Physician workload and practice management in pediatric gastroenterology.

OBJECTIVES: The pediatric gastroenterology workforce has grown in the last few decades. The North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) formed a task force to understand current pediatric gastroenterology organizations' practice structures. METHODS: 19-item electronic survey was distributed to NASPGHAN members who were clinical or academic division directors. RESULTS: 30% responded to the survey, all directors of academic practices. The median number of clinical sessions per week was seven sessions, and the median individual work relative value unit (wRVU) target for practices was 4000-4500. Healthcare team ratios compared to provider clinical full-time equivalent were reported as the following: Nursing 0.80, medical assistant (MA) 0.29, dietitian 0.29, social worker 0.14, and psychologist 0.13. Regarding compensation, 68.0% were salaried with bonus based on billing or director decision, 28.0% were salaried with no incentive pay, and 4.0% were salaried with a portion at risk if the target was not met, and a bonus was given if the target was met. Most practices participated in a wellness activity with the most common strategies being didactic lectures about physician burnout (80%), annual burnout check-ins (68%), and/or after-hours social activities (60%). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric gastroenterology practices vary regarding clinical sessions per week and annual wRVU targets with the median at seven sessions per week and an annual goal of 4000-4500 wRVUs, similar to reported national benchmark goals at the 50th percentile. Healthcare teams, including nursing, MAs, dietitians, social workers, and psychologists, had similar ratios of staff to providers for all sizes and types of practices. Most practices are engaging in wellness initiatives.

Practice Management Strategies Among Current Members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: A survey was conducted at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) to evaluate current practice management strategies among AAHKS members. METHODS: An application was used by AAHKS members to answer both multiple-choice and yes or no questions. Specific questions were asked regarding the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on practice patterns. RESULTS: There was a dramatic acceleration in same day total joint arthroplasty with 85% of AAHKS members performing same day total joint arthroplasty. More AAHKS members remain in private practice (46%) than other practice types, whereas fee for service (34%) and relative value units (26%) are the major form of compensation. At the present time, 93% of practices are experiencing staffing shortages, and these shortages are having an impact on surgical volume. CONCLUSION: This survey elucidates the current practice patterns of AAHKS members. The pandemic has had a significant impact on some aspects of practice activity. Future surveys need to monitor changes in practice patterns over time.

Billing, coding, and practice management: a primer for today's reproductive medicine professional.

Despite years of recognition that many physicians are woefully unprepared to face challenges regarding the business of medicine, marginal progress has been made. In this piece, we aim to provide the contemporary reproductive medicine physician with an understanding of billing, coding, and, most importantly, cost containment for a typical fertility practice. It is critical for modern practices to not forego hard-earned revenue to insurance companies or not be aware of critical rules and regulations. While running a successful fertility practice requires good medical care, a profitable practice is necessary for overall long-term success. This article provides a brief history of medical insurance and billing, explains the process of updating billing codes, and reviews the revenue cycle, cost containment, and contract negotiations with insurance companies.

Basics of practice management: managing many for the care of one.

In today's changing health care landscape, it has become necessary that providers have a fundamental understanding of practice management as pertinent to the care they provide. The reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) practice is a uniquely complex setting with many component parts, necessitating frequent assessment and collaboration to provide safe, quality, and cost-effective care. In this review, we aim to describe the basics of medical practice management, divided into six sections: practice models; operations; patient safety; patient experience; employee recruitment; development, and satisfaction; and technology. These topics will be presented with a focus on the application of these principles to the REI practice.

Overcoming Overuse Part 3: Mapping the Drivers of Overuse in Musculoskeletal Health Care.

SUMMARY: Overcoming overuse in musculoskeletal health care requires an understanding of its drivers. In this, the third article in a series on "Overcoming Overuse" of musculoskeletal health care, we consider the drivers of overuse under 4 domains: (1) the culture of health care consumption, (2) patient factors and experiences, (3) clinician factors and experiences, and (4) practice environment. These domains are interrelated, interact, and influence the clinician-patient interaction. We map drivers to potential solutions to overcome overuse. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020;50(12):657-660. doi:10.2519/jospt.2020.0111.

Building a smart FNA cart: When Google meets cytology.

