To help them sort through the myriad of practice management system choices before them, the information experts at Hoag created a rigorous checklist of information systems criteria. After extensively screening several practice management systems, attending demonstrations, and traveling to vendor sites, the Hoag team made their final decision: the QSI System.
"We selected QSI for its integrated approach to practice management and managed care, which also accommodates an MSO operation with its multi-entity processing and enhanced security requirements," explains Debra Spindel, Vice President, Practice Management for Hoag Hospital. According to Ms. Spindel, "We were looking for superior customer service, along with system flexibility and user-friendly, well thought-out features."
In July 1995, the QSI System was implemented at Hoag Practice Management, Inc. (HPMI), the wholly-owned subsidiary MSO of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. HPMI is a for-profit organization that provides a range of practice management services including centralized billing for the numerous medical practices associated with the hospital, representing over 60 physicians in 13 locations with 170 system users.
HPMI uses the QSI System to streamline and improve physician office operations, including multi-entity processing, managed care plan coordination, diagnostic test reporting, appointment scheduling, insurance claims processing, patient billing and accounting.
Working together, Hoag and QSI also take full advantage of EDI technology for a number of functions. HPMI submits insurance claims electronically to multiple carriers. HPMI also utilizes QSI's unique electronic statement processing service which automatically creates, sorts and mails patient statements. Future plans include receiving electronic remittance advice (ERA) that will be automatically posted into the QSI System accounts receivable.
HPMI's client practices connect to their practice management network using a variety of communication technologies, from microwave data trnasmission, to TCP/IP networking, to frame relay functionality.
Another key component of the QSI System is its ability to interface to the hospital's proprietary information systems. Spindel comments, "We wanted a system that offered an abundance of future connectivity options as we build other systems to streamline administrative and clinical functions."