Case Analysis of Sutton Health Essay Example for Free

Case Analysis of Sutton Health Essay This network identified that traditional payment processing system had limitations that hindered the effective collecting of revenue. What with the recession, healthcare organizations have seen an increase in the inability to collect debt from the self-pay, the uninsured and underinsured patients. This has caused a lot of struggle when it comes to the organizations to meet the operational margins and the profits. I find there are a number of reasons for the new increase in patient’s debts, the most common are, poor accounting practices, lack of patient information and correct demographics. There is new governance that is designed to provide more coordinated care to said patients (Gleeson,2010). There are five geographic regions that reflects the health care access to the customers of Northern California. Each of the five regions will have governance structure and it will oversee many of the Sutter affiliated medical facilities and also the hospitals. In its effort to increase point of service collections and improve the overall revenue cycle Sutter health took steps to measure performance using a handful of specific primary benchmarks, empowering PFS staff to assume responsibility for every individual account they handle, ensure each registration is analyzed using a rules engine to identify problems before patients leave the registration desk and ensure PFS staff receive appropriate comprehensive training to excel under the new system† (Souza, McCarty, 2007). Obtaining the correct patient information plays a large part on non-collectable debt because patients are not able to be reached. These limitations were associated with limited access to accurate information by the account representatives, ineffective performance measures and fragmented centers of the service provision. The Sutter Health program developed a system that was comprised of solutions that were geared towards overcoming these limitations. The key problems and issues, is that the United States healthcare system is characterized by huge upkeep from collecting revenue from patients. This situation is brought about by a health care insurance system which entails high deductible pay health plans and as well as higher co-payments plan. (Souza, McCarty, 2007). This situation has been made worse through the large proportion of the population not having healthcare coverage. The traditional health care system has had a hard time meeting their target revenue collection. This is due to several problems that attached along with the traditional payment system. Unlike when dealing with the payments through insurance claims but also dealing with the up-front payments that are required by the hospital for payment of services before the patient could even receive the service (Souza, Mccarty, 2007). So this means that the patient services staff (PFS) has to have complete and accurate information about above said client. This presented a problem for the traditional payment system where much of the customer payment system was processed in the back end. This system also required that the PFS staff ask for money from self-pay patients, but the PFS were not accustomed to this under the traditional system. The PFS staff found it hard to wait for the back end section to process customer information and to provide a breakdown of the patients payment details. So this became a tedious task for hospital accounting departments as well as for patients that had to wait a longer period before receiving services. The inefficiency of the traditional system not only resulted in low quality services, but also in low revenue collections. The system provides such a broad range of health care services, which include acute, sub- acute, home health, long term, outpatient care as well as physician delivery systems. These services are provided through an integrated health care delivery approach that gives the system the ability to deliver a full range of healthcare products and services. rks. Sutter also recognized that the traditional system did not provide a means for analyzing selected data nor did it generate required detailed report on demand. This led to more cost as the hospital had to rely on programmers to generate such reports. The front desk staff also lacked real time information which hindered their ability to serve the client without consulting the back end staff. It also meant that the front desk staff could not monitor the patients progress (Souza, McCarty, 2007). Another challenge was that the PFS members were not empowered enough to be held accountable for each patients accounts they dealt with and it reduced the amount of accountability among the staff. These are some of the key challenges that the Sutter system were meant to address. The solutions that were employed by Sutter Health was an attempt to overcome the challenges stated above. Sutter Health implemented certain changes in the fore mentioned system that would make their operation more efficient. The strategies identified by the Sutter program entailed transferring most of the back end tasking to the front desk; providing accurate and complete information to managers and upfront staff; providing more effective performance evaluation and integrating all data elements within the system (Souza, McCarty, 2007). Allowing front desk staff to handle much of the payment process was deemed to have an effect on the efficiency of the process. Various solutions were employed to ensure that this is achieved. One of these solutions entailed using benchmarks to measure performance by the Patient Service Staff (PFS). Sutter identified a handful of primary benchmarks which included; Unbilled A/R days, Gross A/R days, Major A/R days, Cash Collection,percentage of A/R over 90, 180, 360 days (Souza, McCarty, 2007). This benchmark introduced shorter periods with which staff performances could be evaluated. This move was timely especially when onsidering that the industry has changed and things happen in terms of hours and days but not months. Another solution involved empowering the PFS members to have full responsibility over the accounts they are dealing with. This move was meant to increase a sense of responsibility and accountability as each individual members will be responsible for his or her own account (Souza, McCarty, 2007). This also gave the PFS members more autonomy to act as they saw fit and this improved the speed and efficient of service delivery by these staff members. The program also provided the PFS members with tools, that enabled them to automate their accounts, sort out their accounting using various means and seen their performances based on the achievement of the target. PFS and other accountant representatives were presented with individual dashboards that helped in the tracking of their progress in meeting targets. This also helped in enforcing the benchmarks set by this program. Sutter’s health program also introduced a front end collecting system as means of overcoming the mentioned problems. The pint of access collecting system introduced an opportunity for the health care facilities to reduce claims and denials. Though this system the patient records are analyzed before the patient leaves the registration desk. This enables the front desk staff to identify problems such as bad debt, patient or invalid patient type early enough and take the necessary corrective action. The Sutter health program also embarked on a comprehensive training program that was designed to support the existing PFS members and the registration staff. This gave staff the necessary competence to deal with the tools provided by this system. The training program also eliminated the need to hire formally educated staff to operate the system that would and more than the $10-$20 an hour paid to current registration and PFS staff. For example, registration staff who were not used to asking patients for money were trained in effective communication skills. The training was also designed to introduce autonomy and effectiveness which acted as a motivator to the employee.

