Speaking and Opining at Health Conference Away Games

On the Road Again … with Me

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA

[Publisher-in-Chief]

I just returned from a quick unplanned trip to Baltimore, Maryland visiting several individual and corporate consulting clients.  There was also an antecedent side-trip to serve as a pharmaceutical company speaker and workshop conference mentor, as well.

Topics for the manager’s meeting in Atlanta Georgia included healthcare policy and reform, eMRs, economics, compensation and leadership. Not only was it held close to home and where I did my internship, residency and fellowship training, among other things; it was located near where I attended business school almost two decades earlier. So; how could a conference in such a storied location fail to be tons of fun? It can’t – and it didn’t.

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=baltimore+maryland&iid=301134″ src=”http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/301134/buildings-the-waterfront/buildings-the-waterfront.jpg?size=500&imageId=301134″ width=”380″ height=”253″ /]

Impressive Venue

I was impressed with the Marriott Marquis hotel organization (lots of conference staff with directions to buildings and meeting rooms), the resources (catering, efficiently delivered and free WiFi everywhere), attendees, presenters, and beautiful downtown urban location.

Impressive Meeting

But, most of all I was impressed with the speakers, topics and content – and floored by the informal post-mortem discussions. I received good-excellent feedback on the slide-show I authored and presented, and even watched a few speakers take their licks, always kindly delivered (all in the name of progress) from an informed and engaged audience. If I’m ever able to perform half as well as the average discussant in the future, I’ll be very pleased, indeed.

Self-Learning Didactics

Of course, I gave and learned a much vis-a-vie the bilateral educational principles of andragogy and heutagogy, although nothing I’m ready to put into writing right now. Rest assured however, future ME-Ps will be of higher quality relative to the counterfactual that I didn’t attend the conference meeting.

Assessment

Finally, I met several colleagues who read, comment and post to the ME-P. All had kind words to say about this electronic forum. From what I heard, it’s beginning to feel like we are becoming a valuable resource to the community we serve. I’m delighted.

Please continue to send in ideas, alert us of important developments in healthcare administration and financial planning; and/or ping us when you see a good paper or topic idea that needs to be fleshed-out, or a book, product or service that deserves to be promoted; etc.

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Conclusion

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.

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 

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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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Good Night H. Ed Roberts MD

Medical Inventor, Bio-Engineering Pioneer and Colleague

[September 13, 1941 – April 1, 2010]

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA

[Publisher-in-Chief]

According to Wikipedia, Henry Edward “Ed” Roberts MD was an American engineer, entrepreneur and medical doctor who designed the first commercially successful personal computer in 1975. He is most often known as the “father of the PC.” He founded Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems [MITS]) in 1970 to sell electronics kits to model rocketry hobbyists, but the first successful product was an electronic calculator kit that was featured on the cover of the November 1971 issue of Popular Electronics magazine. The calculators were very successful and sales topped one million dollars in 1973. But, a brutal calculator price war left the company deeply in debt by 1974. Roberts then developed the Altair 8800 personal computer that used the new Intel 8080 microprocessor. This was featured on the cover of the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics, and hobbyists flooded MITS with orders for this $397 computer kit. Bill Gates and Paul Allen joined MITS to develop software and Altair BASIC was Microsoft’s first product. Roberts sold MITS in 1977 and retired to Georgia where he farmed, studied medicine and eventually became a small-town doctor after commencing medical school at age 39.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Roberts_(computer_engineer)

My Connection to Ed

Almost 20 years ago, I co-founded a small medical education software company, for a tiny niche market. My partner was a computer “whiz kid”. I was the chief executive, brain-child and enfant terrible. We are still in business today.

Nevertheless, I decided to contact Ed because I had just received my first PC [Intel® 286 microprocessor] from a publishing company who had contracted with me to write a medical textbook; remember DOS and WordPerfect? I was also very familiar with Microsoft lore, especially relative to business thought and competitive analysis. Regular readers of the ME-P may even recall my mention of attending lectures by Michael Porter PhD [father of competitive analysis] while dating a girl who was attending Wharton Business School while I was a medical student in Philadelphia, back-in-the-day.

Anyway, I took it upon myself to write Ed for some advice. Remember, this was before the commercial internet was widely available. I used medicine as a mutual point of interest. Anyway; after no response, the incident was quickly forgotten because of a busy lifestyle, new medical practice, book-project, etc. I follow-upped about a year later and this time received an encouraging written reply from Ed. I treasure the letter to this day, almost as much as the ones I have from Louis Rukeyser [TV fame-died in 2006] and his uber-investor guest, Sir John Marks Templeton [son is a surgeon] who died in 2008. In 2005, Templeton wrote a brief memorandum predicting that within five years there would be financial chaos in the world. It was eventually made public in 2010.

Assessment

Ed practiced as an internist until his death, in Cochran – a city near Macon, GA. The population was 4,455 at the 2000 census. It is a very poor county in South Georgia, and many, if not most of Ed’s patients were on Medicaid and/or Medicare. He loved them dearly, and they loved him, too!

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. Although perhaps not as famous as Gates and Allen; we say with all due respect and admiration – good night Dr. Roberts – and thank you for the personal computer … your love of medicine and mankind … and for reaching out to me so very long ago!

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Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Health Administration Terms: www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

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Off Road Touring in Boston with Dr. Marcinko

How Doctors Get Paid

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Just before the Christmas Holidays, I flew up to Boston at the invitation of a pharmaceutical company to lead a managerial workshop entitled: “How Doctors Get Paid” [Treatment is only the beginning in the Changing Billing and Medical Reimbursement Climate].

Our goal was to inform drug representatives, and their regional managers, what value added information physician offices might expect from the pharmaceutical industry of the future.  

Topics of Discussion

The two hour interactive workshop included team projects, flip chart exercises, a mock role-playing session and the customary [hopefully energetic] ppt presentation. Other topics of discussion included:  

  • Health insurance payment evolution
  • Collapse of Medicare
  • Rise of managed care
  • Medical records documentation
  • ICD-9 and 10, HCPCS, DRGs and CPT® coding
  • ABNs, super-bills and HCFA 150 forms
  • Billing methodologies
  • Healthcare fraud, abuse and related policies
  • Capitation, HSAs, concierge medicine and RACs
  • Futuristic health 2.0 payment mechanisms, and more.

Assessment

Rest assured; these folks were a very knowledgeable and aggressive group; not like your father’s “detail men” of yore! They seek to … talk the talk, and walk the walk, of the Health 2.0 era.

Many thanks again to Helen, and Jon D, for the invite.

Channel Surfing

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. 

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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 Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com 

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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

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

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Off-Road Touring with Dr. Marcinko [Final Part 2009]

Hello Everyone and Thank You!

By Ann Miller; RN, MHAOff Road Touring '09

To all of you who made it to one of our venues for an Off Road Tour segment with our Publisher Dr. David E. Marcinko, or to those who just read his posts, we wanted to thank you for your support and for supporting each other!

Our mission – is to bridge the gap between financial planning and medical practice management, and to serve as a networking resource for medical, managerial and financial advisory colleagues who possess the ethics and intellect to serve in a fiduciary capacity.

The Next Step

Ready for the next step? Just visit www.HealthcareFinancials.com and subscribe to the Journal of Financial Management Strategies, to create a roadmap to success for your healthcare organization.

Thanks with a Shout-Out

Finally; we give a hearty shout-out to www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com who made the book “signing and opining” tour possible. We are so proud of our partnership with an institute whose team learning approach creates such rich success for students, both in the virtual and real-world classroom and in their personal and professional lives www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Online Certified Medical Planner Program

Interested in becoming a Certified Medical Planner ™ or to learn about how your broker-dealer, advisory firm or company can build an educational partnership with us? Call me at 770.448.0769 (9am – 5pm EST).

Channel Surfing

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. 

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Assessment

Thanks so much for your interest in our Summer 2009 tour, and the ME-P. We hope it, and all our books, texts, dictionaries, products and educational formats serve you well!

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

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

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Sponsors Welcomed

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Off-Road Touring with Dr. Marcinko [Part VIII]

Interview with David B. Lumsden; MD

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Dateline: Baltimore Maryland,Dr. Lumsden Formal August 10, 2009.

About David B. Lumsden MD

Dr. David Lumsden; MS, MA practices general orthopedic surgery and trauma as a board certified surgeon and partner with Orthopedic and Hand Surgery Associates in Baltimore, Maryland. He completed his training in community health at Towson State University, earned Master’s Degree in Anatomy / Neuroanatomy at University of Maryland/Baltimore and Exercise Physiology at University of Maryland, College Park. He is a graduate of Penn State University School of Medicine. Dr. Lumsden completed his internship and residency at Union Memorial Hospital with associative residency training at Johns Hopkins and the world renowned Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore City. 

Our Brief Interview

When I caught up with David during a recent house-call visit, we discussed many things; especially the American Affordable Health Choices Act [HR-3200]. Unfortunately; I did not have my audio-recorder with me. So, here are a few points of interest about him that I jotted down, from memory, in my ever-present reporter’s notebook. No doubt, I missed many more:

  • He became a physician as a career change in mid-life.
  • He has read HR 3200 in its’ entirety.
  • He hired an attorney for HR 3200 interpretation and review.
  • He is for healthcare reform, but against HR 3200.
  • He is against a public health care plan.
  • He is against individual insurance mandates.
  • He does 10-12 house-calls every month.
  • He does not charge MC, MD or VA house-call patients; rarely bills them and/or accepts assignment without balance billing.
  • He regularly operates on same, under similar terms.
  • He does other pro-bono work.
  • He practices defensive medicine.
  • He is for tort reform.
  • He is not a member of the AMA with no plans to join.

Assessment

Review and vote for -or- against HR 3200 here: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text

About Off Road with Dr. MarcinkoDavid Lumsden; MD

These sporadic off-road segments will continue through-out my 2009 summer promotional tour. Formal attendance increased toward the later part of the summer as the Obama Administration’s healthcare debates heated up. Our many local book stores and sponsors noted a spike in our CD and book sales, as well as interest in our online www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com program and premier quarterly guide: Healthcare Organizations [Journal of Financial Management Strategies] www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Part VII: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-vii/

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.

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

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

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

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Sponsors Welcomed

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E. A. Poe and Touring with Dr. Marcinko [Part VII]

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Edgar Allan Poe, Church Hospital, Johns Hopkins and Me

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Dateline: Baltimore MarylandPoe, August 7, 2009

To the entire world, Church Home and Hospital, formerly known as the Washington Medical College, was where Edgar Allan Poe died on October 7, 1849. Located in Upper Fell’s Point, it was also where many doctors were trained who served in the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. But for me, its emergency room seemed like home, as a local inner city youth, back-in-the-day.

Link: http://www.eapoe.org/balt/poechh.htm

About Fells Point

Fell’s Point is an historic waterfront community just east of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The Fells Point Historic District occupies the area from Gough Street south to the water’s edge, roughly between Caroline and Chester Streets. Established in 1763, Fells Point is a city, state and National Historic District and boasts over 161 buildings on the National Register, along with the oldest standing residence in Baltimore City, the Robert Long House at 812 S. Ann Street. The neighborhood is home to dozens of unique retail shops, restaurants and pubs; along with our community Church Home and Hospital; and its more famous behemoth neighbor up the street, Johns Hopkins University Hospital and Medical School.

Link: http://www.fellspoint.us/

It was as a freshman medical student, visiting “the Johns”, where I first met J. Alex Haller Jr. MD – the world famous Children’s-Surgeon-in-Charge of Johns Hopkins Hospital, and pectus excavatum surgical pioneer, from 1964 until 1997. As well as pediatric heart surgeon Helen Brooke Taussig MD (1898 – 1986), developer of a famous operation to alleviate “blue baby” syndrome, and who first warned the public on the dangers of thalidomide. JHU is also where I played stick-ball as a kid, in the hospital parking lot. But, I digress.

Link: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshall/html/taussig.html

Church Home and Hospital and Me

My first visit to the Church Home Hospital ER was to repair a forehead laceration which was sustained after a fall onto one of Baltimore’s famous brick steps.

The second was to re-attach my right hallux [big toe] after almost completely severing it on a piece of glass [broken beer bottle].

My final visit was to repair a thigh laceration. Of course, my younger brother made two subsequent visits, over the years, as well. On all occasions we were sutured and repaired by Raymond Atkins MD; following his career as a junior and senior attending resident, fellow and well into private practice. In a time before eMRs; Dr. Ray would later tell us that just hearing the name “Marcinko” was enough medical history for him to commence his trip to the ER. God bless you Dr. Atkins and Church Home and Hospital.

Assessment

As a student of the city, I knew of Church Home Hospital and Edgar Allan Poe before ever learning of Haller, Taussig or Atkins. But, they all made impressions on me, in one way or another. I just had to revisit the sites and  them, if only in memory

About Off Road with Dr. Marcinko

These sporadic off-road segments will continue through-out my 2009 summer promotional tour. On the one hand, formal attendance at several engagements was a bit sparse because of the death of several recent celebrities and entertainer types.

On the other hand, local book stores and sponsors noted a spike in our  book sales, as well as interest in our online www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org program.

Part VI: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-vi/

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. Tell us what you think about this trip down memory lane? 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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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

***

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HALLOWEEN: Nathaniel Potter MD & Touring with Dr. Marcinko [Part VI]

About Nathaniel Potter, MD

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™
[Publisher-in-Chief]
Dateline: Baltimore MarylandNathaniel Potter MD

While in Washington DC on the second portion of our recent ME-P book “signing and opining” tour, I had the good fortune to visit the gravesite of the noted physician Nathaniel Potter, MD. Dr. Potter was born in Carolina county Maryland in 1770 and died in Baltimore on 2 January, 1843. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1796, and settled in Baltimore, where he practiced medicine until his death. In 1807, he associated with Dr. John B. Davidge in founding the University of Maryland, School of Medicine where he ultimately served as professor and dean. He died penniless.

THINK Potter’s field!

About Green Mount Cemetery

Green Mount Cemetery is located in Baltimore, MD. Established in 1839, it is noted for the large number of historical figures that have been interred in its grounds as well as a large number of prominent Baltimore-area families. It retained the name Green Mount when the land was purchased from the heirs of Baltimore merchant Robert Oliver. Green Mount is also a treasury of precious works of art, including striking works by major sculptors like William Rinehart and Hans Schuler. The cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Assessment

In as much as Dr. Potter was a well know figure to me, I was most pleased at the impromptu visit to his grave. You see, although I attended Temple University because of my future specialty, my first medical school choice would have been at University of Maryland if post-graduate education opportunities had been different at the time. And, I passed the medical school, and the imposing Greek themed Davidge Hall Dome, daily for four years as I rode the number 8 public transportation bus to my undergraduate studies at nearby Loyola University, in Townson Maryland. Of course, the fact that Potter was educated at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the first in the nation, did not elude me when I worked in its ER as a young medical student in Philadelphia, back in-the-day. University of Maryland was the fifth such medical school in the country.

About Off Road with Dr. Marcinko

These sporadic off-road segments will continue through-out my summer promotional tour. Attendance at several formal and informal engagements increased since the early summer. The previously noted sales spike for our texts, handbooks and dictionaries; as well as interest in our online www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org  program.

Part V: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-v/

Conclusion

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, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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

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Henry Louis Gehrig, eMRs and Healthcare Reform

What’s the “Iron Horse” Got to Do with Health IT?

