Case Study of the Ambulatory Procedure Visit Process at Walter Reed Army Medical Center: Methods for Improving Workload Accountability and Third Party Collections

摘要

This study analyzed how the ambulatory procedure visit process has functioned at Walter Reed in terms of data collection and workload accountability. The researcher conducted interviews with all key players in the process, collected data from the Composite Health Care System and patient records, and observed the users in the day-to-day operations of the ambulatory procedure visit process. The author determined no written process was in place and appointments were frequently not entered into the Composite Health Care System. Great differences existed between the process for ambulatory procedure visits on the wards and-in the clinics.. The failure to record ambulatory procedure visits in the Composite Health Care System resulted in decreased workload reporting and missed billing opportunities. A conceptual model of the recommended ambulatory procedure process was developed. With the increased emphasis on actual workload in administrative decisions and budget requirements, accurate workload tracking is of vital importance.