From reducing avoidable emergency room visits to reducing re-hospitalizations, a nurse advice
line can have big pay-offs in terms of appropriate healthcare utilization. To accomplish these
goals, nurse advice lines need to be effectively staffed and need to build relationships with local
physicians and engage the consumer.
Listen to pre-conference comments from Patricia Curtis.
During Maximizing the Nurse Advice Line To Ensure Appropriate Healthcare Utilization, a 45-minute webinar on January 6, 2011, now available as a training DVD, via On Demand Web access or as a CD-ROM, Patricia Curtis, director of operations, clinical care services, Optima Health, shared how Optima’s nurse advice line has evolved from a call center that supported a staff model HMO to a critical
component of the organization’s effort to improve the efficiency of healthcare utilization.
You will learn:
- Effective staffing techniques;
- How to make the "build or buy" decision;
- Addressing patient risk and safety issues;
- Engaging the caller;
- Building relationships with physicians to improve call effectiveness;
- Results from program; and
- How the OptimaHealth nurse advice line will evolve in the future.
Have questions on our webinar and/or webinar formats? Visit our webinar FAQ.
You can listen to this program right in your office and enjoy significant savings – no travel time or hassle; no hotel expenses. It’s so convenient! Invite your staff members to gather around a conference table to listen to the CD, DVD or the On Demand version.
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS CONFERENCE?
CEOs, medical directors, physician practice leaders, business development and strategic planning directors and consultants.
ABOUT OUR PANELIST:
Patricia Curtis
|  | Seasonality, time of day and even nightly television programming affects staffing of Optima’s nurse advice line.
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Pat Curtis, R.N., B.S.N., M.B.A., is the director of operations in clinical care services for Optima Health. She has been a nurse for 31 years, serving for 12 years in the hospitals of Sentara Healthcare, Optima Health’s parent company, and 15 years with the health plan. Curtis’ nursing experience is in critical care nursing, cardiac services and emergency services. In her current role, she oversees case management, disease management, pre-authorization, clinical claims review, technology assessment and nurse triage.
Curtis is a member of Case Management Society of America (CMSA), American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and Sigma Theta Tau.
Curtis received her undergraduate degrees from University of Detroit Mercy and her Master in Business Administration from Troy University.