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]Jacobetti VA

According to UPI reports from Charlestown, WVa on August 24 2009, at least 1,200 veterans across the country were mistakenly told by the Veterans Administration [VA] that they suffered from a fatal neurological disorder.

Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32541579/ns/health-health_care/

Panicked Veterans

One of the leaders of a Gulf War veterans group is reported to have said that panicked veterans from the states of Alabama, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming contacted the group about the error. Denise Nichols, the vice president of the National Gulf War Resource Center, reportedly blamed a “coding error” for the mistake. In medicine, we call this a “false positive.”

About Henry Louis “Lou” Gehrig

Henry Louis “Lou” Gehrig (June 19, 1903 – June 2, 1941), born Ludwig Heinrich Gehrig, was an American baseball player in the 1920s and 1930s; chiefly remembered for his prowess as a hitter, the longevity of his consecutive games played record and the pathos of his tearful farewell from baseball at age 36, when he was stricken with a fatal disease. Of course, Gehrig was known as the “The Iron Horse” for his durability. Yet, the irony is that Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis [ALS], or Lou Gehrig’s disease [sometimes also called Maladie de Charcot] is progressive and fatal. Lou died in 1941 after developing the illness. Will the same death-spiral happen to eHRs and Obama care?

Link: http://www.lougehrig.com

Assessment

Having rotated through the VA system as a young medical student back-in-the-day, I have never been a fan. It smacked of socialized medicine and government plutocracy, and was never a leading-edge example of domestic healthcare, in my informed opinion. Recent HIPAA administrative, security, IT and clinical medical errors are well known. So, to blame the mix-up on an insurance billing and “coding error” seems somewhat disingenuous. Especially now, at a time when eMRs and the Obama Administration’s healthcare reform itself is being vigorously debated by the citizenry. I mean, are there no human checks and balances? Would there be any human intervention if a public healthcare policy was adopted?

Of course, we have written about military medicine previously on this Medical Executive-Post, and devoted an entire channel to it. And, I do realize that more than fifty percent of us receive similar governmental care in some form, or another [Medicare, Medicaid, CHIPS, the Indian and Prison Healthcare Systems, etc].

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

Nevertheless, shall we give a new moniker to this mistake? How about “Lou Gehrig’s coding error”, and document it in our www.HealthDictionarySeries.com

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. Is it even fair to relate this “isolated incident” to the current healthcare reform debate, the eMR conundrum and/or similar discussions on health Information Technology [IT]? 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 to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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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 Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. 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

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

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Sponsors Welcomed

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

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“Live Long and Prosper”

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

By Thomas A. Muldowney; MSFS, CLU, CFP®, CMP™

By Hope Rachel Hetico; RN, MHA, CMP™Senior Citizens

The words of Mr. Spock!

Recently, during my promotional speaking tour for the summer of 2009, I had the occasion to visit a few nursing and related homes for the elderly, sick, infirmed and aged. This harkened warm thoughts back to my time at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA as a young medical student. So, as a health economist and former certified financial planner, I recruited some folks and did some research on the domestic aging population to refresh my understanding of the facts and figures; especially in light of the current healthcare reform political debates [DEM].

Just the Facts  

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, there were almost 49 million people in the United States who were over age 60 in 2001. There are approximately 4 million people over the age of 85 living in the US and there are over 60,000 people older than age 100 estimated as of July 1st 2004. For every100 middle aged persons in the United States there are at present about 114 persons over the age of 65. This statistic will change as we move forward through time. In the year 2025, there will be about 253 people over age 65 for every 100 middle-aged people.

Enter the Baby Boomers

Beginning on January 1, 2006 at midnight and every 12 seconds thereafter for fifteen years, a baby boomer will have a birthday and cross over the age threshold of age 60. In the next 30 years, the 60+ age group will more than double, becoming 25% of the total population, and will have to be supported by a proportionately smaller workforce. Research published in June 2005 by AARP (based on data from 2002) estimates that: ‘‘In 2002, roughly $140 billion was spent on nursing home and home health care, with 24% of these costs being paid out of pocket” (O’Brien and Elias, 2004).

Aging Boomers

As the baby boom generation ages, the care needs will expand precipitously. Add to this, scientific and technological improvements in healthcare. These very same people will need more expensive healthcare and more expensive custodial care, and they will need it for an even longer period of time. Who will pay for this expanded need is not so clear. What is clear is that it will take money and lots of it to make these payments.

Money Preservation Variables

There are only three variables associated with the accumulation or preservation of money: ‘‘time, money and rate of return.’’ Time is reduced to the following two questions ‘‘How long until I will need my money?’’ and ‘‘How long will I live?’’ an uncertainty to be sure. Rate of return is either a function of the financial markets or the successful maintenance of a Long Term Care Insurance [LTCI] plan. Because of the volatility in the financial markets, the ‘‘money’’ question is equally as uncertain. In order to accumulate sufficient assets; an aging physician must ’tradeoff’ many other alternatives such as ’lifestyle.’

Assessment

What is certain is this—financial planning is important. More important is the implementation.

