Robert "Sam" Tessen, Executive Director
NewScope
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NEWS BRIEFING
FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
May 16, 2008
Robert "Sam" Tessen, Executive Director
Growth in wisdom can be measured precisely by decline in bile. -Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself. Evel Knievel
Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what
you get. George Bernard Shaw
IN THIS ISSUE, FOR YOU:
ON THE SCHEDULE AND DISTRICT MEETINGS
UNT HSC MEDICAL STUDENT GOVT. ASSN. ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
CMS ISSUES CLARIFICATION REGARDING "INCIDENT TO" SERVICES
NEW MEDICAID/CHIP MEDICAL DIRECTOR
GROW A HAPPY PRACTICE
IDENTITY THIEVES PREY ON PATIENTS' MEDICAL RECORDS
HEALTH CLINICS INSIDE STORES LIKELY TO SLOW THEIR GROWTH
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS ON DIABETES EDUCATION
RESEARCH IN THE PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE: NAVIGATING THE ETHICAL MINEFIELD
ATOMA MEMBERSHIP: Add ME to the Texas Osteopathic
Family! COMMON SENSE AND A SENSE OF HUMOR ARE THE
SAME THING, MOVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS.
ON THE SCHEDULE AND DISTRICT MEETINGS:
District
8 Thursday, May 22nd, 6:30 p.m.
Utopia World Cuisine
Corpus Christi, TX
District
10 Tuesday, May 27th, 6:30 p.m.
Lubbock Country Club
Lubbock, TX
District
3 Friday, June 13th, 6:30 p.m.
Longview (site to be announced soon)
District
7 Friday, August 8th
Reception and Mixer to welcome incoming residents
TOMA building, 1415 Lavaca
Austin, TX
District 7 Thursday, August 21st
May 17th Graduation, UNTHSC, Fort Worth, TX
June 19-22,
2008 Joint Annual Convention - TOMA & TX ACOFP
Intercontinental Hotel, Dallas, TX
Register ON-LINE at
www.txosteo.org or
www.txacofp.org
Memorial Day May 26, 2008
UNT HSC MEDICAL STUDENT GOVT. ASSN. ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
The new MSGA
Officers are:
President- Jessica Toler
1st VP- Bill Betz
2nd VP- Hetal Gadhia
Treasurer- Matt Garcia
Secretary- Janice Nhan
Our congratulations to each of these leaders on their election by their peers and for the leadership roles they will play for the osteopathic medical students.
CMS ISSUES CLARIFICATION REGARDING "INCIDENT TO" SERVICES
On May 2, 2008, in response to multiple inquiries, CMS issued a set of clarifying instructions regarding policies for services furnished incident to a physician or non-physician practitioner (NPP) service in the office setting. The clarifying instructions, issued in Change Request 5288, amend and add new material to Chapter 15 of the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual. Among the key points set forth in the clarification include:
When contractors are aware that a service is furnished by staff other than the supervising physician/NPP, contractors will not make payment for the service as "incident to" the physician/NPP service unless there is documentation in the medical record authorizing the service.
The medical record must also contain the name and professional identities of the persons who furnished the incident to services. Contractors will apply the policies for incident to services furnished in the office setting only to services furnished in the identifiable boundary of an office or a single room.
When services are provided outside the office, e.g., in the home or in the SNF outside the boundaries of an office suite, the supervising physician or NPP must be in the same room as the patient and the staff furnishing the incident to service, providing the equivalent of personal supervision.
The full manual update can be found on the CMS website here. A provider education article can be found in the MLN Matters section of the CMS website here.
Reporter:
Robert E. Waters, Washington, 202.639.6785 or
rwaters@velaw.com.
From: Health Headlines, Vinson & Elkins LLP, Health Care Mailings,
www.velaw.com
NEW
MEDICAID/CHIP MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Dr.
Jose Gonzalez is the new medical director for Medicaid and CHIP at the Health
and Human Services Commission. He's a pediatric endocrinologist and professor at
the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He'll start next month.
