Learn
Vizient Southern States' networks and conferences enable members to connect and collaborate with trusted colleagues. Benefits that foster learning include:
- Connecting members to thought leaders, industry experts and leading practices
- Exploring topics and issues of shared strategic interest
- Accessing ideas, content and approaches driven by strategic research, data, insights and advisors
- Engaging in problem-solving and developing action plans together
- Providing continuing education credits
Networks
- C-Suite and Executive Networks
- Chief Information Officers (CIO)
- Chief Medical Officers (CMO)/Physician Executives
- Finance/Operations Executives
- Nursing Executives
- Cardiology Leaders
- Charge Audit Leaders
- Emergency Department Leaders
- Human Resources Leaders
- Infection Prevention Leaders
- Perioperative Leaders
- Pharmacy Leaders
- Physician Practice Leaders
- Post-Acute Care Leaders
- Quality Leaders
- Revenue Cycle Management/Managed Care Leaders
- Supply Chain Leaders
Major Events and Conferences
- Clinical Supply Conference
- Health Care Workforce Benefits Conference
- Joint Commission Annual Accreditation Update
- Trustee Institute
- Vizient Connections Business Summit
- Vizient Connections Education Summit
Member Spotlight
Phoebe Putney Health System is a not-for-profit network of more than 4,500 physicians, nurses, professional staff and volunteers. They deliver compassionate, high quality health care to more than 500,000 residents in their 41-county region. Phoebe is dedicated to providing a better way to health and wellness in its entire community.
Challenge
All hospitals face the dilemma of trying to process invoices when there are complex rules that change frequently. Examples include limitations on observation hours billed, and the cycle of circumventing denials and commercial payers returning claims. Specific issues that Phoebe faced over the last year were comprised of:
- Charging for OB-GYN triage patients
- Inaccurate billing of bedside procedures
- Extra work and delays with processing payments due to claims data being requested ahead of time for a defense audit
Solution
By meeting with peers from other hospitals as part of Vizient Southern States’ Charge Audit Leaders Network, Phoebe learned that many others were facing the same issues and that they could learn from each other and use that knowledge to implement solutions at their respective hospitals. At Phoebe, these solutions entailed:
- Creating a new OB-GYN emergency department with more consistent billing practices in place
- Having physicians take detailed notes on bedside procedures they order and implementing a method to audit for missed charges
- Requiring auditors to come on-site rather than taking a long time to review claims data on their own
Results
By changing vendors and procedures, Phoebe was able to better help their patients and improve their billing processes which resulted in cost avoidance savings totaling $8,356,994 for 2018. Specific changes that attributed to their savings included:
- Removing limitations on observation hours billed
- Accurately billing for services offered
- More control over auditing procedures
The ability to network with our peers at Vizient Southern States’ meetings is invaluable. There’s no sense in each of us trying to reinvent the wheel when we can use our combined expertise to develop solutions. If nothing else, we know we’re not alone with our issues.
Wendy Allen
Corporate Director - Revenue Management
Phoebe Putney Health System
To learn more or to participate, contact us at info@vizientsouthernstates.com or (770) 850-7400.