Controversial Television Advertising Essay -- TV Media

Controversial Television Advertising We all know from our personal experience that one person’s idea of something offensive often differs from another’s. This essay is to determine the consequences towards negative advertising towards certain controversial products/services and why they are so offensive. All major media organizations need advertising to exist, that's how they pay their bills. At the same time, though, each organization sets its own advertising standards. Some ads a media company will simply refuse to accept (Peart, Karen N). Concerns have been raised about Beer advertising, Cigarette advertising, Sex advertising, Political advertising, and food advertising to children. Alcohol advertising is a primary concern for many Americans who believe that alcohol advertising in media directly influences the frequency of underage drinking. While drinking among youth and young adults has declined over the last six years, a recent study by the Justice Department found that 25% of 15-17 year olds said they drink. Junior and senior high school students drink 35% wine coolers, and consume 1.1 billion cans of beer annually. An alcoholic beverage industry sponsored poll of parents found that 73% of respondents believed that alcoholic beverage advertising is a major contributor to underage drinking (Century Council, 1990). It is also one of the most heavily advertised products in the United States. The alcohol industry generates more than $65 billion a year in revenue and spends more than $1 billion a year on advertising. The advertising budget for one beer -- Budweiser -- is more than the entire federal budget for research on alcoholism and alcohol use. Unfortunately , young people and heavy drinkers are the primary targets of... ...udewijn de Blij. (06/07/2006). Tobacco advertising www.factsheets.globalink.org Nick Higham, BBC media correspondent (04). Confusion over junk food ads. Dr. Joseph Mercola with Rachael Droege (05). Four Ways Junk Food Marketing Targets Your Kids Wikipedia. Sex in Advertising. Pediatric Studies Link TV Advertising with 'Global Fattening' (March 29, 2006) Campaign for Tobacco free kids. â€Å"Still Targeting kids† www.tobaccofreekids.org Christopher Gilson & Harold Berkman (1980). Advertising. Shanto Iyengar & Markus Prior (June 1999). Political Advertising. Gregory Rose, Victoria Bush, & Lynn Kahle (1998). Journal of Advertising Wayne Friedman (2/2006). Courting Kids, Networks Aim Younger. David Waller, Kim Fam, & Zafer Erdogan (2005) The Journal of Consumer Marketing. Vol. 22 Breast for Success. Dahila Lithwick (2004)

Purpose of College

Going to college is very important to me and has many purposes. Attending college can be challenging, but it can only help you and your future. One important reason to attend college is to further your education. Furthering your education not only helps you understand things in life, but it also allows you to get a degree. By having a degree It can open doors for Job opportunities and many other things. Getting my degree is very important to me. College Is also a time to grow up and become an adult.College is a time to learn to be Independent, to learn to be responsible, to mature, and to learn real world responsibilities. One must become responsible while In college, because you don't have parents to tell you what to do anymore. Your decisions affect you, and can affect the people around you. My parents have stressed to me since day one how Important college Is. They told me I wasn't getting a free ticket Into college, and that I had to work and become something of myself. I had to work not only on my academics, but also at my athletics. Liege Is a wonderful opportunity to make lifelong friendships and memories that one can cherish forever. Being a part of a school is a great feeling and I can't thank my parents enough for pushing me every step of the way to get me where I am today. It was a little ruff, but it was all worth it. College is a time for one to have fun, and to become a part of your school you attend. Get involved. Join something you haven't done before, whether it is a sport, a faith based organization, or something involving your field of study.College is all about learning new things and experiencing things you never have before, so why not take advantage of it. College is a very important thing to me, and it is something everyone should take seriously because it is not free, and you can learn so much from attending college. College is a once in a lifetime thing, so I say make the best of it. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this year has in store for me here at South. It is a great school and I am so thankful I am here!

SWOT Analysis Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350 Essay

Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350 is a local chartered organization which provides the community with volunteer opportunities and Boy Scout lessons for local children. This organization provides age appropriate lessons on various scouting and life lessons, such as camping, sports, safety, religion, morals, respect, and survival. These lessons are taught through meetings which are organized by age group, focused solely on children who are aged First Grade through Fifth Grade. The organizational structure of the Boy Scouts of America outlines that Cub Scout Packs are operated under a District, which is included and overseen by a local Council. Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350 operates in the Maramech Hill District, which includes a majority of†¦show more content†¦The use of a hierarchical structure is a distinctive competence for Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350 because the organization is aware of the need for such a structure, and operates successfully. The structure provides a level of protection for the organization by outlining each aspect of the organization, the volunteer’s roles and responsibilities, and requirements of each volunteer position. Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350 also discourages a single volunteer from holding multiple positions within the organization. Through personal experience, this is not a common practice in Yorkville Cub Scout Packs, which provides a distinctive competence for Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350. Multiple p ositions operated by a single individual can encourage confusion and overwhelm the volunteer, preventing the tasks and responsibilities from being completed in a timely manner. Community, District, and Council Support Support of Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350 is a strength for the organization. Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350 has support from Maramech Hill District, Three Fires Council, as well as community members and organizations. Since Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350 operates by volunteers, the support of these organizations is important to the success of the Cub Scout Pack. Community members support Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 350 through donations, fundraising support, and additional