Three ‘what ifs’ to consider during a HIPAA risk assessment

May 31, 2013

Robert Tennant, MA, MGMA Government Affairs senior policy advisor, suggests practice professionals ask critical “what if” questions to ensure they identify potential threats and develop a plan to mitigate possible problems. Here are three common “what if” scenarios facing practices.

A ripple effect: The impact of process on patient care

April 13, 2013

In healthcare, small actions have ripple effects on providers and on patients' health. As a physician who has worked in practice management, I have seen how the work of practice administrators affects patients' health. Efficient scheduling, effective communication, the timely collection and analysis of data – each piece of the operations puzzle intersects to ensure better patient outcomes.

3 tips to optimize your phone system

March 25, 2013

Technology — such as EHRs, online portals and mobile apps — can make it easier for patients to access your practice. But for many, phone calls are still the primary way patients communicate with you. There are ways to improve how you manage your practice’s phones to provide better patient care and save staff time.

Patient engagement at your fingertips: Professionals tap new ways to communicate

March 8, 2013

Involving patients in their care in new and dynamic ways is a cornerstone of evolving healthcare delivery methods and has been shown to improve outcomes. The initiative includes integrating patient communication and education into healthcare technology, such as using the EHR as a teaching tool during appointments, as well as finding new ways to enhance the way patients and providers interact. Here are some of the Association’s patient-centered resources to help medical group professionals lead in this area.

Use pain contracts to manage patients on narcotics

March 6, 2013

Many medical practice professionals grapple with how to manage patients who seek pain medication as they want to ensure they are dispensing controlled substances appropriately. Some MGMA-ACMPE members have found that implementing pain contracts can help protect the practice while still meeting the needs of the patient, as outlined in “Pain points: Solutions for drug-seeking patients,” published in this month’s issue of MGMA Connexion magazine.