Managing | Patient Flow | from the Emergency Department

▤ Summary

The financial benefits derived by the significant increase in insurance coverage of previously uninsured patients is potentially offset by reduced government payment levels under Medicare and Medicaid, pressures to move toward a value-based care model, and collection issues resulting from high deductible insurance plans. One increasingly important area of operations is the emergency department because of its growing role as the primary entry portal for inpatient treatment, the main source of revenue for most hospitals. A RAND Corporation study² found that the combined effects of steady growth of ED visits and fewer inpatient beds have caused: • None Dramatically increased number of patients in hospital EDs at any hour of the day As provider reimbursement shifts from fee-for-service to value-based care, hospitals will be incentivized to avoid preventable inpatient admissions rather than encourage them. The potential benefit for CEOs from the application of this technology to the various phases of the flow of patients through the hospital equates to more efficient use of staff resources and more availability of beds for revenue generation. In a time when managing Emergency Departments is more crucial than ever before, improving patient flow should be at the top of the list for hospital CEOs.

▦ Linked Companies

Patient Focus Systems

up to $1M