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Billing Changes at Lower Umpqua Hospital
by Delaine Humphreys, Family Resource Center

On September 1, 2004, Lower Umpqua Hospital will switch to a new billing system called Dairyland. Dairyland software, produced by Dairyland Healthcare Solutions of Glenwood, Minnesota, is a leading provider of financial software for small- to medium-sized hospitals. Says John Chivers, Chief Financial Officer of Lower Umpqua Hospital, "Over 400 hospitals nationwide use the Dairyland billing system. The new system will improve the efficiency and accuracy of billing while creating bill and statement that is easier to read and understand. It will also help Lower Umpqua Hospital streamline the patient registration process. Plus, the installation of this new system addresses some of the issues of that came out of a large community survey that was done about year ago."

Ultimately the Dairyland system will make all aspects of the billing process more accurate and timely, but the LUH staff also recognizes that there will be an adjustment period. Some things patients should expect are slightly longer waits for registration as everyone adjusts to the new procedures and updates patient information.

Patients will still receive billing and statements from the old system for services prior to September 1. Any services after September 1 will be billed from the new system. Some patients will receive both types of statements for a period of time.

Additionally, LUH has remodeled the admitting area to improve patient flow and protect patient confidentiality. This is also in response to comments gathered from LUH's community survey. The new main registration site for in-patient and out-patient services is to the right of the main entrance doors in what was once part of the lobby. The old registration area across from the lobby doors is being remodeled to accep0t emergency room patients only.

As always, LUH Auxiliary volunteers are available to direct patients to the proper admitting area and provide any other necessary information.

If you have any questions about your bill, please call the billing office manager at 271-2171 extension 232. Patients can also call their appropriate account representatives directly: Medicare patients: call Lynn at 271-6327, all other patients with last name A-J call Judy at 271-6343, patients with last name K-Z call Sally at 271-6366.

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