Workshops

Wednesday, Oct. 24 | 8:45-10:15 am

WS1: Clinicaphobia: What Patients Fear and Why We Have to Know

Patient Care and Quality
Intermediate
Traditional
Colleen Sweeney, RN, MS, founder and owner, Sweeney Healthcare Enterprises, Osceola, Ind.

Did you know that 96 percent of people have a fear regarding their healthcare? In this session, the speaker will share the results of The Patient Empathy Project and her interviews with more than 1,000 patients. You’ll see amazing artwork from a unique postcard study that viscerally and visually represents patient fears. You'll also view a sobering video of an office visit from the patient perspective that will challenge us to think differently about patients. Learn how the study of “clinicaphobia” can change a culture, change satisfaction survey results and change you.

This session will provide you with the knowledge to:

  • Review the top 11 patient fears and accompanying postcard artwork
  • Describe the “clinicaphobia” phenomenon
  • Respond to patient fears in a way that creates a patient-centered care environment

WS2: Can Physicians Really Make Tough Decisions?

Professional and Staff Development
Basic
Traditional
Reed Tinsley, CPA, CVA, CFP, CHBC, consultant /owner, Reed Tinsley CPA, Cypress, Texas  

Can physicians really make tough decisions? Many times it appears not, even though running a medical practice at times requires tough and decisive decision making. Using real life examples, this interactive presentation will explore situations that required tough decision making, demonstrate how physicians dealt with them and identify the ultimate outcomes. Among the scenarios are what to do about the physician who continually overcodes, how to address the highest-producing physician’s desire to change the compensation formulary, handling the disruptive physician, and others.

This session will provide you with the knowledge to:

  • Provide examples of tough decisions that physician may face
  • Navigate difficult situations based on the experiences of others
  • Participate in an interactive discussion with fellow attendees about decision making

WS3: Super Hero Practice Administrators – Innovations in Practice Administration

Professional and Staff Development
Basic
Traditional
Maureen Mulvaney, EdM, PMA, chief executive officer and president, MGM & Associates Inc., Phoenix  

Plain and simple, a positive practice fosters higher productivity, thus boosing profits. You'll laugh as you learn how to create a positive practice using the latest cutting-edge, easily applied healthcare trends and innovations, drive practice productivity and generate higher profits through increased patient-centered focus. Don't miss this fun-filled session, during which you’ll learn to create magical moments in your practice.

This session will provide you with the knowledge to:

  • Recognize healthcare trends and innovations that foster a positive practice
  • Explore coping strategies that support practice growth
  • Identify strategies that support increased profits

WS4: Comparing New Payment Models: How to Look a Trojan Horse in the Mouth

Revenue Strategies and Cost Containment
Intermediate
Traditional
Nate Moore, CPA, MBA, CMPE, president, Moore Solutions Inc., Centerville, Utah; and Randy Cook, MPH, FACMPE, president/chief executive officer, AmpliPHY Physician Services, Columbia, Tenn.  

The evolving payer market is testing numerous payment models, including bundled payments, capitation, shared savings and several others. This session will provide a systematic method for comparing each payment model with your practice’s overall pricing strategy. We will begin with a conceptual discussion to better understand the theory behind the most common payment methods. We’ll discuss each model’s risks and rewards and identify how to mitigate some of the risks. We’ll also present an Excel tool, of which you’ll receive a copy, developed to help model, compare and evaluate new reimbursement methods.

This session will provide you with the knowledge to:

  • Develop your practice’s baseline pricing strategy
  • Describe and evaluate new payer reimbursement models
  • Use an Excel tool developed for measuring payer reimbursement

WS5: Staying Independent – Exploring and Understanding the Options

Alignment and Integration 
Advanced
Traditional
Bruce Johnson, MPA, JD, shareholder, Polsinelli Shughart PC, Denver; Mark Spetsios, CMPE, administrator, Florida Cardiac Consultants Inc., Sarasota; Laura Miller, clinical manager, Pinon Family Practice PC, Farmington, N.M.; and John Redding, MD, MBA, manager, physician hospital alignment, Blue Consulting Services, Indianapolis  

Employment by with hospitals or other large healthcare delivery systems is commonly touted as the "one size fits all" solution to physician practice participation in our changing delivery system. Yet many independent physician practices are finding that aligning with one another in larger groups, clinically integrated networks or other health delivery structures is better for the physicians, the practice, and the patients. This extended session will use case studies, panel discussion and facilitated discussion to explore the structural, financial, operational, payer contracting, legal and other dimensions of physician group strategies involving the maintenance of independent physician practices.

This session will provide you with the knowledge to: 

  • Identify challenges of developing and operating clinically integrated networks
  • Consider contracting and relationship strategies for physician networks
  • Evaluate alternative strategies and approaches for staying independent

WS6: Contract Negotiation: Improve your Practice's Revenue

Revenue Strategies and Cost Containment
Basic
Traditional
Marcia Brauchler, MPH, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-I, CPHQ, founder and president, Physicians' Ally, Inc., Littleton, Colo.  

While most physician practices focus on cutting expenses instead of improving the revenue stream from non-governmental payers, a little focused effort on negotiating payer contracts can create essential revenue for your practice. Learn how to be your practice's advocate in payer contracting, including selling your practice's value proposition, handling the negotiations and monitoring the new payer agreements for continued success. You have more leverage than you think and can level the playing field with the insurance companies.

This session will provide you with the knowledge to:

  • Get organized for successful payer contracting negotiations
  • Describe the predictable steps in any negotiation
  • Employ strategies to monitor your sucess once the contract is in effect