Follow Dave Linkedin
Email Dave Email
Human Resources
Dec 17, 2013

What You Don’t Know About the Affordable Care Act

Sponsored Content provided by Dave Hoff - Chief Operating Officer and Executive VP of Leadership Development, EASI Consult

Everyone I know has had more than their fill of the implications of the new law known affectionately as Obamacare. But an aspect of the new law that you may not be aware of is the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). It is a 32-question “patient experience” survey that is required to be administered to at least 100 patients receiving care in hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. This includes virtually every hospital.

The scores on the “patient experience” survey will determine the hospital’s reimbursement level. The “patient experience” survey measures the following dimensions:

  • Communication with doctors
  • Communication with nurses
  • Quietness of hospital environment
  • Responsiveness of hospital staff
  • Communication about medicines
  • Cleanliness of the hospital environment
  • Pain management
  • Discharge information
Hospitals have had a couple years to get ready for ACA, which takes effect on January 1, 2014.  One expected result of the surveys is that they will draw more attention to the overall performance of staff members, and not just their technical expertise.
So what should hospitals be doing now to enhance the patient experience?

As with any organization, there are two ways to address performance issues. Organizations can do a better job of selecting new people that they bring in or they can try and “fix,” or train, the people they already employ. 

I have been responsible for both selection and training in several different roles I have held over the years. I’ve said more than once that  if I had $1,000 to spend on selection and training, I would spend $995 on selection and $5 on training. That tends to get a reaction, particularly from the training people. 

But here’s my point:there are some things you can train people to do, such as how to use a piece of equipment. There are other things that you need to select for, such as interpersonal skills or attention to detail. There are a lot of training classes out there on time management and communication skills to teach people how to demonstrate things like attention to detail and interpersonal skills. Some of these programs show moderate success. However, in many instances when a person is under pressure then tend to revert to their original behavior.

What does this have to do with HCAHPS? Given the financial impact of “patient experience” surveys on federal reimbursement, it is in a hospital’s best interest to have the very best people representing it to its customers, the patients. The best way to get the “right” people in a hospital at the outset is pre-employment testing. Tests can be created for different jobs or job families and be content- and criterion-validated to ensure they are legally defensible as selection tools. This does not mean that you do not also screen potential employees technically for their medical skills. You do that too. In part, that is what their certifications should establish. In the long run, pre-employment testing will identify better candidates and do it less expensively with a lot less time spent on training.

EASI·Consult® works with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and mid-sized corporations to provide customized Talent Management solutions.
EASI Consult’s specialties include individual assessment, online employment testing, survey research, competency modeling, leadership development, executive coaching, 360-degree feedback, online structured interviews, and EEO hiring compliance. The company is a leader in the field of providing accurate information about people through professional assessment. To learn more about EASI Consult, visit
www.easiconsult.com, email [email protected] or call 800.922.EASI.

Other Posts from Dave Hoff

Block ad easi 121411839
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
2022052 75 142344351

Bridging Futures: The Case for Toll Funding in Wilmington’s Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Revamp

Natalie English - Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Headshotrosaliecalarco 1182131047

A New Take on an Old Scam

Cfss headshots parker robert webversion 21422121214

The Latest Solar Scams and What You Can Do to Help Stop Them

Robert Parker - Cape Fear Solar Systems

Trending News

New Hotel Proposed Along Market Street In Ogden

Emma Dill - Mar 15, 2024

Businesses Reopen A Week After Grace Street Facade Collapse

Emma Dill - Mar 15, 2024

Tech Upskilling Cohort To Host First Wilmington Class

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 15, 2024

In The Current Issue

Q&A: Andrews Reflects On Leadership

Pender County Manager David Andrews is slated to retire this summer after 33 years in local government....


MADE: Polyhose Inc.

Polyhose manufactures and fabricates hose protection, paint hose assemblies and rubber hydraulic assemblies from its Pender County facility....


Berries, A Battlefield And More In Pender

The N.C. Blueberry Festival, founded in 2003, is one of several events in Pender County that have drawn more attention over the years....

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments