Prime Healthcare Services

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Edward Barrera, Communications Director
ebarrera@primehealthcare.com

Prime Healthcare Services Recognized for Health Care Technology

Leading Hospital Management Company Uses IT to Improve Patient Safety and Quality of Care

ONTARIO, CA, Dec. 1, 2011 – HIMSS Analytics in February will be honoring Prime Healthcare hospitals for their accomplishments in implementing technology solutions that have the ability to improve patient safety and quality of care.

Eleven Prime Healthcare Services hospitals and both of the hospitals from the affiliated non-profit Prime Healthcare Services Foundation achieved the Stage 6 designation of the HIMSS Analytics Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Adoption Models. Currently, only 256 hospitals (4.8%) in the United States, and only 269 hospitals in the world, carry a Stage 6 designation.

“Using information technology to improve patient outcomes is our continuing goal,” said Sreekant Gotti, Prime Healthcare Services Chief Information Officer. “This honor reflects the significant investments in technology that the leadership has made and the great teamwork of all the clinical and non-clinical staff across Prime Healthcare hospitals. ”

The Prime Healthcare Services hospitals recognized are Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Chino Valley Medical Center, Desert Valley Hospital, Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center, Huntington Beach Hospital, La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, Paradise Valley Hospital, San Dimas Community Hospital, Shasta Regional Medical Center, Sherman Oaks Hospital Medical Center and West Anaheim Medical Center. The Foundation’s non-profit Encino Hospital and Montclair Hospital Medical Center were also recognized.

HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption Model as a way of evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics™ Database. Tracking their progress in completing eight stages (0-7), hospitals can review the implementation and utilization of information technology applications with the intent of reaching Stage 7, which represents an advanced patient record environment.

“We know that it takes executive commitment, support and a great team of health care professionals to achieve this advanced level,” said H. Stephen Lieber, President and CEO HIMSS Analytics. These hospitals “are great examples of how a vision can become reality in the world of health care information technology.”

The hospitals will be recognized at The HIMSS12 Annual Conference & Exhibition, which will be held on February 21 – 24,2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sands Convention Center.

Prime Healthcare Services

Ontario, CA-based Prime Healthcare Services, recognized as one of the top 10 health systems in the country, is a progressive, innovative and rapidly expanding hospital management company with a mission to provide comprehensive quality healthcare in a compassionate, convenient and cost-effective manner.

With over 10,000 employees, Prime Healthcare Services currently owns and/or operates 12 acute care facilities: Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Chino Valley Medical Center, Desert Valley Hospital, Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center, Huntington Beach Hospital, La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, Paradise Valley Hospital, San Dimas Community Hospital, Shasta Regional Medical Center, Sherman Oaks Hospital, and West Anaheim Medical Center. 

Nine of these hospitals are accredited by The Joint Commission, and seven of the nine hospitals were recently recognized as Top Performers in the Nation (Top 14%) on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, a Medicare accreditation agency.

Prime Healthcare Services Foundation

The Foundation is a nonprofit public charity that was founded by Dr. Prem Reddy and his family reflecting their commitment to give back to the communities that they serve.

The Foundation owns and operates two nonprofit hospitals, Encino Hospital Medical Center and Montclair Hospital Medical Center (a Top 100 Hospital in the Nation in 2009), and is governed by an independent Board of Directors.  Both hospitals were recently recognized as Top Performers in the Nation (Top 14%) on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, a Medicare accreditation agency.

ONTARIO, Calif., Nov. 15, 2011 — Prime Healthcare Services today filed a lawsuit under federal anti-trust law that alleges that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Kaiser Permanente engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to reduce consumers access to healthcare and limit their choices.  The complaint alleges that Prime Healthcare is the latest victim of this unlawful conspiracy.

“Prime Healthcare’s business model, which provides cost-effective and high-quality health care in underserved communities, threatens SEIU and its partner Kaiser Permanente,” said Michael Sarrao, vice president and general counsel for Prime Healthcare Services. “SEIU is not concerned about those patients who rely on Prime Healthcare’s hospitals for much needed healthcare, but instead is focused on driving out hospital operators like Prime Healthcare that pose a threat to SEIU’s and Kaiser’s anti-competitive partnership.”

