Enterprise Cost Manager (ECM)
A Web-based cost accounting tool that provides accurate, up-to-date costing information without the pain typically associated with cost accounting systems.
Flexible Overhead Allocations
ECM enables the definition of an unlimited number of Cost Categories. Because ECM can utilize labor distribution data, it’s possible to break out labor expenses into detailed buckets (RN, LPN, etc.) to more fully analyze costs. Because overhead expense can be up to 50% of your total cost, ECM offers the ability to allocate expenses within an overhead center based on multiple statistics. ECM provides the ability to define re-classes, adjustments, and allocations across multiple facilities, and to run multiple scenarios of overhead and cost allocations.
Detailed, Web-based RVU Worksheets
ECM features online, Web-based RVU worksheets designed to easily develop and quickly maintain RVUs. Multiple Labor, Capital, Materials , and other RVUs may be defined to support accurate costing. For example, nursing expense can be allocated based on a Nursing RVU, while physician expense is based on a separate RVU. These worksheets are tied directly to the labor distribution and materials management files, so that each month the RVUs can be automatically updated based on the latest wage rates and direct supply costs. The worksheets can be distributed to department managers, used by cost accounting personnel, or a combination to more efficiently keep the RVUs up to date.
Multiple Costing Methodologies
ECM supports numerous methods of costing, which can be used in combination to fit your specific needs. ECM supports: Standard Costing, RVU Costing, RCC Costing, Activity Based Costing, Variable Charge Item Costing, and Direct Patient Costing. Each of these methods may be used for specific costing situations, or may be used in combination for a single charge item.
Automation and Accuracy
ECM processes cost information monthly, either by month or YTD, and is designed to minimize the monthly maintenance and manual intervention required by most systems. ECM utilizes Boolean logic rules to automatically account for any new accounts or job classes, and will automatically process all calculations, print reconciliation reports, and assign costs to patient data in PLA on a scheduled basis. ECM will, when processed monthly, tie out to your GL, run reports in PLA by physician, DRG, payer, etc., and will tie to the monthly General Ledger.
- Enterprise-wide, integrated, Web-based, distributed costing process
- Centralized database (Microsoft SQL Server®)
- Multiple overhead allocation processes and costing scenarios
- Unlimited user-defined cost categories
- Re-classes and adjustments across the enterprise
- Integrates with EBM and PLA modules or stand-alone
- Costs anything - CDM charge items, CPT codes, service activities, etc.
- Cost process may be performed monthly, quarterly, annually
- Online lookup tables for capital, labor and materials
- Easy-to-use Department Manager RVU worksheets for entering capital, labor and materials
- Fast, accurate calculations and automated monthly calculations
- Charge cost categories on the fly
- Tied to comprehensive patient charge level detail
- Imports external cost standards for use in costing process
- Full audit of funds flow between departments/accounts in the allocation process