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On Evidence-Based Clinical Medical Guidelines

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

About the Institute for Clinical Systems Integration [ICSI]

By Brent A. Metfessel MD, CMP™

The Institute for Clinical Systems Integration (ICSI) is a strong proponent of the value of evidence-based clinical guidelines, and cites the following objections that make their implementation and acceptance more difficult.

The Issues

These issues generally apply to technology assessments as well:

Guidelines are a legal hazard: There is a fear that following a guideline that turns out to be wrong increases the risk of litigation. Good guidelines, however, are evidence-based and not opinion-based drivers of care. Furthermore, once a review of the literature takes place and is synthesized into a preliminary guideline, multi-specialty physician focus groups review the guidelines prior to finalization. The strength of evidence supporting each conclusion is usually stated, highlighting areas of remaining scientific uncertainty. “Evidence hierarchies” are often used as aids to grading recommendations, with meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials being at or near the top of the hierarchy in strength, with narrative reviews, case reports, and medical opinion pieces being considered the weakest forms of evidence. This provides additional checks and balances to guideline development.
Guidelines are cookbook medicine: Guidelines are just that – guidelines. Each patient should be provided treatment according to his/her individual needs. Evidence-based clinical guidelines are based on extensive reviews of the literature and are applicable to the vast majority of cases for a particular clinical condition but not necessarily all cases. In the case of practice pattern evaluation or profiling, comparisons of such patterns to medical guidelines can help identify overall systematic variations from the norm rather than variations due to particular patients with special needs.
Guidelines do not work: When used as the sole basis for practice improvement, this statement contains some truth. However, when incorporated into a systematic continuous quality improvement approach, they have been shown to improve practice patterns and reduce variation.
Physicians will not use guidelines: Once physicians know that the guidelines are based on a sound review of the medical literature, practitioner buy-in greatly increases. In addition, clinicians need to realize that clinical guidelines are only one part of the total treatment picture since a team approach to patient care is becoming the norm.
Guidelines need validation through actual outcomes data: This is correct when based on a continuous quality improvement approach, but is incorrect if outcomes are based on individual events. Local implementation of guidelines can be compared to outcomes data one or two years after implementation. Depending on the actual level of practice pattern improvement, minor alterations can be made to the guidelines to reflect local needs.

Guideline Adaptation

National guidelines in some cases may need adaptation to local patient needs and concerns. For example, a practice in a major metropolitan area where specialty care is readily available differs in major ways from a rural practice which is based more on primary care. Practices where many patients are poor or on public assistance also differs from practices in affluent areas. When used as basic guides to appropriate practice, however, clinical guidelines can significantly decrease practice variation.

Evidence Based Medicine

With the recent emphasis on evidence-based medicine and on decreasing the time lag between evidence publication and its effect on actual patient care, a number of agencies have added clinical guideline and technology assessment development to their task lists. Such agencies include specialty societies such as the American College of Cardiology (ACC), private companies and non-profit organizations, governmental bodies such as the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ), and MCOs that review the scientific evidence for the purpose of determining coverage policy.

Assessment

MCOs may post medical coverage policies on the Web for physicians to access, and these generally contain narrative justifications (often with evidence grading) in terms of why a particular procedure or diagnostic test may or may not be covered based on level of efficacy shown in scientific studies. It is important to note that for many high-tech or new procedures, different MCOs may have somewhat different coverage policies based on variation in terms of interpreting the evidence, especially in areas where the science is less certain.

Conclusion

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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

***

Invite Dr. Marcinko

***

Filed under: Book Reviews, Career Development, Ethics, iMBA, Inc., Practice Management, Recommended Books | Tagged: Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, American College of Cardiology, Brent A. Metfessel MD, Business of Medical Practice, cookbook medicine, Evidence-Based Clinical Medicine, Institute for Clinical Systems Integration, www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com | 8 Comments »

[Health] Plan Management Navigator

Posted on October 10, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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Early October 2010 Edition

By Douglas B. Sherlock, CFA

In this edition of Plan Management Navigator, we summarize the cost benchmarks of health plans focused on Medicaid.

Administrative Expenses

Core administrative expenses for selected Medicaid focused health plans was 8.4% of premiums in 2009, both overall and in the Medicaid HMO product itself. Comprehensive products had total PMPM costs of $24.90 and the Medicaid HMO product had total PMPM costs of $22.77.

The median values for core administrative expenses for the Medicaid HMO products offered by these health plans were 7.5% of premium and $21.30 PMPM.

Core Costs

Core costs declined by 5.2% PMPM on an as-reported basis compared with a decline of 1.4% last year. Holding product mixes constant, costs declined by 5.8% PMPM compared with a PMPM decline of 1.4% PMPM. Central to the decline was a 13% PMPM decline in Account and Membership Administration costs.

The peer group in this analysis consisted of ten Medicaid plans, which together served 3.9 million members. Of these members, 2.8 million were Medicaid HMO, and this product comprised on average 70.8% of the total.

HealthCare Reform

Health care reform is expected to have a dramatic effect on plans serving Medicaid-eligible members as Medicaid eligibility is expected to increase by 16 million members. But, this takes place in a weak economy which contributes to membership growth while federal and state tax revenues are under pressure. Medicaid health plans are heavily committed to the management of administrative expenses.

Web Conference

We will host a web conference on Tuesday, October 12^th from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM East Coast Time to discuss the summary results. I will offer a brief presentation, followed by questions and answers.

To participate register here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/995011459.

Once registered, dial-in information and a link to connect to the web will be provided in a confirmation email.

Assessment

Link: Navigator Early October 2010

I hope that you find this month’s Navigator of interest and we look forward to your participation on Tuesday.

Sherlock Company
sherlock@sherlockco.com
Ph: 215-628-2289
Fax: 215-542-0690

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Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Career Development, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, Sponsors | Tagged: CFA, Douglas B. Sherlock, healthcare reform, Medicaid, Medicaid HMO, Plan Management Navigator | 2 Comments »

Essay on Healthcare Leadership

Posted on October 5, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Versus Healthcare Management

[By Eugene Schmuckler PhD, MBA and Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA]

Many times, individuals or physicians will use the terms management and leadership synonymously. In actuality the terms have significantly different meanings.

For example, Warren Bennis describes the difference between managers and leaders as “Managers do thing right, Leaders the right thing.”

***

The Managers

Managers are those individuals who have as their primary function managing a team of people and their activities. In effect, managers are those who have been given their authority by the nature of their role and ensure that the work gets done by focusing on day to day tasks and their activities.

On other hand, a leader’s approach is generally innate in its approach. Good leadership skills are difficult to learn because they are far more behavioral in nature than those skills needed for management. Leaders are also very focused on change recognizing that continual improvement can be achieved in their people and their activities can be a great step towards continued success.

Leadership Development

Perhaps some of the best training grounds for the development of leaders are the military. The Marine Corps slogan is “A Few Good Men” and the military academies at Annapolis (Navy), New London, Connecticut (Coast Guard), Colorado Springs (Air Force), and West Point (Army) all have as their main mission, the development of leaders. This is done by a number of different techniques. At graduation, the new officers, regardless of the branch of service, have been taught, and more importantly, have internalized the following: communicate the missions, sensitivity matters, real respect is earned, trust and challenge your soldiers. It is due to these lessons that many graduates of the military academies go on to positions of leadership in the private sector as well as in government. Communicating the mission refers to conveying to those who work with us what are practice is hoping to accomplish and the role of each employee in achieving that goal. Given an understanding and awareness of the mission, when confronted with a barrier, employees are able to face hard problems when there is no well-defined approach by which to deal with them.

Sensitivity does matter – A leader treats each employee with respect and dignity, regardless of race, gender, cultural background or particular role they actually perform in the practice. Consider how many legal suits are filed against any type of organization, whether it is a medical practice or a large manufacturing facility due to perceived disparate treatment towards the employee based on race, religion, gender sexual preference or other non-work related issues.

Real respect is earned – Having initials after one’s name and the wearing of a lab coat does not automatically entitle an individual to respect. Formal authority has been found to be one of the least effective forms of influence. Only by earning the respect of your staff as well as your patients can you be sure that your intent will be carried out when you are not present. Setting the example in performance and conduct, rather than ‘do as I say, not as I do,” level of activity enables one to exert influence far greater than titles.

Trust and challenge your employees – How many times have practices sought to hire the best and brightest only to second guess the employee. Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google, describes his management philosophy as having “… an employee base in which everybody is doing exactly what they want every day.” Obviously there are certain policies and procedures, but at the same time, the leader enables decision making to the lowest possible level. This also enables employees to question why certain policies and procedures are still being followed when more effective and efficient methods are available. (How the Army Prepared Me to Work at Google, Doug Raymond, Harvard Business)

Internal Faults

The phrase “Physician, heal thyself” (Luke 4:23, King James Version) means that we have to attend to our own faults, in preference to pointing out the faults of others. The phrase alludes to the readiness of physicians to heal sickness in others while sometimes not being able or will to heal themselves. By the same token, it now is necessary for us to learn how to manage ourselves. It suggests that physicians, while often being able to help the sick, cannot always do so, and when sick themselves are no better placed than anyone else (Gary Martin, phrases.org.uk/meanings/281850.html, 2010).

Self Development

“We will have to learn how to develop ourselves. We will have to place ourselves outside the boundaries where we can make the greatest contribution. And we will have to stay mentally alert and engaged during a 50-year working life, which means knowing how and when to change the work we do” (Managing Oneself, Harvard Business Review – Jan. 2005 – pp 100-109, by Peter Drucker). Although one’s IQ and certain personality characteristics are more or less innate and appear to remain stable over time there are individual capabilities that enable leadership and can be developed. Enhancement of these capabilities can lead to the individual being able to carry out the leadership tasks of setting direction, gaining commitment, and creating alignment. These capabilities include self-management capabilities, social capabilities and work facilitation capabilities.

***

Assessment

Without question, while it is possible to cram for at test and graduate at the top of one’s class, that does not assure leadership ability. We all know at least one person who scores at the highest levels on cognitive measures but would be incapable of pouring liquid out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel.

Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

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CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

Filed under: Book Reviews, Career Development, Ethics, Recommended Books | Tagged: Business of Medical Practice, Eugene Schmuckler, Healthcare Leadership, healthcare management, www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com | 3 Comments »

About the Placebo [Medical] Journal

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Humor in Medicine

By ME-P Staff Reporters

According to their website, the Placebo Journal [PJ] is a magazine for physicians whose goal, as its Latin definition states, is “to give pleasure to”. The purpose in starting this “Placebo” brand is to empower physicians with a skill that is sorely lacking today in medicine – humor.

Placebo Brand Expanding

Recently however, they expanded the placebo brand to physician assistants, nurses, radiology techs and even to patients. By using real life medical stories, all stakeholders can now laugh at the medical system.

Like a Pill?

Like a placebo pill, the PJ produces a positive effect from something of very little substance. They don’t think too much of them-selves because they know it’s a rag tabloid. And, they don’t mean to denigrate the practice of medicine, patients or other physicians. But, they do mean to humanize the medical profession more. It is not only therapeutic, but necessary. Laughter is the key to life! With the Placebo Journal, the editors want everyone to see the lighter side of the job.

Assessment

The burnout, depression and suicide rate is high among healthcare givers. Humor may heal and help.

Link: http://www.placebojournal.com/default.asp

Conclusion

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development | Tagged: http://www.placebojournal.com, humor in medicine, Placebeo Journal | Leave a comment »

The Rise of Niche Medical Providers

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Understanding New Roles and a Changing Delivery Ecosystem

By Staff Reporters

It is well know that orthopedic and cardiac hospitals have experienced a development boom over the past decade. And, according to Robert James Cimasi MHA, AVA, CMP™ of Health Capital Consultants, LLC, reimbursement levels for these specialties, and especially surgeries, have been considered to be relatively high in comparison to others, creating the perception that these services are especially profitable.

Reasons for Development

The reasons for specialty hospital development are complex and vary across markets but analysis suggests that three factors are important drivers of this trend nationally:

relatively high reimbursements for certain procedures;
physicians’ desire for greater control over management decisions affecting productivity; and ,
quality and specialists’ desire to increase their income in the face of reduced reimbursement for professional services.

Perspectives

From the perspectives of some observers, the possible “overpayment” for certain specialties’ services is unintentional on the part of payors and is possibly the result of recent productivity gains in those specialties. The promoters of this reimbursement methodology have asserted,

The challenge for policy makers is to give specialty hospitals the chance to fulfill their promise as focused factories while limiting their opportunities to prosper from cream skimming and preventing problems for patients and communities such activity might cause.

From this singularly preconceived viewpoint, productivity gains through efficient provision of quality services should be discouraged and saddled with the disincentives of lower reimbursement to allow less efficient providers to compete. That surgical and specialty hospitals focus on a narrower range of procedures and produce quality and efficiency gains over their general acute care hospital competitors is rarely disputed. Existing hospitals often admit this but then claim that new market entrant hospitals dilute the experience level of their facilities, which then results in a lowering of quality. This is part of the larger argument that any quality or financial gains made by the surgical or specialty hospitals are the direct result of losses at the general acute care hospitals. If these hospitals can’t cost shift to subsidize less profitable areas such as emergency departments and intensive care units, the argument goes, then they will be in jeopardy of closing them.

