Tuomey Medical Center Partners With nTelagent to Help Patients Receive the Financial Information and Assistance They Need

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Nashville-based nTelagent, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with Tuomey Regional Medical Center, a 301-bed facility located in Sumter, S.C., to help the hospital improve the handling of both insured and uninsured patient financial accounts at the point of service. Under the agreement, Tuomey will implement nTelagent’s proprietary, web-based Self-Pay Management System (SPMS), known as the Retail Application for the healthcare industry, to ensure a better patient experience through clearer communication of financial responsibilities on the front end.

Similar to applications used in the retail industry at the point of sale, nTelagent’s SPMS tells healthcare registrars and financial counselors exactly what to do and what to say to each patient at the point of service regarding financial responsibilities. With SPMS, Tuomey can automate and document delivery of price transparency information, discounts and payment terms, as well as screen for charity care and government programs if appropriate. These steps ensure that all patient accounts, whether insured or uninsured, are treated consistently and in a non-discriminatory manner.

According to Paul Johnson, vice president and CFO at Tuomey: “Patients are increasingly responsible for a significant portion of their bill, either because they are uninsured/underinsured or are in an insurance plan with very high co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance. At Tuomey, as at most hospitals, many of our patients are self-pay, and this number is only expected to rise given the state of the economy. nTelagent’s unique system will help us to better serve all our patients. With SPMS, we can start a proactive dialogue about patient financial responsibilities, as well as offer price transparency, apply appropriate discounts and automatically screen patients for charity care eligibility and government or social service assistance.”

Earl T. Winter, nTelagent chairman and CEO, said, “Without a doubt, the retail model in healthcare has arrived. Patients are demanding clearer, more accurate information pre-registration and at point of service, and providers must be prepared to determine patient financial responsibilities on the front end. With SPMS, patient access staff have the tools and technology they need, right at their fingertips. By streamlining this aspect of their business, Tuomey will be able to better manage bad debt while focusing on delivering top-quality patient care and service, starting as soon as the patient comes through the door.”

In 2008, the South Carolina Hospital Association endorsed nTelagent’s SPMS as a tool to improve the handling and documentation of self-pay accounts and charity care administration. SPMS also has been endorsed by hospital associations in Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana, with other partnerships in advanced discussions.

About Tuomey Regional Medical Center

Anchoring the Tuomey Healthcare System, Tuomey Regional Medical Center is a 301-bed, JCAHO-accredited healthcare facility. Its more than 400,000 square feet house the most advanced medical technologies, and more than 150 physicians bring the best in healthcare treatment to area residents. The medical center’s services and capabilities are vast. It houses a 36-bed nursery and seven-bed LDR wing; an expanded ICU; 10 operating suites, with an additional four-bed outpatient surgery center on campus; a 47-bed outpatient surgery department with four endoscopy suites; an emergency department with 11 private treatment rooms, fast track resources and the capability to treat more than 40,000 patients each year; a large, comprehensive radiology department; and a spacious mall hospital entrance, with all outpatient test facilities conveniently located there. Visit Tuomey online at www.tuomey.com/TMC/.

About nTelagent, Inc.

nTelagent, Inc. has developed The Retail Application for the healthcare industry, called the Self-Pay Management System (SPMS). Similar to applications used in the retail industry at the point of sale, the company’s proprietary, automated system tells healthcare registrars and financial counselors exactly what to do and what to say to each patient at the point of service regarding financial responsibilities. Moving workflow to the front end of the revenue cycle, nTelagent helps providers ensure a better patient experience through clearer communication and better handling of patient accounts, while improving upfront and overall cash flow, receivables and profitability by reducing bad debt. Using non-credit scoring data, SPMS provides interactive scripts that integrate patient demographic information with each provider’s business policies and rules. The system allows for price transparency and automatically identifies discounting options, social services eligibility and charity care options when applicable, ensuring that patient financial accounting—for both insured and uninsured patients—is handled appropriately and consistently. Visit www.ntelagent.com for more information.