Capturing Charges on Nursing Units

[themurseman]

On our unit, a mixed acuity unit with ICU and PCU pts, we are having a terrible time capturing charges for supplies. Our current standard is to use the supplies and chart what we used in the electronic medical record directly. There is an electronic supply charge sheet for most supplies. Other supply charge queries can be found in the assessment screens that the supplies are associated with. It is not horribly difficult to charge for most supplies, but a few items are hard to find when searching for where to charge for them. We lose a lot of money from missing these charges. We are brainstorming ideas on how to capture more charges. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

[SnowStar4]

Some hospitals I did clinicals at had all the supplies in a giant pyxis. Eveything used was taken out under that patient's name. While great for capturing charges, it was annoying when you need something quick and had to stop to type in their name.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Just don't go with that sticker system so many use, it never works up to its fullest capacity. I too have seen places that use supplies out of a pixis and always thought it was pretty OCD, but now I see its value.

[themurseman]

We have discussed getting a pyxis, but really want to avoid that as it causes a lot of headache, so I was hoping for more inventive ideas. It is hard to think about. I am sure there is a good way to do it.

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

do they have a barcode ? - 'check 'em out ' with a zapper !

our supplies on top up are 'zapped' from a ordering list either in a folder or on the shelf / draw same for pharmacy stock items - the supplies people ad the pharmacy techs have the same sort of 'zapper guns' as the people doing stock checking in supermarkers

we don't being rightpondian have to zap stock items out to a patient though .... ( none stock meds and certain dressings are issued to the patient from pharmacy )

we use a 'sticker' system for tracking trays instruments and implants in theatre though this is for clinical governance primarily rather than charging .

[crbetts]

do they have a barcode ? - 'check 'em out ' with a zapper !

our supplies on top up are 'zapped' from a ordering list either in a folder or on the shelf / draw same for pharmacy stock items - the supplies people ad the pharmacy techs have the same sort of 'zapper guns' as the people doing stock checking in supermarkers

we don't being rightpondian have to zap stock items out to a patient though .... ( none stock meds and certain dressings are issued to the patient from pharmacy )

we use a 'sticker' system for tracking trays instruments and implants in theatre though this is for clinical governance primarily rather than charging .

I'm a 2nd year nursing student, but I've worked with this sort of thing for years. This is the most effective way to do it. The only other choice is a charge sheet for supplies for each patient, but that won't get filled out by staff. Administrators just have to realize that there is going to always be a certain amount of "drift" with those supplies.

[meandragonbrett]

Omnicell and Pyxis is probably going to be the best way. 1)It helps to ensure better capturing of charged supplies. 2) Helps your supply techs with restocking and knowing what they need to bring you.

We even keep syringes, needles, and flushes in the supply omnicell so that when our stock is running low it will be restocked and we don't run out.