Proponents

These proponents assert: “Policy makers seek to encourage competition and give new care delivery models that have the potential to improve quality and lower costs a chance. However, they also want to maintain quality and patient safety, avoid total as well as per-case cost increases and preserve access to basic services.”

Assessment

In response to the development of niche providers and specialty hospitals, general acute care hospitals often are competing by adding to their offerings in these specialties to create integrated specialty centers or even constructing new specialty hospitals themselves. In many cases, hospitals seek physician involvement in these developments, through joint ventures or other means.

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Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

Filed under: Career Development, Managed Care, Practice Management | Tagged: Niche Medical Providers | 5 Comments »

Seeking Chief Medical Director

Posted on September 9, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Employment Opportunity for CMD

ADVERTISEMENT

By Judy Kliethermes

Centene Corporation is seeking a Chief Medical Director for Managed Health Services, a wholly owned subsidiary and HMO for the state of Wisconsin. The regional headquarters for Managed Health Services is in Milwaukee. A Fortune 500 company, Centene Corporation is a national leader in low-cost solutions for high quality health care services for the un-insured and under-insured.

Responsibilities

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) will be responsible for directing and coordinating the medical management, quality improvement and credentialing functions for Managed Health Services. S/he will serve as a clinical advisor and educator of the medical management staff, ensuring the clinical quality and efficacy of patient care. The CMD will identify trends in patient treatment data and proactively develop programs to address improve patient health and wellness needs.

Assessment

As an integral part of Managed Health Services senior leadership team, the CMD will have an active role in supporting the strategic plans and vision of the organization.

Conclusion

I would welcome your interest in the Chief Medical Director role.

Sincerely,

Cejka Executive Search
314-236-4429
judyk@cejkasearch.com

Filed under: Career Development | Tagged: Cejka Executive Search, Centene Corporation, Chef Medical Director, Judy Kliethermes | Leave a comment »

ME-P Corporate Seminar Information

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Ann Miller RN, MHA

[ME-P Executive-Director]

Our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA, CMP™, enjoys public speaking and gives as many talks each year as possible, at a variety of medical society, pharmaceutical and financial services conferences around the country and world [Cannada, Belgium, Germany and Finland].

These have included lectures and visiting professorships at major academic centers, keynote lectures for hospitals, economic seminars and health systems, keynote lectures at city and statewide financial coalitions, and annual keynote lectures for a variety of internal quarterly and annual meetings for small bio-tech firms as well as big pharma.

Topics of Interest

The presentations of Dr. Marcinko are engaging, iconoclastic, and humorous. His most popular presentations include a diverse variety of topics and typically include those in all iMBA Inc’s textbooks, handbooks, white-papers and our 2-volume quarterly print journal; as well as most topics covered on this Medical Executive-Post blog.

Samples and Examples

Topics Link: toc_ho

CV Link: dem-formal-cv

Texts Link: imba-inc-health-economics-books-for-physicians

More Topics Link: imba-inc-firm-services

Assessment

To find out more information about our corporate seminars and workshops, please contact us for details: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com.

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Filed under: Career Development, Media Mentions and PR, Sponsors | Tagged: David Edward Marcinko, Medical Executve-Post, seminars, speaking engagements | Leave a comment »

Join the ME-P “Thought-Leader” Pipeline

Posted on August 29, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Modern Finance and e-Health Culture Devotees Wanted

By Ann Miller RN, MHA

[Executive-Director]

Doctors are not always totally hip and do not always know what’s going on in popular culture. Actually, many have no idea what is going on outside of the walls of the hospital; but we’d really like to know.

Health 2.0

Thus, the “thought-leader” pipeline concept was born. The Pipeline is a team of elite individuals that actually are hip and in the know when it comes to the financial advisory and business sides of medical practice. These super cool technical individuals are known as ME-P “thought-leaders” and help keep us up to date about Health 2.0 collaboration. Think you’re up for the task?

Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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Sponsors Welcomed

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Filed under: Career Development, Experts Invited | Tagged: patient centric | Leave a comment »

Introducing Dr. Joshua Goldman MBA

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Meet Our Newest ME-P “Thought-Leader”

By Ann Miller RN, MHA

Joshua Goldman, MD, MBA is a resident physician at the University of California, Los Angeles pursuing post-graduate training in family medicine with subsequently plans to complete a Sports Medicine fellowship. He attended graduate school at the University of Southern California, completing his Medical Degree at the Keck School of Medicine concurrent with his Master of Business Administration at the Marshall School of Business. He is functioning as the Director of Strategy for Insight Oncology, an oncology consulting and management firm.

USC Days

While at USC, Josh served as the student body President of the Keck School of Medicine, a teaching assistant in the department of Anatomy and Physiology and held board positions at the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, the Biomedical Association at the Marshall School of Business, and the Curriculum Committee at the Keck School of Medicine. He was selected as the Keck School of Medicine Student Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010. He has also served as the Vice President of the American Cancer Society at the University of California, Los Angeles. He completed an internship with the Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Center Trauma Team and with the University of Southern California Athletic Department’s Team Physicians, working with the USC Trojan Football team during their summer training camp.

Undergraduate Days

Joshua received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2005 graduating Magna cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a major in Psychobiology and a minor in English Literature. While at UCLA, Josh was a member of the men’s crew team.

A PE Devotee’

Joshua is very physically active, weight training or running daily. He is also an aspiring tri-athlete, training both on a bike and in the water recently. He also enjoys playing football, tennis, beach volleyball and sailing in his free time in between his many home improvement projects.

Website

Josh is also the Founder and CEO of: www.MyHouseCallMD.com

Conclusion

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Interviews | Tagged: Dr. Joshua Goldman MBA, Thought-Leaders:, www.myhousecallmd.com | Leave a comment »

On Delta Dental and the National Association of Dental Plans

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

ADA News Tries Sarcasm

[By D. Kellus Pruitt DDS]

For fear of retaliation, ADA officials are reluctant to admit that Delta Dental and other members of the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) have traditionally used the FTC as a tool to intimidate our professional organization. This means that for decades, the federal government has prevented the ADA from adequately representing the interests of dentist members. Something interesting happened in the ADA just days ago that is related to this tyranny. I assume frustration in the ADA’s unfair struggle against both Delta Dental and the FTC caused the editor of the ADA News to recently permit sarcasm for the first time in history – perhaps to attract attention to Delta’s policies?

A Humorous Article

On August 9, ADA reporter Kelly Soderlund was given the green light to post an uncharacteristic, tongue-in-cheek introduction to her article, “Decision supports Massachusetts Dental Society insurance challenge.” http://www.ada.org/news/4558.aspx She sold it: “For nearly 40 years, Massachusetts dentists have had to abide by a regulatory order that allowed Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts to receive an additional 5 percent discount off reimbursement fees in addition to other plan discounts.” Soderlund continues, “More than a decade ago, the Massachusetts Dental Society tried to get the order lifted but was unsuccessful. But now, after a reinstated five-year battle, the New England dentists can claim victory.”

OK. I lied.

In spite of her unintentionally humorous description of the Massachusetts Dental Society’s ineffectiveness, Soderlund was actually not sarcastic. That’s right. The ADA indeed hails this (very qualified) success as a long-fought glorious victory for dentists in Massachusetts where 95% of them are Delta preferred providers. That can’t be good for the health of Massachusetts dental patients. Managed care dentistry is dentistry by the lowest bidders with no quality control, and patients notice. Some stop going to the dentist, causing Delta Dental to reap even more profit. That is why it is not in Delta’s interest to satisfy their clients, and the employers who purchase Delta’s plans are clueless. This makes Delta Dental unaccountable to anyone.

The Delta Business Model

Delta’s business model helps make the company one of the most unfair discount dentistry brokers in the nation, in my opinion. If you want proof, go to doctoroogle.com and visit any major city.

http://www.doctoroogle.com/dentist_ratings.cfm/pageID/2 Then compare dental patients’ ratings of Delta’s preferred providers to fee-for-service dentists’. In the numerous studies I’ve performed, Delta’s dentists’ average satisfaction level as determined by their patients is consistently inferior to fee-for-service dentists. (See Managed Care Report Card from November 10, 2008).

http://community.pennwelldentalgroup.com/forum/topics/transparency-and-managed-care?commentId=2013420%3AComment%3A19577

Delta Accountability?

As you can see, since the FTC inhibits the ADA from honestly telling our story, dental care principals desperately need the ADA to open our Facebook so Delta can be held accountable to dentists and patients. Otherwise, Delta will never assume responsibility for the dental homes its preferred provider lists break apart – more often than not, sending their clients to less satisfying offices. What’s more, even Delta officials admit that “changing dentists causes fillings.” (See “Managed Care or Dental Homes – You can’t have both,” September 30, 2008)

http://community.pennwelldentalgroup.com/forum/topics/2013420:Topic:14014

FTC Fear

If dentists and patients are not permitted to tell our story ourselves through the nationally recognized American Dental Association, we will always be 40 years behind Delta Dental and 5% short of what they owe us. Even though ADA leaders will forever be handicapped by fear of the FTC, individual Americans have nothing to fear. The failure of the Massachusetts Dental Association shows us that an ineffective ADA is worse than no ADA at all because a victory after 40 years is defeat.

MDA Victory

One can read from Soderlund’s words that the Massachusetts Dental Association’s “victory” didn’t even slow Delta down. She writes “Delta Dental of Massachusetts has informed the ADA that the new reimbursement methodology will include the development of regional fee schedules. Information on exactly how those regional fee schedules will be developed and how that will affect dentists’ reimbursement has not yet been made available.” Whatever methodology Delta’s actuaries come up with, you can be sure it will be biased against their clients’ interests and will more than make up for the 5% of principals’ money that they conceded after 40 years. We simply must face the fact that the ADA isn’t helping. Soderlund continues: “The company also announced a new voluntary program to compensate dentists for successfully managing the care of higher risk patients. Delta Dental has not yet explained how that compensation would take effect.”

Assessment

Do you trust a Delta Dental consultant – who works on commission – to decide what is best for your patient? Or are you ready to demand that the ADA open our Facebook so we can all tell Delta Dental what we think of their unfair practices on an individual basis guaranteed by the First Amendment? Our patients depend on us to protect them from harm caused by greedy stakeholders. As Soderlund describes it, we’re losing, but not without humor.

Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

DICTIONARIES: http://www.springerpub.com/Search/marcinko
PHYSICIANS: www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com
PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
BLOG: www.MedicalExecutivePost.com
FINANCE:Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE:Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors

Filed under: Career Development, Ethics, Managed Care, Pruitt's Platform | Tagged: ADA, D. Kellus Pruitt DDS, delta dental, Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts, dental homes, Kelly Soderlund, Massachusetts Dental Society, National Association of Dental Plans | 15 Comments »

Become a Columnist for the ME-P

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Seeking ME-P “Thought-Leaders”

By Ann Miller RN, MHA

[Executive-Director]

As our band of loyal ME-P followers grows rapidly each day, so too does our search for quality healthcare business, economics and financial planning practitioners and journalists who target the medical arena and financial advisory space with their cognitive knowledge and new-wave contemporary articles [posts].

Protean Skills

If you think you have the timeless wit of Shakespeare, combined with the medical business know-how of Dr. Gregory House or the financial advisory acumen of Louis Richard “Lou” Rukeyser; you could be the writer for us.

Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed: And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Career Development, Marketing & Advertising, Op-Editorials | Tagged: economist, financial journalist, financial writers, healthcare journalists, writers | Leave a comment »

About the Managed Care Digest Series

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Creating Custom Data Reports for Chronic Diseases

By Staff Reporters

The sanofi-aventis Managed Care Digest Series online resource for Chronic Disease Information is part of their continuing commitment to provide the latest most essential information on the evolution of health care. The Series, available online or in print, provides key benchmarking data that can help assess value, control costs, and develop business strategies.

Updates

Updated information is available. Just keep looking for Digest Bytes from the team at the Managed Care Digest Series

Assessment

For step-by-step instructions please review their Articulate Presenter.

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Give em’ a click and tell us what you think? Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed: And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Career Development, Managed Care, Practice Management, Research & Development | Tagged: Chronic Disease Information, Digest Bytes, Managed Care Digest Series | Leave a comment »

Seeking a Talented Intern for the ME-P

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Good References – Exciting Work – No Pay

By Ann Miller RN, MHA

[Executive-Director]

The ME-P is seeking a talented intern to assist with editorial and web production tasks as our site undergoes a major expansion. The non-paid, but highly visible position is ideal for a graduate, healthcare policy or medical student with an interest in journalism, public policy, and/or the business of health care. You can work out of your own home. A small monetary bonus may be available for excellent work. References in return for internship; as well!

