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Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, Vol. 22, No. 6, 374-380 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0885066607307531
© 2007 SAGE Publications

Implementation of a Handheld Electronic Point-of-Care Billing System Improved Efficiency in the Critical Care Unit

Brenda G. Fahy, MD, FCCM

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, bgfahy2{at}email.uky.edu

Jonathan T. Ketzler, MD

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Coding and billing are time consuming and important considerations for critical care practitioners. A 1-year prospective, observational study incorporated the use of a personal digital assistant and MDeverywhere software (Hauppauge, New York) for patient coding and billing. Twelve months of data were examined before electronic implementation (pre-elec) and compared with a 12-month period after implementation (post-elec) by using an unpaired t test or z test with P < .05 considered significant. The total number of charges was 2479 pre-elec and 2243 post-elec. The days from date of service to billing for services significantly decreased from 37.8 pre-elec to 12.4 post-elec (P < .001); days in accounts receivable significantly decreased from 92.0 to 73.0 (P < .001). The net collection rate increased from 44.7% pre-elec to 49.3% post-elec (P < .001). Duplicate charges significantly decreased from 5.0% pre-elec to 1.4% post-elec ( P < .001). The return on investment was 1.97-fold (197%). The initiation of personal digital assistant technology to facilitate billing and coding resulted in significant improvements.

Key Words: personal digital assistant • PDA • information technology • billing and coding • electronic • critical care


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