90 days
Yep, that is how long I have been at my job (as of April 15th). I actually like the job, it's fairly simple for me overall, but challenging in that people are relatively ignorant when it comes to insurance and I have to attempt to get as much information out of them as possible so we can bill everything properly and they don't get screwed. There is another part of my job that I have come to loathe and now feel that they are attempting to turn co-workers on one another by emphasizing the importance of a particular task that really is not as important as they would like to make us think. In fact, the information gathering is far more important than any other aspect of the job of registering patients. Unfortunately somebody higher up the chain seems to think that collecting a $50 copay at time of service can make or break the hospitals financial future.
I have no problem asking a patient for payment at the time services are rendered. This is how most things operate. I mean, I don't go to the grocery store and tell them to bill me later for groceries I am attempting to leave with today. Still, I do understand that most people coming to the ER aren't usually thinking about payment. Can't say that I blame them either. If I ask for payment and someone tells me they cannot pay at the time, I have done my part. I am not going to 'shake them down'. I am not going to be rude or threaten them either. I can only ask. Sometimes I do get the opportunity to educate and explain to the patient who wants to know why we are asking for payment at time of service. I let them know that just like any other business we have bills to pay also and in order to continue to provide the level of care that we provide the hospital has to get paid. Of course, unlike any other business we will continue to provide emergency services to you regardless of whether you pay or not.
It would have been nice to be able to tell the mechanic yesterday to just bill us for the $542 of care provided to our car yesterday. I am pretty sure he would have just laughed.
I have no problem asking a patient for payment at the time services are rendered. This is how most things operate. I mean, I don't go to the grocery store and tell them to bill me later for groceries I am attempting to leave with today. Still, I do understand that most people coming to the ER aren't usually thinking about payment. Can't say that I blame them either. If I ask for payment and someone tells me they cannot pay at the time, I have done my part. I am not going to 'shake them down'. I am not going to be rude or threaten them either. I can only ask. Sometimes I do get the opportunity to educate and explain to the patient who wants to know why we are asking for payment at time of service. I let them know that just like any other business we have bills to pay also and in order to continue to provide the level of care that we provide the hospital has to get paid. Of course, unlike any other business we will continue to provide emergency services to you regardless of whether you pay or not.
It would have been nice to be able to tell the mechanic yesterday to just bill us for the $542 of care provided to our car yesterday. I am pretty sure he would have just laughed.