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=interns&iid=7291807″ src=”http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/7291807/side-profile-young-woman/side-profile-young-woman.jpg?size=500&imageId=7291807″ width=”380″ height=”570″ /]

Needed Skills

Editorial candidates should have an in depth familiarity with at least one area of the healthcare, financial advisory or technical industries and strong writing and editing skills. Web production candidates should know their way around content management systems like WordPress. Basic photoshop / fireworks / gimp or comparable image editing software required.

Contact Us

Send us an email telling us a little bit about yourself and detailing the reasons you’re interested in the position. If you’re a candidate for the editorial role send us a few clips to give us a feel for your writing style.

Respond by email to Ann Miller RN, MHA. No phone calls please.

MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed

And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Career Development, MAST-HEAD | Tagged: intern, journalism, web designer | Leave a comment »

About the Ideal Medical Practices Website

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

What it is – How it Works

By Staff Reporters

The authors of this website believe that effective, comprehensive primary care is the foundation of high performing health systems. And, so do we!

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=physicians&iid=9016855″ src=”http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9016855/shot-infant-during/shot-infant-during.jpg?size=500&imageId=9016855″ width=”380″ height=”579″ /]

A Site Support Primary Care

Therefore, this multi-contributor blog addresses effective, comprehensive primary care and how we might create a policy environment that truly supports effective, comprehensive primary care.

Assessment

http://idealmedicalpractices.typepad.com/ideal_medical_practices/

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Give em’ a click, and tell us what you think? Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed: And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Career Development, Information Technology, Practice Management | Tagged: Ideal Medical Practices, PCP, primary care, primary care medicine | 1 Comment »

Taking Medical Jargon Out of Doctors’ Visits

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Explaining Healthcare Administration Terms, Too!

By Ann MiIler RN, MHA

[Executive-Director]

According to the Wall Street Journal, when it comes to understanding medical information, even the most sophisticated patient may not fully understand. Nearly nine out of 10 adults have difficulty following routine medical advice, largely because it’s often incomprehensible to average people, the CDC says. And that’s bad for health care.

Enter the Medical Jargon

Confused by scientific jargon, doctors’ instructions and complex medical phrases, patients are more likely to skip necessary medical tests or fail to properly take their medications, the agency says. Studies show that poor health literacy drives up costs to the health-care system and worsens patient outcomes.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703620604575349110536435630.html

Assessment

And so, we too have attempted to explain some of the healthcare administration and practice management jargon in use today

Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

***

Filed under: Career Development, Glossary Terms, Practice Management | Tagged: Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance, Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security, dictionary of health insurance and managed care, medical jargon, medical terms | 1 Comment »

Congratulations Somnath Basu PhD

Posted on July 17, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

ME-P Thought-Leader and 2010 USDLA Award Winner

[Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching Award]

By Ann Miller RN, MHA [Executive-Director]

The United States Distance Learning Association, the nation’s premier distance learning association since 1987 recently presented its 2010 International Distance Learning Awards, the premier awards for the distance learning industry. And, ME-P thought-leader Somnath Basu PhD, MBA was a category winner.

These prestigious awards are presented annually to organizations and individuals, and recognize four categories of excellence: 1) 21st Century Best Practice Award; 2) Best Practice Awards for Distance Learning Programming; 3) Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching Awards; and 4) Outstanding Leadership by an Individual Award.

United States Distance Learning Association

The USDLA International Distance Learning Awards are created to acknowledge major accomplishments in distance learning and to highlight those distance learning instructors, programs, and professionals who have achieved and demonstrated extraordinary achievements through the use of online, videoconferencing, and satellite/video delivery technologies globally.

The USDLA Awards

USDLA International Distance Learning Awards honors organizations with its 21 Century Best Practice Awards. This award category recognizes outstanding leadership in the field of distance learning for an agency, institution, or company incorporating blended or individual distance learning technologies.

In addition, the Awards for Best Practice in Distance Learning Programming are presented to outstanding organizations, which have designed and delivered outstanding and comprehensive Best Practices for individual programs or a series of programs through online, videoconferencing, and satellite delivery technologies.

www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Award levels include Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze categories. The Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching Awards honors outstanding instructors whose programs demonstrate extraordinary achievements in a distance learning environment for teachers or trainers. Award levels include Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze categories.

Finally, the Outstanding Leadership by an Individual awards recognize those who have demonstrated strong, innovative skills for the development and/or administration of programs or who are recognized scholars in the field of distance learning globally.

About Dr. Basu

http://www.callutheran.edu/schools/business/graduate/cif/

Somnath Basu PhD is program director of the California Institute of Finance in the School of Business at California Lutheran University where he’s also a professor of finance. He can be reached at (805) 493 3980 or basu@callutheran.edu See his agebander at work at www.agebander.com

Assessment

The 2010 USDLA International Distance Learning Awards were presented to five major sectors of distance education and training and include the Pre-K – 12, Higher Education, Corporate, Government and Telehealth markets. The 2010 USDLA International Awards were presented at the USDLA International Awards Ceremony, on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 during the USDLA National Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Conclusion

Feel free to congratulate Somnath directly by sending him an email: basu@callutheran.edu

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Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed: And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Filed under: Breaking News, Career Development, CMP Program, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Media Mentions and PR | Tagged: California Institute of Finance, Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching Awards, School of Business at California Lutheran University, Somnath Basu, United States Distance Learning Association, USDLA, USDLA International Distance Learning Awards, www.certifiedmedicalplanner.com | Leave a comment »

Drowning Out the Noise [A Career and Life Allegory]

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

A Man Lived by the Side of the Road
By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA, CMP™

The “Quiet”

An old man lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he had no radio. He had trouble with his eyes, so he had no newspaper.

But, he sold really – really good hot dogs. He put up a sign on the highway telling how good they were. He stood by the side of the road and cried, “Buy a hot dog, mister.” And people bought. He increased his meat and bun orders and he bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.

The “Noise”

Soon, his son came home from college to help him. But, then something happened. His son said, “Father, haven’t you been listening to the radio? There’s a big depression on. The international situation is terrible and the domestic situation is even worse.”

Whereupon the father thought, “Well, my son has been to college. He listens to the radio and reads the papers, so he ought to know.” So, the father cut down his bun order, took down his advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand on the highway to sell hot dogs. His hot dog sales fell almost overnight. “You were right, son,” the father said to the boy. “We are certainly in the middle of a great depression.”

-Author Unknown

Assessment

As a physician, professor or entrepreneur, how do you feel about this story? Does the managed care situation, PP-ACA and new healthcare reform focus, depress you? Do you feel alienated from your patients, profession or self?

What about you, financial advisors? Do layoffs in the industry affect your earning capacity? Or, does the market situation just hurt your self esteem? Which is worse; a real or psychologically negative impact? What about failed mortgage derivative products, collapsed banks, and related ethical scandals? Demoralizing!

And so, are you an optimist or pessimist about life and career? Is it really “different this time?”

Conclusion

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

DICTIONARIES: http://www.springerpub.com/Search/marcinko
PHYSICIANS: www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com
PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
BLOG: www.MedicalExecutivePost.com
FINANCE:Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE:Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors

***

Invite Dr. Marcinko

***

Filed under: Career Development, Ethics, Op-Editorials | Tagged: career pessimist, carer optimist, financial services, healthcare reform, Managed Care | 3 Comments »

In-House Cultural Change and the Medical Quality Paradigm Shift

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Leadership Concepts for Physicians and Healthcare CXOs

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

[Editor-in-Chief]

The toughest part of implementing any medical quality improvement program is changing the healthcare organization’s culture. The physician-executive or chief executive officer must be committed to change, not just give lip service to it. The core to TQM or, for that matter, any of the several new popular quality programs, like six-sigma, is the buy-in of senior management to change the culture of the practice organization to support the individual’s pursuit of quality.

Re-Frame the Situation

The cultural change requires a complete reorientation of job descriptions and duties. It requires a collaborative rather than an adversarial work force. The phrase, “it’s not my job,” cannot work in a quality healthcare environment. Medical quality programs cannot work where employees refuse to be “their brothers’ keepers.” This collaborative working system is difficult to implement, but not impossible to achieve. It involves certain basic changes to the traditional American work ethic of “rugged individualism.” It suggests that the individual employee must become a partner in the healthcare enterprise and be just as concerned about quality as the CEO. Quality really does become everybody’s business.

Assessment

Quality requires new thinking about the relationships that have traditionally existed between labor [nurses, therapists, assistants, and aides, etc] and management [physician-owner, CEO, clinic administrator, managers, etc]. It requires a new direction; a new partnership must be forged between management and the clinical floor, between management and administrative staff, and between line and staff management.

Conclusion

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

DICTIONARIES: http://www.springerpub.com/Search/marcinko
PHYSICIANS: www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com
PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
BLOG: www.MedicalExecutivePost.com
FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Ethics, Practice Management, Quality Initiatives | Tagged: corporate culture, leadership, medical culture, medical quality improvement, organizational behavior | 8 Comments »

Health Plan Management Navigator

Posted on July 11, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

ADVERTISEMENT

July 2010 Edition

By Erin Sawchuk

erinsawchuk@sherlockco.com

Dear ME-P Readers

Please find attached the early July 2010 Edition of our health Plan Management Navigator. In this month’s edition, we suggest an approach to quantifying best practice of administrative activities of health plans. Determining best practice for health plans is a knotty problem because of the complexity of the product and because some of what makes for best practice cannot be captured in the current year’s administrative expense line. We offer a solution that we hope to implement but we would be grateful for any insights you wish to share on this matter.

Financial and Operating Results

Navigator also summarizes some of the May financial and operating results of health plans reporting in our Dashboard. Operating earnings are weak on soft revenues and compressing margins. Enrollment trends in Medicare, Medicaid and ASO products are relative bright spots. Plans are adapting by reducing staffing ratios.

Link: Early July 2010 Navigator[1]

Web Casts

Please save 2:00 on July 16, and 2:00 on August 5 for two important web conferences. The first will summarize the results of this year’s SEER benchmarks for Independent / Provider-Sponsored plans. The second will summarize this year’s SEER benchmarks for Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans.

The Plan Management Navigators containing the respective peer group data will be sent to you a day or so before the web conference. There is no charge to participate, but we would be grateful if you would let us know in advance. Please reply back to me.

Assessment

Erin Sawchuk [Sherlock Company]

P.O. Box 413

Gwynedd, PA 19436

www.sherlockco.com

215-628-2289 – Phone

Conclusion

Feel free to comment and review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed: And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Career Development, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, Monthly Reports, Research & Development | Tagged: ASO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans, Erin Sawchuk, Medicaid, medicare, Plan Management Navigator, SEER, Sherlock Company | Leave a comment »

The IPS Dentist

Posted on July 10, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

ADVERTISEMENT
Dental Consultants

We’re a highly skilled team of dental consultants with over 45 years of combined dental, medical and management experience.

Multi-Venued

Through a combination of personal on-site visits and modern video conferencing we consult with any practice across the nation to help them increase their profits and create a more successful working environment. We evaluate our clients’ exceptional professional services and add to them to improve patient loyalty and harmony among the staff. We will provide your practice with the tools to have complete control over exponentially increasing accomplishments and professionalism.

Our Commitment

We stand tall on our commitment to making skilled professionals more successful in their day to day transactions with incredible results on our clients’ bottom lines.
IPS works to implement key systems:

* Positive patient experience
* Treatment presentation and acceptance
* Re-Care and profitable hygiene programs
* Product scheduling
* Effective marketing
* Increased referrals
* Control of collections and accounts receivable control
* Professional risk reduction
* Employee motivation
* Team building and training
* Retirement and transitions strategies

Innovative Practice Solutions

And, we give you the tools to evolve your practice into a more profitable operation. By taking the best of what you’re already doing and adding proven systems and methods we help you take your practice to the next level.

Assessment

ipsdentist.com
ipsdentist@yahoo.com

Conclusion

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Practice Management | Tagged: DDS, dental economics, dental practice management, DMD, IPS Dentist | 1 Comment »

How the ME-P Views Client Engagements and Consultations

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

ADVERTISEMENT

An Expert Led – Future Focused Firm – Enhancing Doctor and Advisory Practices

By Ann Miller RN, MHA

[Executive Director]

ME-P consultants use advanced analytics, medical practice intelligence, education, deep experiential insight and publications to deliver measurable value across the full continuum of the independent health care administration and integrated economics and financial services space. Our team includes DOs, CPAs, MDs, DPMs, MBAs, PhDs, CFAs, MSFSs, CFPs®, RNs, CMPs™ and health care leaders, business leaders and CXOs. All have extensive strategic, operational, academic, technological, business and financial experience, certifications and licenses.