From: Texas Weekly, by Printing Production Systems, Inc., www.texasweekly.com
GROW A HAPPY PRACTICE
The
cost of replacing an employee can be staggering: Some experts claim it's as much
as 150 percent of the employee's annual salary. Ouch! But, forewarned can be
forearmed; clearly the best strategy is to keep good employees happy.
How a staffer feels about her job and her skill set has everything to do with wanting to stay on board. Be a good coach and mentor to bring out the best in your staff, and take time to reinforce their loyalty. Here are some positive ways to keep your crew together:
Coach when things are calm. Typically, coaching happens when someone is having trouble coping with or managing a task. When this happens, staff will often interpret your sudden interest as "judging their work."
Certainly, it's necessary to provide support when the need emerges, but coaching staff is often more effective when done proactively, out of the "heat" of the moment.
Make a habit of observing performance on an on-going basis. Be visible to your staff and show a willingness to assist them. Look for opportunities to encourage them or offer constructive feedback; your interest and support will improve productivity and performance by making staff feel their contributions are important to the practice.
Understand employees' needs. Don't limit your assessment of a problem to just your own perspective. Find out your employee's view of the situation. She'll feel much more invested in the solution when given the opportunity to contribute.
Manage change. Be realistic about the level of change you can expect from your staff. Change is difficult; when it seems constant, staff members will become frustrated and start wondering if they are working in the right place.
Start by getting staff input to determine if a proposed change is really necessary. Without their support, you won't get past the planning stages; in fact, you just might get sabotaged! When instituting a major change, such as a computer conversion, develop a written action plan. Include a timeline of activities and identify who is the primary person responsible for each line item. This is the best way to guarantee that your staff supports your efforts and accepts responsibility for the outcome.
Be a positive influence. This means more than simply taking on the role of cock-eyed optimist. It's a matter of how you communicate, both verbally and physically. People will rise to the expectations set before them. When a staff member is taking on a new task, make sure you let her know you are confident that she will succeed.
Use positive messages to frame reminders and instructions. It's better to say, "Remember we're doing a chart audit next Monday," instead of, "Don't forget you need to get ready for the audit on Monday." Using direct eye contact, open body posture, and nodding your head will keep your listeners attentive, receptive to productive dialogue, and happy to be part of your practice.
Judy Capko is a healthcare consultant, speaker and author of the popular books, "Secrets of the Best Run Practices, 2006" and "Take Back Time, 2008." Her focus is practice operations and strategic planning with an emphasis on patient-centered strategies and valuing staff contributions. She is a popular speaker and national and regional conferences. Judy is the owner of Capko & Company, www.capko.com, based in Thousand Oaks, Calif. She can be reached at judy@capko.com.
From: Physicians Practice Pearls, by Physicians Practice, www.PhysiciansPractice.com.
IDENTITY THIEVES PREY ON PATIENTS' MEDICAL RECORDS
Published May 09, 2008
Identity thieves are using different methods to steal patient information from
doctors' offices, clinics and hospitals, lawyers and privacy experts say, USA
Today reports. Legal experts say the thieves use medical information to get
credit card numbers, drain bank accounts or falsely bill Medicare and other
insurers.
Although hospitals and other medical settings often encrypt data and take other steps to protect privacy, people are acting with increasing sophistication to steal information, attorneys say.
To read the full story by USA Today, click here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-05-06-privacy_N.htm
From: Patient Financial Services Weekly Advisor, Patient Access Resource Center, a service of HCPro, Inc.,
HEALTH CLINICS INSIDE STORES LIKELY TO
SLOW THEIR GROWTH
The retail clinic concept is losing popularity among venture capitalists and private-equity firms. Why? Because convenience care is a lot more complicated than it sounds. Breakeven takes longer and clinic oversight is more difficult than some clinic operators originally thought. This doesn't mean retail clinics are a bad growth strategy for hospitals (in fact, the article says hospital-run clinics have the best chance at survival) but leaders need to fully research the idea before rushing to open. [Read More:
From: HealthLeaders Media Corner Office, www.healthleadersmedia.com
The 5/7/08
Wall Street Journal reported that the growth of retail health clinics has shown
signs that it is slowing: Although the number of such clinics grew to 963 this
year, up from 125 three years ago, at least 69 clinics in 15 states have closed
so far this year.