BACKGROUND: The appropriate management of a fine needle aspiration (FNA) supply cart and equipment set up is essential to ensure the smooth and optimal operation of a busy FNA clinic. We applied Lean strategies such as value stream mapping (VSM), the 5S method (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain), and Kanban to remove waste and improve patient flow in an FNA clinic. METHODS: The workflow analysis suggested that existent problems such as suboptimal inventory management and unavailability of standard operating procedures (SOPs) caused a 10% to 85% increase in total procedure time. To improve inventory management, we created a 2-bin Kanban system. We used the "Scan to Web" app and a Google Drive form to create a cost-effective electronic inventory management system. We distributed the essential SOPs in the format of video clips using our YouTube channel and leveraged barcode technology to access the links. RESULTS: Upon completion of our process improvement project, we succeeded to eliminate the stock-out events and maintain a process cycle efficiency of 87%. The 5S audit checklist result increased from 6% to 100% implementation, which is consistent with focused improvement. The developed inventory system enabled us to track the supply usage, forecast demands, and improve the accuracy of orders. CONCLUSIONS: Lean methods such as VSM, 5S, and Kanban combined with open source technologies can be implemented to ensure material availability, track inventory, and provide immediate access to SOPs on demand. The developed system also led to increased efficiency and improved flow, as well as responsiveness to changes in demand.

How group coaching contributes to organisational understanding among newly graduated doctors.

BACKGROUND: Practising medicine at an expert level requires skills beyond medical expert knowledge. Research shows that newly appointed consultants feel less prepared to deal with leadership issues compared to issues regarding medical expertice. Newly graduated (NG) doctors and residents in particular struggle with leadership and organisational issues. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of group coaching on NG doctors' approach to organisational and leadership challenges in daily practice during the transition period from medical school to clinical work. METHODS: Newly graduated doctors participated in a group coaching course comprising three full-day sessions and five two-hour sessions. The purpose was to support NG doctors' professional development regarding organisational issues in the first years after graduation. The coaches were health professionals with certified coaching training. Data from the intervention were collected from open-ended questionnaires and observational notes. A thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Forty-five NG doctors participated in a total of six courses sharing experiences and problems reflected in their professional lives. The following themes emerged: Revelation of the hidden curriculum, importance of professional relations, inter-professional communication, conflict management and emerging leadership skills. Participants' communication skills improved due to an increased awareness of other peoples' perspectives and preferences. They realized the importance of good relations, saw how they could become active contributors in their departments and began to practice leadership skills through e.g. involvement of the team, delegation of work and negotiation of own obligations. CONCLUSION: Newly graduated doctors seemed to develop a growing awareness of organisational issues and a deeper understanding of the complexity of health care organisations through participation in a group coaching course. The study indicates that participation in a group coaching course probably contributes to improve practice among NG doctors. Further studies are needed to consolidate the findings and explore possible organisational effects.

Instrumentos de medición de los conocimientos sobre prevención de úlceras por presión: revisión de la literatura / Tools for measuring the knowledge on pressure ulcer prevention: a literature review

