Health and Hospital Systems Board Meeting February 1, 2013

The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Carvalho at 7:35. 

  

Quality and Patient Safety Committee chair Ed Michael reported challenges in implementing electronic health records, a possible need for more staff.  A full report is due to the CCHHS board on maximizing the use of Provident Hospital.  A short video stressed that transparency yields internal improvement.  If data are available to all, quality improves.  Customers/patients value candor sometimes over quality.  The board must set a clear policy on  transparency.  “Talk about your mistakes!”  He said more data will be on the CCHHS website, and  suggested Dr. Das update board members on performance data at a future meeting. 

Audit and Compliance Committee chair Dr. Luis Munoz reported that McKesson is monitoring physician billing; and the diagnostic coding system, key to bringing in revenue and determining quality measures, will be subject to more intense federal monitoring.  A survey will identify what relationships employees have with external providers, and a firewall will be put in the system to preserve CCHHS business integrity. 

Finance Committee chair Heather O’Donnell reported that under 6,000 new people have been enrolled in the new Countycare Medicaid program; patients are instead choosing Carelink, not realizing that Countycare provides better managed care over time. Patients rejected by Countycare (Medicaid) are eligible for Carelink.  A contracted PR firm, Prairie Group, will assist CCHHS, FQHCs in particular, with patient education and enrollment, hosting enrollment fairs, providing flyers, banners, and posters. 

Human Resources Committee chair Quin Golden reported that 343 vacancies were filled in 2012; 165 managers were trained in Shakman requirements.

William Luallen of Pricewaterhouse Coopers reported general findings on their 3-year association with CCHHS: - CCHHS needs to generate grants and have centers of excellence to compete with other health systems. - Many self created billing systems need coordination.  Currently co-pays can’t be collected at point of service because the Cerner system does not accept credit cards. - There are still paper charges and orders in the system; all needs to be electronic, and this process is about 75% complete. The$12m backlog in uncollected revenue is now down to $2m, similar to Rush and other hospitals.  The coding system has been improved, creating a clear claim for reimbursement.  There have been significant reductions in overtime since the $18m overtime payout.  Ambulatory Care Health Network (ACHN) clinics are not yet working in tandem with shared data. Carvalho asked what other public healthcare systems are doing to collect copays at payment point; NAPH has data on this.  The Cerner system holds all electronic medical records and links to Siemens which is the billing system, so all data should be on Cerner to maximize revenue collection.  Luallen said CCHHS needs a 501c(3) nonprofit foundation and offered to assist in creating such a foundation on a pro bono basis.

The meeting adjourned to closed session at 10:00.

Submitted by Linda Christianson