Bayfront Medical Center Improves Care With Cerner

Bayfront Medical Center, an acute care medical facility located in St. Petersburg, Fla., is devoted to providing superior healthcare to its surrounding communities. Together with Cerner, Bayfront has implemented advanced information technology solutions that have contributed to improved financial performance.

Since implementing a variety of Cerner solutions, including a clinically driven revenue cycle, cash collection levels have frequently exceeded monthly goals and in many cases has topped 100 percent. Bayfront also has reduced claims dollars in waiting-to-code status to less than 46 percent of average daily revenue, doubled the claims acceptance rate and minimized the number of claims manually corrected. In addition, average gross revenue per adjusted admission is up 20 percent, and the accuracy rate of patient information gathered in the emergency department is now at 95 percent.

"Prior to the implementation of the Cerner system, our discharge-not-final billed levels averaged $18 million to $20 million a day," said Shelli Janoff, Bayfront’s revenue cycle director. "With the Cerner system, these levels now average $8 million to $9 million."

The medical center recently received Health Grades’ five-star rating for obstetrical services and is celebrating 100 years of community service this year.

"Rising costs mean healthcare organizations must increase reimbursements and emphasize cash collection to improve the bottom line," said Trace Devanny, Cerner president. "Implementing information technology has proven to be an effective way to improve the bottom line for Bayfront Medical Center emphasized by the fact they increasingly are exceeding monthly goals."

Bayfront Medical Center is a 502-bed, not-for-profit teaching hospital. Established in 1906, Bayfront is Pinellas County’s sole trauma center and the state’s busiest Level II Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center. Bayfront is also home to Bayflite, the largest hospital-based flight program in the Southeastern United States. Bayfront’s aeromedical transport program serves a 13-county region. Bayfront is committed to improving the health of the community it serve through partnerships and leadership, while providing healthcare services that are driven by quality and its values.

Bayfront Medical Center will exhibit its access management, emergency, nursing, medication management, pharmacy, scheduling and clinically driven revenue cycle (CDRC) solutions on Feb. 14 and 15 in booth 2813 at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference being held at the San Diego Convention Center, Feb. 12-16.

Cerner’s unified architecture, end-to-end solution and service portfolio and proven results, combined with our commitment to forming long-term, aligned relationships, are central to optimizing healthcare outcomes. All together, our 7,000 associates, including almost 900 clinicians, help client organizations of every size increase safety, improve efficiency and impact the bottom line.

Cerner Corp. is taking the paper chart out of healthcare, eliminating error, variance and waste in the care process. With more than 1,500 clients worldwide, Cerner is the leading supplier of healthcare information technology. The following are trademarks of Cerner: Cerner, Cerner’s logo. NASDAQ: CERN. www.cerner.com.