This program is a mutually beneficial endeavour being offered to a select group of hospitals which will be accredited as MMC affiliates. As a partner, they may refer their patients, and use the state-of-the-art facilities, technology and services of MMC while being the primary healthcare providers of their own patients in their areas. Through SHAP, partner hospitals can gain access to critical diagnostic equipment. These include imaging and diagnostic machines to detect rare types of tumors and cancers as well as specialized laboratory procedures such as DNA testing and cardiac markers among others.
There are three types of referral process. These are:
1. Diagnostic A – these are referrals for diagnostic tests that require the physical presence of the patient. This includes radiology tests, nuclear medicine imaging and cardiac catheter laboratory tests.
2. Diagnostic B – these are referrals for diagnostic tests requiring samples that do not require the physical presence of the patient like laboratory and pathology tests.
3. In-Patient treatments – these involve either a treatment or a specialized procedure such as surgery, ICU, or cancer treatment.
For all of these referrals, the SHAP form or Letter of Authorization is used. This form is recognized by concerned MMC unit and tags the referral under the referring hospital/clinic. All referrals are monitored by the SHAP team while at the same time providing services required by the partners including patient assist for in- and out-patient referrals.
The referrals are approached according to the type of referral process. For Diagnostic A, the partner hospital will first inform MMC about the referral. The Sales Business Planning and Development (SBPD) Group will then coordinate the schedule of the patient with the MMC Diagnostic Unit which in turn informs the SBPD of the available schedule. The partner hospitals are notified within 24 hours on whether the patient can be referred to the MMC Diagnostic Unit. The patient then will bring the SHAP forms together with the doctor’s request from the partner hospital to MMC. The Diagnostic Unit is tasked to verify the signature; screen the patient; tag SHAP account; run the procedure, encrypt test results and email these to partner hospital.
The same process is applied to Diagnostic B and in-patient treatments except for the pre-screening of the specimen and the involvement of Credit and Collection in Diagnostic B and in-patient, respectively. Both are subject to approval. MMC extends credit facility to partners and they are also entitled to a preferential rate for each referral. All out-patient procedures are billed to partners for payments at the end of the month and invoices shall be paid within 15 calendars days. Partner’s receivables arising from in-patient procedures will be given to the partner upon full payment of the patient.
