A STUDY ON IDENTIFYING THE DELAY IN CASHLESS HOSPITALISATION PROCESS IN A LEADING MULTISPECIALITY HOSPITAL IN KERALA

A STUDY ON IDENTIFYING THE DELAY IN CASHLESS HOSPITALISATION PROCESS IN A LEADING MULTISPECIALITY HOSPITAL IN KERALA

Dr.V.Uma1, P. Keerthi Pragathi2

1Head, Department of Hospital Administration, Dr.N.G.P Arts and Science College, Coimbatore

2Student, Department of Hospital Administration, Dr.N.G.P Arts and Science College, Coimbatore

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Abstract –This paper collectively studies the delays identified in the processing of the Third party administrator(TPA) patient files in the wards and the insurance department by calculating the turn-around time(TAT) of every TPA patient file. All the files of TPA patients who were admitted in the general wards of the selected hospital were considered for the study. A checklist was prepared to calculate the TAT which included all the processes that the files have to move through which also included the patient identification details and remarks that were noted timely under observation. The objective of the study is to identify the delays by calculating the TAT and provide the department with potential corrective measures to effectively reduce the TAT. According to the study, increased delays were identified in the processes that had to be finalized by the insurance department and time consumed for the preparation of summary of the patient. Potential corrective measures for the same were provided as suggestions.

Key Words:  Insurance, Cashless hospitalization, Turn-around time, Third party administrator, Delay, Discharge delay