SEATTLE, June 23, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Verus announces the launch of the online Verus Patient Account Center (vPAC) at Freeman Health System in Joplin, MO.
vPAC is an online patient billing application that streamlines the hospital billing process; resulting in faster collection of patient-owed fees, reduced bad debt, fewer calls to hospital call centers and increased patient convenience and satisfaction.
With vPAC, Freeman Health System will increase revenue capture and profitability by:
-- providing fast, accurate, patient-friendly billing online
-- streamlining internal workflow processes
-- minimizing human errors in the billing process
-- reducing staffing costs associated with bill production,
answering questions, processing checks, etc.
-- interfacing with your legacy billing system to enhance and
streamline the billing process
-- reducing patient account A/R days through better management
of patient-owed amounts
-- reducing the percentage of accounts sent to collections
With vPAC, Freeman Health System will provide their patients with:
-- clear, concise bill management and payment options
-- online bill payment
-- real time updates when payments have been made
-- alerts when charges are posted, insurance payments are made
and incentive offers are expiring
-- Web-based self help services such as FAQs, Before/After My Visit,
etc.
-- secure email to privately send and receive sensitive
information
-- increased satisfaction with the billing process and the
hospital
Verus developed vPAC to adhere to HIPAA and Patient Friendly Billing Project standards. vPAC also complies with CAN SPAM Act laws ensuring that financial communications with patients is private, clear, current, and correct.
At their convenience, Freeman patients can review the status of their accounts, pay hospital bills or arrange financing, get information about charity care policies, and email their personal account representative. Patients now have 24/7 access to personal financial information and personal customer service, all secured online for convenience. According to a recently released American Hospital Association study, only 16% of all hospitals nationwide offer patients the ability to pay their bills online. This has risen dramatically from 4% in 2001, and Freeman is proud to be among early adopters of this proven technology.
"Patient accounts has been looking for a way to extend its customer service, and online account management is a personal, secure, and convenient option," says Director of Patient Financial Services Marion Adkins. "We have worked hard to ensure that we extend the same personal customer service we offer at our office through these online services."
"Freeman is committed to offering our patients innovative solutions that can make managing their healthcare easier," says Freeman CEO Gary Duncan. "With its health information, freemanhealth.com is a valuable resource not only for our patients but for anyone in the community with healthcare questions.
About Freeman Health System
Freeman Health System in Joplin, Missouri, is a 389-bed, three- hospital system providing comprehensive healthcare and behavioral health services to more than 400,000 area residents from Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
About Verus
Verus provides integrated Web products and services that solve strategic healthcare problems using emerging best practices. We solve many current, strategic points-of-pain including patient billing, physician and employee portals, collaborative workflow and key employee recruiting.
Since 1996, Verus has partnered with hospitals and health systems to plan, develop, and manage strategically focused, high-impact Web services. We provide our products and services exclusively in the health industry, working with a range of clients-from stand-alone hospitals to America's largest not-for-profit health system.