RAC Audits Under Way, But Hospital Continues to Improve Processes

Developing such a process has also helped her hospital deal with other types of audits—not just RACs. They now track all audits. "Now everyone is aware of all of the auditing activity going on," she says.

Martin is also taking the following steps to prepare:

• Data mining to uncover potential vulnerabilities. She has learned from other payers conducting audits on her facility where some vulnerabilities may exist, so she's looking at those areas for RACs too, even if they may not have been approved as issues—yet.


• Conducting education for her staff members. She presents educational sessions to individual departments, taking care to explain what the RACs are looking for, the department's role in the process, and how to handle any correspondence or medical record requests.


• Posting educational information on the hospital's intranet where staff members can go to find out more information. There, staff members can find helpful links and other information they may need.


• Distributing information to physicians. She created a weekly newsletter, "What's up Doc?" which the medical staffing office faxes to the physician offices. It contains pointers and information specifically for the physicians so their practice can prepare. And she knows they're reading it. "I get comments back, and they ask for it when they don't receive the fax each Wednesday." She also has a physician liaison on their board.