Using the hospital call center to update bed status

You think bed management would be more of an automated task.

clipped from blogs.hcpro.com In preparing for RACs, Lamkin says it is essential for hospitals to have the right physician advisor in place to monitor medical necessity cases. At Hilton Head Regional, the chief of staff works part time as a physician advisor. "If done correctly, a physician advisor will be your saving grace," says Lamkin. "If the patient does not meet medical necessity, the call goes to the physician advisor, so it means your case managers and that doctor have to get along." The hospital also started using a call center two years ago to advise physicians on the proper bed status of patients presenting in the emergency room. The hospital also does real-time billing audits and compliance checks on the front end.