For many patients, home health services can mean the difference between a successful recovery and a hospital readmission, but patients who need services go without because of confusion over eligibility requirements.
Improving the hospital experience for patients, improving the quality of care, and reducing costs were the goals when case managers at Martin's Point Healthcare in Portland, Maine, stopped working independently and started working as teams.
If your hospital doesn't plan to take advantage of government financial incentives for those who become "meaningful users" of EHRs, it is in the minority. According to HHS, 85% of hospitals plan to demonstrate meaningful use and earn incentives by 2015.
A Boston resident is at a New York Yankees game in the Bronx cheering on his beloved Boston Red Sox. Despite his best efforts to catch a foul ball coming into the stands, he misses, and the ball bounces off his head. He's woozy, and ballpark officials suggest he get to a hospital for precautionary reasons.
Providers and payers may have an additional year to transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS if the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalizes a proposed rule released April 9.