Conclusion

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, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

Product Details  Product Details

Off-Road Touring with Dr. Marcinko [Part V]

About the Ship USNS COMFORT
By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™
[Publisher-in-Chief]
Dateline: August 4, 2009USNS Comfort Canton, Maryland

The official Navy ship USNS COMFORT [“Medical Treatment Facility”] has the primary mission to provide a mobile, flexible and rapidly responsive capability for acute medical and surgical care in support of amphibious task forces. These forces include the Marine Corps, Army and Air Force elements, forward deployed Navy elements of the fleet, and activities located in areas where hostilities may be imminent. Operations are governed by the principles of the “Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Wounded, Sick, and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea”, as of August 12, 1949.

Mission

As a secondary mission of the ship COMFORT is providing a full hospital service asset for use by other government agencies involved in the support of relief and humanitarian operations worldwide. These mission statements are accountable to both the Reduced Operating Status (ROS) and Full Operating Status (FOS) military personnel staffed at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda Maryland until the ship is activated. However, the ROS personnel’s immediate and number one priority is to fully activate the ship to a FOS Echelon III Medical Treatment Facility within a prescribed 5-day time frame.

Functions

In meeting these missions, the ROS personnel perform the following functions:

  • Serve as the nucleus of the critical core required to execute activations;
  • Develop, test, and maintain systems and procedures to support activation process;
  • Orient and train FOS augmenting staff;
  • Monitor/assess the medical treatment facility’s overall ability to fully activate/perform mission.

Leaders

The ship is commanded by CAPT James J. Ware DDS, with Executive Officer Captain Larnerd, and Master Chief Lohner. The home base is Baltimore, Maryland.  Upon arrival at the dock, the ME-P and I planned to meet onboard with Master David Lieberman. But, an interview was cancelled due to a last minute scheduling conflict. However, we were placed in the competent hands of our civilian tour guide, Shaun B. of Virginia. He noted 70 civilian and 700 military personnel.US Comfort

Assessment

Shaun B, informed me that despite advanced age, my application for a four month tour would be gladly reviewed. And, it is under serious future consideration as my nurse sister is a recent Bronze Star Award winner from a Combat Army Surgical Hospital [CASH] unit stationed in Iraq. I also did my trauma surgery training in Martin Army Hospital, at Fort Benning Georgia, back-in-the-day.

About Off Road with Dr. Marcinko

These sporadic off-road segments will continue through-out my 2009 summer promotional tour. Attendance at several formal and informal engagements increased since the early summer. The previously noted sales spike for our texts, handbooks and dictionaries www.HealthDictionarySeries.com continued and interest in our online www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com program and premier quarterly guide: Healthcare Organizations [Journal of Financial Management Strategies] www.HealthcareFinancials.com remained high.

Part IV: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-iv/

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.

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

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

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

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Sponsors Welcomed

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

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

Healthcare Organizations

Off-Road Touring with Dr. Marcinko [Part IV]

About Atlas Sports Genetics

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Dateline: July 6, 2009people_top

Did you know that for about $150 bucks, Atlas Sports Genetics [ASG], a company in Boulder CO, offers a DNA test kit to evaluate actinin; a protein found in fast-twitch muscle fibers? Yep; it’s true!

About ASG

ATLAS™ stands for Athletic Talent Laboratory Analysis System and is a leading edge athletic talent identification test that uses enhanced DNA analysis to identify those athletes that are genetically predisposed to either speed/power or endurance characteristics. Through the analysis of a specific DNA gene called ACTN3, the SportGene® Test developed by Genetic Technologies in Australia, is now available in the United States through Atlas Sports Genetics.

The Kit

Using a cheek swab sent to the lab, a report on the gene ACTN3 is received by mail several weeks later. The test is touted to be helpful in determining the best sport, or prefect athletic career, for participants. And, it is highly sought after by helicopter parents wishing to pursue a college scholarship or sports contract for junior [i.e., marathoner versus sprinter, etc].

Just take a look here: http://www.atlasgene.com

AssessmentESPN

How did I learn about all this? Why, from an USOEC parent of course, during my travels to Upper Michigan. And me? I’ve been a middle distance runner for 35 years; even with a dislocated finger! LSD anyone; long-slow-distance.

 

About Off Road with Dr. Marcinko

These sporadic off-road segments will continue through-out my 2009 summer promotional tour. On the one hand, formal attendance at several engagements was a bit sparse because of the death of several recent celebrities and entertainer types. On the other hand, local book stores and sponsors noted a spike in our CD and book sales, as well as interest in our online www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com program and premier quarterly guide: Healthcare Organizations [Journal of Financial Management Strategies] www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Part I: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-i/

Part II: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-ii/

Part III: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-iii/

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. Tell us what you think about the performance predictive power of ACTN3? 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.

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

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

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

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

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Sponsors Welcomed

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

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

Off-Road Touring with Dr. Marcinko [Part III]

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I Dislocate a Finger

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Dateline: Sunday June 28, 2009DEM-MQT MTN

Fresh off my “runner’s” high from meeting Olympians Shani Davis and Apolo Ohno, the other day, I easily ran an extra couple of miles during my daily training run to stay in shape during my arduous speaking and book signing tour. Thus, invigorated in mind and body, and flushed with surging natural endomorphins, I decided to spend the afternoon at Marquette Mountain watching the downhill mountain bike races.

