Becoming Patient-Centered
St. Anthony’s creates PCMH model for primary care physician practices
St. Anthony’s Medical Center recently rolled out a Patient-Centered Medical Home pilot program to provide patients extended hours, expanded services...
LYNNE JETERMaking a Difference Worldwide
Innovative research expands beyond geographic boundaries for radiation oncologist Parag Parikh, MD
When new linear accelerator technology was developed to better deliver radiation therapy, radiation oncologist Parag Parikh, MD, embraced it – and immediately went to work making improvements to the system...
LYNNE JETER
Emergency Room Discharges
How to avoid litigious situations
Studies show that as many as 40 percent of patients don’t follow the doctor’s advice!
The alarming statistic gives pause to risk managers, who work diligently to determine the reasons for patients’ inaction and to prevent reoccurrence...
LYNNE JETERTHE PRACTICE SPECIALIST: Recovery Mission
How data analysis can identify and help recover lost money
Regardless of the Supreme Court ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in this current economic and regulatory climate...
RON PRESENTTHE RISK MINIMALIST: Cover your Assets
Employment practices liability insurance protects against bogus claims
The statistics are discouraging. An estimated three of five businesses will be sued by one of their own employees, whether or not the employer is actually at fault...
MONTE SHIELDSRacking Up
RAC audits recover $4 billion in 2010; on track for record 2011 – and 2012, but are they Always Accurate?
Two years ago set the record for money recouped from physicians for Medicare and Medicaid improper payments since the federal Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) program began in 2003...
LYNNE JETER
Upgraded Safety Net
Barnes-Jewish Hospital unveils new 12-story Center for Outpatient Health
On an overcast day in early March, Barnes-Jewish Hospital leaders and St. Louis public officials heralded the new 12-story Barnes-Jewish Center for Outpatient Health on the Washington University...
THE PRACTICE SPECIALIST: Cyber Threats – Are You Protected Against an Electronic Security Breach?
THE PRACTICE SPECIALIST: Cyber Threats – Are You Protected Against an Electronic Security Breach?
With all the news and chatter surrounding electronic health records and meaningful use, healthcare providers are becoming more dependent upon their systems and data to manage their patients and businesses...
RON PRESENT
Key Strategies
Preventive treatment for the provider’s back-office
By some estimates, nearly one-third of every dollar spent on healthcare in the United States is consumed by administrative expenses. With healthcare reform mandates bearing down on providers,...
LYNNE JETER
Expanding South
Siteman prepares to open South St. Louis County facility in early 2013
Thanks to a mild winter and good overall weather, contractors are on track to complete the new $27.5 million Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center in south St. Louis County by the end of January 2013...
LYNNE JETER
Physician/Hospital Integration – A History Lesson
Depending on how you measure it, physicians and hospitals are currently experiencing the third wave of hospital/physician integration since the 90’s. To borrow a quote from George Santayana “those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.” ...
RANDY GERBER
THE PRACTICE SPECIALIST: The ABCs of Value Networks©
Where do you fit in?
By many accounts, one of the most controversial and discussed aspects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) takes up only seven pages, or approximately a scant 0.3 percent of the nearly 2,500-page document...
RON PRESENTSnuffing the Sniffles
Wash U researchers working on NIH-funded $8 million grant to study asthma and allergic diseases
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are working on an $8 million grant funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the role of the barrier functions of the skin, gut and airway...
LYNNE JETER
Out with the Old, In with the New
Mercy’s expansion, renovation plans take off with high marks
Soon after demolition of the battered St. John’s Mercy Hospital in Joplin began, so did hospital system expansion projects. During the bittersweet wintry mix, Mercy garnered accolades for its integration and disaster recovery efforts...
LYNNE JETER
Measure of Doubt
Fear of unknown has physicians and practice management specialists clamoring for direction on accountable care
Many medical practitioners and practice management consultants want to be involved on the ground floor of the formation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO). Exactly how this new format will work remains unclear, and...
LYNNE JETER
Sunny Outlook?
Comments due mid-February for Sunshine Act proposed rule change on physician payments
Just days before Christmas, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) dispatched a proposal. CMS published proposed regulations for the Sunshine Act on physician...
LYNNE JETER
Washington University Licenses Gene Linked to Cancer Spread
Bill Harbour, MD, leads team to unique melanoma discovery and more
Washington University in St. Louis has licensed a gene linked to the spread of cancer in melanoma patients to Castle Biosciences Inc.
Washington University scientists...
LYNNE JETERTHE PRACTICE SPECIALIST
Heading: Top 5 Issues for Physicians to Follow in 2012
What’s next?! By now, you’ve heard that another bipartisan committee has failed to accomplish its primary objective. The “Super Committee” was created as a compromise between Republicans and Democrats to raise the U.S. debt ceiling in August 2011...
RON PRESENTHoning Healthcare
Honing Healthcare Missouri adds mental health component to PCMH model
Beginning Jan. 1, Missouri will become the nation’s first state to add mentally ill and substance abuse patients who are also dealing with other chronic health problems to the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model of care...
LYNNE JETER
Fraudulent Billing Practices
Fraudulent Billing Practices St. Louis Metro area is hotbed for bogus activities This year has been a spectacularly busy one for Medicaid fraud convictions in the St. Louis metro area, mirroring activity discovered in other major markets across the nation...
LYNNE JETER