From: AOA Health Policy Notes
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS ON DIABETES EDUCATION
The AOA, in collaboration with Merck Pharmaceuticals, has published and distributed part one of the "DOs Against Diabetes" 2008 series of Health Watch, the AOA's continuing medical education newsletter. This special diabetes educational publication is offered in four-parts, with the April 2008 issue comprising the first part of the series and focusing on prevention strategies, dispelling of myths associated with diabetes, and the role of OMT and osteopathic philosophy in managing diabetic patients. DOs who read Health Watch and take a CME quiz are eligible for one hour of AOA Category 1-B CME credit. Learn more online:
RESEARCH IN THE PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE:
NAVIGATING THE ETHICAL MINEFIELD
The ethical
and practical issues that arise when clinical research moves from the academic
medical center--with its IRBs, training and staff resources--to the doctor's
office are explored in this case
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/571687?src=mp&spon=21&uac=9837HV
From: Medscape Business of Medicine MedPulse®, http://www.medscape.com/
ATOMA
MEMBERSHIP: Add ME to the Texas Osteopathic Family!
For
Osteopathic Physicians, Family and Friends - $30 due now for 2008!
(The ATOMA directory is being prepared NOW, so don't delay, please.)
NAME:______________________________________________
Mailing Address:______________________________________
EMAIL: _____________________________________________
Telephone:__________________________________________
Mail $30 check today to ATOMA, c/o Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, 1415
Lavaca, Austin, TX 78701. OR Fax credit card info to TOMA @ 512-708-1415.
Any questions? Wondering if you've paid already - or forgot? Please email
Deidre Froelich, ATOMA Membership,
d2froelich@verizon.net with any questions. Fax 903-583-1234. We want YOU
in the TxDO Family!
If you don't think you have TIME to be an ATOMA member, please be aware that ATOMA welcomes you on YOUR terms. We welcome financial supporting members as well as active participants. This is YOUR family; be comfortable. One size ($30) fits all. Join today! (Thank you! DLF)
COMMON SENSE AND A SENSE OF HUMOR ARE THE SAME THING, MOVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS.
"Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth." --Erma Bombeck
Marriage is very much like a violin; after the sweet music is over, the strings are attached.
Seen on an employee evaluation: "This employee should go far - and the sooner he starts, the better."
People always say that hard work never killed anybody. Oh yeah ??? When's the last time ya ever heard of anyone who "rested to death".
Fitness Center sign: "Self Esteem is feeling good about yourself - regardless of the facts."
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ADVOCATE DO MEDICAL LIABILITY COVERAGE FOR DO's
As a TOMA member, you are eligible for the TOMA Preferred Program which offers discounted rates on medical malpractice insurance premiums from Advocate, DO. TOMA has partnered with Advocate, DO to bring you competitive rates, free risk management assessments, in-house legal assistance, aggressive claims management and a claims-made policy that does not expire. In addition, you will receive Texas Medical Board coverage with separate limits, no deductible and no out of pocket expenses! Advocate, DO does not require any surplus charges, TMA or County Medical Association dues and will provide prior acts coverage.
Take full advantage of your TOMA Preferred Program discounts, call Advocate, DO today - (800) 686-2734 or visit www.advocatedo.com.
Advocate, D.O.
Underwritten by Advocate, MD Insurance Company of the Southwest Inc.
800-686-2734 or 512.275.1830
I hope that this information is helpful. Please feel free to give me any feedback or suggestions on the information in the updates. They are really only as good as the information is useful. So the more useful the information is or can be, the better the updates are.
Respectfully submitted,
Robt. J. "Sam" Tessen
Executive Director
