All Entries in the "Educational resources" Category
Greeley Medical Staff Institute and bundled payments
I recently had the privilege of speaking at the Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium in Naples, Florida, November 8-9, and found the experience to be both very enjoyable and educational. I really enjoyed serving on the opening plenary session panel discussion regarding healthcare reform. I was amazed at the prophetic abilities of the organizers in having the panel speak about reform exactly nine hours after the House of Representatives passed the 1,990-page bill! I had the honor of sharing the podium with Dr. Jon Burroughs of the Greeley Company and Dr. John Maa, one of the nations thought leaders on surgicalists. The session was moderated by Dr. Rick Sheff, executive director of the Greeley Company.
One of the questions posed was regarding the effect of the proposed “bundled payments.” Predictably, this has proven to be a very volatile topic amongst physicians. The Phoenix Group, of which I am a member, published a white paper earlier this year on the topic. The first draft stated that “healthcare reform legislation holds the potential for a cataclysmic uprooting of the traditional fee-for-service payment system.” In final form the word cataclysmic was removed. I suppose “cataclysmic” is in the eye of the beholder, but one thing is clear: The current bill is designed to change how providers get paid, and even how their businesses are structured and aligned and, ultimately, how care is rationed. Consider the following:
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GMSI: More photos from the hospitalist track
Here are some more photos from the wonderful speakers in the hospitalist track at the Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium, Naples, FL, this month.
John Nelson, MD, FACPE, FHM, speaks on the surgical hospitalist movement. (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung)
John Maa, MD, FACS, discusses the important of surgical hospitalists in today's reform climate. (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung)
Kirk Mathews, MBA, provides tips on hospitalist recruitment and retention. (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung)
GMSI Live: Photo spotlight on hospitalist track
The attendees of The Greeley Medical Staff Institute (GMSI) Symposium have the option to switch between the four tracks of:
- Physician-hospital alignment
- Peer review and physician performance
- Health Law, bylaws, and regulatory issues
- Hospitalist program management
Here are some of the photos that highlight our great hospitalist speakers from today’s sessions:
Martin B. Buser, MPH, FACHE, partner of Hospitalist Management Resources, LLC, talks on the specialty "ist" movement. (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung)
Roger Heroux, MHA, PhD, FACHE, partner of Hospitalist Leadership Resources, LLC, talkes about designing a "fourth-generation program." (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung)
Hussein Akl, MD, director of inpatient and regional medicine at Bronson Methodist Hospital, explains strategies for aligning incentatives. (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung
Robert J. Holloway, MD, FACP, FHM, CEO and CMO at InCompass Health, names various hospitalist ROI strategies to maximize value of the program. (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung)
Rest up tonight, and check back tomorrow for the final day of GMSI.
GMSI Live: Health reform panel talks on new bill passed by House
The Greeley Medical Staff Institute (GMSI) Symposium opened its doors this morning to attendees of the plenary session, “Healthcare reform: What it means for hospitals and physicians.” Just hours after the House of Representatives voted to pass its version of the healthcare reform bill, otherwise known as HR 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, moderator Richard A. Sheff, MD, CMSL, chair and executive director of The Greeley Company joked that many sleepy-eyed attendees, like him, may have also stayed up to watch the House vote of 220-215. The hotly debated issue shocked many as both Republicans and Democrats came to a final vote.
Panelists Jonathan H. Burroughs, MD, MBA, FACPE, CMSL, John Maa, MD, FACS, and Kirk Mathews, MBA, debate what healthcare reform will look like in the coming months. (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung)
With panelists Jonathan H. Burroughs, MD, MBA, FACPE, CMSL, John Maa, MD, FACS, and Kirk Mathews, MBA, the GMSI Symposium opening session similarly focused on the issues of bundled payments, a public option, and what and when to expect healthcare reform.
Although unclear when the Senate will vote on the healthcare reform bill, many wait with held breathes for reform to become reality.
GMSI Live: Symposium kicks off
The Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium takes place at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, FL. (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung)
We’re here in beautiful Naples, FL, at the Ritz-Carlton!
The Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium Pre-conference kicked off today with attendees in the three tracks of ED Call, Medical Staff Bylaws, and Physician Performance Measurement for intimate, interactive workshops.
Led by speakers, Richard A. Sheff, MD, CMSL, Michael R. Callahan, Esq., Jonathan H. Burroughs, MD, MBA, FACPE, CMSL, and Robert J. Marder, MD, CMSL, the workshops were a three-hour intensive, chock-full of good information.
Particularly interesting was Marder’s session on how to select indicators and targets for the six general competencies and OPPE.
“Who’s a mediocre physician?,” asked Marder for a show of hands in the room of medical staff leaders who chuckled. Most people simply use data to distinguish between acceptable and not acceptable performance. Instead, Marder explained, medical staffs need to have targets to distinguish between excellent, average, and not average performance, and not simply the traditional acceptable/nonacceptable data. Physicians should be distinguished between mediocre and those who go above and beyond. Therefore, set targets.
