From the January/February 2018 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
• Ensure dual network ports (1GB/10GB) as appropriate for the underlying network infrastructure.
Maximizing the patient schedule
In the face of continued deceases in reimbursement, imaging providers must fully utilize all modalities. When a patient cancels their appointment the day of the scheduled exam, our staff contacts other patients who are on an “early appointment requested” list to see if they are willing to fill the slot. Then we move patients into the schedule to ensure each appointment is booked. This process minimizes the costs of having staff with no patient to scan, which represents full cost with no revenue. Some facilities book patient appointments, and if the patient cancels, they do not try to fill it. Striving every day for maximum utilization is essential to ensure the lowest cost per exam possible.
Making our patients feel welcome and valued is very important. We have streamlined our procedures to ensure we process and image each patient quickly and efficiently. Our patients respect and appreciate that we value their time as much as we do our own.
It’s time for imaging services providers to stop worrying about their IT budgets and start investing in technology that can increase profitability and throughput in radiology services. Well-designed and implemented technology allows health care providers to achieve greater efficiency, which benefits both patients and providers.
About the author: Ronald J. Milbank is director of information technology for Reno Diagnostic Centers in Reno, Nevada. He is also one of the owners of R&C Consulting, providing national information systems and operational excellence advisory services.
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