Description

Introduction by George S. Arges, American Hospital Association Health Data Management Group

An Essential Tool for Financial Planning and Audit Compliance
Every capital asset has a limited useful service life, which must be determined and recorded to practically manage the capital planning process as well as meet government regulations. This updated 2008 edition defines the productive period of time typical health care capital assets have before they become technically or commercially obsolete. The introduction to this edition includes an overview of the importance of the capital planning process and helpful tips on managing capital projects once they are under way. In addition, it discusses the importance of establishing record-keeping functions capable of tracking the asset throughout its estimated useful life

New Asset Listings Reflect Updated Technology
This revised edition contains information on hundreds of items that have been reviewed since the 2004 edition, and includes 85 new capital assets that reflect recent technological developments. It provides asset life span estimates in reference tables for the major equipment and capital asset investments found in hospitals, physician group practices, and physician offices. The assets are organized by asset category in nine reference tables. A tenth table provides the listings in alphabetical order for quick reference

A Recognized Reference Resource
The assigned lives in this book have been determined by a consensus of experienced representatives from leading appraisal companies, hospitals, and health care systems. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires hospitals to prepare an annual Medicare Cost Report. This report must include the  depreciation cost associated with buildings and equipment used for the delivery of patient care. This book can save any health care organization immeasurable time and reduce the risk of reimbursement questions arising from the assigned life of a capital asset

Contents
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part One. Estimated Useful Lives of Land Improvements, Buildings, and Fixed Equipment
Table 1. Land Improvements
Table 2. Buildings
Table 3. Building Components
Table 4. Fixed Equipment
Table 5. Building Services Equipment
Part Two. Estimated Useful Lives of Major Movable Equipment
Table 6. Administrative Departments
Table 7. Nursing Departments
Table 8. Diagnostic and Treatment Departments
Table 9. Support Departments
Table 10. Alphabetized List of Items

72 pages, softcover, 6” x 9”