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Last Updated: Aug 23rd, 2010 - 11:07:09 |
Wayne County Hospital board wants to put an end to a list of "unpaids."
In the Aug. 16 meeting, board members again discussed the list of uncollected accounts and what can be done to get that money into the hospital's coffers.
In recent months, WCH has turned unpaid accounts over to a collection company, but board members did not appear happy with the results. They were told those accounts average two years old and are very difficult to collect.
Hospital Administrator Daren Relph told the board the business office is putting "real emphasis on what we're switching to on the front end." He said the hospital is trying to partner with patients and their families to help them access health care and make the process affordable.
A board member asked if any on the unpaid list attempt to make small monthly payments and was told, "Very few."
Board president Gary Runyon suggested taking "the imprint of a credit card and saying as long as you make payments we won't send it through."
Board member Norm Riekens commented on the fact that names are withheld. "If somebody owes us $38,000, we as a board need to know who it is," he said.
Relph suggested board members stop by his office to discuss the issue.
Board member Bill Wells, expressing his displeasure with the list of unpaid accounts, said, "I move we accept that mess."
Unpaid accounts aside, Keith Helseth told the board hospital revenue is down this month, but "we still have liquidity and can meet all payments." He said numbers are down, which decreases per day expenses, but income droppd more than the decrease in expense.
Board members asked pointed questions about specific items on the check register and learned each was legitimate expense.
"In general, volume is down. It's a slow season for the hospital, but it's good for everybody else--they're staying healthy," Helseth said.
Quality improvement
In the Quality Improvement report, Sally Stanley, MSN, ARNP, CQO, said providers wanted morning labs on the charts when they come to the hospital at 7:30 a.m., so that has become a "mission of the morning." She said that goal was met 98.9 percent of the time in June and the medical staff is very happy.
Relph commented applause is due to the staff on that account. "It's multiple departments working together. (The information) is there and ready when the doctors walk in the door."
Stanley said the pharmacy "went live with OMAR," the online medication administration records system. She also said the emergency department still struggles with timely documentation, but is working to improve.
Security
In discussion that involved both hospital access and security, Relph said a security plan has been created that calls for the west door, formerly the main entrance, to be open to employees only to provide better security to the obstetrics and patient areas.
In answer to a previous request by board member Don Besco to improve handicap parking access in the west parking lot, Relph discussed ways to provide more assistance to visitors and patients at the new main entrance on the east.
"We would never forgive ourselves if someone stole a baby," Riekens said.
Besco said he did not know of a problem there in 50 years. "This is a community of older people. If we don't make it easier to visit patients, they are not going to come," he said.
Relph said he really does want to provide easy and convenient access and accepted direction from the board to set in motion formalizing entrance and exit plans.
Other business
In other business--
• Relph reported progress on working through a few remaining construction issues.
• The board tabled approving Mercy contracts until the next meeting, allowing board members time to read the proposed contracts.
• The board discussed meeting time and decided to keep it at 5 p.m.
• Relph presented more information to the board concerning the government's use of recovery audit consultants to recoup overpayments under the Medicare program.
© Copyright 2005 Corydon Times
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