[Video] – The Manager’s Minute Episode #11 – What is Medication Reconciliation?
In Episode #11, Mary Pat discusses the Medication Reconciliation process, and how it can benefit your practice whether you use paper or electronic records.
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In Episode #11, Mary Pat discusses the Medication Reconciliation process, and how it can benefit your practice whether you use paper or electronic records.
I sat at the checkout desk in my practice last week for the first time and as always, it was a revelation. If you haven’t worked your check-in and check-out desks recently, I highly recommend it.
An insured patient that I checked out was shocked when I said the charge for her visit was $100. She said, “But he was only in the room for ten minutes!” I was briefly at a loss for words. I recovered, we agreed on a payment plan, I made a note on her encounter form for the billing office and she left.
I’ve been thinking about our conversation, and thinking about what that $100 is supposed to cover…
I know that patients often say “But he only spent 10 minutes with me.” Checking back with the provider, I find it was typically longer. Patients tend to underestimate the time as it goes very fast.
The total visit encompassed the work of the phone operator, the medical records clerk, the triage nurse, the check-in person, the nurse, the doctor, the check-out person and the biller. It took 8 people, and at least 45 minutes of work to make that appointment happen. Plus, that visit had to help pay the expenses for the rent, the utilities, malpractice insurance, medical supplies, computers, phones and janitorial services.
The practice, the patients and the overseers of healthcare want each visit to be non-rationed, safe, high-quality, error-free, holistic, pleasant, clean, accurate, efficient and reimbursable. It’s what we all want. And it ain’t cheap.
Photo credit: © Oleg Pidodnya