In the lawsuit, Prime Healthcare alleges that SEIU and Kaiser have conspired, through their use of a labor-management partnership, to attack competitors in order to create a monopoly in California. As part of this effort, SEIU has targeted Prime Healthcare. SEIU has produced propaganda which the SEIU disguises as “studies.”  That propaganda has been extensively distributed to complicit media outlets and other allies for the purpose of eliminating the threat to the unlawful SEIU-Kaiser conspiracy.  This collusion has driven up health care costs, promoted inefficient practices and denied patients’ access to health care.

The sixty-eight page complaint details over two-decades of anti-competitive practices by the SEIU and Kaiser pursuant to their unlawful conspiracy.  It documents a long history of attacking competitors, and alleges, among other things, unlawful payments from Kaiser to the SEIU.

The complaint, filed in federal court in the Southern District of California, seeks an order enjoining SEIU and Kaiser from conspiring to destroy competition and monetary damages.

SOURCE Prime Healthcare Services

A recent posting on the California Watch website has relied on sketchy comparisons in another attempt to smear Prime Healthcare. It compares certain billing practices at Kernan Hospital in Maryland, alleged (but not proven) in United States v. Kernan Hospital, to the billing practices of Prime Healthcare’s.

Aside from the fact that Kernan Hospital has put in place its own computer system while Prime Healthcare’s hospitals utilize coding software developed by 3M, which is widely used across the United States and accepted by Medicare, the reporter also fails to point out that billing practices of Maryland hospitals rely on a different reimbursement methodology system than utilized in California. In addition, Prime Healthcare’s hospitals utilize practices that are consistent with the principles adopted by the American Health Information Management Association including those related to physician queries. In short, there is no logical basis for any claim that the billing practices of Kernan Hospital parallel Prime Healthcare’s billing practices.

Following earlier erroneous claims by California Watch regarding questionable coding or diagnosis of septicemia or malnutrition, the two prestigious national Medicare accreditation agencies, the Joint Commission and Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, found no deficiencies. Similarly, the California Department of Public Health found no deficiencies as to coding or diagnosis of septicemia or malnutrition. Also, Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG), a Medicare contracted agency that reviews DRG coding, has reviewed the medical records at Prime operated Shasta Regional Medical Center and agreed with the appropriateness of the diagnosis of Kwashiorkor. Another Medicare contracted review agency, Health Data Insights (RAC), which is entrusted with the responsibility of reviewing Medicare DRG coding for all hospitals, found no deficiencies concerning Kwashiorkor at Prime Healthcare hospitals.

Patient safety, quality and efficiency can all improve with better document management practices.

Written by Sreekant Gotti October 2011

Originally printed @ http://www.healthmgttech.com/index.php/solutions/hospitals/enjoying-the-fruits-of-document-management.html

In a world where healthcare providers must respond rapidly to change, California’s Prime Healthcare Services moves quicker than most. Ten hospital acquisitions in the last few years will have that effect, as will the host of other regulatory, economic and technology demands currently converging on the organization and others like it.

Prime Healthcare has found that, despite its size – 14 hospitals comprising 2,400 beds and 9,000 employees – and recent acquisitions, a strong healthcare IT base has kept it moving ahead and effectively overcoming industry hurdles. Of these 14 hospitals, 12 hospitals are under Prime Healthcare Services and two hospitals are under Prime Healthcare Services Foundation.

Document management is one area that Prime Healthcare has successfully navigated on a system-wide scale. With hundreds of paper forms in use, leadership identified numerous potential pitfalls associated with a manual process. In fact, the organization’s rapid expansion has served to highlight the need for a cohesive solution for document management delivered throughout the entire network.

Finding the right partner

While the organization was beginning to reap the benefits of automation via its integrated clinical and financial technologies, including electronic health records (EHRs) and a health information system (HIS), Prime Healthcare facilities were still heavily dependent on paper. The health system was relying upon hard copies of admissions, clinical and operations forms that needed to be converted to electronic format. Knowing that manually completed forms and stacks of preprinted papers could lead to problems in both patient safety and finances, IT leadership searched for a full-featured document management system.

Prime Healthcare had specific demands of its solution. For one, it needed a technology that could scale to its large, multi-hospital system to ensure it had a consistent technology at all facilities, which would streamline deployment and allow the seamless flow of data between hospitals. The organization also needed a system that would enable it to quickly update forms. Even when minor changes were required, such as an update to a HIPAA authorization form that a patient receives upon check-in, staff needed to discard all the old, preprinted documents and generate a new batch of forms, adding expense and wasting employees’ time. Prime needed to eliminate this misuse of resources and ensure accurate information across its facilities.