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=financial+advisor&iid=5289604″ src=”5/0/3/9/Group_of_people_333f.jpg?adImageId=12975963&imageId=5289604″ width=”337″ height=”506″ /]

Typical Clients

Our clients include medical practices, hospitals and health systems; financial advisory firms RIAs and BDs; pharmaceutical companies, academic medical centers and physician organizations; private equity and investment firms, health insurance providers and medical device manufacturers are included. We help build a foundation for improving care delivery, related financial services sector performance and overall matrix or organizational advancement through the systems we implement. And, we enable our clients to:

Evaluate current performance, identify improvement areas and drive progress over time
Uncover opportunities to capture market share and grow volumes
Anticipate future demand using our proprietary forecasting model
Adopt innovative care delivery processes and structures to meet clinical, financial and service goals
Develop informed, effective leadership teams to drive organizational change and growth
Launch seminars, lectureships, collaborative workshops and speaking engagements.

The ME-P Difference

Along with the ME-P website, here is how we are different: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

ME-P is future-focused

We have a track record of predicting trends that keep you ahead of the competition. We continuously scan the horizon to anticipate changes that will transform practices, clinics, hospitals, the financial services industry, RIAs and medical practices.

ME-P is expert-led

Our experts collaborate with you to form powerful relationships, support critical decision making, address challenges and uncover opportunities. We bring a unique understanding of your challenges—many of our experts are former financial services colleagues, physicians, CXOs, insurance agents, executives and nurses, etc.

ME-P is data-driven and action-oriented

Our solutions are grounded in proprietary analytical tools and data. By combining expert insight and data intelligence, we develop recommendations that may empower you to grow top-line and bottom-line performance today and in the future.

ME-P is core to health entity and business process

Through value-added analysis and intelligence, our healthcare business solutions become key tools and drivers for your current and future plans www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. What benchmarks do you use for consulting engagements? Are doctors and FAs more or less likely to retain a consulting firm in today’s competitive environment? Are these two consulting sectors more or less integrated today than yesterday?

Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe. It is fast, free and secure.

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Dictionary Series: http://0ga191.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed: And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Career Development, CMP Program, Experts Invited, iMBA, Inc., Media Mentions and PR | Tagged: david marcinko, financial services, healthcare consultants, ME-P, medical executive post, medical practice management, Practice Management, seminars, speaker's, www.certifiedmedicalplanner.com, www.healthcarefinancials.com | Leave a comment »

Current Outlook for the Hospital Industry

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Adaptation is Key in 2010 and Going Forward

By Robert James Cimasi; MHA, ASA, AVA, CBA, CMP™

www.HealthCapital.com

Hospitals today must continually adjust to deal with pressures to contain reimbursement and utilization levels. The continuing cost containment pressures manifest themselves in many patients being shifted not only to lower acuity treatments but also to other providers.

Reimbursement mechanisms are increasingly designed to control costs and access. Managed care insurance plans continue to be a strong influence as payers for acute care hospital services. Medicare’s HOPPS [hospital outpatient prospective payment system] has reduced many of the financial benefits of shifting more care to outpatient settings.

Personnel Shortages

Personnel shortages have plagued the industry, and with the pending retirement of baby-boomers, relief from these shortages seems remote. This population also heavily influences the consumer side of the industry, since healthcare plans are based heavily upon demographics. Aging baby-boomers are the fastest-growing segment of the population; the portion of the population over 65 years old is expected to increase from 20 million in 1970 to 69.4 million in 2030. Following closely behind is the increase in other minority populations. Both groups will influence how healthcare services are dispensed.

Additionally, despite pressure to limit ALOS [average length of stay] and the shift to outpatient and freestanding, off-campus care, there will continue to be demand for acute care hospitals and the demographic trends will support this demand for many years.

Technology

Technological advances always play a central role in changing the medical industry. The issue will be how healthcare providers will adopt new technologies under their current capital constraints.

Currently, health care insurance coverage is a major unfolding issue in the US, and there remains uncertainty about the future level of both public and private insurance coverage. Now, facing the recent economic instability, employers are looking at restraining healthcare benefits for their employees even more as a way to stay profitable.

Assessment

The decline in the healthcare workforce coinciding with the increase in labor costs and resource consumption poses an ongoing challenge. And yet, in the midst of the economic turmoil, hospitals must continue to provide services while remaining aware of the economic threats that may still lie ahead.

More:

Arkansas Medical News Interviews Dr. Marcinko

Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

DICTIONARIES: http://www.springerpub.com/Search/marcinko
PHYSICIANS: www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com
PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
BLOG: www.MedicalExecutivePost.com
FINANCE:Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE:Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors

Filed under: Career Development, CMP Program, Health Economics, Managed Care | Tagged: ALS, Hospital industry outlook, hospital outpatient prospective payment system, Medicare’s HOPPS, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Robert Cimasi, St. vincent hospital manhattan, www.certifiedmedicalplanner.com, www.healthcarefinancials.com | 9 Comments »

Where Are The Health Care Entrepreneurs?

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

The Failure of Organizational Innovation in Health Care

Submitted by Ann Miller RN, MHA

[Executive-Director]

The following quote is from a white paper by David M. Cutler

NBER Working Paper No. 16030
Issued in May 2010

Medical care is characterized by enormous inefficiency. Costs are higher and outcomes worse than almost all analyses of the industry suggest should occur. In other industries characterized by inefficiency, efficient firms expand to take over the market, or new firms enter to eliminate inefficiencies. This has not happened in medical care, however.

Therefore, this paper explores the reasons for this failure of innovation. I identify two factors as being particularly important in organizational stagnation: public insurance programs that are oriented to volume of care and not value, and inadequate information about quality of care.

Assessment

Recent reforms have aspects that bear on these problems.

Link: http://papers.nber.org/papers/w16030

Conclusion

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Health Economics, Practice Management | Tagged: Consumer Healthcare Efficiency Indices, David Cutler, Health Care Entrepreneurs, Health Care Innovators, healthcare efficiency, heathcare costs, Innovation Health Care | 8 Comments »

Is the Texas Dental Association too Authoritarian?

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

About Employee Mary Kay Linn

[By Darrell Kellus Pruitt; DDS]

Texas Dental Association Executive-Director Mary Kay Linn seems to think that TDA members owe her respect for some reason. I don’t see it. You get what you give TDA employee Mary Kay Linn.

Link: TDA response to Pruitt

I’ve attached the partially answered, authoritarian response from the TDA. I think it speaks for itself. And, I posted the following Twitterpoem today.

Mary Kay Linn, the executive director of the TDA just doesn’t get it.

@theTDA, I received the responses to some of the 30+ questions that were invited by the TDA. Linn’s evasion is transparent and regrettable.

@theTDA, when a Judicial Committee member delivered the PDF, he said Linn told him to tell me that “This is it. No more questions.”

Assessment

He added that: “There will be no follow up responses and that the very busy TDA staff spent far too much time on my questions already.”

TDA Executive Director Mary Kay Linn, this will not end well for you.

Assessment

How responsive was the TDA; just right, under or overwhelming when pushed? Or, was Dr. Pruitt over-the-top? Does he expect too much from his professional association? Does almost every DDS except him know that the “emperor has no clothes?” Or, is he one member with critical thinking skills instead of blind [misplaced] faith?

Finally, is there an analogy here for the AMA, ADA, APMA, ANA, AOA, etc? Are the aging command-control medical association monopolies crashing down in the era of internet connectivity and professional networking? Do we need new norms and etiquette models of communication? Please opine.

Conclusion

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Filed under: Career Development, Health Law & Policy, Information Technology, Pruitt's Platform | Tagged: ADA, American Dental Association, Darrell Kellus Pruitt, EMRs, HIPAA, Mary Kay Linn, TDA, Texas Dental Association | 29 Comments »

Understanding Patient-Focused Healthcare

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Emerging Trend Focuses on the Patient

By Gregory O. Ginn; PhD, MBA, CPA, MEd

By Hope Rachel Hetico; RN, MHA, CMP™

One swelling competitive medical administration and clinical trend is patient-focused and holistic healthcare, which centers on patient needs and attempts to humanize patient care.

Definition

www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Patient-focused healthcare therefore incorporates the following concepts, among others:

patient education;
active participation of the patient;
involvement of the family;
nutrition;
art; and
music.

These are thought to improve patient outcomes. Further, some think that patients will benefit from learning how to cope with healthcare processes before they enter into those processes and that this knowledge will result in better outcomes.

www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

An example of this would be classes to prepare couples for childbirth. These classes teach prospective parents the different stages of labor and strategies for dealing with the challenges associated with each stage. They cover options for pain management such as breathing and relaxation techniques and/or analgesics. The classes also provide education about clinical options such as induced labor and caesarian sections, and they cover practical issues such as what to wear and what kind of car seat to buy to transport the newborn home.

Assessment

We know from personal experience that this type of education is enormously beneficial in reducing stress and improving the decision-making ability of patients who are involved in healthcare processes.

www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Conclusion

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Editors Note: Gregory Ginn has been a professor in the Department of Health Care Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, since 2000. He received his doctorate, MBA, M.Ed., and undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and is an inactive Certified Public Accountant registrant in the States of Nebraska and Texas. Before his current position at UNLV, he spent time teaching at Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, University of Findlay, University of Central Texas, Stephen F. Austin State University, State University of New York at Buffalo, University of Houston at Victoria, University of Texas at Austin, and the Southwest Texas State University. Prior to his academic roles, he was an accountant for Touche Ross & Co., and an Internal Revenue Service Tax Auditor. Dr. Ginn has also been a reviewer for organizations such as: Health Care Management Review and the Health Care Administration Division of the Academy of Management. He is Treasurer for the Nevada Executive Health Care Forum and was a member of the Southern Nevada Wellness Council. His graduate teaching experience in healthcare administration is abundant, having taught courses in: Management of Health Services Organizations, Quantitative Methods, The U.S. Health Care System, Health Care Systems and Policy, Health Care Finance, Group Practice Management, Long-term Care, and Health Care Law. He has been published in numerous journals, including Journal of Healthcare Management, Hospital Topics, Nursing Homes, Journal of Nursing Administration, International Electronic Journal of Health Education, and Hospital and Health Services Administration. His current and former professional memberships include: American College of Healthcare Executives, Nevada Executive Healthcare Forum, Academy of Management, Association of University Programs in Health Administration, Certified Medial Planner (Hon.) and Heartland Health Care Executives.

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Filed under: Career Development, CMP Program, Practice Management | Tagged: collaborative medicine, Gregory O. Ginn, health 2.0, hope hetico, participatory medicine, Patient centered healthcare, patient focused healthcare, www.certifiedmedicalplanner.com, www.healthcarefinancials.com, www.healthdictionaryseries.com | 1 Comment »

Customer Service in Medicare and Medicaid Plans

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

June Edition of Plan Management Navigator

By Erin Sawchuk

erinsawchuk@sherlockco.com

Please find attached by the link below, the June 2010 Edition of Plan Management Navigator. In this month’s edition, we estimate the strength of cost drivers for “Customer Services in Medicare and Medicaid Plans.”

We quantify the relationships of customer services costs to simple algebraic and other operational metrics within the Customer Services function. We also identify and test some of the potential interrelationships between customer services costs and other functions for Medicare and Medicaid Plans. This analysis draws on data from the 2009 Sherlock Expense Evaluation Report.

Benchmarks

Also included in this analysis is an update on our progress on our various benchmarking universes. Participation is up this year, we think due to public policy changes and economic weakness. While benchmarks for Independent / Provider-Sponsored plans will be published shortly, please let us know if you are interested in joining our 2010 Medicare, Medicaid or TPA universes.

Link: Navigator June 2010[1]

Assessment

Finally, we summarize the operating and financial trends identified in our recent Dashboard.

Sherlock Company

P.O. Box 413

Gwynedd, PA 19436

www.sherlockco.com

215-628-2289

Conclusion

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Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Career Development, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Practice Management, Research & Development | Tagged: Erin Sawchuck, Medicaid, medicare, Plan Management Navigator, Sherlock Company, Sherlock Expense Evaluation Report, TPA | 4 Comments »

Building a Meaningful Medical Practice Marketing Campaign

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

What it Is – How it Works

[By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA, CMP™]

[By DeeVee Devarakonda MBA]

The success of a knowledge driven healthcare organization depends on not only how data can be converted to information – and information into marketing insight – but also by acting upon and converting those insights into building meaningful patient acquisition campaigns.

Definition of Patient Recruitment

Patient recruitment or campaign managementis the process of designing, executing, and measuring marketing campaigns through the use of applications that help to:

Select and segment patients
Design campaigns and execute the campaigns to contact patients
Track the contacts made with patients
Measure the results of those contacts
Learn from these results to more efficiently target patients in the future.

Key Queries

Some key questions to ask while you build campaigns:

Do you have a Customer [Patient] Relations Management roadmap that fits in with your overall patient vision and strategies and outlines the course of action for campaign management?
What is your privacy policy and strategy? – It is imperative for healthcare organizations to be proactive and self-regulate with a coherent privacy policy and design their systems to comply with this strategy. This may affect the way you design and execute campaigns.
What tools should you use? – There are several campaign management tools available today but no one tool may solve all business problems. You need to decide: what works best for my technical/ business environment? Is any integration effort required, if yes, how much will it cost me? How user-friendly are the tools? How much should I invest in training?

