APRIA HEALTHCARE LAUNCHES NEW ON-LINE COMPUTER PROGRAM WITH KAISER PERMANENTE; Electronic Data Interface Facilitates Rapid Transmission of Respiratory Therapy and Home Medical Equipment Orders for Kaiser Permanente Members in Northern California.COSTA MESA Costa Mesa (kŏs`tə mā`sə), city (1990 pop. 96,357), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific south of Santa Ana; inc. 1953. It is a transportation, residential, and light industrial center. , Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 27, 1997--Apria Healthcare Group Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :AHG AHG antihemophilic globulin (coagulation factor VIII). AHG abbr. antihemophilic globulin AHG antihemophilic globulin (clotting factor VIII). ) announced today that it has launched an electronic data interface (EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) The electronic communication of business transactions, such as orders, confirmations and invoices, between organizations. Third parties provide EDI services that enable organizations with different equipment to connect. ) program with Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care organization, based in Oakland, California, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. in Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern that allows near instantaneous order intake and confirmation of respiratory therapy respiratory therapy Medical profession concerned with assisting the respiratory function of individuals who have severe lung disorders. Practices include suctioning to clear secretions from the airway, use of aerosol mists (sometimes medicated) or gases to ease breathing, and home medical equipment for 2.5 million Kaiser Permanente members. The Apria EDI program, which is currently processing approximately 250 Kaiser Permanente orders per day, was introduced in late December and is the result of a collaborative effort between the two organizations. Under the new program, respiratory therapy and home medical equipment orders are entered into the Kaiser Permanente computer system at local Northern California medical offices and transmitted to the Apria branch located nearest to the patient. Within minutes, an Apria customer service representative is alerted to receipt of the order via an interrupt message on his or her computer screen. Once the Kaiser Permanente member receives the equipment, the Kaiser Permanente office receives an electronic confirmation of delivery. In addition to order intake and confirmation, the Apria EDI program also includes electronic billing Electronic billing is the electronic delivery and presentation of financial statements, bills, invoices, and related information sent by a company to its customers. Electronic billing is also referred to as the following:
"This electronic system creates a highly efficient, accurate and paperless order intake, confirmation and billing process," said Steven T. Plochocki, president and chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. of Apria. "It eliminates the need for phone calls, faxed messages, duplicate data entry, follow-up requests for missing information and numerous other activities that can hinder prompt delivery of service to patients. It also ensures more accurate and prompt delivery of patient services because orders can be transmitted to Apria only after all necessary patient, clinical and authorization information has been entered." According to Plochocki, Apria believes that this is the only program of its kind in the home healthcare industry. "Electronic order intake has historically been conducted through dedicated terminals installed in customer locations," he said. "Our system is more efficient because Kaiser Permanente's computer is communicating directly with Apria's computer. We are very enthusiastic about the opportunity to partner with Kaiser Permanente to develop this new technological capability and provide heightened levels of service to patients." "As the accuracy, speed and efficiency of our home medical equipment ordering process has improved with EDI, we are able to provide better service to our members and to lower operating costs," said Skip McGinty, Kaiser Permanente regional director of operations support services support services Psychology Non-health care-related ancillary services–eg, transportation, financial aid, support groups, homemaker services, respite services, and other services . "The EDI ordering process has allowed our administrative staff to spend less time on paperwork and more time directly assisting members with their equipment needs." Apria Healthcare was chosen to be the HMO's preferred supplier of respiratory therapy and home medical equipment in California in 1995 and a contract was signed in the summer of 1996. EDI was implemented in Northern California in late 1996 and plans are currently underway to expand EDI to include the Southern California Kaiser Permanente facilities. Apria also expects to duplicate the Kaiser Permanente program with other managed care organizations looking to reduce costs while improving the quality of patient care. "This program is representative of the benefits we believe we can derive from our nationwide branch network operating on single computer platforms," Plochocki said. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente is a non-profit, group-practice prepayment program with headquarters in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 7.4 million members in 17 states and the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). , 5 million of whom are located in California. Today Kaiser Permanente encompasses Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.; Kaiser Foundation Hospitals; and the Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide they include more than 90,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and 10,000 physicians representing all specialties. Apria Healthcare provides and/or manages comprehensive integrated homecare services, including home infusion, respiratory therapy, home medical equipment, nursing and coordinated care through more than 350 locations serving patients in 50 states. Based in Costa Mesa, Calif., Apria is among the nation's largest home healthcare providers. CONTACT: Apria Healthcare Sheree L. Aronson Dir., Investor Relations Investor relations The process by which the corporation communicates with its investors. 714/427-4919 or Kaiser Permanente Laura Rohde 510/987-3900 |
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