Healthcare Reform has already made so many changes in running a medical practice. Many of these changes may not have been pleasant or easy to accomplish. Within the next few weeks the HHS is expected to release their guidelines on Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). They have pushed back the release date several times already and it is possible that they will again. Why? These guidelines could after many existing anti-trust laws and state regulations.
Many feel that “this to shall pass,” and go the way of so many other changes in healthcare (many remember the 1990s and healthcare reform then). Whether or not you are consider joining an ACO or other practice affiliation, creating an overall quality improvement process is a good idea. If you do not wish to sell to an ACO, it allows you to improve your overall success and profitability. If you are consider joining an ACO, it allows you to measure where you are at and improve to develop a better bargaining chip when you are negotiating your contract. One of the biggest problems is choosing which program or process to use for the change management in your organization. This has been compounded by the fact that many wish to become Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) and there are choices on which program to use to become one. To assist you, we are now offering a new book on change management that takes into consideration the PCMH and ACOs.
Excerpt from PMSA's new book:
How does this fit with the Medical Home and ACOs?
Two of the hottest topics in healthcare currently are the medical home and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and how they can be created. This program, while not focusing on the medical home or an ACO, can be used in the development of one. In the inner parts of the diagram are nine separate sections. The most common standard currently for certification of a Patient Centered Medical Home is offered by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). However, the standards used by all of the certification processes are similar and these have been identified in the inner parts on the Medenneagram.
An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is typically considered to be a hospital or other organizational based provider system with employed physicians. A Practice Affiliation may be an ACO and is a group of providers that shares responsibility for providing care to a defined population of patients that together have a goal of improving patient health, satisfaction and efficiency. The Patient-Centered Medical Home (“Medical Home”) empowers primary care to coordinate care for patients across the continuum of care and it can become the core of an ACO but lacks the financial incentives, like shared savings, to encourage providers to deliver the highest quality at the lowest cost. However, by becoming a Medical Home it aligns the practice to become a practice affiliation or and ACO and allows the practice to began to measure and increase performance. To become an ACO it is necessary to incorporate a change process in the practice. Experts agree that incorporating parts of the Medical Home into the organization aligns with becoming an ACO.
This program allows the organization to include the principles in the Medical Home and those needed for an ACO. The principles of these change processes have been identified as how they fit or tie into the Medenneagram. Even if the practice does not want to become an ACO or obtain Medical Home certification, it may simply skip these sections and still be able to fully utilize the rest of the material in creating a better practice.
How is this broken up into sections and how do they work (personalize the program for your setting)
As mentioned this program is broken into section and it is possible to focus on the sections that are needed in your practice. The program is designed to be personalized and the intent is for a program that can work for you. This program has at its heart the concept of doing what is right and this will need to be identified by you.
We often hearing of failing business in the news due to scandal and corruption. Why has the subject of ethics become so important to the field of business in the last 40 years? In the past people had a different view of what was right and wrong. If you asked someone if stealing pens from work was wrong forty years ago they would have probably said yes. Now many employees feel that it is their “right” to take office supplies and are surprised when you actually confront them with the theft. They justify the theft by saying that the company is rich and powerful and that this is actually “owed” it to them. In healthcare we are experiencing a wave of patients and employees looking for drugs that can be sold on the streets.
As we have seen powerful people that were once held in respect and admired fall, we tend to be complacent about our own ethics. If they did it, why shouldn’t we? Many people have the mindset that they won’t get caught, it happens to other people, but not to me. Since it is easy to develop this mindset, it is important for everyone to be ethical and this is especially true for employers and business people. They are the example setters and can often be the “moral compass” for the rest of the staff. People that feel their employers are ethical according to Ferrell, Fraedrich, and Ferrell in “Business Ethics-Ethical Decision Making and Cases,” employees that feel their employer is ethical are more likely to remain loyal to their employer. Medenneagram addresses this problem by putting moral and ethical behavior at the center. While there are many books on servant leadership, there is a big gap in how all the other aspects of the business should be ethical. By having ethics at the core and having all the other aspects of the business around the core, it allows the reader to use that part and still find ways to “do the right thing”. While this is not a religious book or faith book, it encourages the reader to run a business in a profitable and ethical manner for long-term growth and sustainability.
In the center is Ethical Behavior that ties everything together
I. Ethics in the Practice
II. What is needed from leadership?
III. Management Fundamentals
IV. Patient/Customer Issues
V. Employee Development (professional and personal)
VI. Financial Accounting
VII. Clinical and Business Systems
VIII. Team Development
IX. Legal and Regulatory Aspects
X. Change and Strategic Decision Process
Each of the different aspects is as important as the others. If you do not have a strong leadership, then how can the employers follow? Without good customer service, why would your patients keep coming back? Without financial growth, how can the practice thrive? That is why each of the different aspects is as important as the others and they are all connected. As you will see in the final chapters, not only do they form a star, but they are all inter-related. By making each part of the diagram strong, you are building a star practice. The program is divided into sections with the understanding that your practice may be stronger in one area than another one. It is possible to review all the different areas and then go back and work on the areas that need improvement. In some cases, you may wish to just go through the entire program and focus on each section as you work through the process.
To assist you in the process, in the addendum is a test. Please take the test and then save the results. Later after you complete the program, go back in a few months and retake the test to see how you have improved. Maybe after the second test it will reveal a different area that needs to be focused on for success. The test can be taken as many times as you wish.
If you wish to receive additional information on this new book, please contact jenniferzarate37@yahoo.com
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Friday, March 12, 2010
Customer Service
A new business was opening and one of the owner's friends wanted to send flowers for the occasion.
They arrived at the new business site and the owner read the card.
It said "Rest in Peace".
The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry he was,
The florist said:
"Sir, I'm really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry you should imagine this: somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying 'Congratulations on your new location'."
While funny, it does bring to light the issue of good customer service and what affects mistakes can have on your customers/patients and the need to diffuse a situation. Staff often has a hard time understanding how customer service is applied to the medical practice. It is a manager’s job to help them understand that they are representing the practice. To the patient-they are the practice.
Often we forget that the patient or customer has a choice, they can go elsewhere. In the medical practice that is still true and you may say that you are the only practice in your community town-that just means they will drive a long ways to go to a doctor or not go to anyone. That is not helping the patients or the practice. Customer service or patient service is a key component to the medical patient and is everyone’s responsibility. However, it falls heavily on the front desk staff. They often the have contact with the patient or have an opportunity to make a lasting impression. They are the first and the last person that the patient sees during a visit and can be the only contact on the phone or via e-mail. Remind them that how they treat the patient and their family will go a long way in helping the patient being satisfied with their visit and want to keep using the practice. By keeping satisfied returning patients this in turns help to assure that the practice will need staff and their job. If there are no patients coming in, why does the practice need a front desk person or any staff?
Take the time to assess your practice’s customer service and see if improvements can be made. Consider taking customer service training. There are countless books, DVDs, videos, conference, etc on customer service and many are either developed for the medical practice or might work. A free one can be found at http://tinyurl.com/m37evp
They arrived at the new business site and the owner read the card.
It said "Rest in Peace".
The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry he was,
The florist said:
"Sir, I'm really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry you should imagine this: somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying 'Congratulations on your new location'."
While funny, it does bring to light the issue of good customer service and what affects mistakes can have on your customers/patients and the need to diffuse a situation. Staff often has a hard time understanding how customer service is applied to the medical practice. It is a manager’s job to help them understand that they are representing the practice. To the patient-they are the practice.
Often we forget that the patient or customer has a choice, they can go elsewhere. In the medical practice that is still true and you may say that you are the only practice in your community town-that just means they will drive a long ways to go to a doctor or not go to anyone. That is not helping the patients or the practice. Customer service or patient service is a key component to the medical patient and is everyone’s responsibility. However, it falls heavily on the front desk staff. They often the have contact with the patient or have an opportunity to make a lasting impression. They are the first and the last person that the patient sees during a visit and can be the only contact on the phone or via e-mail. Remind them that how they treat the patient and their family will go a long way in helping the patient being satisfied with their visit and want to keep using the practice. By keeping satisfied returning patients this in turns help to assure that the practice will need staff and their job. If there are no patients coming in, why does the practice need a front desk person or any staff?
Take the time to assess your practice’s customer service and see if improvements can be made. Consider taking customer service training. There are countless books, DVDs, videos, conference, etc on customer service and many are either developed for the medical practice or might work. A free one can be found at http://tinyurl.com/m37evp
Friday, January 29, 2010
Fortune Cookie
Today I had a fortune cookie had the following: “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” At first I dismissed the cookie without any further thought on it and later in the day I started thinking about the economy and healthcare in this country. Winter is often thought of as the dead or dominate season, when nothing is blooming. For many it can be a depressive and gloomy time. I would say that we are currently in the winter phase here in this country.
To everything there is a season and I believe that eventually things will turn around. Will all of the political leaders ever agree upon anything, probably not. I have known many hospital staff members say that if you gave 5 cardiologists the same rhythm strip, that you would get 5 very different diagnoses. This seems to be true in healthcare reform as well. Everyone has a different idea on how to correct our problems. It is often hard to say that any one plan is better than the other (they all have some good and some bad). However, most of us got in healthcare to help people and not because we thought we would get rich, but making a decent living would be nice!
I have had the opportunity to listen to several physicians that have been in Haiti helping the victims. They have all discussed how thankful these people have been to them and how much they appreciate even the simplest care. Often here in America we forget how good we really do have it. While I would like to see things be better than they are, we still have people that are willing to give their best and care for our sick. We usually have access to some form of treatment. It may not always be all that we need, but they are clinics and services available, while in other countries there are few services. Could there be more and could be make care more accessible here? Of course and we should have it more accessible and affordable. But the point is that we do have healthcare and I believe that eventually the spring will come and things will get better in this country. I plan to keep looking for the first shoots of spring.
To everything there is a season and I believe that eventually things will turn around. Will all of the political leaders ever agree upon anything, probably not. I have known many hospital staff members say that if you gave 5 cardiologists the same rhythm strip, that you would get 5 very different diagnoses. This seems to be true in healthcare reform as well. Everyone has a different idea on how to correct our problems. It is often hard to say that any one plan is better than the other (they all have some good and some bad). However, most of us got in healthcare to help people and not because we thought we would get rich, but making a decent living would be nice!
I have had the opportunity to listen to several physicians that have been in Haiti helping the victims. They have all discussed how thankful these people have been to them and how much they appreciate even the simplest care. Often here in America we forget how good we really do have it. While I would like to see things be better than they are, we still have people that are willing to give their best and care for our sick. We usually have access to some form of treatment. It may not always be all that we need, but they are clinics and services available, while in other countries there are few services. Could there be more and could be make care more accessible here? Of course and we should have it more accessible and affordable. But the point is that we do have healthcare and I believe that eventually the spring will come and things will get better in this country. I plan to keep looking for the first shoots of spring.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Do you resent your employees?
Recently, I overheard a couple of physicians discussing their managers and staff. One of the physicians complained that his manager after 15 years of making a “really good wage) of $35,000 was thinking of leaving. He couldn’t believe that she thought she might do better elsewhere. The other physician pointed out that the national average is around $50,000 and that his manager not only works as a manager, but is a certified medical assistant and does the billing. The first physician could not get over the resentment that his manager would consider leaving, but this made me wonder of there is not an even bigger problem lurking in this practice.
It is not uncommon to hear physicians and managers complain about their staff and how many view it as a “job and not a career.” Many are resentful of staff that leaves to find better wages. While some staff do consider it a job and in many cases it is because they are not encouraged to do anything more, other do consider it a career. Staff that is shown appreciation will feel that they are valued and this can translate into the felling of their work as a career. How do you show your staff that you appreciate them? Maybe you don’t actually resent them, but do they know that you do appreciate them? Do you show them? Do you encourage them to take their job seriously and that they are valued? How can they think of it as more than just a job, if their work isn’t valued? What difference does it make to you or the practice if they don’t do a good job as long as they do something and just make an effort?
