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

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


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Fahy, B. G. Articles by Ketzler, J. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fahy, B. G. Articles by Ketzler, J. T. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?