Question

The HIM director for Pine Valley Community Hospital, which is a critical access hospital, verifies the inpatient service day calculations done by the nursing staff daily. On Thursday, the census began with 17 inpatients. Of those patients, two were discharged, and one died. Then, four patients were admitted, with one admitted at 9:00 a.m. and then transferred to another facility at 4:00 p.m. The nursing staff reported 17 inpatient service days. The HIM director is reporting 18. Compare nursing staff and HIM director reporting. Based on this comparison, who is correct and why? Lastly, address what you found to be most interesting and challenging about this week's material.

Answer 1

The nursing staff is correct because they correctly accounted for the patients' length of stay.

Step-by-step explanation:

The HIM director for Pine Valley Community Hospital, a critical access hospital, verified the inpatient service day calculations. The nursing staff reported 17 inpatient service days, while the HIM director reported 18. The nursing staff is correct because they correctly accounted for the patients' length of stay. The HIM director likely made an error in counting the transferred patient's stay as two separate service days.

What I found interesting about this week's material is the importance of accurate calculation in healthcare settings, especially in critical access hospitals where resources may be limited. It is essential for HIM directors and nursing staff to work together to ensure accurate reporting, as it can impact various aspects of hospital operations and reimbursement.