Times are tough and many staff may need higher wages. Daycare costs can take a large percentage of their pay. Rent and daily living costs are also rising. Could you live on what you pay your staff? That doesn’t mean they should earn as much as you do, but that you should take into consideration that not only are times tough for you, but for your staff as well. They do not have the education or skills that you do and the providers are the ones that brings the most (if not all in many cases) revenue to the practice for that reason alone, you should be making a lot more. Your staff might be resenting what you make as well. Staff usually does not know or understand all of the overhead costs that you have and what it is you actually take home. They only see that you drive a better car than they do and live in a different neighborhood. They have no idea what you have had to sacrifice to get where you are and how hard it is to remain there.
You can’t always pay staff more, but you can show that that you do appreciate them. Think about what they do for you. Could you do all of the billing, handling patient’s problems such as refills, prior authorizations, and all of the many other tasks in a day? Could you do all of what they do and still see your current patient load? Only if you have a low patient load. Be honest with staff that due to tough times you may not be able to increase their salaries, but find other ways to show you appreciate them. Try thanking them for their work. Maybe you could pay for lunch, buy movie cards for extra work done, or treat then to a massage. There are many ways to say thank you and often that is what they really are looking for from you. Of course they could use more money, couldn’t we all? But most of the time they just want to be appreciated.
It is not uncommon to hear physicians and managers complain about their staff and how many view it as a “job and not a career.” Many are resentful of staff that leaves to find better wages. While some staff do consider it a job and in many cases it is because they are not encouraged to do anything more, other do consider it a career. Staff that is shown appreciation will feel that they are valued and this can translate into the felling of their work as a career. How do you show your staff that you appreciate them? Maybe you don’t actually resent them, but do they know that you do appreciate them? Do you show them? Do you encourage them to take their job seriously and that they are valued? How can they think of it as more than just a job, if their work isn’t valued? What difference does it make to you or the practice if they don’t do a good job as long as they do something and just make an effort?
Times are tough and many staff may need higher wages. Daycare costs can take a large percentage of their pay. Rent and daily living costs are also rising. Could you live on what you pay your staff? That doesn’t mean they should earn as much as you do, but that you should take into consideration that not only are times tough for you, but for your staff as well. They do not have the education or skills that you do and the providers are the ones that brings the most (if not all in many cases) revenue to the practice for that reason alone, you should be making a lot more. Your staff might be resenting what you make as well. Staff usually does not know or understand all of the overhead costs that you have and what it is you actually take home. They only see that you drive a better car than they do and live in a different neighborhood. They have no idea what you have had to sacrifice to get where you are and how hard it is to remain there.
You can’t always pay staff more, but you can show that that you do appreciate them. Think about what they do for you. Could you do all of the billing, handling patient’s problems such as refills, prior authorizations, and all of the many other tasks in a day? Could you do all of what they do and still see your current patient load? Only if you have a low patient load. Be honest with staff that due to tough times you may not be able to increase their salaries, but find other ways to show you appreciate them. Try thanking them for their work. Maybe you could pay for lunch, buy movie cards for extra work done, or treat then to a massage. There are many ways to say thank you and often that is what they really are looking for from you. Of course they could use more money, couldn’t we all? But most of the time they just want to be appreciated.
Monday, January 4, 2010
2010
With a new year ahead of us, it always makes me wonder what the year will bring. This time last year, could we have guessed that legislation affecting medical practices would go the route that they have recently? It really makes you wonder what changes this year will bring and how we will have to adapt to meet these new challenges.
Facing the unknown and adapting to the challenges in healthcare requires a strong leadership basis to be successful. How are your leadership skills? Maybe this is the year to consider taking new courses and broaden your knowledge base, or maybe it is time to obtain additional certification/education. Whatever path you decide this would be a good time to plan out how you can develop new leadership skills and enhance your leadership style. There are many free courses, articles, and other resources as well as many cost-effective ones. Whatever you choose, why not make leadership enhance as part of your new year’s plan of action?
Facing the unknown and adapting to the challenges in healthcare requires a strong leadership basis to be successful. How are your leadership skills? Maybe this is the year to consider taking new courses and broaden your knowledge base, or maybe it is time to obtain additional certification/education. Whatever path you decide this would be a good time to plan out how you can develop new leadership skills and enhance your leadership style. There are many free courses, articles, and other resources as well as many cost-effective ones. Whatever you choose, why not make leadership enhance as part of your new year’s plan of action?
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Holiday fun
This year has had its ups and downs. Take a few minutes out of your day to enjoy some of the beauty of the planet and a little holiday humor.
http://www.fourwinds10.com/siterun_data/spiritual/pictures/news.php?q=1245101530
Places to visit in the US
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/drives/photography
Winter wonderlands
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/patterns-snow-ice.html
Already tired of the snow-maybe looking at it a different way might help
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/patterns-snowflakes.html
Or maybe some snow humor will help
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/shoveler.shtml
Preparing for the holidays at home
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/parentsnite.shtml
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/momsletter.shtml
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/santas%20day.htm
Preparing for the holidays at work
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/lawyer.shtml\
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/Twas/twascomputer.htm
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/Twas/twaslawstyle.htm
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Hanukkah/twashanu.htm
Games
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/xmassongs.htm
http://holidays.kaboose.com/games-xmas.html
Holiday song playlist
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/christmas/christmas_carols.htm
And last but not least-we have nothing to give you
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/nothing.shtml
Enjoy and have a safe and happy holiday season!
http://www.fourwinds10.com/siterun_data/spiritual/pictures/news.php?q=1245101530
Places to visit in the US
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/drives/photography
Winter wonderlands
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/patterns-snow-ice.html
Already tired of the snow-maybe looking at it a different way might help
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/patterns-snowflakes.html
Or maybe some snow humor will help
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/shoveler.shtml
Preparing for the holidays at home
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/parentsnite.shtml
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/momsletter.shtml
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/santas%20day.htm
Preparing for the holidays at work
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/lawyer.shtml\
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/Twas/twascomputer.htm
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/Twas/twaslawstyle.htm
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Hanukkah/twashanu.htm
Games
http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/xmassongs.htm
http://holidays.kaboose.com/games-xmas.html
Holiday song playlist
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3167&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/christmas/christmas_carols.htm
And last but not least-we have nothing to give you
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/nothing.shtml
Enjoy and have a safe and happy holiday season!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Oops, where are my manners?
