A Hospital Near-Death Experience: How Medicare Termination Can Push a Hospital to the Brink of Closing

CINCINNATI, OH, Nov 02 (MARKET WIRE) --
Compass Clinical Consulting (http://www.compass-clinical.com) has
released a new whitepaper, "Hospital Near-Death Experience: How Medicare
Termination Can Push Your Hospital to the Brink of Closing,"
(http://www.compass-clinical.com/hospital-near-death/) giving hospital
executives a rare look inside the process of Medicare termination and
recertification.

DECERTIFICATION

Haywood Regional Medical Center (Haywood), a 190-bed community medical
center in Clyde, NC, was decertified as a Medicare and Medicaid provider,
effective February 24, 2008. Haywood retained Compass Clinical Consulting
to help the hospital evaluate its management and operations in hopes of
regaining Medicare certification.

A HOSPITAL NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

The financial and public relations implications of the Medicare
termination process for any hospital are difficult and dire. They quickly
affect every aspect of a hospital's operations, from daily census to
staffing. As a result, some hospitals are forced to close. Compass
Clinical Consulting calls this process a "Hospital Near-Death
Experience." Immediate corrective measures must be taken.

COMPLIANCE ACTION PLAN

Over the course of three months, Compass Clinical Consulting helped
Haywood develop action plans to bring the hospital into compliance with
CMS Conditions of Participation.

LEADERSHIP CHANGES

Interim executives and clinical directors were brought in to fill
leadership gaps and direct the implementation of corrective actions.

FULL COMPLIANCE

Following a successful survey, Haywood was deemed to be in full compliance
with the Conditions of Participation for Acute Care Hospitals and, as of
June 13, 2008, was once again eligible to receive Medicare and Medicaid
funds.

IDENTIFY THE WARNING SIGNS

Compass Clinical Consulting's new whitepaper, "Hospital Near-Death
Experience: How Medicare Termination Can Push Your Hospital to the Brink
of Closing," explores some of the factors that lead to Haywood's
Near-Death Experience and discusses some of the strategies that brought
the hospital back to life. This document identifies warning signs that
can precede regulatory difficulties and gives practical guidance for
responding to negative surveys. It will serve as a resource for hospital
executives and quality leaders who seek to avoid a Hospital Near-Death
Experience.

EXPERTS IN MEDICARE TERMINATION RECOVERY

In the past two years, Compass Clinical Consulting has helped two
hospitals recover from the Near-Death Experience of Medicare termination.
In addition, they have aided dozens of hospitals in responding to
findings of Immediate Jeopardy. "We specialize in clinical operations and
regulatory compliance. Our goal is to be the number one go-to resource
that hospitals and healthcare systems think of when confronted with a
Hospital Near-Death Experience," said Cary D. Gutbezahl, MD, president of
Compass Clinical.

ABOUT COMPASS CLINICAL CONSULTING

Compass Clinical Consulting helps hospital leaders achieve clinical,
operational, strategic, and labor cost optimization, better patient
satisfaction, interim executive staffing, and regulatory and accreditation
compliance. Corporate headquarters are located in Cincinnati, OH.

Media Contact:
Steve Kayser
Media Relations
Tel.: 513.241.0142, Ext. 112
Mobile: 513.487.1951
Email Contact

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