After introducing myself to Bruce Gustafson, the ambulance driver there on professional standby from the local Marquette General Hospital EMT service, I spent an hour or so marveling at how the racers survived the rocky and treacherous down-hill course. Unfortunately, I was not so lucky, and came very close to requiring Bruce’s expert services.

Taking a TumbleDismay

While climbing down the mounting, running actually, I tripped head-over-heels and commenced wildly flailing and rolling down the rocky terrain, stopping just short of smashing into a large birch tree after 50 feet or so. Bouncing straight back up in an instant, I doubt if nearby spectators even noticed what had happened.  Nevertheless, I was most pleased at my adroit body and still youthful ability to assume a dolphin like roll into the fall, dissipating kinetic energy and avoiding injury. Or, so I thought.

Dislocating a Finger

Unfortunately, my fourth right finger began to throb a few seconds later; and then scream at me. Not much medical acumen was needed to note that something was wrong, as the proximal-inter-phalangeal-joint [PIPJ] appeared laterally deviated forty-five degrees, just as the digital apex was turning blue and the joint began swelling before my eyes. Appreciating the impending neurovascular compromise potential, I grabbed the finger, distracted it, reversed the mechanism of injury, let go, and felt it snap back into place.  I promptly sat down as a diaphoretic wave of cold sweat broke out on my forehead, chest, shoulders and arms. Fortunately, the hypo-tensive episode lasted only a few minutes, and I did not go into shock. A visiting nurse came to the rescue, elevating my feet, monitoring vital signs and offering fluids as I recovered quickly. She was indeed my Florence Nightingale and, as I later learned, a Master’s prepared nurse-executive. I was gratefully taken back to my hotel after refusing further medical assistance or X-rays. The finger was grotesquely swollen the next few days but did not hurt much. Simple contrast baths, passive and active ROM exercises, along with the “tincture of time” which I estimate to be 6-8 weeks based on clinical experience, will hopefully be all that is required for complete recovery. Although, it may be some time before full typing flexibility is returned; assuming a “button-hole” extensor tendon rupture incarcerating, strangling or imbricating the phalangeal head, did not occur.Ambulance DEM

Assessment

In my former clinical medical career, I diagnosed, treated and operated on hundreds of injured fingers and toes; for various acute and chronic conditions, fractures, dislocations and related digital anomalies. I even published several peer reviewed papers on same. Still, my course of action may be considered reckless, by some, and should not be repeated. Always seek medical advice.

References:

1. Digital Fractures and Dislocations [Diagnosis and Treatment]. Author: DH Elleby, and DE Marcinko [Clinics in Podiatry. 05/1985; 2(2):233-45].

2. Marcinko DE, and Elleby DH. Digital Fractures and Dislocations; In: Scurran BL, ed. Foot and Ankle Trauma, 2nd ed; Church-Hill-Livingston, Boston, MA.

About Off Road with Dr. Marcinko

These sporadic off-road segments will continue through-out my 2009 summer promotional tour. On the one hand, formal attendance at several engagements was a bit sparse because of the death of several recent celebrities and entertainer types. On the other hand, local book stores and sponsors noted a spike in our CD and book sales, as well as interest in our online www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com program as well as our quarterly institutional premium guide; Healthcare Organizations [Journal of Financial Management Strategies] www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Part I: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-i/

Part II: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-ii/

Conclusion

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, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

Product DetailsProduct DetailsProduct Details

Off-Road Touring with Dr. Marcinko [Part II]

Meeting Olympic Champions

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Dateline: Saturday June 27, 2009MGH Bike Race

I attended the Superior BMX Bike Fest today, sponsored in-part by Marquette General Hospital [MGH] and held for amateur and professional cyclists, alike. These brave riders in downtown Marquette MI; segregated by gender and age groups, rode mostly carbon bicycles. Female winner of the Twilight Criterium was 22 year old Sarah Maguire, of Team Priority Health, and the defending state champion. Her time was 33:14.6 for the urban and very hilly short course. The first place male winner was Derek Graham at 28:15.5, and the second place winner was Graham Howard, a former pharmacy graduate student, also from powerhouse Team Priority Health. All were given a hearty ME-P congratulatory “shout-out”, as my services in the medical-tent went un-needed for the entire event.

Apolo, Shani and RyanOEC

Shani Davis, of Marquette High School, is a former US Olympic Education Center [USOEC] ice skater and 1,000 meter Olympic gold medalist at the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. He is also a close friend of Apolo Anton Ohno who was here to participate in the US Short Track National Speed Skating Trials. Fans of the sport may recall that Apolo is a five time Olympian speed ice-skating medalist and most recent “Dancing with the Star’s” winner. So, he took a celebratory bike ride through the city while in town practicing with the US Olympic team at the nearby Berry Events Center. Both Shani and Apolo cheered for former USOEC speed skater Ryan Bedford, while remaining very approachable to their considerable fan base. I was lucky enough to briefly chat-them-up at the races. All young men are fine examples of amateur athletics in the truest Olympic tradition. 

