Crisis Communications
Columbia/HCA Forms Compliance Committee
Columbia/HCA's besieged image suffered another setback when the FBI's mission to uncover its alleged billing fraud schemes picked up momentum last week with the release of a comprehensive report outlining additional details of the healthcare chain's Medicare cost-shifting and overcharging.
Until now, many of the allegations have been speculated about in a barrage of news reports, but not previously spelled out in federal documents. The FBI is slamming Columbia's billing operations in El Paso, Texas, Salt Lake City and Nashville, Tenn.
Not so coincidentally, Columbia/HCA launched a company-wide ethics, compliance and corporate responsibility program last week. More than 200 Columbia hospital leaders have begun their tenure as facility ethics and compliance officers (ECOs).
The ethics program, which will eventually involve 500 hospital leaders, is the brainchild of Alan Yuspeh, Columbia's senior VP for ethics, compliance and corporate responsibility. So far, the program includes:
- a code of conduct intended to guide employees through ethical and compliance issues;
- a video training program on the code;
- numerous policies to support the code of conduct; and
- a compliance committee (Columbia/HCA, 615/344-9551)
Managed Care
Humana Targets Travelers with 'On the Go' Program
Humana is allowing its members to take their coverage on the road with its new "Humana On the Go" program. Created for Humana Medicare members enrolled in the Humana Gold Plus and Humana Gold Preference plans, the program allows these members to take their health benefits with them when they visit another Humana Medicare HMO service area at no extra cost.
Before, members who traveled would have to disenroll from their regular HMO and enroll in the HMO near their destination, or wait to return home for their healthcare needs.
The program features a travel coordinator who helps members coordinate appointments with primary care physicians (PCP) - including referrals to specialists - while they are away. The coordinator will also contact the member's PCP at home and have the member's medical records and instructions sent to the member's temporary PCP.
Humana Medicare HMO service areas include Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. (Humana, Greg Donaldson, 502/580-3683)
Hot Tools
AHA Revises Guide for Release of Patient Information
The American Hospital Association's Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD), a membership organization recently revised its General Guide for the Release of Information on the Condition of Patients.
The guide outlines updated policies and procedures for the dissemination of information about patients to ensure privacy and confidentiality.
The pocket reference guideline highlights how the healthcare communicator should treat issues regarding condition of patient (undetermined, good, fair, serious and critical), matters of public record, and disasters (natural and terrorist). The guide is being sold in blocks of 10 for $18 for members and $28 for non-members. For ordering information, call AHA at 800-AHA-2626.
Awards
UPenn Receives Quality Kudos
The University of Pennsylvania's Health System (UPHS) earned the National Committee for Quality Health Care's (NCQHC) stamp of approval (1998 National Quality Health Care Award) for its disease management programs for taking a "best practice" approach to prevention and treatment.
Judging criteria for the award included leadership, integrated organizational structure, ability to measure outcomes, effective financial management and commitment to community health needs.
The health system got high marks for its quality initiatives in increasing patient satisfaction; reducing infections, re-admissions, costs and lengths-of-stay; streamlining the admissions-and-discharge process; and reducing the health risk behaviors of its community.
UPHS's consumer outreach involved partnering with America Online [AOL] as a healthcare resource for Web users in the Delaware Valley region and teaming up with Aetna/ U.S. Healthcare to develop coordinated care and services to patients with diabetes. (UPHS, Rebecca Harmon, 215/662-2560)
Online Ventures
Pfizer Launches Gynecological Web Site
Through Pfizer's new Web site, http://www.gyn101.com, women are getting a crash course in feeling secure about gynecological visits. The easy-to-follow interactive tutorial format guides women through the key steps necessary for a successful, informative check-up.
Launched last month, the Web site features:
- Prerequisites: a first stop for women who are unsure about when and if they need a gynecological exam. This section explains why it's important to schedule annual exams and identifies which health conditions may require professional attention.
- Finding a Doctor: provides a listing of various women's healthcare specialists and information about checking credentials and getting recommendations.
- Do Your Homework: outlines a checklist of things women can do to ensure proper care including questions to ask, knowing family history and a sample health questionnaire.
- The Exam: includes helpful visuals and frequently asked questions about breast, pelvic and other exams. (Porter Novelli, 212/601-8317)