Around the holiday season the stress starts to build. Ever feel overworked due to the end of the year crunch and dealing with the holidays both personally and professionally? Does your office seem to lose their manners? Does the team seem to fall apart during this time of the year? You are not alone. Many people start feeling stressed and depressed during this season. How can you cope then? According to the Mayo there are some common triggers include relationships, finances, and physical demands. They offer 10 tips for handling the triggers:
1. Acknowledge your feelings
2. Reach out to others
3. Be realistic
4. Set aside differences
5. Stick to a budget
6. Plan ahead
7. Learn to say no
8. Don’t abandon healthy habits
9. Take a breather
10. Seek professional help if you need it
The Mayo’s advice can also apply to the medical practice. Have the staff sit down and acknowledge the problems, set aside the differences to work out realistic, workable solutions. Review the practice fiances by conducting periodic audits throughout the year. Plan for the future and how the team can become stronger. Sometimes it is necessary to minimize the work and just say no to some projects. Consider hosting a company’s wide wellness program to encourage a health lifestyle. This time of year, many of the staff will develop a New Year’s resolution to become healthy-help, so why not help them? If they become healthier than the cots can decrease.
Why not take a breather? Have a fun, but low-key holiday party with the staff. You probably already have a party, but why not have a fun day? Plan a pot-luck or potato/salad/taco bar, the list of possibilities is endless. Throughout the day have fun games or activities that staff can do in-between the work. Have word games that they can play or trivia games on manners, healthcare or even the season. Then close a little early and announce the winners. By eating and having fun together it makes the team stronger and helps to reduce the stress. If these ideas do not work and there is still an issue with manners, consider bringing in a consultant to help with the team. There are many ways to approach the problem, but the key is to reduce the stress and start enjoying the team. By reducing the stress and making it an enjoyable place to work, you can often instantly turn around the mood and improve the manners. Have a great holiday season ad don’t forget your manners.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/MH00030
1. Acknowledge your feelings
2. Reach out to others
3. Be realistic
4. Set aside differences
5. Stick to a budget
6. Plan ahead
7. Learn to say no
8. Don’t abandon healthy habits
9. Take a breather
10. Seek professional help if you need it
The Mayo’s advice can also apply to the medical practice. Have the staff sit down and acknowledge the problems, set aside the differences to work out realistic, workable solutions. Review the practice fiances by conducting periodic audits throughout the year. Plan for the future and how the team can become stronger. Sometimes it is necessary to minimize the work and just say no to some projects. Consider hosting a company’s wide wellness program to encourage a health lifestyle. This time of year, many of the staff will develop a New Year’s resolution to become healthy-help, so why not help them? If they become healthier than the cots can decrease.
Why not take a breather? Have a fun, but low-key holiday party with the staff. You probably already have a party, but why not have a fun day? Plan a pot-luck or potato/salad/taco bar, the list of possibilities is endless. Throughout the day have fun games or activities that staff can do in-between the work. Have word games that they can play or trivia games on manners, healthcare or even the season. Then close a little early and announce the winners. By eating and having fun together it makes the team stronger and helps to reduce the stress. If these ideas do not work and there is still an issue with manners, consider bringing in a consultant to help with the team. There are many ways to approach the problem, but the key is to reduce the stress and start enjoying the team. By reducing the stress and making it an enjoyable place to work, you can often instantly turn around the mood and improve the manners. Have a great holiday season ad don’t forget your manners.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/MH00030
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Want to Help the Healthcare Crisis?
Want to give back to the community? Want to help with the healthcare crisis? Consider donating your time and resources to a free healthcare clinic http://freeclinics.us/ These events are in need of volunteers, of course they always need healthcare workers to make it happen, but also need others to make the event function smoothly. If you can’t donate your time, how about money to help serve those that can’t afford healthcare?
For those that live in the Kansas City area:
The National Association of Free Clinics has been very busy this fall as a result of the CARE Clinic in Houston sponsored by Dr. Oz where we saw almost 1800 people on a Saturday in September and then the phenomenal response from across the nation as a result of a call to action by Keith Olbermann on Countdown that raised money to support additional clinics.
We are pleased that on December 9th and 10th the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) will be sponsoring a two-day clinic in Kansas City at Bartle Hall and the health care community here is responding to make it happen.
We are recruiting volunteers—professional and lay people—and are just beginning the planning. I hope you will send this on to those in your contact list that might be interested in working with us. And, if you would like to help in the planning, let me know.
The website for volunteer to sign up to work at the Clinic itself should be up over the weekend.
This is an exciting opportunity to show the nation the wonderful way that Kansas City comes together to serve the uninsured!
Sheridan Y. Wood
Executive Director
Kansas City Free Health Clinic
3515 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64111
DD: 816.777.2763
Other: 816.753.5144 Ext. 263
Fax: 816.777.2796
http://www.kcfree.org/
For those that live in the Kansas City area:
The National Association of Free Clinics has been very busy this fall as a result of the CARE Clinic in Houston sponsored by Dr. Oz where we saw almost 1800 people on a Saturday in September and then the phenomenal response from across the nation as a result of a call to action by Keith Olbermann on Countdown that raised money to support additional clinics.
We are pleased that on December 9th and 10th the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) will be sponsoring a two-day clinic in Kansas City at Bartle Hall and the health care community here is responding to make it happen.
