February 22, 2007                                   

SIU Med School/Washington County Hospital Announce

Partnership

Funding for a new health care service in Washington County is being provided to Washington County Hospital (WCH) thanks to a partnership between the hospital and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.  The project is another in a series of the School’s Rural/Downstate Health Initiative (RHI) partnerships.

The grant of $40,000 is helping fund the purchase of new software to automate the hospital’s billing process.  The project is designed to enhance the hospital’s operational effectiveness and improve the revenue cycle, which are goals of its strategic plan.

Previously, most charges were noted on paper charge tickets and then sent to accounting for data entry.  Automating the process electronically means that charges are input at the time of service by the nurse or other staff person.  Electronic audits ensure that patients are not overcharged and that correct charges are made.  This improves accuracy of patient billing and allows the hospital to bill the insurance company sooner. 

“We are very pleased with our partnership with SIU School of Medicine because this grant will help us focus on moving our business practices forward using improved technology,” said Nancy Newby, WCH president and chief executive officer, during a press conference announcing the grant.

"SIU is proud to support the Washington County Hospital for this project because one of the goals of the Rural Health Initiative program is to help ensure that rural hospitals can remain viable.  Staying current with technological innovations is one way to accomplish that goal,” said John Record, assistant dean for rural and alumni affairs at SIU who coordinates the School’s RHI program.

SIU School of Medicine has been working with downstate physicians, hospitals and health care agencies to assess health care needs of the region.  Additional support for the School's on-going efforts to improve health care in the region has come from the Illinois Legislature through the Rural/Downstate Health Act, which began in 1994.  Its goal is to improve health care in the rural and medically underserved areas of the state and is funded with a state supported budget.   More than 90 RHI partnerships have been developed by SIU.

For more information about Washington County Hospital’s new software project, call Kim Larkin, 618-327-2203, weekdays.

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