Transfer Center Streamlines Direct Patient Admissions
July 1, 2019
Calling the Transfer Center
Available 24/7
Phone: 816.691.1584
Fax: 816.346.7196
A new service at North Kansas City Hospital gives referring physicians a seamless process for direct patient admissions. When referring physicians call the NKCH Transfer Center, they are connected via a three-way call with a Transfer Center registered nurse and the accepting hospitalist or emergency physician.
“We sought to make the process as smooth as possible for referring physicians so we can provide patients with the fastest and most efficient care possible,” said Lancer G. Gates, DO, a hospitalist with Gates Hospitalists. “Because the referring physician shares the patient’s report directly with the hospitalist, we can gather all the information we need about the patient at one time.”
The Transfer Center nurse will need the following patient information for a direct patient admission:
- Name, date of birth and Social Security number
- Insurance information
- Medical history
- Priority of transfer/date of transfer
- Level of care/bed type needed
- Admitting diagnosis
- Location of the patient and call back number
- Transportation method
- Specialty physician
- Primary care physician
For patients who require specialized care, the accepting physician may consult in a three-way call with the Transfer Center nurse and a specialist, such as a cardiologist, gynecologist, orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon.
“This allows us to confirm the specialist is capable of managing the patient upon arrival,” said Kenna K. Belshe, DO, a hospitalist with Meritas Health Hospitalists. In May, Dr. Belshe was named medical director of case management. In this role, she oversees the aggregate length of stay processes, readmission initiatives, post-acute transitions and utilization review of patient bedding status.
For Douglas S. Ham, DO, an emergency medicine physician with Midwest Emergency Medical Services, the new service brings improved communication.
“This is a huge step forward for us,” Dr. Ham said. “By having every referring physician call our Transfer Center, we are better able to get patients to the right area right away. When patients arrive, the hospitalist can see them quickly. If they are very, very sick and need to be seen in our Emergency Department, they can be seen sooner, depending on volume.”
The three-way call service is provided Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Direct admission requests made to the Transfer Center after hours (from 7 p.m.-7 a.m.) every day of the week are coordinated by the hospital’s director of clinical operations without a three-way call. In addition to the patient’s condition, staff consider availability of resources.
Contact Colleen Bardone, NKCH physician liaison, at Colleen.Bardone@nkch.org, for patient brochures that explain the process and provide a detailed map.
Kenna K. Belshe, DO
Dr. Belshe earned her medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Lancer G. Gates, DO
Dr. Gates earned his medical degree from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center.
Douglas S. Ham, DO
Dr. Ham holds a medical degree from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.