We are recruiting volunteers—professional and lay people—and are just beginning the planning. I hope you will send this on to those in your contact list that might be interested in working with us. And, if you would like to help in the planning, let me know.
The website for volunteer to sign up to work at the Clinic itself should be up over the weekend.
This is an exciting opportunity to show the nation the wonderful way that Kansas City comes together to serve the uninsured!
Sheridan Y. Wood
Executive Director
Kansas City Free Health Clinic
3515 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64111
DD: 816.777.2763
Other: 816.753.5144 Ext. 263
Fax: 816.777.2796
http://www.kcfree.org/
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Should we wait to fix a mistake?
Sometimes mistakes happen in business. It can be as simple as staff error or equipment failure. In medicine this can have an adverse affect on the patient. In business it can mean bad publicity, for example recently a man was at a famous casino and the machine indicated that he had won $166 million. However the machine’s top prize was only $2,500. Initially they told him that it was a mistake and that he would take away nothing even though the machine clearly showed that he had won something. They pointed out the disclaimer on the machine and told him that it was an electronic error and therefore no prize would be awarded. Needless to say, he had the news on this one and it hit the wire service and was picked up and broadcasted around the country. The big question will be how much is this going to cost the business in the long run? Maybe they shouldn’t pay the entire amount that the man thought he won, but why not pay the machine’s maximum limit since it did show that he had won something? How many people have heard about this and how much is it going to affect the business image? Would it not have been worth it to offer something to the man on the spot? Later on after the story initially ran and they received so much negative publicity, they did offer an undisclosed settlement, but the damage had already been done to their reputation.
Every day in practices across the country, mistakes can happen. There has always been concern about admitting mistakes in healthcare, but sometimes it is a good idea and as soon as possible. Maybe just a simply apology from the staff member that made the mistake may be enough to satisfy the person before the problem spreads. How many people will the unhappy patient tell the longer the problem exists? What damage will it do and with on-line comments can it even be measured any more? The question becomes how much is our image worth to us? Everyone makes mistakes, but waiting to fix them can hurt.
Every day in practices across the country, mistakes can happen. There has always been concern about admitting mistakes in healthcare, but sometimes it is a good idea and as soon as possible. Maybe just a simply apology from the staff member that made the mistake may be enough to satisfy the person before the problem spreads. How many people will the unhappy patient tell the longer the problem exists? What damage will it do and with on-line comments can it even be measured any more? The question becomes how much is our image worth to us? Everyone makes mistakes, but waiting to fix them can hurt.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Red Flag Delayed Again!
This may seem like a broken record, but yes the Red Flag Rules have been delayed.
"At the request of Members of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission is delaying enforcement of the “Red Flags” Rule until June 1, 2010, for financial institutions and creditors subject to enforcement by the FTC." For more details http://www2.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/redflags.shtm
"At the request of Members of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission is delaying enforcement of the “Red Flags” Rule until June 1, 2010, for financial institutions and creditors subject to enforcement by the FTC." For more details http://www2.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/redflags.shtm
Monday, October 26, 2009
Changing from Being a Worker to a Leader
Congratulations, you were recently promoted, now what? Changing from a worker to a leader can be exciting, but also daunting. You feel the pressure of performance, not only of yourself but of the others as well. You are now expected to do your work and monitor the others as well. That can be scary, understanding that you are now responsible for what other people do. If they do well, then it reflects well on you. When they mess up, you are expected to fix the problem and deal with the consequences. That can be a problem; you will wonder how you are supposed to get everything done in the day? You could give up eating and sleeping-or you could learn another part of your new job-delegation.
Delegation can be an especially difficult thing for most managers to do. You feel that the staff cannot handle something or feel you are responsible. Ask yourself, why can’t they handle it? If it is something confidential or due to regulations they cannot handle it, but otherwise you would be surprised what they can handle.
One new manager was so afraid to let go of things that she would work 70+ hours per week! She had no personal life at all. Her kids were in trouble with the law and struggling in school. She was depressed and anxious all of the time. After we discussed this issue many times she was finally able to let go of a few things. It was very difficult for her to do that and she struggled with it for a long time. She was so obsessed with how she wanted everything done that she would even tell someone how to put the statements in the envelope, speaking to them as if they were a small child. This was a true problem, all of her staff felt that she didn’t trust them at all, which she probably didn’t. This affected staff moral and their dedication to the company. It is not uncommon that when one person is moved from a worker to a manager position that there are problems, but when all of the staff leaves in just a few months it is a sign that maybe we need to work on the manager.
Some people make the transition to manager smoothly never missing a beat; however most of us need a little help to get on the right track. One of the first things you can do is to find someone that you respect and emulate their behavior. For some reason you respected that person. Why, what do they do that is so special? Make a list of traits that you like about them and then starting thinking about how you can do what they do. This can help give you an idea of what you should probably be doing. That and studying different views on the subject can give you ideas of what type of leader that you want to be and what you need to become to do the job. I suggest studying many different books and take as many classes on the subject that you can. You will find many variations on the theme, find what works for you.
Taken in part from PMSA’s New Manager
Delegation can be an especially difficult thing for most managers to do. You feel that the staff cannot handle something or feel you are responsible. Ask yourself, why can’t they handle it? If it is something confidential or due to regulations they cannot handle it, but otherwise you would be surprised what they can handle.
One new manager was so afraid to let go of things that she would work 70+ hours per week! She had no personal life at all. Her kids were in trouble with the law and struggling in school. She was depressed and anxious all of the time. After we discussed this issue many times she was finally able to let go of a few things. It was very difficult for her to do that and she struggled with it for a long time. She was so obsessed with how she wanted everything done that she would even tell someone how to put the statements in the envelope, speaking to them as if they were a small child. This was a true problem, all of her staff felt that she didn’t trust them at all, which she probably didn’t. This affected staff moral and their dedication to the company. It is not uncommon that when one person is moved from a worker to a manager position that there are problems, but when all of the staff leaves in just a few months it is a sign that maybe we need to work on the manager.
