Entering its second year, the Affordable Care Act (often known as Obamacare) is not affecting Warren General Hospital adversely, as some had predicted last year.

While one of the priorities of the ACA is to reduce the number of uninsured patients, thereby saving money for hospitals, WGH has not seen major changes or impacts either fiscally or in the number of patients, according to Holli Wolfe, director of Patient and Public Relations at the hospital.

Another feature of the ACA that has effected changes at WGH is the “patient portal.”

Wolfe said, “The patient portal at WGH is fully functioning and available to all patients who opt to sign up. With this new technology, patients can access their medical records at anytime, anywhere, via the internet. Patients can also view upcoming appointments at WGH. The patient portal, MyPortal, is a very valuable resource for patients who want to be actively involved and informed regarding their own healthcare.”

“Electronic Health Records (EHR) also was implemented at WGH. The EHR allows for each patients complete health record to be maintained securely in an electronic manner. This expedites patient care and ensures additional safety features such as medication dispensing,” she said.

Additionally, the ACA holds health care facilities accountable for Hospital Acquired Conditions that patients did not have at admission, and provides for an incentive program with a one percent payment reduction for hospitals that have the fewest HAC. WGH meets the requirements and will not be penalized, unlike 25 percent of Pennsylvania hospitals.

Wolfe said, “The ACA implemented a number of quality measures that holds health care facilities accountable for the care they provide. Reimbursements from Medicare are tied to quality received from that particular facility.”

“Health care facilities are required to report multiple safety and quality measures such as patient falls, readmissions, and infections that a patient may have acquired during their hospital stay” she added, “Warren General Hospital continually monitors all patient safety and quality initiatives currently in place to assure the appropriate preventive measures are being taken with all patients to eliminate hospital acquired conditions.”

“While Warren General Hospital now has to report multiple measures, the quality assurance programs at (the hospital) have always been in place.”

Wolfe concluded, “To reduce large healthcare expenses, the ACA places a focus on wellness and prevention. This allows for complete coverage for all preventive testing. While Warren has not yet seen a tremendous increase in patients scheduling preventive tests, the anticipation is this will occur over the next few years.”