Important Campaign Components

Critical components of campaign management include the following activities:

Patient Segmentation: Process of identifying groups of patients for better targeting marketing and communications efforts. Segmentation is critical for effective and intelligent one on one communications with your patient.

Ensure your data quality is excellent which can give you meaningful segmentation.
Consistency of treatments and processes are of paramount importance.
Buying a software tool is not enough for effective segmentation. You also need to understand what the software tool does in the backend. Watch out for anomalies and take steps to make reparations.
Make sure you administer the initiative to a small sample and the business rules are in place before you roll out your campaign to the larger group.

Personalization: Ability to customize your product/service to each patient:

Good personalization is possible especially when you have a good patient past history.
You also need to have all business rules in place for effective personalization.
Ensure your patient data is of high quality (e.g. addressing a female patient as a Mr. or sending mails to sign up for your service to a person who is already your patient can defeat the purpose of personalization)
If you model data before personalization, you can target more effectively and personalize.
It pays to have a clear privacy policy and ensure your personalization philosophies are in tune with that policy.

Execution – Actual implementation of your marketing programs and messages

Before you execute, ensure you are equipped to fulfill promises you are making in the campaigns (e.g. If you are printing a toll free phone number in your direct mail piece for your patients to use, that toll free telephone number should work)
Make sure your sales and service channels are aware of the campaigns and publish a general calendar for the whole company
Develop business rules and strategies for follow-up campaigns.

Learn more: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

The Mindset

Successful patient marketing campaigns begin with the proper mindset and practice culture. There is no technology silver bullet to any P[C]RM campaign. And today, patient privacy is the key element of loyalty with a commitment to build long lasting and profitable campaigns through mutual trust and engaging cross-functional teams that can pick and deploy the elements mentioned above, across the entire enterprise and IT network, as needed.

Assessment

Healthcare organizations should keep privacy and the above components as their laundry list of action items when considering a C(P)RM plan.

Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

DICTIONARIES: http://www.springerpub.com/Search/marcinko
PHYSICIANS: www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com
PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
BLOG: www.MedicalExecutivePost.com
FINANCE:Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE:Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors

Filed under: Career Development, CMP Program, Glossary Terms, Marketing & Advertising, Practice Management | Tagged: CRM, DeeVee Devarakonda, healthcare marketing campaigns, Medical CRM, medical marketing, www.certifiedmedicalplanner.com, www.HealthDictionaySeries.com, www.medicalbusinessadvisors.com | 2 Comments »

Microsoft’s Health Tech Today

Posted on June 5, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Newest Episode Just Released

By Staff Reporters

The latest episode of Health Tech Today is now available, featuring the following items.

Content

Text4baby, a service from Voxiva that is working to improve infant mortality rates in the United States with free text messages to underserved mothers.
Microsoft Unified Communications at one of Japan’s most technologically-advanced hospitals.
Bumrungrad International, a leader in medical tourism, using unique software to deliver the best in healthcare at a fraction of the price.
ZocDoc, an online service that helps people find a nearby physician, read reviews, check insurance, and schedule an appointment.

Assessment

Watch Microsoft Health Tech Today. Additionally, become a fan of Microsoft Health Tech Today on Facebook and enjoy updates directly to your news feed or follow Microsoft Health Tech Today on Twitter.

Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Alerts Sign-Up, Career Development, Information Technology, Research & Development | Tagged: Bumrungrad International, medical tourism, microsoft, Microsoft Health Tech Today, Microsoft Unified Communications, MS-HUG, Text4baby, Voxiva, ZocDoc | 1 Comment »

2010 Physician Sentiment Index™

Posted on June 2, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Taking the Pulse of the Physician Community

By Ann Miller RN, MHA

[Executive Director]

From time to time, our readers send in e-books, files or e-chapters, pamphlets or other material they have created for client, educational or marketing use. Some of it may be worthwhile; some not so. Nevertheless, these publications are often a good place to start the conversation, or thought-process on related topics.

They will be occasionally offered as a complimentary membership feature of the Medical Executive-Post.

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=doctors&iid=279612″ src=”0276/0e9a3c11-109e-45f7-8862-39f6ee6676a3.jpg?adImageId=13062844&imageId=279612″ width=”319″ height=”480″ /]

February 2010 Physician Sentiment Index™

By athenahealth

By Sermo

Link: Sermo

Disclaimer

No advice is offered. We make no copyright claim to these works. Veracity should be checked and information should be considered time sensitive. Please contact a professional for your situation.

Assessment

Feel free to send in your own material for the benefit of all Medical Executive-Post readers and subscribers.

Conclusion

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Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Practice Management, Research & Development, Surveys and Voting | Tagged: 2010 Physician Sentiment Index™, AthenaHealth, medical practice management, sermo | Leave a comment »

On American Health Care and Financial Services Competitiveness

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

A MEMORIAL DAY OPINION – EDITORIAL

[Innovation – Not Nationalization – Can Again Lead]

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; FACFAS, MBA, CPHQ, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

By Hope Rachel Hetico; RN, MHA, CPHQ, CMP™

[Managing Editor]

Ann Miller; RN, MHA

[Executive-Director]

On this 2010 Memorial Day weekend, please allow us to directly reflect for a moment on the decline of the healthcare, banking and financial services industry in America. And; then somewhat indirectly comment on the hopeful emergence of the web 2.0 phenomena of which we all are a part. The competitive applicability to these sectors should be appreciated by the insightful ME-P reader.

Collapse of Command and Control Monopolies and Oligarchies

Old monopolies everywhere are crumbling because of tougher new competitors and the transparency wrought by electronic connectedness. For example, our old newspaper has to compete with the internet, your electric utility company battles low-cost local start-ups, telephone companies must begin installing fiber optic lines to fend off cable companies; and RIAs and fiduciary focused financial advisors [FAs] will supplant BDs and stock brokers in the financial services sector.

www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

The airline industry collapsed a few years ago, the banking industry has just collapsed, and the auto industry is recovering as we pen this post. [We have a particular affinity for the auto sector however, as the son of a UAW member and step-daughter of Michiganders]. Regardless, the rush to more intense competition cannot be stopped. As a doctor, FA or other business competitor; you either keep pace or get crushed by quasi-oligarchic organizations like the American Medical Association [AMA], American Podiatric Medical Association [FPMA], American Dental Association [ADA], American Osteopathic Medical Association AOMA], Financial Planning Association [FPA], Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards [CFP BoS], College for Financial Planning [CFP] or the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors [NAPFA], etc. What have they, and Wall Street, done for you … lately? Scandal, taint, doubt, lost-credibility, a business-as-usual ennui, lethargy and ruin! Enter www.Sermo.com

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/calling-for-cfp%c2%ae-fiduciary-status-real-education-and-higher-duty/#comment-4136

Health Insurance Companies

In the last-generation of health insurance companies and related fraternal medical organizations, patients exercised great control over physician selection, had quicker access to specialists and encountered fewer restrictions on care. The reverse was true with financial services. But, because of advancing technology, aging demographics, intense R&D, global manufacturing, and escalating domestic HR costs – competitive market forces against traditional and structured staff model managed care companies – many industry analysts [like us] predicted growth would decline [Yes, greed was also involved as healthcare was presumed a recession-proof sector; and didn’t we all own behemoth big-pharma and HMO stocks in our 401-K, and 403-B plans]? But now, many former stock-brokers and FAs are going rogue; er – independent!

“Although inefficiencies in any business often open up in the short term, and can be greatly exploited by creative and visionary entrepreneurs – as in most business structures – market forces will prevail in the long run”.

Leo F. Mullin, MBA

[Former CEO – Delta Airlines]

Next-Gen with “Fly”

Fortunately, a new generation of enlightened physician and FA entrepreneurs is coming “out-of-the-shadows” as new-wave web 2.0 corporations and RIAs are becoming more flexible, competitive and market responsive. Simultaneously, monolithic and collectivist political ideas keep trying to regulate the medical and financial services workplace with rules, regulations and contracts to control entire populations. Yet, in the new healthcare economy, this new generation of doctors and FAs with “fly,” is headed toward more competition; not less – with more collaboration with patients and clients – regaining self autonomy.

Physician and FA Advocates

Meanwhile, as medical professionals, FAs and patient advocates, we must all choose between staying flexible to ride out tough times – or – adopting a hard, brittle line that will crack under the pressure of competition. We know where we stand at the ME-P, do you?

Flexibility and Virtual Reality

In recent years, many large corporations and top-down business models were not market responsive and change was not inherent in their DNA. These traditional organizations represented a rigid or “used-to-be” mentality, not a flexible or “wanna-be” mindset; according to business columnist Alan Webber. Some financial advisory corporations, and today’s emerging health 2.0 initiatives, may possess the market nimbleness that cannot be recreated in a controlled or collectivist [nationalistic] environment. And so, going forward, it is not difficult to imagine the following new rules for the new financial and virtual medical ecosystem.

[A] Rule No. 1

Forget about “SEC suitability and FINRA rules”, large office suites, surgery centers, fancy equipment, larger hospitals and the bricks and mortar that comprised traditional medical practices or financial product delivery systems. One doctor or niche focused FA with a great idea, good bedside manners or competitive advantage, can outfox a slew of public servants, the AMA, SEC, ADA or FINRA “faux copy-cat examiners”, while still serving the public – and patients – and making money. It’s now a unit-of-one economy where “Me Inc.”, is the standard. Physicians and FAs must maneuver for advantages that boost their standing and credibility among patients, peers, payers, customers and clients. Examples include patient satisfaction surveys; outcomes research analysis, evidence-based-medicine, physician economics credentialing and true integrated fiduciary-focused financial planning.

However, we should also realize the power of networking, vertical integration and the establishment of virtual RIAs or medical practices, which come together to treat a patient, or help a client, and then disband when a successful outcome is achieved. Job security is earned with more successful outcomes; not necessarily a degree, automatic AUMs, certifications or onsite presence. In fact, some competition experts, like Shirley Svorny PhD, a professor of economics and chair of the Department of Economics at California State University, wonder if a medical degree is a barrier – rather than enabler – of affordable healthcare.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/medical-licensing-obstacle-to-affordable-quality-care

Others even presume the establishment of virtual medical schools and hospitals, where students and doctors learn and practice their art on cyber-entities that look and feel like real patients, but are generated electronically through the wonders of virtual reality units. The same can be said for the financial services industry, although much farther down-line given its current slow rate of real education and quasi-professional acceptance.

[B] Rule No. 2

Challenge conventional wisdom, think outside the traditional box, recapture your dreams and ambitions, disregard conventional gurus and work harder than you have ever worked before. Remember the old saying, “if everyone is thinking alike, then nobody is thinking”. Do collective-nistas and nationalized healthcare advocates react rationally; or irrationally? [THINK: Wall Street, medical unions]

[C] Rule No 3

Differentiate yourself among your healthcare and financial advisory peers. Do or learn something new and unknown by your competitors. Market your accomplishments and let the world know. Be a non-conformist. Conformity is an operational standard and a straitjacket on creativity. Doctors and FAs should create and innovate, not blindly follow organization or political “union” leaders [shop stewards, BDs, etc] into oblivion.

[D] Rule No 4

Realize that the present situation is not necessarily the future. Attempt to see the future and discern your place in it. Master the art of the quick change with fast but informed decision making. Do what you love, disregard what you don’t, and let the fates have their way with you. Then, decide for yourself if you are of this ilk – and adhere to any of the above rules? Or, just become an employed [government, BD] doctor or FA shill. Just remember that the political party, or monopoly that can give you a job, can also take it away [THINK: LB, ML, Wachovia, national healthcare, etc].

Memorial Day Considerations

Finally, on this Memorial Day weekend, consider that life and career is a journey, and that in this country we have the choice to ponder or pursue any, and all of the above options, and more. We have the ability to think, cogitate and ruminate, as we have done here today. So – please – thank those who have helped turn this idealistic philosophy, into pragmatic daily reality.

For us personally, we thank Bonze Star Medal Winner Captain Cecelia T. Perez, RN. Now – ponder and consider – who do you thank? If no one has impacted you up-close on this Memorial Day weekend and national holiday, please visit our military channel to reflect, comment and opine.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/category/military-medicine

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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Filed under: Career Development, CMP Program, Military Medicine, Op-Editorials, Sponsors | Tagged: ADA, alan webber, AMA, ann miller, AOA, APMA, BD, broker-dealers, bronze star award, business competition, cecelia perez, certified financial planner, certified medical planner, CFP, CFPBoS, CMP, College Financial Planning, david marcinko, dentists, doctors, FA, financial advisor, financial planning association, financial services, financial services sector, FPA, health 2.0, healthcare, hope hetico, labor unions, Managed Care, Memorial Day, NAPFA, national healthcare, osteopaths, physicians, podiatrists, RIA, RIAs, stock-brokers, UAW, Wall Street, web 2.0 | 10 Comments »

Marketing of Physicians by Hospitals

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

National Survey Results

ADVERTISEMENT

By Michele von Dambrowski

Dear ME-P Readers and Colleagues,

Thank you for your participation in the National Survey on Marketing of Physicians by Hospitals. With your valuable input, we have been able to greatly enhance the understanding of how hospitals and health systems are promoting both employed and community physicians.

