Telemedicine
Published March 16, 2011 | 
Do you know what telemedicine is? It sounds like patients are receiving medical care through their televisions. That is not too far off. There is a growing trend of medical professionals consulting on patient care through the use of video conferencing. We have seen a stand alone device much like a robot with a high resolution video camera that can transmit real-time images of patients to doctors from anywhere in the world. Now you are wondering what this has to do with any registrar or patient access person? Well, the answer to that is really simple, no matter what fantastic technology medical researchers come up the patient still needs to be charged for that service and as a Registration person we have to make sure that the patient’s demographic and insurance information is gotten from the referring facility and keyed into our billing system.
Generally, the patient is not seen or available prior to this type of service but we are still tasked with ensuring the information received from the referring facility or doctor is accurate. Every facility has their own version of a “Facesheet” with patient information and their own policies about transmitting patient information via fax or email. So, before your medical personnel agree to this service we would hope that there is an agreement as to the minimum amount of information that must be available to satisfy your own billing requirements. We would assume that includes the patient’s name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, sex, race, religious preference, employer, next of kin contact info as well as complete billing information. A copy of the patient’s identification and front-and-back copies of the insurance cards would be a plus. Each of these data points should be gotten just in case that patient ends of being transferred to your own facility. Remember you will need to verify as much of this information as you can using your online tools.
New Year Same Old Problems
Published January 3, 2010 | As we start a new year in a new decade we have a tendency to take stock of where we are and where we want to go. But mostly we still go to work each day, deal with whatever we have to do and hope the next day will be better. The economy is in disarray and it doesn’t really look like it is going to improve any time soon. The only thing we can really do is try to learn something new each day, improve ourselves when we can, and try to be the best at what we do everyday. We want to feel good about what we do for a living or why do we even go back everyday. Yes, you will have to deal with difficult patients. And Yes, you will need to learn how to deal with them.
There are a number of programs out there to learn how to deal with difficult people and if you work for a large company they will have FREE programs for you to attend. Do yourself a favor a attend one of them. Depending on what part of the medical arena you work in you will have to deal with people who are sick, scared and family members who are afraid for their loved ones. Knowing that and trying to remember that when you go to do your job will make them feel a little better and in the end will help you as well.
Have a Better new year!
Summer Break & College Students
Published July 5, 2009 | For those of us who work in the Emergency Rooms in hospitals we have all experience the same thing. Kids in college and those who go on spring break in our area for some reason don’t know anything about their parents or the insurance that they are covered under. I mean you go off to college and are still covered under your parent’s insurance until you graduate. Great for you as you don’t have to pay for it. Young kids going on a school trip have a form that is filled out for them with their parents information and the insurance stuff. Please, please, please before you go off to college get the same information and keep it in your wallets! Most of you are over 18 and are supposed to be adults and should know the basics. For instance, you should know your parents full name, date of birth and where they work. If your parents don’t want to give you an insurance card then just make a copy of it front and back and write your parents information on the copy. That way when you have to be seen in an emergency room or urgent care center you can give them the copy, sign your forms and your bills will be paid. MAKE sure you get your copy back or better yet make several copies. (Keep those copies safe!…you don’t want your parents information floating around the commons.) You can download a copy by clicking here sample form .
Well, that was my rant for today. Be safe and come back again.
Posted in Emergency Room Registrations, General Info for Medical Office Clerks, Hospital Registrations, Medical Forms, Medical Insurance Coverage, Patient Registrations | 
college students need parents information, know your parents insurance information, students be prepared for medical visits | 
Leave a commentPatients Rights & Responsibilities
Published May 16, 2009 | Has your patients asked for a copy of the Patient Rights and Responsibilities? Have you read them? All states should have some version of these available on your state’s Health Department website. In Florida, we can get a free copy of them at the Florida Department of Health website and they are part of our Florida Statutes. Some of those rights include: The individual dignity of a patient must be respected at all times and upon all occasions; A patient in a health care facility has the right to know what patient support services are available in the facility; A patient has the right to receive a copy of an itemized bill upon request. A patient has a right to be given an explanation of charges upon request; andA patient has the right to treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide such treatment. Some of the responsibilities include: A patient is responsible for reporting unexpected changes in his or her condition to the health care provider; A patient is responsible for reporting to the health care provider whether he or she comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him or her; A patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider; and A patient is responsible for following health care facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
So, take a look at this brochure, if it is available at your medical facility. If you do not have them already printed up you probably should have them displayed as most if not all states have regulations about such things. If nothing else you can copy and print them from your state’s Health Department and have them available.