We first met David Brooks last year when we interviewed him about his work at the start-up qliqsoft. David contacted us recently to tell us about a new company he started called Medlio.
Disclosure: Based on our belief in this product (you’ll see why!) we are proud to be advisors to Medlio.
Mary Pat: Medlio is called a “virtual health insurance card,” which is pretty intriguing right off the bat. Give us the back story on Medlio and tell us what it does for patients and for physicians.
History is full of marketing disasters, and some are funnier than others. One addition to the ranks is the recent Cheat Death campaign created by North Carolinas Caromont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia. Intended to promote healthy eating and increased exercise, the medical marketing campaign backfired badly when local government leaders had to step in and ask the hospital to reconsider the slogan. Apparently community members responses ranged from amusement to outrage, with some thinking it was silly while others considered it blasphemous. We have no way of knowing how much the failed campaign cost the hospital but one thing is certain: the money would have been better spent on market research and testing ahead of time.
Step #1: Conduct Market Research
Many colleagues I speak with have a sense of or some experience with the tenets of “Lean.” But how does it really apply to healthcare – and is it really a way for medical practices to do more with less and maximize their resources? I recently spoke with Lean Healthcare Expert Mark Graban about where the rubber meets the road in healthcare.
Mary Pat: Most people have heard of Lean or have had some experience with it – can you explain what Lean is? (more…)
From our friend Frank Cohen:
“I have some great news concerning the upcoming Mastering RBRVS quickinar on Tuesday, March 19 at 2:00 ET. The presentation has been granted 1.5 AAPC CEU credits. According to AAPC: “This program meets AAPC guidelines for 1.5 CEUs. Can be split between Core and CPCO, CPMA, CPPM and CEMC for continuing education units.”
In addition to consulting, I often take interim management positions. Recently I was asked to complete an online application. To my surprise, before I started attacking the empty fields on the electronic form, I was asked to review a list of responsibilities and requirements that had nothing – and everything – to do with the job I would be doing. It was all about culture.
I was taken back at how in my face the list was, and I was very impressed that the organization thought enough of what was on the list to put it in the face of every applicant, and to ask us to sign off saying we understood and agreed to abide it.
Should you have something like this on your application?
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One of my favorite books of all time is “Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals, A Guide to Successful Evaluations” by James E. Neal, Jr. I have purchased many editions of this book through the years and I typically supply a copy of it to everyone in my practice who performs evaluations.
The contents of this book include:
- Effective Phrases (in 63 categories including accuracy, development, interpersonal skills, and motivation)
- Two Word Phrases (such as competing priorities, diversified approaches, fully prepared and team performance)
- Helpful Adjectives (such as adaptable, capable, perceptive, and systematic)
- Helpful Verbs (such as accomplishes, adheres, determines, and establishes)
- Performance Rankings (such as exceptional, unsatisfactory, and distinguished)
- Time Frequency (such as always, usually, rarely and seldom)
- Guidelines for Successful Evaluations (rate objectively, use significant documentation and factual examples, plan for the appraisal interview, emphasize future development, and emphasize the positive)
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about passwords recently. Be honest – how many of your employees’ desks have login information on a Post-It note taped to them right now?
In my experience, probably most.
Passwords seem pretty mundane on their face, but they are fascinating, revealing, incredibly dangerous pieces of information. How many things that we hold dear sit behind passwords? The obvious: bank accounts, email services, social media. The everyday: entertainment from Netflix, your Android or iOS appstore, a voicemail PIN, a security code at the office. The priceless: Flickr accounts full of photos of your family. Forums where you have a good reputation, or worst of all: accounts that give access to other accounts (i.e. Facebook,Google, or Apple passwords that allow sign-in to other services).
So we rely of these strings of characters for quite a bit.
Unfortunately, they are not particularly safe.
You might think I’m crazy, but this is a really good time to start a solo practice, especially for primary care providers.
Many physicians want to control how they deliver care and as independent thinkers, do not care to be told how to practice medicine. Whether you are disenchanted with your current practice, tired of being an employee, or fresh out of residency, this is a great time to venture out on your own.
Medicare Signature Requirements
The purpose of a rendering/treating/ordering practitioner’s signature in patients’ medical records, operative reports, orders, test findings, etc., is to demonstrate the services have been accurately and fully documented, reviewed and authenticated. It confirms the provider has certified the medical necessity and reasonableness for the service(s) submitted to the Medicare program for payment consideration. For medical review purposes, Medicare requires that services provided/ordered be authenticated by the author.
Let’s define some terms first.
Healthcare is changing. It is changing to eliminate waste of money, time and resources. It is changing to make more care available with less providers. It is changing to empower patients to participate in their own care. How are you changing with the times in 2013? Here are 9 ideas.
