM

Patient engagement is a hot topic today. But, while patient engagement is still important, it might not be the only hot topic when it comes to the term "engagement". 

Employee engagement is another "engagement" that today's businesspeople need to give some attention. The health and lifestyle of employees need to be key to management if staff. With today's everchanging health landscape and the risks of epidemic and antimicrobial resistance on the rise, prevention is vital when it comes to employee health. 

According to a Fierce Healthcare special report, leaders in the health care space can achieve goals of engaging employees for wellness by laying out employee wellness programs.

This is very important in the healthcare industry, because a recent study shows that healthcare professionals are no healthier than their patients.

Tags: healthcare, wellness, employee engagement