Some people make the transition to manager smoothly never missing a beat; however most of us need a little help to get on the right track. One of the first things you can do is to find someone that you respect and emulate their behavior. For some reason you respected that person. Why, what do they do that is so special? Make a list of traits that you like about them and then starting thinking about how you can do what they do. This can help give you an idea of what you should probably be doing. That and studying different views on the subject can give you ideas of what type of leader that you want to be and what you need to become to do the job. I suggest studying many different books and take as many classes on the subject that you can. You will find many variations on the theme, find what works for you.
Taken in part from PMSA’s New Manager
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Leadership and Teamwork
Sometimes we can learn so much about leadership and teamwork from the way we play a game. Often in our society we focus so much on winning and getting ahead that we lose sight of what is really important in life-each other. In healthcare we often talk about team approaches and working together, but in reality that real team is often what is missing in a practice. Though we do have to think about the bottom-line, healthcare regulations, staffing issues and the list is endless; ask yourself at the end of the day, did we make a difference? Did we really help someone and make their life a little easier?
Over the many years of being in healthcare, we can easily lose focus of why we entered the field to begin with-helping others. In healthcare we really are our brother’s (or sister’s) keeper. While working towards building your team, remind everyone to keep sight of what is really important and what is probably part of your mission or vision statement-serving others.
As a leader in your organization you often set the tone on the team, what type of tone are you setting? Do you set one of focusing on the concept of serving others as a team? What is your focus? Is it of improving the balance sheet or of overall improvement? Sometimes we can learn from a game on what is really important.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKUaLlK776s.
Over the many years of being in healthcare, we can easily lose focus of why we entered the field to begin with-helping others. In healthcare we really are our brother’s (or sister’s) keeper. While working towards building your team, remind everyone to keep sight of what is really important and what is probably part of your mission or vision statement-serving others.
As a leader in your organization you often set the tone on the team, what type of tone are you setting? Do you set one of focusing on the concept of serving others as a team? What is your focus? Is it of improving the balance sheet or of overall improvement? Sometimes we can learn from a game on what is really important.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKUaLlK776s.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Influenza Phone Triage
I know that you have probably been overwhelmed with influenza tips and suggestions, but someone sent us a link to a telephone triage that we thought we would share. The triage is through the American Academy of Family Physicians and many of our members have found it helpful. We have also attached a few others that members have recommended recently.
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/journals/afp/preprint/influenza-telephone-triage.html
The CDC’s triage can be located at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians/pdf/adultalgorithm.pdf
Suggested example for employers
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/hr/hrdepts/ehs/Forms/employees_influ_tri_final.doc
Self triage from Carleton College
http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/flu/flu_reports/student_report/self_triage/
Self triage from Monterey County Health Department
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/inc/pr/20090827/Self_Triage_influzena.pdf
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/journals/afp/preprint/influenza-telephone-triage.html
The CDC’s triage can be located at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians/pdf/adultalgorithm.pdf
Suggested example for employers
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/hr/hrdepts/ehs/Forms/employees_influ_tri_final.doc
Self triage from Carleton College
http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/flu/flu_reports/student_report/self_triage/
Self triage from Monterey County Health Department
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/inc/pr/20090827/Self_Triage_influzena.pdf
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Passion for what you do
Everyone at some time or other has had a job that they hated. Many of us are lucky enough to have a position sometime that we love. Whether you hate your job or love it, right now you probably need it and in every job there is something that you probably enjoy. Maybe you hate the drudgery of cleaning exam tables/equipment or doing the paperwork. Yet each of these tasks is very important to the overall job and service that you and your company provide. Right now there has been a lot of focus on the importance of cleaning equipment/doors/chairs or whatever due to the flu. Everyone understands how important that is to all of us.
How important is the paperwork? Very important for many reasons including patient safety and billing. If the paperwork is done incorrectly it could mean that the patient receives improper care and could even put them at risk. Paperwork can also affect the billing and with delayed payments or missed payments this can affect the practice’s revenue. If the revenue is decreased can the practice continue to support everyone? This can and will eventually affect all of the practice staff including providers, clinical and administrative staff.
The key is that every job has aspects of it that are important and can be enjoyable and “make a difference”. Finding these parts of a job can make all the difference. When you find something that makes you passionate about your job and focus on it. It will make your day go by faster and others see the passion in your work. When you are passionate about something appear more focused and it usually appears that you are knowledgeable and a professional and in a tough job market that has to help!
How important is the paperwork? Very important for many reasons including patient safety and billing. If the paperwork is done incorrectly it could mean that the patient receives improper care and could even put them at risk. Paperwork can also affect the billing and with delayed payments or missed payments this can affect the practice’s revenue. If the revenue is decreased can the practice continue to support everyone? This can and will eventually affect all of the practice staff including providers, clinical and administrative staff.
