A continuous quality improvement approach to IL-372 documentation compliance in an academic emergency department, and its impact on dictation costs, billing practices, and average patient length of stay.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether continuous quality improvement (CQI) methodology could improve and maintain IL-372 documentation compliance in an academic emergency department (ED). The impact on transcription costs, billing practices, and average patient length of stay was also analyzed.


METHODS
Baseline IL-372 compliance data were collected and shared with staff during a multidisciplinary educational session. Faculty dictation became mandatory. Pocket-sized dictation templates were provided. A Documentation Improvement Committee monitored outcomes. Each month of the study period, a compliance officer reviewed approximately 100 records. The following indicators were monitored: IL-372 compliance rates, dictation rates, transcription costs, down-coding rates, percentage of billable records, and average patient length of stay. Individualized results were provided to faculty.


RESULTS
During the ten-month study period, compliance rates increased from 60% to 100% (p-trend < 0.001), while dictation rates increased from 69% to 100% (p < 0.001). Rates of down-coding adjustments improved from 54% to 2% (p-trend < 0.001). The percentage of billable records increased from 65% to 100% (p-trend < 0.001). Transcription costs increased a modest 16%. The average patient length of stay remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of CQI methodology, combined with the availability of dictation, resulted in sustained improvement in IL-372 compliance. This was associated with a parallel increase in dictation rates, although concurrent transcription costs increased only modestly. The percentage of billable records increased, while the number of charts requiring down-coding decreased, both beneficial outcomes. Average length of stay was not adversely impacted by this added documentation requirement.
Higgins
G L
GL
Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland 04102, USA. higgig@mail.mmc.org
Becker
M H
MH
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004282:Documentation; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008281:Maine; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D006278:Medicare; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014481:United States