The Results

Over 300 people participated, far exceeding our expectations. As promised, survey results can be downloaded from Strategic Health Care Marketing, right here:

Link: SurveyReport-MarketingPhysicians

Audio Conference Invitation

Because of the significance of the survey findings and other acquired information, we have decided to hold a special audio conference on Thursday, June 24 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Titled “Marketing Physicians and Driving Hospital Revenue,” the 90-minute audio conference will cover survey implications and information gathered from follow-up phone calls with participants. Three marketing professionals will also discuss their successful marketing programs.

Assessment

To learn more about the special audio conference, go to: www.strategichealthcare.com/audioconfs/marketingphysicians.php.

As a survey participant, you are entitled to a $25 discount. After you register, just send me an e-mail indicating you participated in the survey and we’ll apply the discount.

Channel Surfing the ME-P Have you visited our other topic channels? Established to facilitate idea exchange and link our community together, the value of these topics is dependent upon your input. Please take a minute to visit. And, to prevent that annoying spam, we ask that you register. It is fast, free and secure.

Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Media Mentions and PR, Surveys and Voting | Tagged: hospital marketing, Marketing Physicians and Driving Hospital Revenue, medical marketing, Michele von Dambrowski, National Survey on Marketing of Physicians by Hospitals, PHOs, Strategic Health Care Marketing | 7 Comments »

The Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act‏

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

ADVERTISEMENT

An Invitation to ME-P Readers on the Implications of Implementation

By Karen D. Matthias RN, MBA

The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was enacted into law on October 8, 2008. This act will end health insurance benefits inequity between mental health/substance use disorders and medical/surgical benefits for group health plans with more than 50 employees. The regulations that guide implementation of this law will be effective for health plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2010. These regulations have significant implications for providers of mental health services, payers, employers, and consumers.

Hayes, Inc

On June 23rd and 24th, Hayes, Inc. and URAC are hosting a 2-day symposium in Baltimore featuring an expert faculty of nationally known legal experts, researchers and leaders brought together to provide detailed information about this law and its expected impact on all stakeholder groups www.urac.org/2010MHPConference

David Wellstone (Dave) will be giving the keynote address. Mr. Wellstone is the son of the late Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN, 1990-2002). Along with his brother Mark, Dave is the Co-Founder of Wellstone Action, a national center for training and leadership development for the progressive movement. Dave is the Co-Chair of the Wellstone Action Advisory Board and contributes to advocacy efforts on behalf of mental health and domestic violence.

Speaking

Also speaking is Carol McDaid, co-founder and Principal of Capitol Decisions Inc. Ms. McDaid led the Parity NOW Coalition behind passage of the 2008 “Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.” Ms. McDaid has nearly 25 years of federal legislative experience in Washington, providing her clients with legislative and public affairs consulting on issues that span the breadth of health care, including Medicare, Medicaid, private sector reimbursement issues, and comparative effectiveness research.

Assessment

Both Dave Wellstone and Carol McDaid are available to answer your questions about the implications of implementing this legislation. If you, or any of your ME-P colleagues or readers are interested in interviewing either Dave or Carol (or both), please contact me at 215-855-0615 or via email at kmatthias@hayesinc.com

Thanks for your consideration.

Hayes, Inc
157 S. Broad Street
Lansdale, PA 19446
T: 215-855-0615 x7918
Email: kmatthias@hayesinc.com
Website: www.hayesinc.com

Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Career Development, Health Law & Policy | Tagged: Capitol Decisions Inc, Carol McDaid, David Wellstone, domestic violence., Hayes Inc, mental health, mental health policy, Pete Domenici, Senator Paul Wellstone, URAC, Wellstone Action Advisory Board, Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act‏ | 6 Comments »

What is the Medical Executive-Post?

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

What is our Blog – How does it Work?

By Ann Miller; RN, MHA

[Executive-Director]

The Medical Executive-Post is an independent information sharing portal for the integrated healthcare industrial complex, medical practice management and financial planning and advisory communities. We have a search engine to help find essays and follow the breaking news that interests you for this space.

Our articles, gossip, videos, books, journals, dictionaries, alerts and related essays and information are continuously updated and ranked by users thru more than 50 topical channels. And, we are sponsored by the www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=blog&iid=306845″ src=”0303/0000303556.jpg?adImageId=12802899&imageId=306845″ width=”337″ height=”506″ /]

Assessment

Of course, this means he ME-P is a participatory service: you can publish an article directly on the site or comment on an existing item. Or, we can edit, re-write and proof-read for you. You can also vote for an article or a group that captures your interest in order to increase its visibility on the site. And, you may virtually matriculate online at www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Each ME-P page also offers an RSS feed that allows you to subscribe to receive the information that appears there in the reader of your choice. But, you must subscribe for full functionality.

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. How can we make the ME-P better and more useful to you? What new features would you like to see?

Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe. It is fast, free and secure.

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed

And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Career Development, CMP Program, Financial Planning, Health Economics, iMBA, Inc., Investing, Managed Care, Marketing & Advertising, Practice Management, Sponsors | Tagged: ann miller, david marcinko, healthcare blogs, hope hetico, medical executive post, www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner, www.healthcarefinancials.com, www.HealthDictionaySeries.com, www.medicalbusinessadvisors.com | Leave a comment »

CRM Considerations for a Health 2.0 Medical Practice

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

The Build vs. Buy vs. Outsource Conundrum

By DeeVee Devarakonda MBA

There are several options to build, buy or outsource a medical practice Customer Resource Management infrastructure. And, there are advantages and disadvantages to all three options. I will review all three for our ME-P readers.

Build:

Rapid technology advances are transforming the business landscape. This makes it very challenging for healthcare organizations to keep abreast of the technologies, to train and manage resources on tools, to grapple with cross-functional, cross-departmental dynamics and build the CRM application. In addition mergers/ acquisitions and other market realities can make CRM operations complex and distract healthcare organizations from delivering excellent patient experience.

It is very tempting for small healthcare organizations to think they can develop what they need in-house themselves. May be May be not. It is very essential to stay focused on your main business and see if the solution is available elsewhere. Figure out if you are in the business of whatever you are doing or let us say in the business to develop patient survey tool or a low-end database. It is best to get outside help wherever you are dealing with an initiative/ task that is not your core competence or where it is to your strategic advantage- be it time-to-value or cost savings.

Buy:

Depending on your business needs you can either buy CRM package solution and implement or build best of breed solutions that are suited to your business needs. You need to pay very close attention to what the software vendors are promising. Naturally they will be more interested in making the sale, than advising on whether it integrates well with your existing technologies, so the onus is on you as a buyer to ask the right questions and make appropriate purchases.

Outsource:

Especially for very young healthcare organizations today, outsourcing can be an option worth exploring to de-risk technology decisions. Outsourcing de-risks marketing program – avoids unnecessary, upfront, massive capital investment and will also equip the marketers with the flexibility to ramp up or down as situation demands. Outsourcing does not mean healthcare organizations can wash their hands off the CRM function. Still it is the business that will have to provide the strategic direction and control the CRM process and outcome. There are also Application Service Provider (ASP) solutions which de-risk technology decisions.

Assessment

One of the attractions of going the hosted route becomes very clear when you have a two doctor practice marketing medical services that require 24×7 availability of information, transaction and service. They have attractive pricing that encourage “pay as you go” paradigm which is of enormous help to young businesses. However, the disadvantages of an ASP [SaaS] are: 1) you can’t integrate with your other enterprise systems for patient 360-degree view 2) you can’t customize to reflect your exact needs 3) you can’t work offline, which can be a disadvantage if you are a mobile “new-wave” medical practice.

MORE: CRM Marketing

Channel Surfing the ME-P

Conclusion

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

***

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Experts Invited, Information Technology, Practice Management | Tagged: CRM, CRM applications, Customer Resource Management, DeeVee Devarakonda | 4 Comments »

About the Institute for Interactive Patient Care [IIPC]

Posted on May 16, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Advancing the role and prevalence of patient and family engagement in the healthcare 2.0 era

By Staff Reporters

The Institute for Interactive Patient Care (IIPC) is a healthcare organization dedicated to empowering patients and improving health outcomes through direct patient engagement. Their mission is to foster widespread adoption of patient and family/caregiver engagement strategies, which are proven to optimize patient care outcomes.

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=medical+care&iid=299749″ src=”0296/b744a919-026d-4cb2-8a9a-5edd2a9ce15d.jpg?adImageId=12868513&imageId=299749″ width=”317″ height=”480″ /]

Vision

The vision of IIPC and its’ national board of advisors is to create a forum through which healthcare leaders worldwide learn about and adopt best practices in patient engagement as a principle means of improving healthcare outcomes. To achieve its mission, the IIPC engages in high quality research and advocates for advances in policy, standards and payment reform, all consistent with the mission of IIPC. The IIPC is governed by an independent National Advisory Board comprised of prominent leaders in healthcare.

Responsibilities

Among its primary responsibilities, advisory members help oversee and validate research projects, as well as to guide the use and dissemination of information and findings from the research in order to promote establishment of patient engagement standards for all care providers. IIPC fills a unique role in healthcare by serving as a reliable source of information and evidence-based data on the impact and efficacy of patient and family/caregiver engagement.

Assessment

IIPC is a not for profit 501(3)(c) organization.

Link: http://www.instituteipc.org/research/

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Give the IIPC a click, and tell us what you think? Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe. It is fast, free and secure.

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed

And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Career Development, Information Technology, Practice Management, Research & Development | 1 Comment »

25 or so – Unintended Consequences of Healthcare Reform

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Protean, Pervasive, Prolonged and Painful

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Definition of the Term

Much like the physical laws of nature, action begets consequences, which are usually known, unknown or disregarded by human foibles.

According to Robert Norton, the law of unintended consequences, often cited but rarely defined, is that actions of people—and especially of government—always have effects that are unanticipated or unintended. Economists and other social scientists have heeded its power for centuries; for just as long, politicians and popular opinion have largely ignored it.

My List

And so, regardless of your political affiliation or opinion on healthcare reform in America, passed on March 21 2010 [Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act], there is a plethora of unintended consequences with the [any] new law. So, please indulge me in a bit of healthcare administration prescience:

Healthcare costs will be shifted to doctors in the form of lower reimbursement with higher practice overhead costs for private physicians, and with fewer office employees and more ancillary business and service line extensions.
Hospital based physicians like pathologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, emergency department doctors and hospitalists will demand, and receive, higher salaries.
Fewer [under populated] primary care physicians with more [over populated] PAs, nurse practitioners and DNPs; with a blunted medical establishment oligopoly.
Higher health insurance costs for employers and most patients, especially young adults without a commensurate increase in aggregate risk.
Medical care access impediments for most Americans, but improvements for those previously uninsured.
Health 2.0 electronic connectivity for the masses with medical data “internet-neutrality”.
Continued rise of evidence based medicine and crowd-sourced healthcare information.
Higher costs for DME, instruments and drugs; particularly in the filed of human genomics and personalized pharmaceuticals.
Increased acceptance of MSAs, HSAs, concierge medicine, private-pay and other direct cash payment methods for medical care.
Realization that eMRs do not improve patient care or reduce costs as “meaningful use” is diluted.
An enterprise wide health data breach of epic proportions, with in-numerable smaller security breaches despite the HIPAA laws.
Long term macro-economically induced national inflation with weakness in the US dollar
Poor quality digital manipulation of medical information with eMR specific inflation due to ARRA and HI-TECH.
Increased national unemployment with widespread underemployment for some Americans.
Modified value added taxation in addition to increased federal tax brackets, rates and related others.
Promotion of outcomes reimbursement models, values based healthcare [episodes of care] and various micro-capitation derivatives.
Many more community hospitals, which lost 12 cents/dollar spent on Medicare and 35 cents/dollar on Medicaid patients last year, will close.
Medicare will become the defacto health insurance, much like public housing, food stamps, the USPS and public transportation.
There will be fewer viable alternatives to commercial health insurance, other than Medicare and Medicaid, since the antitrust exemption for health insurers was not repealed.
The impact of changing to ICD-10 for medical records coding and billing, will be as significant across the industry, as was Y2K and will push many other HIT projects to lower priority.
New HIPAA 5010 requirements will present substantial changes in the content of the data submitted with claims as well as the data available in response to electronic inquiries.
The Obama health insurance “police” program will be a policy failure, but a job creator.
Medical practices, often a doctor’s largest financial asset, will go down in value jeopardizing personal retirement plans.
Medicine’s lost professional status will become complete as healthcare becomes commoditized and future grass-roots caregivers are neutered.
Your 2 cents here.