En la prevención de las úlceras por presión (UPP) intervienen diferentes factores: estructurales, organizativos y relacionados con los profesionales; entre ellos, el grado de conocimientos que los profesionales sanitarios tengan es un aspecto fundamental. Objetivo: Identificar los instrumentos de medición de conocimientos de los profesionales de enfermería sobre las UPP. Como objetivos específicos: a) resumir las propiedades psicométricas (validez y fiabilidad) de cada instrumento y b) sintetizar el nivel de conocimientos sobre prevención según los estudios seleccionados. Metodología: Revisión narrativa de la literatura sobre los conocimientos en prevención de UPP. Búsqueda de estudios en 10 bases de datos bibliográficas desde el inicio de indexación hasta julio de 2018. Se incluyeron estudios cuantitativos que utilizasen instrumentos, test o cuestionarios, que cuantificasen los conocimientos en profesionales o estudiantes de enfermería. Se realizó una síntesis descriptiva. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 90 artículos, a partir de los cuales se identificaron 7 instrumentos (o alguna variación del cuestionario original) que han sido utilizados en al menos dos estudios publicados y 31 investigaciones, los cuales han desarrollado instrumentos ad hoc. Los dos más utilizados son el cuestionario Pieper Pressure Ulcer Knowledge (PPKUT) y el cuestionario Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT). No todos los instrumentos publicados presentan datos de fiabilidad y validez psicométrica. Entre los 31 estudios que describen un instrumento desarrollado ad hoc para esa investigación, solo en 5 de ellos se presentan datos de fiabilidad y validez. Aunque se han encontrado estudios que utilizan como fuente para la redacción de los ítems guías de práctica clínica (GPC), son muchos otros los que se basan en revisiones de la literatura, parten de instrumentos previos o no indican la fuente original. Los conocimientos descritos, de forma general en los diferentes estudios, están por debajo del punto de corte establecido por los autores. Conclusión: La medición del nivel de conocimientos sobre prevención de las UPP que tienen los profesionales de salud es importante como primer paso dentro de los programas de prevención de estas lesiones. Se han encontrado un elevado número de cuestionarios sin ninguna prueba de fiabilidad ni de validez, pero que han sido usados en estudios, lo cual contribuyen a generar datos poco relevantes y un grado de confusión. Es fundamental que los investigadores utilicen alguno de los cuestionarios que cuentan con evaluación psicométrica y que determinen dichas propiedades en la muestra utilizada en la investigación

Different factors (structural, organizational and related with professionals) intervene in the prevention of pressure ulcers (PU); the degree of knowledge of health professionals is one of the main aspects. Aim: To identify the instruments for measuring the knowledge of nursing professionals about pus. The specific objectives are: a) to summarize the psychometric properties (validity and reliability) of each instrument and b) to synthesize the knowledge on prevention according to the selected studies. Methodology: Narrative review on knowledge about PU prevention. Search in 10 bibliographic databases from the beginning of indexation until July 2018. The studies included were quantitative studies that used instruments, tests or questionnaires, which quantified the knowledge of professionals or nursing students. A descriptive synthesis was carried out. Results: 90 articles were selected, from which 7 instruments were identified (or some variation of the original questionnaire) that have been used in at least 2 published studies and 31 investigations, which have developed ad hoc instruments. The 2 most used tools are the Pieper Pressure Ulcer Knowledge (PPKUT) questionnaire and the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT) questionnaire. Not all published instruments show data on psychometric reliability and validity. Among the 31 studies that describe an ad hoc instrument, only in 5 of them reliability and validity data are shown. Although some studies used Clinical Practice Guidelines as a source for item elaboration, there are many others that are based only in literature review; modified some previous instruments or did not indicate the original source. The knowledge described in the different studies, in general, are below the cut-off point established by the authors. Conclusions: Measuring the knowledge on PU prevention of health professionals is important as a first step in injury prevention programs. A large number of the questionnaires found have any proof of reliability or validity; nevertheless they have been used in studies, which contribute to the generation of irrelevant data and to create confusion. It is essential that researchers use questionnaires with good psychometric properties and these properties should be evaluated again in the sample used in the research

Análisis de concepto: gestión enfermera de la demanda / Concept analysis: Nurse demand management

La gestión enfermera de la demanda (GED) es un concepto emergente que requiere una clarificación útil no solo para los profesionales y usuarios sino también para gestores. La GED nació en 2009 tras la necesidad de reorganizar los flujos de la demanda, pero se ha convertido en algo más que en eso. Se entiende la GED como un programa liderado por la enfermera de Atención Primaria para atender a personas con enfermedades agudas leves. La enfermera, bajo un protocolo consensuado y dentro de su ámbito competencial, puede ser autónoma en la atención al paciente y en la resolución de problemas agudos leves. Por tanto, siguiendo la filosofía de Atención Primaria, tanto el médico como la enfermera son los profesionales que darán continuidad en el proceso salud-enfermedad del usuario a lo largo de su vida. Este artículo ha sido escrito según la metodología descrita por Wilson

Nurse demand management (NDM) is an emerging concept that requires some useful clarification, not only for professionals and users but also for managers. The NDM was born in 2009 after the need to reorganize the flow of demand, but it has become more than this. NDM is understood as a program led by the primary care nurse to take care of people with acute minor illnesses. Nurses, under a consensual protocol and within their competence area, can be autonomous in patient care and in the resolution of acute minor illnesses. Therefore, following Primary Care's philosophy, both the doctor and the nurse are the professionals that will follow up the health-disease process throughout the user's life. This article was written according to the methodology described by Wilson

Assessing hospital quality management systems: evidence from Iran.

