Applying Human Factors to Prevent Medical Billing Errors

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Once the funding for the new system is applied, henceforth the system is based on an electrical billing system and scanners, ridding of human error and manually inputting all billing items to a patient’s chart.

Naturally, with technology vastly improving, this system is much less risky than the existing system. Another human factor aspect that is extremely important to the success of the new system is a properly trained and communicating staff. With the number of patients in most facilities and hospitals greatly outnumbering staff, the keep up of so many charts are what causes the current over charges. To solve this, staff can easily access the charges on the virtual bill and omit any duplicates and verify charges by communicating to the staff member responsible for that particular scan.

Expected Results

Assuming the staff is trained, funding is enough, and willingness for a new system is accepted, I believe this could be a potential permanent solution for the current issue at hand. The expected results from the compared audits would most likely show less money and charges on the automated scanning system. Furthermore, I expect a number of patients and their families would be satisfied with the transparency of the new system. One can only image the vast amount of money insurance providers would also save, creating a new system accepted in all aspects of the health care field, and building access to funding more feasible for the next facility adapting to the system.

With hospitals having multiple units including; trauma, ICU, ER, surgical, med surge, and out care patient, a system like this would create a smoother work place and an improvement in the human factors of the health care field. Particularly for this specific study, hypothetically set in a nursing home, the saving in funds would create a culture where more families would be comfortable leaving their loved ones in the care of a well-trained and honest staff.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the new system could be a great success if programmed correctly with a well trained staff. Human factors is more than just improving the work place for workers with technology, but incorporating a proper communication between coworkers is another important aspect of human factors. Human error is a valid reason for many excusable mistakes in all professions, however once we have the ability to decrease the percentage of human error, it is our duty to do so. Improving the billing system for hospitals betters the experience for patients, creates trust for staff members, and improves the United States rank in health care overall.

References

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Carthey, Dr. Jane. "Implementing Human Factors in Healthcare." How To Guide "Taking Further Steps" 2 (2013): 1-60. Clinical Human Factors Group. The Health Foundation, 2013. Web. 1 May 2017.

Khazan, Olga. "The Hospitals That Overcharge Patients by 1,000 Percent." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 08 June 2015. Web. 01 May 2017.

"Preventing Overcharging, Surprise Bills, and Medical Debt." Preventing Overcharging & Medical Debt - California Health Care Advocacy, Healthcare Education, Reform, Policy

Analysis – Health Access California. Health Access Analysis, n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.

Renzulli, Kerri Anne. "Hospital Pricing Ripoffs: Study Shows Hospitals Overcharging." Time Money. Time, 21 Oct. 2016. Web. 01 May 2017.