After searching for a document management solution, Prime Healthcare came across FormFast’s logic-based, on-demand workflow and print management system for automating medical records, revenue cycle and patient registration documentation processes. This solution could be seamlessly integrated with other healthcare IT applications, such as the HIS and EHR systems already in use at Prime Healthcare’s hospitals.

Implementing the program

Prime Healthcare needed implementation to progress relatively quickly and a strict timeline was developed. Rules-based functionality enabled the IT staff to easily assign different rules to the various system users, such as patient access personnel or emergency department (ED) nurses. This made system management much easier for the implementation team at Prime Healthcare, given the number of employees using the application at any given time.

Following a rapid implementation process, IT leadership began training clinicians and other staff. Executives were pleasantly surprised that the organization’s 400-plus users could be fully trained on the system in about 10 minutes per session. Demonstrating the new system to several groups of individuals at once meant Prime Healthcare was able to complete all training within just a few days.

Prime Healthcare also took advantage of the transition to create updated new forms, optimizing an easy-to-use design feature developed by FormFast specifically for medical facilities. It wasn’t long before Prime Healthcare had eliminated pre-printed forms for many purposes throughout the multi-hospital system.

The process in practice

When a patient is admitted, staff is able to quickly select and print out the appropriate forms for each individual’s situation. If necessary, forms are completed manually by the patient and signatures are obtained. These documents are then digitized using a high-speed scanner. Once documents are scanned, the data is electronically routed to the correct place in the medical record, guided by barcodes that identify the patient and type of documentation. This prevents time lost in entering data and eliminates errors that can be introduced in data entry – a definite patient safety improvement.

Meanwhile, if nurses or physicians require a specific document, they do not have to search for preprinted forms stored away in a filing cabinet. The system intelligently tracks what forms are necessary for the encounter by parameters designed by the facility. Users then log on and print the specific form according to the exact patient requirements. Hospitals also can set chart forms to be generated automatically in batches, freeing unit clerks or nurses to focus on other tasks.

And since Prime Healthcare’s workflow processes and document management activities are now tightly integrated with its EHR and HIS systems, users can print forms or reports directly from these tools. If a clinician requires a hardcopy of a certain document, such as a radiology report, it can be sent directly to the nursing station and distributed as necessary. Hospital staff in any department can also enter patient data, route the forms to multiple departments and print the completed items when necessary – without the delay and expense of routing hard copies.

All 14 facilities managed by Prime Healthcare are now taking advantage of this automated workflow model, which can be easily scaled to accommodate additional users and systems.

The ultimate reward: efficiency and patient safety

Prime Healthcare began realizing clinical and financial benefits soon after organization-wide deployment of the document management system. For example, when a clinical chart is scanned, data can be directed to both the EHR and the hospital’s billing department. This means that when the patient is discharged, financial services personnel can print out the most up-to-date version of the patient’s bill. Similarly, more accurate and timely claims can be generated, meaning the organization is able to receive reimbursements more quickly, improving cash flow. Further, users have reported that since they aren’t chasing down paper documents, they are significantly more efficient and productive. And with less manual data entry, clinicians have reported a noticeable uptick in the quality of clinical information.

While cost savings and efficiency are, of course, some favorable outcomes of Prime Healthcare’s investment in technology, they are not the most important benefits. The organization’s standard for patient safety and quality are paramount. The health system’s IT efforts have decreased manual errors, helped to ensure accurate information and freed staff to spend more time with patients.

Eventually, all paper forms may disappear from the hospital environment. But, for the time being, every medical facility must deal partially in paper documentation. Prime Healthcare has achieved many important efficiency, quality and patient-safety objectives with the implementation of a comprehensive IT strategy that includes document management. It is now clear that Prime Healthcare’s ability to manage paper in the most effective means possible has played a vital role in the organization’s success.

Taken from VVDailyPress.com on September 5, 2011
Daily Press Staff Writer: Tomoya Shimura

A state health agency has recently exonerated Prime Healthcare hospitals of allegations that they kept inaccurate or incomplete medical records of patients with a deadly blood infection that hospitals are paid a premium to treat.

The California Department of Public Health probed 23 hospitals owned by Prime after receiving complaints from the Service Employees International Union that some of Prime hospitals have the highest septicemia rates in the United States.

The health department found deficiencies in four of them, including Desert Valley Hospital.

