We continue to battle the epidemic of obesity and we have tried countless tactics to impact the ever-growing issue. Unfortunately, effective treatment remains elusive, no matter what models we utilize. Whether it is diets, behavioral modification, or even bariatric surgery, we seem to continue to have a minimal impact. The idea of self-activation and engagement continues to be… Read More »
Despite being out of direct patient care since 2006, I still can recite the entire review of systems (ROS) in five seconds flat. In fact, our instructors indoctrinated in us that if this documentation did not occur at every visit, one could not fulfill billing and coding requirements. Of course, this was also not the intended purpose of… Read More »
As we continue to focus on value-based payment models, we must always be aware of possible unintended consequences. The Medicare Bundled Payment for Care Improvement Advanced Model (BPCI-A) is a model that has had broad participation since its inception in 2018. It has shown reductions in overall Medicare payments per episode and improvements in clinical outcomes. The question… Read More »
As we continue our journey of value-based care, we still struggle to find models that significantly move the needle on improving quality and outcomes while also lowering costs. Central to this movement, has been a focus on primary care clinicians delivering services that focus on the holistic needs of individuals they serve, which includes prevention, lifestyle modification, healthy… Read More »
In healthcare, particularly regarding new technologies, we habitually chase after the latest, greatest shiny object. And we very often accept these innovations as being beneficial even before the data is confirmed, sometimes even failing to terminate usage when it’s not shown to be of benefit. And Remote patient Monitoring (RPM) risks falling into that scenario. Hypothetically, the idea… Read More »
Gun control is a topic fraught with political connotations, however violence prevention is relatively free of it. The health problem of violence presents itself in many forms, including assaults, homicide, suicide, intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, child and adult bullying, and others. All these injuries and psychological impacts are preventable. Not only is there a human… Read More »
As we continue to focus on the cost of healthcare and delivering value, there has been an ongoing interest in ordering ambulatory testing, especially regarding musculoskeletal complaints. What is driving this cost, is the volume of tests ordered and the unit price of those tests. Undoubtedly, it’s worth spending time discussing the degree of pricing; however, it is… Read More »
Historically, we have designated administrative codes as methods for reimbursement. However, with the evolution of value-based care, these same codes are now applied for risk stratification for adjustments to value-based payments. This variation of fees is necessary because the degree of illness and complexity drives the clinical needs and, thus, the cost. However, using this methodology has created… Read More »
The desire to improve diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and safety is always on the minds of clinicians. Suddenly, artificial intelligence (AI) arrives, and everyone believes we have found nirvana and a solution to all problems. Unfortunately, despite multiple peaks of excitement, AI still has failed to meet our expectations. When we delve into the reasons concerning diagnostic accuracy, it’s… Read More »
In a manner that was not possible during “normal” times, the COVID crisis allowed us to implement much-needed changes and the expansion of virtual care is one of them. In addition to the growth of virtual care, increasing the healthcare workforce during a time of crisis was necessary. In all, 45 states extended licenses to out-of-state practitioners. Currently,… Read More »