Client Case Studies

Respiratory Care:
Sutter Health SUNY Upstate Medical University Sarasota Memorial Health Care System Methodist Hospital Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Texas Children's Hospital St. Rita's Medical Center

Rehabilitative Medicine:
Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation Johns Hopkins Bayview Lancaster General Banner Good Samaritan Texas Children's Hospital North Colorado Medical Center University of Utah Hospital

MediServe Client Impact Case Study - Respiratory Care

SUNY Upstate Medical University

SUNY Upstate Medical University is Central New York's only academic medical center and is the region's largest employer. SUNY is a 350-bed university hospital.

Prior to MediLinks, Respiratory Care used bedside paper records as the manual method to complete all charting activities. Therapists used abbreviated charting methods that were not accurate or efficient. Even though this method of charting took typically 45 seconds - 1 ½ minutes, the information was unclear, inaccurate, and in a lot of cases, did not meet the requirements necessary to submit charges for reimbursement.

Charge capture accuracy fluctuated during certain times of the year, and in busier times it was not completed. Overall, 10–20% of charting was not being completed in the Respiratory Care department. All documentation that was not submitted appropriately as a charge disappeared and was never accounted for, resulting in lost reimbursement for SUNY.

All therapists were scheduled using a whiteboard, causing inefficient care, mistakes, and confusion. Now MediLinks can quickly and efficiently assign therapists providing patient care on time and in some cases, therapists are ahead of schedule and arrive before the nurse.

SUNY went live with MediLinks for Respiratory Care in May 2005. MediLinks now allows SUNY to capture documentation accurately and completely. It is more professional, legible, and is more thorough - providing cues that remind therapists to complete all sections of patient documentation. As a result of these improvements, the credibility of the Respiratory department has increased.

MediLinks organizes all charges and ensures they have been completed, preparing the department for possible insurance company audits. Prior to MediLinks, 10% of charges were rejected or disallowed if an insurance company audited patient records. A considerable amount of these charges were never documented, and it was impossible to manually monitor missed charges.

MediLinks has helped establish a uniform wireless system to synchronize & interface with the new Computerized Patient Order Entry (CPOE), pharmacy, and medication orders. Each therapist uses tablets while they treat patients at the bedside. This enhanced mobility provides access to all Respiratory data on demand.

In December 2005, CPOE was fully implemented and interfaced with MediLinks. CPOE with MediLinks eliminates the need for the therapist to be called. All orders are available immediately, providing the ability to treat more patients with increased efficiently (using the same number of therapists).

SUNY experienced a complete Return on Investment after only eight months. After completing a ten month ROI study, SUNY experienced the following results.

Financial Impact

• $520,000 Savings in Traveling Therapist Costs per Year (no longer required)
• 14% Improvement in Average Charges Lost due to Inadequate Documentation Match

Clinical Impact

• 7% Increase in Charge Capture
• 6% Increase in Therapist Productivity