Healthcare
Showing 337–352 of 454 results
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The time is ripe for team-based care
Spring 2011
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1003
Abstract: There’s been a growing consensus in the medical community that teamwork is critical to patient care. This article describes the benefits, the training involved, and the qualities of the physicians who participate. However, this approach is so new to the health care industry that it requires outside input for its implementation. The article looks at the Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS®) program and the three phases a hospital should observe in rolling it out.
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Supreme Court decision settles debate over medical residents
Spring 2011
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 716
Abstract: For two decades, there’s been a contentious debate between teaching hospitals and the Social Security Administration over whether residents should be treated as employees or students. If students are considered to be employees, both they and their hospital-employers must pay FICA taxes to cover Social Security and Medicare. Hospitals have relied on a FICA exemption to define residents working more than 40 hours a week as students, but a Supreme Court decision in January upheld a Treasury regulation making such residents ineligible for the exemption. As this article explains, hospitals must immediately begin paying payroll taxes for these residents.
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Is your hospital ready for critical deadlines?
Spring 2011
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 497
Abstract: The health care industry is experiencing a convergence of three technology-based initiatives: 1) the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 in coding and adjudicating health care claims, 2) the introduction of the 5010 standard for electronic transactions between providers and payors, and 3) the HITECH incentive program for implementing certified “meaningful use” EHR systems. Deadlines for these initiatives are fast approaching, and many hospitals are already falling behind in preparing for them. This article describes the steps they need to take.
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Your hospital and local employers: A win-win combination
Spring 2011
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 836
Abstract: Poor employee health habits can negatively affect employers’ bottom lines through high absenteeism, poor quality output, low productivity and skyrocketing insurance premiums. But hospitals are likely to be well positioned to help local businesses institute health management programs. Well-established hospitals offer employers credibility, a track record of accomplishment, diversity and flexibility of services, and certified expertise. This article shows how to get started, while a sidebar discusses how to help an employer build the foundation for a workplace health improvement program.
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Practice Notes – Using social media to connect with patients
Spring 2011
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 501
Abstract: A growing number of physician practices are turning to social media to share critical information with their patients and colleagues, network with other practices, demonstrate their expertise, promote and provide health education, and boost their practice’s reputation and visibility. But, before they step into this world, it’s critical that they and their entire staff understand the legal and ethical risks. This article lists a number of protective steps to take, and offers two organizational resources for further guidance.
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Become lean and mean with lean principles
Spring 2011
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 786
Abstract: The concept of lean management has been applied for over a decade to other industries, and it’s now making its way to health care. The essence of lean management is doing more with less. It may be just the tool a practice needs in this time of cost pressures, reduced reimbursements, quality concerns and reform initiatives. This article lists examples of waste that lean principles can address, and describes Value Stream Mapping — an important tool in introducing a lean management program to a health care practice.
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Get all you’re due – Make it a point to regularly examine your fee schedule
Spring 2011
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 587
Abstract: With countless changes being thrust upon physicians in the wake of health care reform, and reimbursements still lagging behind the actual cost of delivering health care, their only salvation may be a well-thought-out fee schedule that’s structured for maximum benefit. This article offers some tips for ensuring that a practice gets all that it’s due.
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Employee theft: Don’t take chances with your practice
Spring 2011
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1065
Abstract: Because medical practices are often an easy target, the amount of money that employees steal can quickly cripple a practice. This article lists several internal controls that a physician practice should include, and discusses how to screen employees, conduct surprise audits and train staff. A sidebar lists the steps that should be taken when employee fraud is discovered.
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7 steps for reducing revenue loss
Winter 2011
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 615
Abstract: The way that a hospital manages its revenue cycle can mean the difference between a positive or negative bottom line. Some of the leading reasons for lost revenue are insurance denials and self-pay failures. Other causes include lost charges, delayed payments, underpayments and the costs of rework. This article lists seven measures a hospital can implement to improve its revenue cycle.
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Hospital governance: Revised standard on medical staff bylaws
Winter 2011
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 720
Abstract: After seven years of debate, the Joint Commission has made significant changes to medical staff standard MS.01.01.01. As a result, hospital governing body and medical staff may need to make appropriate adjustments to meet the March 31, 2011, compliance date. This article discusses the changes, which are concerned primarily with the provisions that must appear in the medical staff bylaws (rather than rules or policies).
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Social media for hospitals? You bet!
Winter 2011
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 797
Abstract: Although initially geared more toward individual use, social media is being used increasingly by a variety of businesses to gather information, communicate with stakeholders and facilitate collaboration among interested parties. These benefits are particularly appealing to health care organizations. This article shows why, and includes a sidebar offering examples of leading hospitals that already have an established social media presence.
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Lean management: Improve your hospital operations day in, day out
Winter 2011
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 894
Abstract: Lean management is all about removing waste and improving workflow. Due to its success in other economic sectors, it’s being adopted rapidly in health care. This article shows how hospitals can use lean processes to distinguish value-adding process steps from non-value-adding steps, allowing them to cut out the wasteful steps.
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Practice Notes – E-mail: Getting doctors and patients together
Winter 2011
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 460
Abstract: A 2008 study showed that only 6.7% of office-based physicians were routinely communicating with patients via e-mail. The HITECH Act aims to close this gap by making secure patient-physician e-mail messaging one of the Stage 2 meaningful use objectives beginning in 2013. This article shows the benefits of such communications and addresses privacy concerns.
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Malpractice lawsuits are a reality – What are you doing to protect your assets?
Winter 2011
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 664
Abstract: Some physicians may think that they’re well covered because they have malpractice insurance. But in some cases such insurance won’t completely protect them. Although giving away assets is one tool to shield them from creditors, this article shows that there are ways to protect assets instead. Such tools include family limited partnerships, homestead exemptions, and trusts such as personal residence trusts or offshore or domestic trusts.
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The future of medicine – Nonphysician providers fill the gap
Winter 2011
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 826
Abstract: As all physician groups become more integrated, accountable and patient-centered, every clinician must practice “at the top of his or her license.” That’s why employing nonphysician providers (NPPs) is essential to improving productivity in a physician practice. This article looks at the role that NPPs might play in a practice, how they would work, and how to find them. A sidebar lists several reasons why physician practices — particularly those in primary care — are hiring NPPs.
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Brace yourself for the next wave of practice consolidation
Winter 2011
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 892
Abstract: The new health care reform law, downward pressure on physician reimbursements and the need for capital are all driving an anticipated next wave of physician practice consolidation. Although some doctors have avoided these problems by accepting employment with a hospital, many others are exploring the option of merging with or acquiring other physician practices. This article takes a closer look at the potential advantages and roadblocks of these arrangements.