Technology

EHR implementation could be hurt by shortage of IT professionals

Who are you going to hire to help implement and maintain your increasingly sophisticated electronic health records systems over the next few years? Depending on where you live, that could be a real challenge, according to the American Health Information Management Association. The group warns that, in many parts of the country, no one will be available without concerted training and incentives. Find out what’s being done to increase the supply of trained professionals for practices such as yours. » More

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Resource Center: Oral Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation afflicts more than 2.3 million persons in the United States and is expected to increase 2.5-fold by 2050. To find risk stratifying tools and articles on emerging oral anticoagulant therapies, click here.

Liability & Risk Management

Want to save $62.4 billion? Enact medical liability reform, AMA says

Here’s a straightforward way for Congress’ Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to save $62.4 billion over 10 years without cutting payments to healthcare providers: Institute meaningful medical liability reform. That was what the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, and more than 90 other state and specialty medical societies told the so-called “supercommittee.” Read on to see the specific recommendations. » More

Live coverage of the MGMA annual conference

We’ll be covering the Medical Group Management Association annual conference in Las Vegas October 23 to 26, providing the most up-to-date information on health information technology, staff development, revenue strategies, and other issues that affect your practice. Follow us at Twitter.com/MedEconomics, and tweet us your practice management questions and comments at #MedEcatMGMA.

Practice Finance

Whose relative value? Work intensity similar across physician specialties

Proponents of lower payments for primary care providers argue that work requiring less mental challenge and stress should pay less. The problem with that “relative value” position is that, according to a recent study, overall work intensity actually is quite similar across medical specialties. Find out why researchers believe the instruments currently used to measure physician work intensity are flawed. » More

Health Law & Policy

New physicians recruited like star athletes as shortage looms

Will this year’s A-Rod be wearing a white coat and stethoscope? Although no one is offering a $275 million contract, doctors just entering the field have become a hot commodity. A recent survey found that more than 75% of physicians in their final year of training received at least 50 job solicitations, and half got 100 or more. If you think, however, that being in demand makes newly minted physicians happy with their chosen profession, think again. » More

Doctors’ Writing Contest

Share your knowledge and expertise, and you could win $2,000!

Do you have a story to tell your fellow physicians? Or do you have proven advice or suggestions on how to thrive in this new era of healthcare? If so, enter your article in our Doctors’ Writing Contest for a shot at the grand prize, which includes $2,000, a crystal award, and $500 to donate to the healthcare charity of your choice.

The runner-up and winners of the Best Practice Solution and New Doctor Award categories each will receive $1,000 and a crystal award. Honorable mentions also will be awarded!

For more details and the official rules, visit www.MedicalEconomics.com/contest. The deadline for submissions is November 1.

Technology

Use EMR reminders to increase vaccination rates

Making sure all of your older patients receive necessary vaccines is a challenge; 34% of adults aged more than 65 years fail to get a seasonal influenza vaccine and 40% lack pneumococcal vaccinations. Your electronic medical record system could provide an effective solution, however. A recent study reports that EMR reminders increase pneumococcal vaccination rates by 50% and raise influenza vaccination rates 20% compared with usual care. How can this system work for you, and how much of your time will it require? » More

Too early for metadata standards for health information

The government is jumping the gun in trying to develop metadata standards for healthcare technology, according to two industry groups. Those standards are proposed for meaningful use stage 2 and could affect your electronic health record implementation. Find out what prompted concerns that standards are too early for metadata, which embed descriptive information about the meaning and use of data. » More

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