“If you don’t have targets, it’s not a performance measurement; it’s just data,” said Marder.
Get some rest tonight for a full day tomorrow as we dive into the programs of Physician-Hospital Alignment, Peer Review and Physician Performance, Hospitalist Program Management, and Health Law, Bylaws, and Regulatory Issues. Keep a look at for more stories and pictures from GMSI Live!
The Ritz-Carlton features balconies that overlook Naples, FL. (HospitalistLeadership.com Photo / Karen M. Cheung)
See you in Naples!
HCPro and Greeley are gearing up and flying out to Naples, FL for The Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium (November 8-9, Naples, FL)!
Will you be joining us this weekend? Come over and say hello to me or another HCPro or Greeley representative. All the speakers would love to see you too. We’d love to meet you!
Can’t join this year? Don’t worry; you can still follow the action right here on HospitalistLeadership.com for stories and photos. Remember, you can always follow me on Twitter.
Tool: Sample surgical hospitalist clinical responsibilities
We've heard from readers that you would like to see more forms, policies, and tools. You asked, and here it is!
Because the clinical role of a surgical hospitalist, or “surgicalist,” vary from one setting to the next, we are including a sample job description. Remember, the duties are typically listed in employment contracts and maintained in the practice policy and procedure manual, which the hospital updates periodically.
Contest winner: OPPE forms simplified
Thanks to Sharon Chaput, RN, CSHA, director of regulatory and quality management at Brattleboro Retreat in Brattleboro, VT for sending in this OPPE indicator form and OPPE master grid. We here at HCPro have heard for several years now how tricky it can be to measure physician performance, so we’re happy to share these forms, which can be adapted to meet the needs of any specialty.
“The Joint Commission surveyor told us this past June that this form is the best he has seen in the country,” Chaput writes.
Contest winner: Physician reappointment tools
Thank you to all the readers for their great work and entries submitted for the August giveaway for two free seats at the Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium (November 8-9, Naples, Fl).
July’s giveaway went to Nancy Bertling, RN, MBA, quality manager of TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital in Houston, TX for submitting a physician report card for quality and re-credentialing.
This time, August’s giveaway goes to Lana Heavilin, RN, a medical staff office coordinator in the quality department of Holland Hospital, in MI. Lana submitted tools for physician reappointment.
Are concierge hospitalists coming?
I recently had the opportunity to have lunch with a member of the board of directors of a company called MDVIP and was fascinated by their business model. MDVIP helps primary care physicians transition from a traditional practice model to a concierge practice. This company was featured in a recent article on CNNmoney.com.
Here are some of the basics of MDVIP as I understand them:
- The patient pays an annual retainer of approx. $1,500 or $125 per month
- The practice limits the number of patients to between 300—600
- The physician is accessible to any patient around the clock by cell phone and will even meet the patient in the emergency room when an emergency arises
- The patient keeps his or her health insurance in place
- The patient must take an annual “Mayo Clinic” level physical, and the practice focuses on wellness and prevention
White House launches healthcare reform myth-buster site
Reality Check. It’s the name of the most recent White House initiative in administration transparency, particularly for healthcare reform. Launched last week, www.WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck features video clips of prominent healthcare committee members and policy makers who respond to common misconceptions regarding how healthcare reform might affect them, including myths about government rationing, senior citizen euthanasia, and the mandate to change doctors.
Following in the foot steps of recently launched www.Recovery.gov, the Reality Check Web site aims to “combat misinformation,” according to an Aug. 10 White House blog post.
In addition to the videos, the Reality Check Web site includes an FAQ section, a “contact us” box for reader feedback, and social networking links to Facebook and Twitter.
“The road ahead will surely reveal more aggressive efforts from defenders of the status quo to confuse and scare Americans with half-truths and outright lies,” states the White House blog post. “We're all too familiar with the time-tested tactics that opponents of reform have used for decades to prevent the meaningful change our health insurance system needs.”
The RealityCheck Web site does a good job of "from-the-horse's mouth," although I would like to hear more viewpoints in one video. It's definitely worth a watch.
Contest winner: Physician report card tool
Source: TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital, Houston, TX.
Congratulations to Nancy Bertling, RN, MBA, quality manager of TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital in Houston, TX! Nancy is the July winner for the Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium giveaway for two free seats at the Nov. 8-9 seminar in Naples, Fl.
Nancy submitted a report card for quality and re-credentialing that keeps track of physician activity. This tool is also used in dashboards for quality and peer review.
You can download the physician report card here. Thanks for sharing, Nancy!
To all the readers, you can still submit your entry for next month’s contest. Find details here. Keep those entries coming, and good luck!
For the latest related news and updates on the conference, click on the tag “Greeley Medical Staff Institute Symposium.”
Karen M. Cheung
Associate editor
