Physicians Play Key Role in Disseminating Vital COVID-19 Vaccine Information

by | Apr 8, 2021 | Around MDSP

The Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) made its way into the United States over one (1) year ago, and currently there are over 30M known cases with ~554K deaths reported. As we continue to battle this virus, Physicians are spending more time educating patients on the proper guidelines to follow to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Click the following link to learn more about the critical role that Physicians now play in disseminating vital information regarding the new Covid-19 vaccines to address patients’ questions and concerns.

 

Source: https://www.ama-assn.org/about/leadership/physicians-provide-key-voice-building-vaccine-confidence

Source: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home

Photo Credit: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

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Effectively Collaborating with Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners

by | Apr 1, 2021 | Around MDSP

Healthcare systems can benefit greatly from a well-established partnership between the facility’s Physicians and their team of Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners. Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners play a vital role in the success of a healthcare facility and provide more flexibility for Physicians. Implementing a strong care team model to include PA’s and NP’s can assists healthcare facilities in providing a higher quality of patient care, while increasing revenue and lowering costs.

Source: https://www.physicianspractice.com/view/making-the-most-out-of-pas-and-nps

Photo Credit: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

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Locum Tenens Provider Spotlight

by | Mar 12, 2021 | Around MDSP

Physician Spotlight – Dr. F

Specialty: Neonatology

Home State: North Carolina

Practicing Locum Tenens Since 2019

 

Getting To Know Dr. F:

Why did you first pursue locum tenens work?

I wanted to experience different places before deciding upon a permanent place to work.  I have thoroughly enjoyed it; locum work allows me to work flexibly, to get to know all kinds of people in the different hospital cultures, and take care of babies in a variety of settings from the lowest acuity to the highest.

Describe the most unique assignment you’ve worked.

The most unique assignment I have worked as a neonatologist is a tiny little rural newborn nursery.  I think it would surprise most people to see what some of these small places can do.  I have been consistently impressed by their ability to do a lot with relatively fewer resources compared to much larger centers.  It’s a lot of fun to spend time out there.

What medical advancements would you like to see in the next 5 years?

In general, I hope to see growth in local delivery of care to assist populations that don’t live near big cities or large tertiary care centers.  In the NICU specifically, I’d like to see even more advancement of less invasive respiratory and surfactant delivery techniques.

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Locum Tenens Provider Spotlight Copy

by | Mar 12, 2021 | Providers

Physician Spotlight –

Dr. Ray

 

Specialty:  Anesthesiology

 

Home State: North Carolina

 

Number of Years Practicing Locum Tenens: First Year

What clients have to say about Dr. Ray: 

Dr. Ray has been a great addition to our locum tenens staff.  He has worked at two of our facilities and integrates well at both even though the culture at each is quite different.  His anesthesia skills are excellent and is so compliant with paperwork!  Really great to work with!

Getting to know Dr. Ray:

Q: Why did you first pursue locum tenens work?

A: Burn Out.   I left a busy, full-time hospital location after 22 years.  I saw an opportunity to leave the daily grind. After some time, I realized that I missed some aspects of the practice of anesthesiology and I started to look around to see what options were available.  I explained my situation to various recruiters and I found that MD Staff Pointe had some options that were ideal for me. As I mentioned to them “There are youngsters that can take the all-night call.  I’m too old now for busy call.”  Working locums allows me to evaluate different hospitals and practices to see if we’re a good match.  When I first got out of the Army in 1993, I started in a practice I did not enjoy, but it was close to home.  I was stuck because of contractual requirements.  I got the opportunity to move to North Carolina to join people I knew from the Army and spent 22 years with them.  I got to work with some great people and learned a lot.  But most importantly, I learned that different hospitals and communities have personalities of their own, and that’s where locums work is so great.  You can tap into those areas and see if it is a good fit for yourself.

Q: Describe the most unique experience you’ve had.

A:  By far the most unique assignment I’ve ever had was after my internship when I was in the Army.  I was assigned to HHB 56th Field Artillery in Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany.  Not only did I get to live in another country, but I was assigned as the Command Medical Officer to the Army’s Nuclear Missile Command during the time of the signing of the INF Nuclear Missile Treaty under President Reagan.  I got to see East Berlin before the Wall came down, eat real Borscht in a real Russian restaurant in East Berlin, go through Checkpoint Charlie, see Berlin, and all the other amazing sights, sounds, and the rest Germany had to offer.  And I got to ski in the Alps.  Nothing even comes close to that experience!

Q: Describe what medical advancements you would like to see in the next 5 years (or anything else relevant to your specialty).

A: I can’t imagine because there have been so many advancements over my short 35-year career.  Things we take for granted today like pulse oximetry and EtCO2 monitoring did not exist when I started, and are now standard usage and have revolutionized care.  But the past several years have shown the value of Ultrasound inpatient care.  What started as a big bulky box can now be held in your hand on your phone.  But more importantly, it has allowed the anesthesiologist to “see” the tip of their needle.  Surgeons have always said there is nothing worse than a blind surgeon, but anesthesiologists always were blind, we always “felt” our way to needle placement.  And there were many things I would not do because I felt that they were too dangerous.  Now Ultrasound allows precise needle placement to allow avoidance of other structures.

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Provider Medicare Payments Extensions and Relief Continues

Provider Medicare Payments Extensions and Relief Continues

by | Oct 2, 2020 | Around MDSP

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services started a Accelerated and Advance Payment Program when the pandemic hit as admissions and office visits dropped. Big industry groups are advocating for more relief as hospitals and providers continue to struggle during COVID-19. Provider Medicare payments extensions and relief continues as President Trump signed a continuing resolution on Thursday, October 1st to extend the advanced payments during the pandemic. The new law will give providers a year before CMS will recoup the advanced payments paid during the emergency period with lower interest rates, and more favorable repayment terms aiming to preserve quality of care.

While lawmakers are looking to loan forgiveness as a long term solution to the repayments, CMS is unlikely to budge. Some of the funds used to assist hospitals and providers were from Medicare trust funds unlike the Provider Relief Funds which were paid from the federal government. With a depleted trust fund, Medicare is unlikely to allow loan forgiveness and many providers are encouraged to pay off they advanced payments before they turn into overpayments and begin accruing interest. Once this happens, the Department of Treasury can get involved to recoup on providers unwilling to pay what is owed via their tax refunds, for example.

While large healthcare industry groups advocate for further relief, Congress has stalled on make progress on a bill since the CARES Act. Talks will continue admits the Presidential election and pandemic developments.

Source: revcycleintelligence.com

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