Q: Is there an estimated full-time equivalent (FTE) staffing ratio formula for outpatient ambulatory registration? The only staffing ratio guide I've come across is for emergency room registrars.
Patient Financial Services Weekly Advisor, August 6, 2004
A: There really aren't any formal staffing ratios for outpatient registration. There are several reasons for this:
These reasons make it very difficult to simply apply a generic formula such as one FTE for every 5,000 visits. An important consideration in determining staffing, however, is to ensure that all registration is done in a centralized area (requiring minimal access points) so that cross-trained staff can be employed and consistent policies and procedures can be applied to the extent possible.
The focus should be on the caliber of the registration staff rather than on quantity. Federal and state regulatory bodies have imposed so many regulations that it is imperative that all access points have properly trained staff to ensure compliance. This is a vital consideration in staffing your registration areas.
This question was answered by Amy Hartt, officer of business development for Pine Creek Medical Center and PCR Management in Dallas.
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