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Increasing delays in getting patients out of the Emergency Department and PACU added to continuing delays in scheduling diagnostic exams is catching the focused attention of not only the JCAHO, but plaintiff’s attorney’s as a contributing factor in patient injury or death.

Recent studies have shown that physical constraints of the building and staffing are contributing factors to patient flow difficulties; however, up to 70% of the problem is system related and effective solutions can be developed without large expenditures.

Two of our consultants focus primarily on patient flow and would be interested in assisting in evaluating and improving your particular circumstances. Our approach is to facilitate an onsite multidisciplinary team in identifying the actual, usually hidden and very complex problems associated with patient flow. Once the team is in place, we will train them about the process and effective problem identification, data collection and effective information management and monitoring. Often because of inexperience and territorial imperatives patient flow improvement is approached with a “fix by opinion” mentality and results are usually less than successful and the problem returns again and again awaiting a permanent solution.

Case Management is increasingly becoming a vital link in assuring both the quality of patient care and the financial integrity of the patient care and stay. Specific areas of Case Management focus include

• Providing specific strategies to improve patient flow and throughput to meet new 2005 Joint Commission Leadership standards.
• Improve the flow of patients while complying with OIG Guidelines.
• Optimizing the Case Management process to assure appropriate reimbursement and documented compliance with new (effective October 12, 2004) Transmittal 299 Observation Guidelines.
• Promoting ethical and accurate reporting of diagnosis and codes through education, improved documentation and DRG validation chart review
• Uniting efforts between Physicians, Nurses, Coders, Case Managers and Utilization Management.
• Education of staff to improve accuracy of documentation and optimal reimbursement.
• Evaluation of charge structure.
• Evaluation of Length of Stay and compare complication and mortality rates to national benchmarks.
• Comparison of outcome benchmarks to competitors.

Call one of our experienced consultants to learn more about this program and how we can put you on the road to truly improving patient flow.

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Anonymous