About Off Road with Dr. Marcinko

These sporadic off-road segments will continue through-out my 2009 summer promotional tour. On the one hand, formal attendance at several engagements was a bit sparse because of the death of several recent celebrities and entertainer types. On the other hand, local book stores and sponsors noted a spike in our CD and book sales, as well as interest in our online www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com program and premier quarterly guide: Healthcare Organizations [Journal of Financial Management Strategies] www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Part I: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/off-road-touring-with-dr-marcinko-part-i/

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. 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 to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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

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

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

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

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

Off-Road Touring with Dr. Marcinko [Part I]

“Using-Up” Health Insurance

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Dateline: June 18-19th, 2009dem24          

I flew into Marquette Michigan last night on a puddle jumper from Chicago, Illinois. Marquette will be the home base on my current book promotion and public/private  speaking tour. This second leg of our trip, from Atlanta, was delayed for mechanical reasons. So, rather than follow directions from American Airlines regarding new arrangements, and rushing to wait in a long line of humanity for a new boarding pass on a much later flight, I simply called the travel assistance number on my cell phone. We were re-routed by computer from American, to a Delta Airlines flight, that caused no additional time lag as we later learned the other passengers boarded their American flight three hours late. Many of the elderly and slower moving folks even missed connecting flights which necessitated overnight hotel stays, in some cases.

THINK: outside the box independently, and don’t follow directions mindlessly.  

About Marquette, Michigan

The City of Marquette is located in the central region of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. With a population of 20,714, it is the UP’s largest community. In addition to being a population center, it serves as the regional center for education, health care, recreation, and retail. This regional draw is particularly evident due to Northern Michigan University and Marquette General Hospital, both of which are located in the City of Marquette. Of course, I visited both.

Quality Healthcare for the Upper PeninsulaUPHC

So, the next morning I called some friends who suggested we head over to the Marquette Upper Peninsula  Healthcare Network System, on Washington Street, for an unplanned and unofficial stop on our current “signing and opining” tour. It seemed very busy for a Friday morning; so we gathered some colleagues and ambled over to Viering’s Restaurant where we discussed the local economy, current state of the healthcare industry and the Obama Administration’s ideas for healthcare reform. When I expressed my surprise at the number of patients in the clinic waiting room areas, I was informed that an unexpected corporate layoff resulted in patients “wanting to use their health insurance, before being RIFed [Reduced-in-Force].” Now, as a doctor, and insurance agent, I find this attitude both very strange; yet not uncommon.

“Using-Up” Health Insurance

I can honestly say that after more than three-decades in the business, I have never heard a single soon-to-be unemployed client say,” I need to use up my life insurance”, or “auto insurance”, or “homeowner’s insurance”, etc. So, what gives with health insurance?

Health Insurance IS Different

Insurance of all types is sold to economically protect against catastrophic events like pre-mature death, auto accidents, or home destruction. But life insurance doesn’t pay for non-lethal issues; auto insurance doesn’t pay for new tires, tune-ups or oil changes; and home owner’s insurance doesn’t pay for regular upkeep and maintenance, etc. So, why do some patients believe that health insurance necessarily needs to be used-up? Were they not healthy before the lay-off announcement; or did they suddenly become ill, thereafter? What do you think? Is this just a local phenomenon, or would it be [is it] pandemic in any community given the same or similar circumstances?

AssessmentUPHC-DEM

For me, this scenario clearly demonstrates two things. First, that Health Insurance is thought of as a personal right and/or corporate fringe-benefit; rather than true financial indemnification. Second, it demonstrates the ability of patients to think ahead; unlike the airline customers on my initial trip here. So, if patients can be forward thinking about their health insurance needs, why don’t they think ahead about their personal health care needs? Why don’t more of us exercise regularly, watch our blood pressure and weight, and/or avoid drugs, alcohol and promiscuous sex, etc.  If we can monitor and pay for routine auto and home maintenance ourselves; why not our routine health needs?  Isn’t good health our most important personal asset? Aren’t we worth it? Do we really want to abrogate our very lives to others? Do we want to concede our responsibilities to a third party, ie, a national [single-payer] governmental controlled healthcare? Those patients wanting to “use their health insurance”, before unemployment, certainly seem to think so.

About Off Road with Dr. Marcinko

These sporadic off-road segments will continue through-out my 2009 summer promotional tour. On the one hand, formal attendance at several engagements was initially a bit sparse because of the death of several recent celebrities and entertainer types. On the other hand, local book stores and sponsors noted a spike in our CD and book sales, as well as interest in our online www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com program and premier quarterly guide: Healthcare Organizations [Journal of Financial Management Strategies] www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. 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 to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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

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

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

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

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

The “Desperate” Doctors!

Why Medical Providers are Dis-enfranchised

Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA CMP™

[Publisher-in-Chief]

Despite the purported benefits of managed care, anecdotal evidence suggests that MD’s are less happy about managed care, compensation and their profession than ever before. Some might say they are even “desperate.”  

There are other reasons for despair, as well: 

  • Fewer fee-for-service patients and more discounted patients
  • More paperwork and scrutiny of medical decisions
  • Lost independence and medical morale 
  • Healthcare providers are making less money, as Medicare reimbursement was cut 5.4% for 2002, and 4.4% in 2003. Much more may be in store for late 2008.

Furthermore, such cuts also stand to hurt physicians with private payers since commercial insurers often tie their reimbursement schedules to Medicare’s resources.

Of course, many doctors feel that the profession of medicine is no longer satisfying or ego enhancing since almost 40% are now merely corporate employees.

