AHIMA 2014 Convention - iPad Winner

Nearterm would like to congratulate our iPad winner Diane Brooks, Compliance Auditor/Educator at Central California Faculty Medical Group.

Diane was shocked and super excited. She said she did not own an iPad and had been looking at getting one. She also said she had never won anything at the shows before so this made an impact with her.

Congratulations Diane!

Nearterm at the AHIMA 2014

Thank you to everyone who came to the Nearterm booth at the AHIMA 2014 in San Diego. You made our show a great success.

Revenue Cycle DRP

REVENUE CYCLE DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING (DRP) IS CRITICAL

Most hospitals have highly detailed disaster plans that are mostly focused on direct patient care issues and that is absolutely the appropriate focus. However, we as revenue cycle professionals advocate the reminder that cash flow is a critical when disaster strikes. The following wikipedia link articulates DRP issues fairly well - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disaster_recovery_plan

Here are a few questions to think about as you review your revenue cycle disaster plan:

• What is the increased volume capacity of the hospital and how would sudden increased volume caused by a disaster and perhaps sustained for several weeks impact registration, coding, billing and collections? For example, if you are accustomed to X OP/ED visits and Y census, what happens if volumes increase to hospital capacity? Is it a 25% increase, 40% or more? If your system is down and staff can't get to work, what is the plan?
• How quickly can EHR's, subsidiary AR ledgers, patient account histories and other data be accessed and what would the process be to do it?
• Is there a resource in the revenue cycle operation that is well versed in securing funds from various agencies that are involved in disaster relief?

Generally, 99% of hospital employees live in the immediate area surrounding the facility. They are therefore in the effected area and most are either dealing with personal trauma or in other cases they are patients. But the work of financial and revenue cycle professionals must continue in order to maintain patient services and to support the viability of the hospital. This includes management and technicians as well.

The contemporary and increasing practice of using remote hospital resources for certain functions is an option to consider, not only during disaster conditions but routinely. This option delivers an experienced labor pool and/or leadership team when the need arises.

Nearterm is in the business of providing interim resources to healthcare providers as part of the business model. Nearterm has clients routinely accessing this model as part of their routine non-disaster operation but it is easily applied when providers face disaster management challenges. Resources might include senior financial leaders, department heads, HIM Directors, Patient Financial Service Managers, Coding Managers, Collectors, Billers, call center personnel and more.

We are always interested in sharing solutions developed by hospitals and colleagues. Please feel free to share your experience by responding to this blog. If you would like to hear more about how we can be of assistance or simply get acquainted, let's talk.

Jim Matthews; Nearterm Corporation

(281) 646-1330

jmatthews@nearterm.com

TxHIMA 2014 Conference

Thank you to everyone who visited Nearterm's HIM Team at TxHIMA. Congratulations to Betty Janak, RHIA for winning the gift card drawing.

ANI: the 2014 HFMA National Institute - Booth 333

Booth #333

Enter to win iPad

SCAN YOUR BADGE AND BE ENTERED INTO THE DRAWING

WINNER SELECTED LAST DAY OF SHOW,

NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN

http://www.hfmaconference.org/

AHIMA 2013 Conference

The AHIMA Convention is not only a great opportunity to access cutting edge education and thought leadership, it is also a great way to meet new healthcare industry friends and strengthen existing relationships. I hope you will stop by the exhibit hall and come see us at BOOTH 834. We would love to meet you and we are giving away an iPad 2!

Check it out at the AHIMA website http://www.ahima.org/convention

The Impact Of Healthcare Reform

I found this article insightful.

http://www.beckersasc.com/asc-turnarounds-ideas-to-improve-performance/how-will-obamas-re-election-impact-healthcare-4-asc-industry-leaders-respond.html

If you are a revenue cycle professional interested in specific impacts on revenue cycle performance or if you have thoughts about how it will impact your organization, let's talk. www.nearterm.com

HFMA ANI - A great experience!

If you attended the ANI this year, I hope your experience was as rewarding as ours. And speaking of "rewarding", congratulations to Seth Bohrer of Dosher Memorial Hospital. Seth won an iPad at our event drawing!

HOSPITAL BENCHMARKS

A senior healthcare executive who recently transitioned from a successful career in another industry made an interesting comment after being part of a major health system for a few months. She asked, "Why is it that hospitals insist on comparing benchmark performance data only with other hospitals?" "Let's face it" she added, "The service management system is broken so why compare our performance against other broken entities?"

To be clear, our healthcare delivery system per se is among the best in the world. We are leaders in cutting edge research, technology and clinical outcome. However, this was a provocative and maybe even profound snippet aimed at customer service management. At Nearterm, we understand the prevailing conventional wisdom that requires benchmarking comparisons to "like" healthcare facilities. It does have value. However, our patients compare us to all of the other service providers they interact with when considering customer service. They compare us to delivery companies, department stores, contractors, banks, utility companies and many others. Next time you are focused on benchmarking your organization, see how you compare to non-healthcare providers. Do not stop at being the best among what some consider to be a a "service management system that is broken". Instead, be the best among all service providers, all industries. What a great way to build patient and community loyalty!

Nearterm's revenue cycle team can help you develop a patient financial services strategy that will enable your organization to advance from patient satisfaction to patient loyalty. It is patient loyalty that ultimately drives market share and financial success. Call and speak directly with one of our Principals about the process and how it might be of value to you.

Jim Matthews; Principal

THE GREAT iPAD2 GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

WIN AN iPad!
 STOP BY BOOTH #307 AND ENTER THE DRAWING

http://www.hfmaconference.org/

iPad GIVEAWAY at the HFMA ANI

Nearterm is giving away another iPad at the 2012 HFMA ANI 
BOOTH #307
Stop by and drop off your business card to win!
http://www.hfmaconference.org/