FOCUS 2015 biweekly update

  

The goal of our FOCUS 2015 project is to identify ways to optimize the quality, safety, and value of our patient care through transformational changes that minimize variation in our practices and maximize our efficiency. We believe these changes will ensure sustainable financial strength and honor our mission of patient care in our changing health care landscape.

 

Implementation progress 

Watch this section for stories on departments that are leading the way. 

 

The SLHS Centralized Business Office (CBO) has work well underway with respect to FOCUS 2015. The CBO manages hospital accounts receivable for the SLHS metro hospitals (SLH, SLNH, SLSH, SLEH, SLCI, and CMH). Services provided include filing claims, following up on unpaid claims, resolving payment discrepancies with payers, recovering reimbursement by overturning denials, and by pursuing payer underpayments. The CBO works closely with patients throughout the revenue cycle process providing price estimates, assisting patients in setting up payment plans, and administering financial assistance.

 

Within the CBO, an implementation leader has been working with department members to create an initiative timeline. During the planning phase the revenue cycle team identified ways to generate an additional $12 million annually through an investment in new software and by revising the way the department organizes its processes and aligns its staff.

 

Many employees have new roles within the CBO organization. As a part of the implementation process, individual strengths and experience were considered when making staff decisions and whenever possible, employees are staying within their current work unit. The new organization requires different levels of staff in the different work units, however, overall staffing remains the same, meaning the total number of FTEs remains the same and no positions were reduced or eliminated. Staff input was a critical part of developing the new processes and organization.

 

Congratulations and thank you to the CBO team for being a leader in our transformational change project. 

Fact or Fiction

On a biweekly basis, updates will be provided through eRounds, including a "Fact or Fiction" section that is populated based on employee questions and feedback. Click here to read this week's Fact or Fiction. 

Williams named July Employee of the Month

 

Adrienne Williams, R.N., Saint Luke's Surgical Specialists, was named the Saint Luke's Hospital July Employee of the Month.

Adrienne Williams, R.N.

 

Williams received multiple nominations. One nomination read in part, "Adrienne makes everyone she is around feel welcome, and if any assistance is needed she is the first to be there, or she will make sure someone else is. She shows true leadership that should be recognized, for the quality of her leadership reflects in the respect that comes from her co-workers, peers, customers, and her patients. Adrienne is an employee who can be counted on for anything, even if it is just for a smile. Her positive attitude about life shines through her genuine smile."

 

Another nomination read in part, "She does not just come in and do her job and go home. She does her job above and beyond the call of duty; assists, teaches, and mentors others; exemplifies great customer service; and is a joy to work with."

 

A third nomination read in part, "Her drive to give her patients the best care is beyond what is expected of her. She takes the quality of care that each and every patient receives very seriously and does not let them leave until she is sure that everything has been covered and they have no questions in mind."

 

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Eight students graduate from Clinical Laboratory Science Program

 

Saint Luke's Hospital's Clinical Laboratory Science Program recently held its annual graduation ceremony. Students complete a year-long program of instruction that provides the final 30 hours of credit toward their bachelor's degrees. 2012 graduates are John Brewer, Lance Eighme, Emily Felton, Jordan Henderson, Khoa Lam, Sadia Makhdoom, Katherine Rinas, and Leah Weiler. Brewer, Eighme, Henderson, Lam, Rinas, and Weiler have accepted positions as clinical laboratory scientists at Saint Luke's Hospital.

 

Teaching awards were presented to clinical laboratory scientists who serve as student instructors. Ann Fields was honored as Teacher of the Year. Outstanding Teaching awards were given to Kelli Fayard, Dana Locke, and Marsha Shackelford. Excellence in Teaching awards went to Jeff Boren, Tom Martinez, Melinda Mills, James Paden, Linda Smith, Pam Sturm, Cathy Tredway, and Rita Tyler. These awards are sponsored by the Saint Luke's Hospital Foundation.  

  

During her year in the program, Emily Felton was honored with a national scholarship from the American Society for Clinical Pathology, sponsored by Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. 

 

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Could "snooping" in electronic health records (EHR) result in jail time?

 

Privacy and information security updates   

Have you ever thought about using your clinical application access to look up a friend or family member who is staying in one of our facilities to see if they are alright? Better think twice. Not only can you lose your job, but it appears that HIPAA infractions can cause the violator to be fined and in some cases result in jail or prison time. One recent case resulted in the first sentencing in the United States for a HIPAA privacy infraction for snooping. A researcher for UCLA Healthcare System ended up with a $2,000 fine and four months in prison for wrongfully accessing an EHR. The patient's health information didn't appear to be used in any way for personal gain. That didn't matter to the courts; they still convicted the employee (now former employee) of a HIPAA violation.

 

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. The former employee tried to appeal the conviction with the defense of not knowing that it was illegal to access health information. This was not accepted as a defense.

 

For more information: "Appeals Court Upholds HIPAA Conviction of EHR Snooper"

 

On a state level, attorney generals and office staff in all 50 states have recently been trained on HIPAA regulations plus how to investigate and prosecute violations, specifically snooping. Contact your entity privacy site coordinator, ethics and compliance officer, or the system privacy office with any questions. 

 

Other HIPAA violations:

"Doctor and Hospital Employees Plead Guilty To HIPAA Violations" -  Arkansas

 

"Health System Fires 32 Employees for Record Snooping" - Minnesota Hospital System

 

"Hospital Fires Medical Records Snoopers" - University Medical Center in Tucson

 

"Dealing with Data Breaches" - UCLA fired 13 employees, suspended six physicians, and took disciplinary action against others

      

"HIPAA Violator Sentenced to Prison" - Alabama; Rx fraud scheme 

 

Thompson retiring after 44 years

Karen Thompson

 

Please join us in celebrating the career of Karen Thompson, Blood Bank manager, on Friday, July 27, from 2 - 3:30 p.m. in the BMW room. 

 

Thompson began her career in the laboratory Blood Bank upon graduation from Saint Luke's Hospital School of Medical Technology. She was promoted to Blood Bank manager in 1972, became certified as a specialist in blood bank in 1975, and completed her master's degree in medical technology in 1977. 

 

In addition, Thompson has served as the transfusion safety officer for the health system since 2006, when the role was established. Throughout her career, she has been active in a variety of offices in the Heart of America Association of Blood Banks, served as an assessor for the American Association of Blood Banks, and assisted Community Blood Center with inspections at SLHS facilities. 

 

Thompson's initiative and insistence on high quality work are primary reasons SLHS has such high quality blood banking operations. 

 

Congratulations and best wishes in retirement! 

  

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Honduras medical mission trip

 

Saint Luke's Health System R.N.s, N.A.s, radiology techs, and residents have an amazing opportunity to travel to La Ceiba, Honduras, in October 2012 to help start the only public ICU in the region, which will serve approximately 1 million people. 

 

There will be two different weeks when we will be sending employees. The first is Oct. 10 - 17 and the second is Oct. 15 - 23. The cost of the trip is approximately $1,400 plus spending money for souvenirs, etc. The Saint Luke's Foundation will help fund this exciting project (up to $1,000 per person) with the submission of an individual application. 

 

Please let Kelsey Fechter know ASAP by emailing her at kfechter@saint-lukes.org if you are interested in going or have any questions, as we need to finalize our plans within the next month. Don't miss out on this great opportunity!

 

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