PURPOSE: A quality management system (QMS) is defined as interacting activities, methods and procedures used to monitor, control and improve service quality. The purpose of this paper is to describe the QMS status using the Quality Management System Index (QMSI) in hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences University in Tehran, Iran. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: In this cross-sectional study, 28 hospitals were investigated. A validated 46-item questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, independent student's t-test and regression analysis. FINDINGS: The mean QMSI score was 18.4: 15.3 for public and 20.9 for non-public hospitals ( p=0.001). The lowest (1.96) and the highest (2.14) scores related to "Quality policy documents" and "Quality monitoring by the board," respectively. The difference between public and non-public hospitals was significant in all nine QMSI dimensions ( p=0.001). The QMSI score was higher in non-public and small hospitals than in public and large ones ( p=0.05). ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Most QMS studies come from developed countries, and there is no systematic information about the mechanisms and processes involved in implementing QMS in developing countries like Iran. This is the first study on Iranian hospital QMS using a newly developed tool (QMSI), and results showed that QMS maturity in these hospitals was relatively good, but the non-public hospitals status (private and charity) was far better than public hospitals.

The efficacy of the new medical internship management network system.

With the increasing number of medical students and scattered host hospitals, the traditional clinical internship management system has been falling behind. Thus, we have independently developed a new clinical practice management system based on the browser/server structure.We aim to evaluate the efficacy of the new medical management system on the quality of the internship and survey the users' satisfaction.This study was conducted on the students of Second Clinical Medical College of Southern Medical University, including 672 interns (non-user group) who had not used the system and 315 users (user group). We analyzed the scores of their theoretical knowledge and clinical skills before and after the internship, which served as the quantitative standards for evaluating the efficacy of the system. User satisfaction surveys were also conducted, including by interns, clinical teachers, and teaching administrators.An analysis of scores showed that the user group had more significant improvement in both clinical knowledge and skills than the non-user group after the internship. Significant improvement was found in the user group, while there was a slight difference in the non-user group. A total of 310 students responded to the satisfaction questionnaires effectively, most of whom agreed with the system's benefits of learning theoretical knowledge (98.1%, n = 304) and clinical skills (93.9%, n = 291). Additionally, 115 clinical teachers and 27 teaching administrators were selected using a random sampling method for the survey. The results showed that 96.3% of the teachers considered the system to be helpful for improving teaching quality, and 92.6% administrators thought it was useful for implementing management. Over 90% of the participants in the 3 user groups reported a strong satisfaction of the system.With high level of user satisfaction, this system helps to strengthen the management for interns and improves the medical knowledge and skills of interns. Hence, it could be widely used in medical colleges and even in other fields.

The characteristics of physician practices joining the early ACOs: looking back to look forward.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether the characteristics and capabilities of individual practices intending to join the early Medicare accountable care organization (ACO) programs differed from those of practices not intending to join. STUDY DESIGN: Data from a 2012-2013 national survey of 1398 physician practices were linked to 2012 Medicare beneficiary claims data to examine differences between practices intending to join a Medicare ACO and practices not intending to join a Medicare ACO. METHODS: Differences were examined with regard to patient sociodemographic characteristics and disease burden, practice characteristics and capabilities, and cost and quality measures. Logistic regression was used to examine the differences. RESULTS: Practices intending to join were more likely to have better care management capabilities (odds ratio [OR], 1.72; P <.003), health information technology functionality (OR, 1.87; P <.001), and use of quality improvement methods (OR, 1.52; P <.04). They were also more likely to have had prior pay-for-performance experience (OR, 1.59; P <.02) and less likely to be physician-owned (OR, 0.51; P <.001). However, the practices with the greater capabilities still used half or less of them. CONCLUSIONS: Physician practices that intended to join the early ACO programs had greater capabilities and experience to manage risk than those practices that decided not to join. The early ACO programs thus attracted the more capable physician practices, but those practices still fell short of implementing key recommended behaviors. The findings have implications for future physician practice selection into ACOs.