One advantage of a patient-centric approach to hospital finance management is that every level of interaction with patients benefits. As health concerns evolve and reimbursements are increasingly tied to patient satisfaction metrics, it's important that a care facility's operating model can address new demands.
A serious threat to public health is the emergence of "superbugs," or drug-resistant infections that are difficult and costly to treat. Jennifer Zaino of Healthcare Finance News reports that the proliferation of these cases has put strain on supply chain management, because their treatment in many cases is exploratory and unprecedented.
"From a supply chain standpoint, you are looking at potentially higher costs to buy devices with antimicrobial additives," said Lise Moloney, director of business development, healthcare, at Sciessent. "But hospitals need to think of what having a new way of preventing antibiotic-resistant infections can save them."
Zaino reports that patients who arrive at care facilities with superbug-related conditions often require longer durations of stay and more aggressive treatment methods. These aren't procedures that some facilities have anticipated, so the supply of appropriate materials may not be sufficient. Investing in new treatments can help improve quality of care and save hospitals money that would be spent on unplanned expenditures.
The best way to boost supply chain efficiency is to improve a hospital's revenue cycle. One way to achieve this is to outsource receivables management. This reduces the burden of cases on individual administrators and allows them to focus on high-priority claims in a more patient-centric way. Contact Professional Medical Services today to learn more about how our services can improve efficiency at your hospital, medical center, clinic or private practice.