A recent KLAS report provides interesting insight into how providers view their practice management revenue cycle efforts. The study, titled What's Happening Behind the Billing Office Door, showed there is still room for improving Revenue Cycle Management processes. Consider these four findings from the report.

Affordable patient-centric bed management software solutions facilitate efficient transportation and enhance staff productivity, time management strategies and process automation. An ideal package provides tools to achieve measurable return on investment. Physicians often complain that patients have to spend too much time waiting in the office or a pre-admitting room for an available hospital bed. Bed management software has myriad benefits for practice managers, including reducing wait times and improving discharge processes.

The following excerpt is from an article found on Modern Medicine. It was written by Lynda Charters. If you are considering buying a new electronic health record (EHR) system or updating your current one, make sure you spend enough time in the preparatory stage of system selection and vendor selection, says one expert.

Some medical administrators approach EHR implementation the same way one would approach leasing a new car. You do some research online, read a few reviews, compare features and price points. In lieu of the test drive, you request a demo. You may have to demo several systems before you "fall in love with one." But, when you do, you negotiate contract terms, select key customization components and arrange financing. Then, all that's left to do is simply plug in the hardware and software and step into the new world of digital patient files and cloud-based scheduling. Sounds easy. Right?

With the shift away from a "fee-for-service" framework toward a more consumer-centric "value-based" healthcare delivery model, physicians have had to take a proactive approach to marketing their practice similar to the way retailers and consumer goods entities attract and retain clients. While designing effective marketing campaigns may not be the major focus for most healthcare providers, it should be a priority. In this new environment, strengthening engagement strategies is imperative for financial stability.

There is a wide gap between the amount of data being collected by electronic health record (EHR) technology and the number of physicians who access and exploit the data. One problem may be that accessing unstructured data, for example, clinical notes or patient records, is not as easy as accessing structured data.

In the digitally connected, technology rich healthcare environment, physicians can connect with their practice and access valuable information from anywhere in the world, whether it is an obstetrician in route to deliver a preterm baby or oncologist on call for the local emergency room who gets a call on the 17th hole of his favorite course. There are many ways, like the ones below, to stay connected in our mobile society.

Vetting Revenue Cycle Management Companies is almost as complex as managing the revenue of your practice yourself. Naturally, you want to find a company that utilizes certified technology approved by CMS and compatible with MU guidelines.

Revenue Cycle Management has one primary goal: Improve your financial standing. As you establish clinical and operational goals, you should be focusing on that one core principle. The year is winding down. As you look back at your 2015 RCM goals, can you see how each goal ties into improving the revenue stream? If not, here are some ways to ensure your goals support your RCM core principles.

Selecting the best-fit revenue cycle management (RCM) system for your healthcare organization is critical for success. Beginning before the first appointment scheduling inquiry and continuing through revenue capture and reinvestment, the process must be transparent. To align initiatives with practice objectives, healthcare providers depend on a blend of unique data, health intelligence, clinical data, and claims data.