(Cary, N.C.)  Ultimus, Inc., a leading provider of Business Process Management (BPM) Solutions, has published the whitepaper, “Compliance, Changes, and Challenges-How Process Automation Can Help With The Joint Commission and CMS Requirements in 2010.” This article explains how hospitals can utilize process automation to achieve compliance and evolve into lean organizations by automating and improving processes to provide a higher quality of patient care. It is available to the general public through the resource center on the Ultimus website (www.ultimus.com). 

The whitepaper was a follow up to a recent Ultimus webcast on the same topic. During the webcast, Norma Kay Sprayberry discussed how increasing demands for improved health care and greater patient satisfaction are driving changes in Joint Commission standards and raising the bar for hospital performance.  Additionally, speaker David Pfeiffenberger shared ways that process optimization can accelerate hospital performance, how to implement strategic solutions to ensure compliance standards are met, and common pitfalls in hospitals when putting process solutions into practice.

Topics discussed included:

•    Importance of receiving accreditation and where hospitals have struggled in the past
•    Current Joint Commission standards and changes on the horizon in 2010
•    How to ensure new processes and guidelines are followed
•    Proactive methods for gathering, reporting, and tracking patient information
•    How to bridge gaps between hospital systems that do not communicate
•    What CMS is looking for to ensure maximum reimbursements are received
•    How hospitals can evolve into lean organizations by automating and improving processes to provide a higher quality of patient care

Norma Kay Sprayberry, RN, MSN Consultant, at Joint Commission Resources, provides consultations for hospital programs and ambulatory sites.   She has extensive experience implementing the National Patient Safety Goals and has developed a continuous readiness strategy for organizations seeking Joint Commission accreditation. Norma Kay has more than 35 years of experience in clinical practice, administration and education in hospitals, home health and assisted living facilities.

David Pfeiffenberger is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Lean Expert.  He serves as Managing Partner of The Davista Group, a Consultant group dedicated to helping hospitals improve processes.  In his most recent engagement, David served as Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Lean Expert within Duke University Healthcare System.  During his stay at Duke, David led various projects involving Patient Quality, Patient Flow, Medication Events, Patient Satisfaction, Supply Chain, Support Services, as well as new process design.

Ultimus has automated more business processes than any other BPM vendor worldwide. Ultimus Adaptive BPM Suite has enabled companies to accelerate performance goals at every stage of corporate growth.  Ultimus’ award‐winning technology seamlessly adapts to people, systems and change. Utilized by more than 1,900 customers worldwide, Ultimus provides solutions to organizations such as Chevron, Tulane University, Sony, Pfizer, Charles Schwab, Frito Lay and AT&T. The company is headquartered in North America, and has additional offices in Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia.