title: Applying pressure to financial bleeding. Medical group stanches the flow of red ink with an ASP.
abstract: San Jose Medical Group, San Jose, Calif.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A manual referral and authorization process resulting in significant monetary losses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contracting with an application service provider that could provide real-time data on a continual basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Timely information on eligibility, referrals and authorizations before the patient leaves the office--patients going to the right doctors for the right services--and an in-depth understanding of associated costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking a chance by going with an ASP--a company with little history.
authors.affiliation: San Jose Medical Group, San Jose, Calif., USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallerstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000555:Ambulatory Care Information Systems; D002140:California; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005376:Financial Management / Q000379:methods*; D006123:Group Practice / Q000191:economics*; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D008511:Medicine; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics; D013038:Specialization