Articles Tagged With: ED
-
Poor Agreement Between ED Patients and Physicians on Goals of Care
Ideally, goals of care discussions do not happen for the first time when the patient presents to the ED. When goals of care conversations are held earlier in a patient’s disease course, advance care planning is possible. This can alleviate the use of aggressive interventions in the event the patient decompensates or does not make a meaningful recovery.
-
Novel Program Decreases Transport to ED for Hospice Patients
Ventura County, CA, paramedics underwent 30 hours of training on crisis counseling, grief, and palliative care. When EMS responded to a 911 call and determined a patient was in hospice, they contacted trained staff. During a three-year study period, the percentage of hospice patients transported to the ED was 36% in the first year, 33% in the second year, and 24% in the third year. This was compared to 80% of hospice patients transported, on average, during the six months before project implementation.
-
Many Patients Worry About Hospital Bill During ED Visit
To prevent EMTALA problems, train staff well, giving them carefully drafted scripts to use for patients who insist on discussing insurance coverage before a medical screening exam.
-
Copay Collection Cannot Delay Care, or Hospital Risks EMTALA Violation
Registrars should bring up payment or insurance only after a medical screening exam and stabilizing treatment has been provided. This means a patient should not be asked about copays or payment during the exam or while undergoing treatment.
-
Palliative Care Integrated into Critical Care Settings, Including EDs
Although palliative care is integral to providing quality care, in the ED the focus tends to be on aggressive and life-saving measures. More education and training is needed to make ED providers more comfortable with integrating palliative care there.
-
Top Copay Collectors at Pediatric EDs
By performing their job well, registrars reduce worries for families — and bad debt for the hospital. Some patient access employees share how they do it.
-
ED Patients Worry About the Bill, Registrars Can Intervene
People come to the ED sick, injured, or in severe pain. This is not an opportune time to ask someone for a $100 copay — or, worse, inform them they are responsible for the entire bill.
-
Protecting At-Risk Patients from Self-Harm in the ED
Researchers try to create a safer environment to keep patients and staff alike safe.
-
Observation Status Is Issue in Claims Denials
Patient access should be documenting the true severity of a patient’s illness on day two or three of hospitalization. By that time, there is an actual diagnosis to support the need for admission.
-
Incomplete ED Registrations Disastrous for Copay Collections
Hospitals are trying to shorten door-to-provider times. Lower-acuity patients are treated as “fast-track,” and discharged quickly. Registration teams might struggle to keep up, to the point that some patients may miss the official registration process. Without proper contact information, collection becomes exponentially more difficult.