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=healthcare+professionals&iid=99522″ src=”0095/4e612b02-300a-4dfc-b17c-f2d0d0947cfc.jpg?adImageId=12656185&imageId=99522″ width=”380″ height=”429″ /]

Assessment

In order to be politically correct – not a known trait for me – I will adopt a scientist’s perspective and omit any value judgment regarding the above [positive or negative] unintended consequences.

www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. 25 consequences not listed? Add your 2 cents. What else can you think of? Am I correct, or not, and how do you feel about the above?

Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe. It is fast, free and secure.

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Sponsors Welcomed

And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Career Development, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, Op-Editorials, Practice Management, Research & Development | 7 Comments »

“The Vanishing Oath”

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

A Documentary Film

By Ryan Flesher, MD

Reaching for a patient chart in the ER one night, a young physician is suddenly overwhelmed by a strange mixture of panic, anger and fear. But, such emotions are unacceptable for a doctor.

A Self-Loathing Doctor -OR- Modern Realist?

Tearing down a hallway, he slips into a room and as the door clicks shut, he slumps to the floor. The truth is wrenching: he hates being a doctor. In the burial ground of his emotions he unearths the regret, guilt, confusion that he feels. Like a sudden rainstorm, years of anguish and disillusionment come pelting downward. Emotions are a dangerous mix of chemicals when buried. Forcing himself to a standing position he returns to his patients, his priority. There is no going back from a defining moment; one cannot un-ring a bell.

“Is there something wrong with me?” he wonders. It is a burning, compelling question that takes him across the globe and back to answer.

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=emergency+room&iid=6302230″ src=”4/9/7/b/Paramedics_taking_patient_e10b.jpg?adImageId=12808257&imageId=6302230″ width=”380″ height=”251″ /]

An Insider’s View

This first-ever glimpse takes us into the raw emotions that doctors hold beneath the white coats. Ultimately, he realizes that the untrained hands of corporate executives are health care’s decision makers and a doctor’s suffering is considered intangible. With no heart or vision, the mission is to profit off the backs of doctors and patients.

Physicians are quietly leaving clinical medicine and the momentum is growing. If the attack upon those who heal us does not end … the foundation will collapse. But, from which floor does one fall?

Assessment

This unique film, from an inside view rarely seen, examines the reality of modern medical practice and the obstacles to care that complicate the path to great care.

http://drwes.blogspot.com/2010/05/vanishing-oath-review.html

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. If you view the video, please tell us what you think?

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Oath-Feature-Film-DVD/dp/B003KVMULI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1273494090&sr=8-1

Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe. It is fast, free and secure.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed

And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Book Reviews, Career Development, Ethics, Videos | Tagged: “The Vanishing Oath”, physician career change, Ryan Flesher | 4 Comments »

Become a Whistle Blower in the Healthcare Industrial Complex

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Have You Ever Worked in the Medical Profession?

By Ann Miller; RN, MHA

[Executive-Director]

If you ever worked for a private medical practice, health insurance company, third party administrator or payer, hospital, public health clinic, VA or anywhere else in the healthcare space, we’d like to hear from you.

Tell the Medical Executive-Post about your work conditions, doctors or nurses, management shenanigans, or the politics and your observations of what is happening at your healthcare organization. Gossip, insider information, knowledge, personal opinion, insight or related hearsay – both positive and negative – is sought.

The clinical, financial, legal, insurance, pharma or administrative scenes are all fertile grounds for exposure and transparency. You may remain an anonymous tipster, or we will publish your identity upon request for additional credibility.

Please email MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com or call us at: 770.448.0769

Please contact us today: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Conclusion

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

LEXICONS: http://www.springerpub.com/Search/marcinko
PHYSICIANS: www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com
PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
BLOG: www.MedicalExecutivePost.com

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Experts Invited, Insurance Matters, Professional Liability, Quality Initiatives, Risk Management | Tagged: CPT codes, medical billing, medical errors, medical fraud, medical upcoding, medical whistleblower, never-events, wrong site surgery | 34 Comments »

Exploring Career Change for Physicians

Posted on May 9, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

ADVERTISEMENT

About the Medical Fusion Conference

By Staff Reporters

Physician career change is the focus of the Medical Fusion conference. Non-clinical jobs, medical journalism, medical informatics, physician entrepreneurs, medical device development, and venture capital are all topics that will be covered at this exciting new event.

For all Specialties and Physicians

Whether you are a medical resident who wants to learn about all of the possibilities available to you or a retired physician looking for entrepreneurial side ventures, this is the conference for you. Medical Fusion reports to supply the tools necessary to take your career to the next level.

Non-Clinical Careers

Medical Fusion is for physicians interested in exploring non-clinical career opportunities. Designed to teach physicians how to leverage their medical training and expand their careers, participants receive training from experts with practical knowledge on a variety of non-clinical subjects.

A Tool Box 4 a Black Bag

Medical Fusion is designed as a “tool box” for the modern physician. Clinical physicians today need to know how to leverage their clinical training in new and unique ways. Medical Fusion provides broad exposure to a variety of niche areas, leaving participants with practical steps to begin crafting the career they’ve always wanted. Come learn from physicians who’ve already developed their own unique careers.

Assessment

Medical Fusion is a new medical event for physicians, by physicians.

Link: http://medfusionconf.com/home/tabid/122/Default.aspx

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Are you a physician seeking a career change away from clinical medicine? Tell us your experiences to-date. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe. It is fast, free and secure.

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed

And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, iMBA, Inc., Sponsors | Tagged: careers for doctors, david marcinko, entrepreneurial MDs, medical career change, Medical Fusion, non clinical medicine, physician jobs | 1 Comment »

Understanding the Medical Career Choice!

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Regrets and Recriminations – or Joy and Bliss?

By Eugene Schmuckler PhD, MBA

http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

By Dr. David E. Marcinko MBA

www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com

Jimmy’s mother called out to him at seven in the morning, “Jimmy, get up. It’s time for school.” There was no answer. She called again, this time more loudly, “Jimmy, get up! It’s time for school!” Once more there was no more answer. Exasperated, she went to his room and shook him saying, “Jimmy, it’s time to get ready for school.”

He answered, “Mother, I’m not going to school. There are fifteen hundred kids at that school and every one of them hates me. I’m not going to school.”

“Get to school!” she replied sharply.

“But, Mother, all the teachers hate me, too. I saw three of them talking the other day and one of them was pointing his finger at me. I know they all hate me so I’m not going to school,” Jimmy answered.

“Get to school!” his mother demanded again.

“But mother, I don’t understand it. Why would you want to put me through all of that torture and suffering?” he protested.

“Jimmy, for two good reasons,” she fired back. “First, you’re forty-two years old. Secondly, you’re the principal.”

Similar Physician Sentiments

Many of us have had conversations with medical colleagues at which time sentiments of those expressed by Jimmy have been voiced. The career choice that was made many years ago is now, for some reason, no longer as exciting, interesting and enjoyable, as it was when we first began in the field. The career that was undertaken with great anticipation is now something to dread.

The reason for this is occurrence is not that difficult to understand. Two of the most important decisions individuals are asked to make are ones for which the least amount of training is offered: choice of spouse and choice of career. How many college students receive a degree in the field they identified when they first enrolled at the college or university? In fact, how many entering freshmen list their choice of major as undecided? It is only during the sophomore year when a major must be declared is the choice actually made. So, career choices made at the age of 19 might be due to having taken a course that was interesting or easy, appeared to have many entry level jobs, did not require additional educational or professional training requirements, or was a form of the “family business.” Now as an adult, the individual is functioning in a career field that was selected for him or her by an eighteen-year-old.

Judging Career Success

How do we judge career success? A career represents more than just the job or sequence of jobs we hold in a lifetime. The typical standard for a successful career is by judging how high the individual goes in the organization, how much money is earned, or one’s standing attained in the medical profession.

Yet, career success actually needs to be judged on several dimensions. Career adaptability refers to the willingness and capacity to change occupations and/or the work setting to maintain a standard of career progress. Many of you did not anticipate the managed care, Health 2.0, or political changes in your chosen medical profession, or specialty, when you began your training.

A second factor is career attitudes. These are your own attitudes about the work itself, our place of work, your level of achievement, and the relationship between work and other parts of your life.

Medical Career Identity

Career identity is that part of your life related to occupational and organizational activities. This is the unique way in which we believe that we fit into the world. Our career is only one part of our being. We play many roles in life each of which combine to make up or totality. At any point in time one role may be more important than another [life saving physicians versus retail sales clerk]. The importance of the roles will generally change over time. Thus at some point you may choose to identify more with your career, and at other times, with your family.

Career Performance

A final factor is career performance, a function of both the level of objective career success and the level of psychological success. How much you earn and your reputation factor into, and reflect, objective career success. To be recognized as a “leader” in a medical field and asked to submit chapters for inclusion in text-books, medical journals or new-wave blogs such as this may be a more important indicator of career success than money.

Psychological success is the second measure of career performance. It is achieved when your self-esteem, the value you place on yourself, increases. As you can see, there is a direct relationship between psychological success and objective success. It may increase as you advance in pay and status at work or decrease with job disappointment and failure. Self-esteem may also increase as one begins to sense personal worth in other ways such as family involvement or developing confidence and competence in a particular field, such as consistently shooting par on the golf course. At that point, objective career success may be secondary in your life. This is why many people choose to become active in their church or in politics. Even though one may have slowed down on the job, or in their professional career they can be extremely content with their life.

Case Model Scenario

Consider the following situation.

You are traveling on business. Although you are on a direct flight, you have a one-hour layover before the second leg of the flight and your final destination. Leaving the plane, after having placed the “occupied” card on your seat you walk down the concourse. On the way, you encounter a friend that you knew in high school. The two of you sit to have a cup of coffee and then you realize that your departure time is rapidly approaching. In fact, you will be cutting it quite close. Running down the concourse you return to the gate only to find that the door has been closed, the jetway is being retracted and the plane is being backed away from the gate. You stare out the window watching the plane go to the end of the runway and then begin its takeoff. Something goes horrible wrong and the plane crashes on takeoff, bursting into flames. It is apparent that there will be no survivors.

Assessment

To the world you are on that plane (remember the occupied card). Traveling on business your generous insurance policy will be activated. In anticipation of being in a location where they may not have ATM machines you have a good deal of cash, sufficient for at least a month.

Conclusion

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Invite Dr. Marcinko

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, CMP Program, Ethics, iMBA, Inc., Op-Editorials | Tagged: CMP, CMP www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com, DDS, DO, Eugene Schmuckler, HMOs, job performance, job self esteem, MD, medical career, medical career identity, medical jobs, medical students, P4P, pre-med students, www.certifiedmedicalplanner.com, www.healthcarefinancials.com, www.medicalbusinessadvisors.com | 3 Comments »

Late April 2010 Edition of Plan Management Navigator

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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On Medicare and Medicaid Plan Processing Costs

By Erin Sawchuk

Dear ME-P Readers

Please find attached the late April 2010 Edition of Plan Management Navigator.

Medicare and Medicaid Plans

In this month’s edition, we identify and test some of the potential interrelationships between claims processing costs and other functions for Medicare and Medicaid Plans. This analysis draws on data from the 2009 Sherlock Expense Evaluation Report.

Bench Mark Updates

Also included in this analysis is an update on our progress on our various benchmarking universes. Participation is up this year, we think due to public policy changes and economic weakness.

Link: Navigator Late April 2010[1]

Assessment

Please let us know if you are interested in joining our Medicare, Medicaid or TPA universes.

Sherlock Company

P.O. Box 413

Gwynedd, PA 19436

www.sherlockco.com

215-628-2289 – Phone

erinsawchuk@sherlockco.com

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Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Breaking News, Career Development, Health Economics, Managed Care, Sponsors | Tagged: Douglas Sherlock CFA, Erin Sawchuk, Medicaid, medicare, Plan Management Navigator, Sherlock Expense Evaluation Report | 1 Comment »

Overhauling Health Care Oversight

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Union Pressure Exacts a Toll on California Bill

By Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber, ProPublica – April 20, 2010 11:19 am EDT

A California Senate committee postponed a vote last Monday on legislation [1] to speed up the investigation and discipline of health professionals accused of misconduct, even as the bill’s author removed some provisions opposed by labor unions.

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=nurses+rally&iid=6651770″ src=”f/e/8/5/Public_Employees_Rally_ecde.jpg?adImageId=12607523&imageId=6651770″ width=”380″ height=”253″ /]

Two Bills Advance

Separately, the committee advanced two other bills to address problems raised in articles last year [2] by ProPublica and the Los Angeles Times. One bill [3] would require that temporary staffing firms perform certain checks before sending nurses to hospitals; the second [4] would mandate that substance-abusing health workers be barred from practice if they test positive for drugs while participating in a treatment program. The bill to overhaul the disciplinary process for California’s nearly 1 million health professionals is the most contentious. It would require that employers report workers who are fired or suspended for serious wrongdoing, a mandate in place in 36 states already. Some California licensing boards already require this, but the Board of Registered Nursing [5], which oversees more than 350,000 nurses, does not.

