A Hospital Near-Death Experience: How Medicare Termination Can Push a Hospital to the Brink of Closing

CINCINNATI, OH--(Marketwire - November 2, 2009) - Compass Clinical Consulting (http://www.compass-clinical.com) has released a new whitepaper, "Hospital Near-Death Experience: How Medicare Termination Can Push Your Hospital to the Brink of Closing," (http://www.compass-clinical.com/hospital-near-death/) giving hospital executives a rare look inside the process of Medicare termination and recertification.

DECERTIFICATION

Haywood Regional Medical Center (Haywood), a 190-bed community medical center in Clyde, NC, was decertified as a Medicare and Medicaid provider, effective February 24, 2008. Haywood retained Compass Clinical Consulting to help the hospital evaluate its management and operations in hopes of regaining Medicare certification.

A HOSPITAL NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

The financial and public relations implications of the Medicare termination process for any hospital are difficult and dire. They quickly affect every aspect of a hospital's operations, from daily census to staffing. As a result, some hospitals are forced to close. Compass Clinical Consulting calls this process a "Hospital Near-Death Experience." Immediate corrective measures must be taken.

COMPLIANCE ACTION PLAN

Over the course of three months, Compass Clinical Consulting helped Haywood develop action plans to bring the hospital into compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation.

LEADERSHIP CHANGES

Interim executives and clinical directors were brought in to fill leadership gaps and direct the implementation of corrective actions.

FULL COMPLIANCE

Following a successful survey, Haywood was deemed to be in full compliance with the Conditions of Participation for Acute Care Hospitals and, as of June 13, 2008, was once again eligible to receive Medicare and Medicaid funds.

IDENTIFY THE WARNING SIGNS

Compass Clinical Consulting's new whitepaper, "Hospital Near-Death Experience: How Medicare Termination Can Push Your Hospital to the Brink of Closing," explores some of the factors that lead to Haywood's Near-Death Experience and discusses some of the strategies that brought the hospital back to life. This document identifies warning signs that can precede regulatory difficulties and gives practical guidance for responding to negative surveys. It will serve as a resource for hospital executives and quality leaders who seek to avoid a Hospital Near-Death Experience.

EXPERTS IN MEDICARE TERMINATION RECOVERY

In the past two years, Compass Clinical Consulting has helped two hospitals recover from the Near-Death Experience of Medicare termination. In addition, they have aided dozens of hospitals in responding to findings of Immediate Jeopardy. "We specialize in clinical operations and regulatory compliance. Our goal is to be the number one go-to resource that hospitals and healthcare systems think of when confronted with a Hospital Near-Death Experience," said Cary D. Gutbezahl, MD, president of Compass Clinical.

ABOUT COMPASS CLINICAL CONSULTING

Compass Clinical Consulting helps hospital leaders achieve clinical, operational, strategic, and labor cost optimization, better patient satisfaction, interim executive staffing, and regulatory and accreditation compliance. Corporate headquarters are located in Cincinnati, OH.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Steve Kayser Media Relations Tel.: 513.241.0142, Ext. 112 Mobile: 513.487.1951