The key is that every job has aspects of it that are important and can be enjoyable and “make a difference”. Finding these parts of a job can make all the difference. When you find something that makes you passionate about your job and focus on it. It will make your day go by faster and others see the passion in your work. When you are passionate about something appear more focused and it usually appears that you are knowledgeable and a professional and in a tough job market that has to help!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Differences in Medical Assistants
In the past we have discussed how staff should be cross-trained and encourage to do more and continue to grow. We have also mentioned that what a staff member is allowed to do varies from state to state and you should always check with your medical association/Board to determine what can be done in your area. Recently, this table was shared with us on the breakdown of what Medical Assistants can do in each state. We have not verified the information and suggest that it be used for information only and as a starting place for gathering your own information. It does however, illustrate the vast differences in what staff is able to do in different states (please check your state’s requirements by contacting your Boards/Medical Association before using as a guide in the practice for hiring or staff duties). During the discussion of healthcare reforms, many have suggested that just there is a need to have a set of formal requirements (certifications) in place for all practice staff. Others argue that this would limit who the practice could hire and in many cases would require the practice to hire staff that would affect their bottom-line. While we do not suggest one idea is better than another, we do believe it is helpful to have as much information as possible while engaging in reform discussions. Both arguments have merit and in some cases the absence or presence of a certification does not guarantee professionalism or competence. That is one of the reasons PMSA was developed to address staff weaknesses and help fill in the gaps of knowledge or training. In healthcare reform there are no easy answers and unfortunately the reform process will be a long one. Healthcare reform can happen on many levels including at the practice level and national level. By maximizing your staff’s potential this will allow maximizing the practice. The staff and the practice should be evaluated to determine what is right for your situation based upon regulations and capabilities. Scope of practice for Medical Assistants table can be found at http://www.docstoc.com/docs/12388436/Medical-Assistants-Scope-of-Practice
Friday, September 11, 2009
9/11/09
Today on my way to work, I saw an accident. As I sat there in a long line of traffic, I thought about how fortunate we are to have individuals that come to help us in our time of need. Often they are putting their own lives at risk and yet do it anyway. In healthcare we have many people that put other’s needs before their own. In this time of so many shouting that we have a broken system and nothing works, sometimes it does. I know that if I had been in that accident I would have been thankful that the paramedics, firefighters and police officers had been there. Once they took my injured body to the nearest hospital, I would have been thankful that the ER cared for me and if I needed immediate surgery that they would have been there for me.
Today on this day when we remember the fallen; I am personal thankful for all of those that are there caring for the sick and injured.
Thank you to all in the medical and emergency services for the job that you do everyday!
Today on this day when we remember the fallen; I am personal thankful for all of those that are there caring for the sick and injured.
Thank you to all in the medical and emergency services for the job that you do everyday!
New Year Resolutions in September
The Jewish New Year is fast approaching and to all of our Jewish friends, we wish you shana tova umetukah for "a good and sweet year." The upcoming holiday for some, got us to thinking about traditional New Year Resolutions. Most Americans will reflect upon the past year and makes New Year Resolutions in December. This has been and continues to be a year of change. In light of all of the discussion of reform, why not consider reflecting and making resolutions now instead of waiting until December? Now is a good time for all of us to reflect upon what has happened and what is happening in healthcare and in our practices.
Just as you normally do in December, ask yourself a few questions. For example, what have you done what have you done to others, what can you do better? By taking the time now, you can develop a baseline for change of where you are and where you want to be. What can you accomplish by December? What will take the next year to accomplish and how can you build steps or little goals to reach the big goal?
Then in December, use this guide as a measurement of how you are doing and look at your goals. In change management, it helps to begin with the end in mind.
Consider the following:
What are your goals?
Then where are you at now?
What steps will you need to take to reach your goal?
By starting now, you will be well on your way to your goals by the time you sit down to do your New Year Resolution’s in December!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Funny Swine Flu Videos
Due to all of the discussion on how to avoid the swine flu, we decided to look at the more humorous approaches some have taken. Last week we covered a list of videos featuring how to wash your hands. This week we cover a more global approach, by hitting sneezing, coughing and the swine flu in general. These are just a few of the videos out there, but it gives you an idea of what you can find on the topic.
Cover your sneeze game
http://www.routesgame.com/games/?challengeId=2
Cute sneeze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk
Slow motion sneeze
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=43224
Cover your cough
http://www.sfcdcp.org/sneeze.html
Swine Flu Fighters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQcMB--VWSI
Cover Your Mouth
http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=2013
Musical Swine Flu video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiXmw5a9kiM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iIwNX792dE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbt_PuVAVTU&feature=related
Training video for staff and patients
http://dennysblogfeeds.blogspot.com/2009/09/funny-video-rapping-swine-flu-doc.html
http://www.coughsafe.com/media.html
More videos
http://hubpages.com/hub/10-Amusing-Videos-About-Swine-Flu
Mentioned last week, but still our favorite:
Cough into Your Sleeve - The Somali Parrots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfNGq96-ruE
Disclaimer: PMSA does not have financial interest in any of the videos and does not support or endorse in any fashion. The list was compiled by members and suggestions sent to PMSA. All rights and property of the videos belong to the owners. PMSA only lists the videos as a service.
Cover your sneeze game
http://www.routesgame.com/games/?challengeId=2
Cute sneeze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk
Slow motion sneeze
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=43224
Cover your cough
http://www.sfcdcp.org/sneeze.html
Swine Flu Fighters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQcMB--VWSI
Cover Your Mouth
http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=2013
Musical Swine Flu video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiXmw5a9kiM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iIwNX792dE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbt_PuVAVTU&feature=related
Training video for staff and patients
http://dennysblogfeeds.blogspot.com/2009/09/funny-video-rapping-swine-flu-doc.html
http://www.coughsafe.com/media.html
More videos
http://hubpages.com/hub/10-Amusing-Videos-About-Swine-Flu
Mentioned last week, but still our favorite:
Cough into Your Sleeve - The Somali Parrots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfNGq96-ruE
Disclaimer: PMSA does not have financial interest in any of the videos and does not support or endorse in any fashion. The list was compiled by members and suggestions sent to PMSA. All rights and property of the videos belong to the owners. PMSA only lists the videos as a service.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Wash Your Hands!
These days it seems that everyone is getting into the act of creating videos on hand washing. From our President to our cartoon characters we are being told to wash our hands and tips on swine flu prevention. While we do take hand washing and swine flu prevent seriously, we can still have fun!