A Controversial Provision

Another controversial provision could result in closure of state-run recovery programs for substance-abusing health professionals. The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard testimony—including objections from unions and professional trade associations—during a hearing Monday but postponed a vote until Thursday. Even if the legislation clears the committee, it still must get through several others and the full Assembly and Senate.

Critical Response

In response to critics, the bill’s author, Democratic Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod [6], agreed to remove a provision that would have allowed the director of the state Department of Consumer Affairs to quickly suspend the license of a practitioner who is believed to pose an imminent risk to the public.

She also stripped language to allow licensing boards to deny a license based on a mental or physical disability.

Negrete McLeod

Negrete McLeod said the bill is urgently needed to keep dangerous and incompetent nurses from being able to continue practicing, sometimes for years, regardless of misconduct allegations. “There was enough blame to go around that we could all get painted with the same brush,” she said. Critics said the changes made the bill better, but the still oppose major elements. It is unclear whether the measure has the votes to pass.

Leland Yee

Democratic Sen. Leland Yee said the bill may have an “overemphasis” on consumers at the expense of the rights of professionals. “Some people may say we can throw away” the due process rights of professionals, Yee said. “But that’s not the way we do things in this country.”

Assessment

Finally, Negrete McLeod said she found arguments against the bill “ironic.” Each of the representatives of the various professional groups had “averred that only 1 percent” of their members were getting into trouble. If that is true, she asked, why was there such a “hue and cry” over the proposed reforms?

Conclusion

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Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

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Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Career Development, Health Law & Policy, Practice Management | Tagged: Board of Registered Nursing, Charles Ornstein, discipline health professionals, Gloria Negrete McLeod, health professional misconduct, Leland Yee, Professions and Economic Development Committee, ProPublica, Senate Business, Tracy Weber | 1 Comment »

How to Post on the ME-P

Posted on April 24, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

A Post is not a Comment

By Ann Miller; RN, MHA

[Executive Director]

The number of comments to our ME-P posts has increased of late, and we are grateful.

Now, an increasing number of subscribers, readers and visitors are asking how they might contribute an original or modified post [not comment to a post] for our target MEP audience. And so, we offer the following guidelines.

Essay Format

Essays should be original and may not be submitted to other publications, blogs or listservs without permission. Essays must target our audience and be in the following format:

Topic Name
Subtopic Name
Author Name and Affiliation
Introduction
Body of Essay
Assessment:

Please be concise and limit your essay to 300-500 words or less. Use spell and grammar checker. A digital photo in JPEG format is optional.

Assessment

You must be a subscriber to post an essay or article. Subscribers are reminded that they have an ethical obligation to disclose any potential conflicts of interest when commenting on any product, company or service. So, be sure to subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Sponsors Welcomed

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Filed under: "Advisors Only", "Doctors Only", Career Development, Experts Invited, Op-Editorials | Tagged: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com, www.certifiedmedicalplanner.com, www.healthcarefinancials.com, www.healthdictionaryseries.com, www.medicalbusinessadvisors.com, www.MedicalExecutivePost.com, www.PodiatryPrep.com | Leave a comment »

Internet Marketing for Physicians

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

ADVERTISEMENT

Vital Checklist for Website Re-Design

By Theo Bennett

Dear Dr. Marcinko

MoreVisibility has been developing and implementing successful online marketing programs since 1999.

So, please accept this whitepaper on modern web re-design at no cost or obligation to your readers.

Link: Website-Redesign-Checklist

Assessment

Those interested in learning more may contact me at the address below.

Client Strategist
MoreVisibility
925 South Federal Highway
Suite 750
Boca Raton, FL 33432
800.787.0497
tbennett@morevisibility.com

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Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed

And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise

Filed under: Career Development, Information Technology, Marketing & Advertising, Practice Management | Tagged: MoreVisability, Theo Bennett, web design | 2 Comments »

Share your Mind and Thoughts with Us

Posted on April 17, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Contribute to the ME-P

By Staff Reporters

Got anything you would like to share with our ME-P community? You can contribute your knowledge and experience by choosing any, or all, of the appropriate items from the list below:

Blog Entry

A blog is a regularly updated journal or diary made up of individual posts shown in reversed chronological order. Each member of the site may create and maintain a blog-type silo.

Forum Topic

Create a new topic for discussion in the more than 50 topical forums.

Static Page [Advertisements]

If you want to add a static page, like a “contact” page or an “about” page, please notify us for advertising rates.

Survey or Poll

A prose survey, or poll, is a multiple-choice question which visitors can vote on.

Essay or Story Line

Stories and essays are articles and posts in their simplest form: they have a title, a teaser and a body, but can be extended by other modules. The teaser is part of the body too. Stories may be used as a professional post, or for products and news articles.

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Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

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Sponsors Welcomed

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Filed under: Career Development, Experts Invited, Nominations Sought, Sponsors | Leave a comment »

“Go Elsewhere for Health Care”

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

What One Doctor Tells Obama Supporters

By Staff Reporters

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=tea+party&iid=8445957″ src=”5/e/f/6/Tea_Party_Express_6ebb.jpg?adImageId=12359612&imageId=8445957″ width=”380″ height=”253″ /]

According to Stephen Hudak, of the Orlando Sentinel, a Mount Dora doctor [Jack Cassell MD] posted a sign telling Obama health care supporters to go elsewhere for medical care.

http://startthinkingright.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/doctor-cassell-if-you-voted-for-obama-seek-urologic-care-elsewhere/

Timeline for Healthcare Implementation

Timeline of Major Provisions in the Democrats’ Health Care Package

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments are appreciated; especially from our physician readers. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe. It is fast, free and secure.

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Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Ethics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy | Tagged: Jack Cassell MD, Mount Dora, OmamaCare, Orlando Sentinel | 3 Comments »

Financial Advisory Reform Going Down in Flames

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

A [False] Hobson’s Choice*

By Staff Reporters

In political Washington DC, according to Ian Salisbury, almost anything will fly if you can make an argument it will benefit the middle class. It worked in the fight against requiring advisors to act in clients’ best interests … Say what?

Is this the case of a classic Hobson’s choice?

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=bank+reform&iid=8227139″ src=”c/3/0/3/Sen_Dodd_Discusses_655e.jpg?adImageId=12270785&imageId=8227139″ width=”380″ height=”570″ /]

The Strategy

Yep, its true! At least, this strategy worked for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors [NAIFA], which fought a recent proposal that would have made all financial advisors act in clients’ best interests … you know – the “F” word.

Assessment

It seems that there are few protections for the public from unscrupulous FAs, stockbrokers, and insurance agents. And, few wish to become fiduciaries.

http://www.fa-mag.com/online-extras/5406-a-phony-argument.html

*A Hobson’s choice is a free, usually economic, choice in which only one option is offered.

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Please visit: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

As former certified financial planner, insurance agent, stockbroker, surgeon and this ME-P publisher Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA, CMP™ has always opined to physician colleagues: it is “buyer-beware” out there!

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Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

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Filed under: "Advisors Only", "Doctors Only", Career Development, Ethics, Financial Planning, Insurance Matters, Portfolio Management | Tagged: CFP, Chris Dodd, CMP, fiduciary, financial fiduciary, Financial Reform, Hobson's choice, Ian Salisbury, insurance agent, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, registered representative, RIA, Series 7, stock broker, www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner | 4 Comments »

Events Planner: April 2010

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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Events-Planner: APRIL 2010

Staff Writers

“Keeping track of important health economics and financial industry meetings, conferences and summits”

Welcome to this issue of the Medical Executive-Post and our Events-Planner. It contains the latest information on conferences, news, and relevant resources in healthcare finance, economics, research and development, business management, pharmaceutical pricing, and physician/entity reimbursement! Watch for a new Events-Planner each month.

First, a little about us! The Medical Executive-Post is still a relative newcomer. But today, we have almost 175,000 visitors and readers each month from all over the country, in addition to our growing subscriber base. We have been a successful collaborative effort, thanks to your contributions. As a result, we are adding new resources daily. And, we hope the website continues to provide the best place to go for journals, books, conferences, educational resources, tools, and other things you need to establish the value your healthcare consulting and financial advisory intervention. So, enjoy the Medical Executive-Post and this monthly Events-Planner with our compliments.

A Look Ahead this Month

Now, the important dates:

April 07: NAIBD Symposium, Newport Beach, CA,
April 12: World Congress on Healthcare, Washington, DC
April 15: Implementing HI-TECH Summit, Washington, DC
April 16: Pro-Active Medical Management Summit, Jacksonville, FLA
April 18: Healthcare Compliance Institute, Dallas, TX
April 23: SIFMA Private Conference, Grand Hyatt, NY
April 25: AALU Meeting, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
April 30: ACPE Meeting, National Harbor, Washington, DC.

Please send in your meetings and dates for listing in the next issue of our ME-P Events-Planner.

MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Career Development, Events-Planner | Tagged: AALU, ACPE, Healthcare Compliance Institute, HI-TECH, NAIBD Symposium, Pro-Active Medical Management Summit, SIFMA, World Congress Healthcare | Leave a comment »

Understanding Efforts to Promote Lower-Cost Physicians

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

May Be Based on Misleading Profiles – According to Rand Study

By Staff Reporters

It is increasingly common for insurance plans to encourage patients to receive care from physicians who keep medical costs lower. However, this ethos may be based on unreliable estimates of doctor performance and may not achieve the intended savings, according to a new RAND Corporation press release and study.

PR Link: http://www.rand.org/news/press/2010/03/17/?ref=homepage&key=t_doctor_cash

About the Study

Funding for the study was provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. Other authors of the study are Elizabeth A. McGlynn PhD of RAND, Dr. Ateev Mehrotra of RAND and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and J. William Thomas of the University of Southern Maine.

About Rand Health

RAND Health, a division of the RAND Corporation, is the nation’s largest independent health policy research program, with a broad research portfolio that focuses on quality, costs and health services delivery, among other topics. RAND Health is the developer of COMPARE (Comprehensive Assessment of Reform Efforts), a one-of-a-kind online resource that provides objective analysis about national health care reform proposals. Visit www.randcompare.org to learn more.

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Health Economics, Managed Care, Practice Management | Tagged: DOM, Dr. Ateev Mehrotra, Elizabeth McGlynn, Health Economics, J. William Thomas, Rand, USDOL | 2 Comments »

About the Covestor Mutual Fund Portfolio Sharing Service

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

What it is – How it works

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Covestor, with offices in New York and London, is a web platform started by entrepreneurs Perry Blancher, Richard Tachta and Simon Veingard http://www.covestor.com. Their belief was that salaried mutual fund managers have no monopoly on investment talent and shouldn’t have a lock on the rewards that come with investment success. As financial services, and online netizens, they also believed in democratizing the investment management industry and helping proven self-investors compete with the large institutions. This is known as the power of “crowd-sourcing.” All core philosophies seem to be shared by this ME-P.

What it is

According to their website, Covestor is both a portfolio sharing service for proven self-investors and for those wishing to track them; where data is private, secure and anonymous. With Covestor, one can coat-tail successful investors and follow their real trade activity. Or, have their moves auto-traded for you by Covestor Investment Management. Members can also keep track of their investments andBuild a free track record comparable to professional mutual funds. Members earn fees for their hard work, and Manage a model that their clients can mirror thru shared management fees.

Profit Sharing Investors

Covestor investors sharing portfolios include professionals, full time amateurs and industry specialists. They are a serious bunch with an average reported portfolio size of over $200,000 (excluding cash). Positions are typically held in over 5,000 different equities; are based in 50 countries and span the full range of ages, backgrounds and styles.

Issues

As a doctor-investor, health economist and former certified financial planner, there are at least three issues needed to be raised about this firm.

The first is SEC/NASD/FINRA rules and applicable SRO and state regulations for brokers, RIAs, FAs and related others? The status of suitability versus fiduciary accountability for ERISA regulated plans is also questioned. The third [and least important] is the potential negative impact on traditional financial services “professionals.”

In other words, is this another example of how technology will flatten the “intermediary curve” and reduce the profit of middle sales-men and sales-women? Oh! What about medical specificity for our target audience?

www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

Assessment

I am sure there are other issues as well. Your thoughts and comments on this ME-Pare appreciated; especially from financial services “professionals”, lawyers and FAs, etc, Give em’ a click and tell us what you think http://www.covestor.com?

Conclusion

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, Career Development, CMP Program, Ethics, Information Technology, Investing, Practice Management | Tagged: certified financial planner, CFP, CMP, covestor, Covestor Investment Management, ERISA, FINRA, NASD, Perry Blancher, RIA, Richard Tachta, SEC, Simon Veingard, www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner | 4 Comments »

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Health 2.0

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Seeking ME-P “Thought-Leaders”

Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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Dr. David Marcinko [Publication List]

Education Online:

Health Dictionary Series Wiki Project

Lower Extremity Medicine & Surgery