1. How does the Vice President of Human Resources stay abreast of current and future government agency rulings that affect the hospital?
The introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changed the traditional models of healthcare organizations by considerable margins, thus a need for leaders to change tact to stay afloat. A Vice President of Human Resource (VPHR) in a healthcare organization needs to redefine hospital operations to meet existing trends and prepare for future outcomes. The VPHR would be guided by the new directive that requires hospitals to focus on improved quality at the minimum possible cost.
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One sure way a VPHR would deploy is effective communication and coordination among the staff (Ellis, 2017). Incorporating modern technology in operations will improve quality through the sharing of information and effective internal and external communications. The VPHR would also switch to evidence-based improvement strategies. The use of accurate raw data to solve and predict outcomes would reduce infections and eliminate medical errors, thus improving on quality of services offered to stay at par with government rules. Besides, the VPHR would consider multi-organizational corporations to reduce costs and improve quality. Mergers and partnerships offer more shared resources and present a better way of providing cost-effective services (Ellis, 2017). Key arrears that dictate such affiliations include cleanliness, timeliness, and communication.
2. How are the medical coding and billing functions affected? What training and development are needed?
The ACA initiated the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes. ICD-10 system has more procedures and diagnosis codes than the previous system, thus requiring codes to be more specific and accurate. The difference in the two coding systems and the inclusion of thousands of new codes is an area that demands further training. Coders and billers need to familiarize themselves with the technology used in the ICD-10 system and code changes. Notably, wrong entries may result and delayed or rejected reimbursements thus need for accuracy.
3. How and where does the Vice President of Human Resources find methodologies for remaining in compliance with the agencies?
The VPHR would find it useful, incorporating a new model that coordinates health care services such as the Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs are efficient in keeping records and offering organizations with trends and projections (Ellis, 2017). The patterns would provide VPHR with adequate and accurate information, thus enabling quality evaluations and improvements. Close follow up on media coverage and joining the American Health Association also offers alternatives to access approved resources and methodologies.
4. Why did the hospital administrator choose the Vice President of Human Resources to perform these new duties? Why not the Vice President of Accounting?
Successful strategies for ACA compliance require personnel rearrangements, reinforced teamwork, and improved communication. As such, organizations would have to create new multidisciplinary teams working to achieve new goals. These efforts would demand the hiring of new staff, training existing staff, and rearranging departments and roles. A VPHR is, therefore, better suited since he oversees the recruitment, personnel rearrangements, and remuneration adjustments. An accountancy role would play second fiddle when the implementation strategies of the VPHR reach the execution phase.
References
Ellis, L. (2017, January 20). Staying relevant in the midst of health care reform: A primer for healthcare executives . Harvard Executive and Continuing Professional Education. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ecpe/staying-relevant-in-the-midst-of-health-care-reform-a-primer-for-healthcare-executives/