PMSA has always worked to bring practices information and we have collected some of the resources that we have found or others have shared with us. Some of the clips we have seen have been great and this week we are highlighting a few of the many hand washing clips (Some may not be on swine flu prevention, but great hand washing videos) and next week we will share “cover your mouth” clips. If you would like us to list a video to share with others, let us know by contacting jz@thepmsa.org
Elmo and his “Wash Your Hands” Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7u4zUQh1GE
The Wiggles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDe3wmOLvk0
Wash Your Hands Too Mr BrownShow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lViRlo1_b1o
and a different version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUu-UuNcU-k
Food Parody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtlcS77LaB0
Sesame Street - Wash Your Hands Before You Eat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCO5RpTIU1Y&feature=PlayList&p=DD1C802E005EDF6C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=14
Bill Nye the Science Guy - "Just Wash Your Hands"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELm7VjrFg4&feature=PlayList&p=DD1C802E005EDF6C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15
Wash Your Hands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDvOszLSYzg&translated=1
Wash Your Hands (Jasongs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjenyvKsnvk
Soap In the City
http://www.coughsafe.com/soapincity/quick.html
Wash your hands!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM-iGBM3OfA&feature=related
Hand Washing with Soapy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNhS2uyC6xI&feature=related
Hand Washing for Kids - Crawford the Cat – Educational
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_yR-oGNMaA&feature=related
SafetyTV: Scrowford Washes Hands -Cartoon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjlCoY7B9WM&feature=related
Kandoo Wash hands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJrtiJEZIPI&feature=related
For staff training:
Clean Hands Help Prevent the Flu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHISh559oho
Prevent flu, wash your hands!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdw-W2MF6ow
Washing Hands - Six Steps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrNJt73BG_8&feature=related
Washing Your Hands the Right Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brrf2inGs7E&feature=related
CNA Skill Hand Washing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVUsUIVgmcQ
The Importance of Hand Washing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE_y-UHmlWI
Preview of next week’s list
Cough into Your Sleeve - The Somali Parrots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfNGq96-ruE
Disclaimer: PMSA does not have financial interest in any of the videos and does not support or endorse in any fashion. The list was compiled by members and suggestions sent to PMSA. All rights and property of the videos belong to the owners. PMSA only lists the videos as a service.
PMSA has always worked to bring practices information and we have collected some of the resources that we have found or others have shared with us. Some of the clips we have seen have been great and this week we are highlighting a few of the many hand washing clips (Some may not be on swine flu prevention, but great hand washing videos) and next week we will share “cover your mouth” clips. If you would like us to list a video to share with others, let us know by contacting jz@thepmsa.org
Elmo and his “Wash Your Hands” Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7u4zUQh1GE
The Wiggles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDe3wmOLvk0
Wash Your Hands Too Mr BrownShow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lViRlo1_b1o
and a different version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUu-UuNcU-k
Food Parody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtlcS77LaB0
Sesame Street - Wash Your Hands Before You Eat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCO5RpTIU1Y&feature=PlayList&p=DD1C802E005EDF6C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=14
Bill Nye the Science Guy - "Just Wash Your Hands"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ELm7VjrFg4&feature=PlayList&p=DD1C802E005EDF6C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15
Wash Your Hands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDvOszLSYzg&translated=1
Wash Your Hands (Jasongs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjenyvKsnvk
Soap In the City
http://www.coughsafe.com/soapincity/quick.html
Wash your hands!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM-iGBM3OfA&feature=related
Hand Washing with Soapy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNhS2uyC6xI&feature=related
Hand Washing for Kids - Crawford the Cat – Educational
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_yR-oGNMaA&feature=related
SafetyTV: Scrowford Washes Hands -Cartoon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjlCoY7B9WM&feature=related
Kandoo Wash hands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJrtiJEZIPI&feature=related
For staff training:
Clean Hands Help Prevent the Flu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHISh559oho
Prevent flu, wash your hands!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdw-W2MF6ow
Washing Hands - Six Steps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrNJt73BG_8&feature=related
Washing Your Hands the Right Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brrf2inGs7E&feature=related
CNA Skill Hand Washing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVUsUIVgmcQ
The Importance of Hand Washing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE_y-UHmlWI
Preview of next week’s list
Cough into Your Sleeve - The Somali Parrots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfNGq96-ruE
Disclaimer: PMSA does not have financial interest in any of the videos and does not support or endorse in any fashion. The list was compiled by members and suggestions sent to PMSA. All rights and property of the videos belong to the owners. PMSA only lists the videos as a service.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Are You Looking For Methods To Cut Costs and Receive Free Products and Services?
A large part of what makes a practice successful is the products and services used. Making wise and educated investments now, is vital in strategically aligning the practice for future success and minimizing risk. Times of economic uncertainties are forcing consumers to be more reluctant or reserved when making purchases and they demand quality, flexibility, and affordabilty. Here at PMSA we understand the struggle of practices trying to fit vendors into an already overstressed appointment log. Often managers feel bombarded with resources and have difficulty making sound business decisions on products and services. Medical staff is often the gatekeeper and deal with both the patient and the vendors on a regular basis. They depend on vendors to provide a reliable and trusted product, at a competitive rate that will bring maximum results. With so many choices, it is easy to become overwhelmed and lost in the masses of meaningless advertisements.
At PMSA, as a free value added service, we serve as a liaison between the medical practice and vendors, bridging the gap. We believe that a strong relationship between the vendor and medical practice will translate into a win-win solution for everyone involved, including the patient. By acting as a liaison, we save the practice valuable time and money in their search, provide fact-based options that are relevant to their individual practice needs. Although we do not endorse products, companies, or services, we do understand and value the importance and benefits of establishing a cooperative client-vendor relationship, built on mutual trust and respect. Quality care begins with quality products and services! For more information go to http://www.thepmsa.org/becomeatestsite.html to find the resources you need.
At PMSA, as a free value added service, we serve as a liaison between the medical practice and vendors, bridging the gap. We believe that a strong relationship between the vendor and medical practice will translate into a win-win solution for everyone involved, including the patient. By acting as a liaison, we save the practice valuable time and money in their search, provide fact-based options that are relevant to their individual practice needs. Although we do not endorse products, companies, or services, we do understand and value the importance and benefits of establishing a cooperative client-vendor relationship, built on mutual trust and respect. Quality care begins with quality products and services! For more information go to http://www.thepmsa.org/becomeatestsite.html to find the resources you need.
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