At the Victorville hospital, inspectors found problems with record keeping of septicemia diagnoses. At the rest of the three hospitals, the investigators claimed 22 of 120 patients diagnosed with septicemia showed few symptoms of the disease.

Prime called the CDPH’s reports “erroneous” and challenged the findings, claiming that the state agency has no authority to evaluate the doctors’ diagnoses and that CDPH surveyors lacked sufficient experience and training.

An independent physician reviewed the findings and stated there was insufficient evidence to determine that Prime kept incomplete or inaccurate medical records. The CDPH amended its survey findings since then.

For more about allegations, read the full story in Thursday’s Daily Press. Get complete stories every day with the “exactly as printed” Daily Press E-edition, only $5 per month! Click here to try it free for 7 days. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call (760) 241-7755, 1-800-553-2006 or click here.

Tomoya Shimura may be reached at (760) 955-5368 or TShimura@VVDailyPress.com. Follow Tomoya on Facebook at facebook.com/ShimuraTomoya.

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/hospitals-30501-prime-health.html

Prime Healthcare Services is pleased to announce that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on Sept. 30 officially dismissed all of the cases related to the diagnosis and coding of septicemia at Prime Healthcare hospitals. While CDPH found no deficiencies with the diagnosis and coding with cases related to malnutrition, it noted certain issues with follow up care. These issues have already been addressed and corrected.

The cases were related to surveys performed by CDPH in response to allegations of improprieties by SEIU and repeated by state Sen. Ed Hernandez.

Both SEIU and Sen. Hernandez have repeatedly made baseless accusations on these issues, both publicly and to CDPH, and have sought to block Prime Healthcare’s attempts to save failing hospitals in order to advance the financial interests of SEIU and others acting in concert with SEIU.

“While it was certainly unfortunate that SEIU and Sen. Hernandez made such baseless allegations, we are pleased that CDPH considered all of the evidence presented by the hospitals and independent physicians in finding that there were no deficiencies related to the diagnosis and coding of septicemia,” said Suzanne Richards, RN, BSN, MBA, MPH, Prime Healthcare’s Chief Clinical Officer. “Hopefully, Sen. Hernandez will consider all of the facts rather than relying on allegations from SEIU before making demands upon CDPH in the future.”

CDPH’s recent findings are consistent with those of Joint Commission and the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP), two Medicare accreditation organizations that previously found no evidence to support SEIU and Sen. Hernandez’s allegations after conducting surveys at 10 of Prime Healthcare’s hospitals.

Prime Healthcare Services Recognized as Top Performers — ONTARIO, Calif., Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Joint Commission on Wednesday Recognized Nine Hospitals Either… (Click here to read  complete story on PRNewswire.)

In the coming months the flagship hospital in the Prime Healthcare Services (PHS) impressive healthcare network, Desert Valley Hospital, will unveil its new expansion. It represents the fulfillment of a commitment made by PHS to provide High Desert residents with a world class healthcare facility that provides vital services to an underserved population.

Two cardiac catheterization labs, an open heart surgery suite and two additional operating rooms are among the highlights. The addition of 53 medical surgical beds and 12 intensive care unit beds will help address the current bed shortage in the region. A state-of-the-art cardiac nuclear camera as well as a new digital radiology system puts Desert Valley Hospital on the cutting edge of modern technology. An open house will take place later this year and the public will be invited to tour the new addition.

In just 15 years of operation Desert Valley Hospital has one numerous accolades and awards for its quality of care including being recognized as a Top 100 Hospital in the Nation. The multi-million dollar investment represents the continuing commitment that PHS is making to the communities it serves as its healthcare network continues to expand.

http://bit.ly/qbRN0v

Alvarado Hospital once again is teaming up to participate in the 2011 San Diego Heart Walk, a 5k non-competitive walk to raise awareness and funds to support the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke—the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. Alvarado Hospital is an event sponsor.

Almost everyone knows someone who has suffered from heart disease or stroke. This is an opportunity to experience the pride and satisfaction that comes from knowing you were an important part of an effort that raised dollars to help save lives from heart disease and stroke.

The walk is Saturday, Sept. 17, in Balboa Park. In addition to the 5k, there is also a one-mile survivor walk.

Registration is free, although the American Heart Association is asking for donations or fundraising efforts to support your participation. Everyone who raises $100 will receive an official Heart Association T-shirt. To register for Team Alvarado, visit www.AlvaradoHospital.com.