And in the past few years, the following has occurred: 

  • The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) became known as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Formerly administered by Thomas Scully, it was re-organized into three parts: 1] The Center for Medical Management runs the traditional fee-for-service program. 2] The Center for Beneficiary Choices expands the number of Medicare beneficiaries belonging to private plans. 3] The Center for Medicaid and State Operations shares responsibility with state governments.
  • Certain administrative requirements for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) went into effect in April and October 2003. And, for many doctors, their biggest liability may be a single unfortunate event that could result in a lawsuit, an HHS investigation, and/or bad publicity. 
  • The executive committee of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) adopted a new marketing code to govern big pharma’s relationships with physicians. Although now voluntary, DHH is urging compliance as critics charge that Direct to Consumer (DTC) advertising results in appropriate prescription patterns, frustrated patients and increased costs.    

Assessment: And so, do you believe the above is more true than not; and are doctors really getting desperate? 

Conclusion: Your thoughts are appreciated.

Speaker: If you need a moderator or a speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA – Editor and Publisher-in-Chief – is available for speaking engagements. Contact him at: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

***

Product DetailsProduct Details

***

The Employed Physician Business Model

Employed Doctors Enjoy Several Compensation Options

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA, CMP™

biz-book1According to corporate medical recruiter Kris Barlow RN MBA, physicians can select from various employment models that may include fringe benefit packages (life, health, dental, disability insurance; medical society and hospital dues, journals, vacations, auto, and CEUs, etc.) equal to 25-40% of salary [personal communication]. 

And, this medical business model is fast growing as the various types below demonstrate. 

Independent Contractor or Employee 

A payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work done by an independent contractor, and not the means or methods of accomplishing the result.

By contrast, anyone who performs services for another is an employee if he or she can control what will be done and how it will be done. Employed physicians are usually not compensated as independent contractors. 

New Practitioner Salaries: 

Published annually for new practitioners by The Health Care Group®, the Physician Starting Salary Survey collects and collates nationwide data on new physician employment compensation.

The guide reports first, second and third year of starting physicians’ salary and incentives, but with large high-low spreads. It also includes information about co-ownership provisions, benefits and restrictive covenants.

The survey is categorized by specialty and results are based on information provided by medical practices, health care advisors, physicians, and health care consultants across the country. The figures represent basic elements of the bid/ask process for establishing optimal salary and benefit amounts for new physicians entering private practice.

Available for no charge from the Health Care Group (800.473.0030 or www.HealthCareGroup.com) 

Public Equity Relationships 

The public equity roll-up model of medical partnerships in the late 1990s offered employed physicians experience within a large group whose decisions were made by managers.  Compensation was controlled and replaced with the stress of investor expectations, as Physician Practice Management Corporations (PPMCs) needed to grow revenues by 10-15% annually to maintain price-to-earnings ratios. If stock was held in a growing PPMC, physician employees shared in both practice and corporate compensation

But, by 2007, a survey of the Cain Brothers Physician Practice Management Corporation Index of public PPMCs, revealed a market capitalization loss of more than 95% since inception.

Newer Healthcare Delivery and Physician Compensation Models

Today, whether independent or employed, physicians can pursue several creative compensation models not available a decade ago:

MSO Contracting: 

According to consultant Jeffrey Peters, physicians maintain private practice in this model, but contract with a management services organization to relieve administrative burdens. Physicians maintain control with less stress, but, as MSO contracts are expensive (18-45% revenue), compensation diminishes, and rests on MSO competence.

Locum Tenens Practitioner:

Locum Tenens (LT) is an alternative to full-time employment for most specialties. Some younger physicians enjoy the travel, while mature physicians like to practice at their leisure.

Employment factors to consider include: firm reputation, malpractice insurance, credentialing, travel and relocation expenses (which are negotiable).  However, a LT firm typically will not cover taxes. 

Cash Based Compensation:  

A Cash Based Compensation (CBC) model attracts patients who pay cash for desirable services, such as surgeons who dispense scar reducers or in areas such as pain relief, weight loss, aesthetic procedures, and natural health.  

Any well-rounded CBC program should include: patient demand; low entry cost; little marketing costs; existing employees to administer the program; and an operational plan. With time and effort, profit for physician compensation may increase 10-20% annually.

Values Based Health Insurance Model:

According to some pundits,instead of the one size fits all approach of traditional health insurance, a “clinically-sensitive” cost-sharing system that supports co-payments related to evidence-based value for targeted patients seems plausible. 

In this model, out-of-pocket costs are based on price and a cost/quality tradeoff in clinical circumstances: low co-payments for interventions of highest value, and higher co-payments for interventions with little proven health benefit. Smarter benefit packages are designed to combine disease management with cost sharing to address spending growth.

Global Healthcare Model: 

American businesses are extending their cost-cutting initiatives to include offshore employee medical benefits, and facilities like the Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand (cosmetic surgery), the Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, India (cardiac and orthopedic surgery) are premier examples for surgical care. Both are internationally recognized institutions that resemble five-star hotels equipped with the latest medical technology.  

Countries such as Finland, England and Canada are also catering to the English-speaking crowd, while dentistry is especially popular in Mexico and Costa Rica. Although this is still considered “medical tourism,” Mercer Health and Benefits was recently retained by three Fortune 500 companies interested in contracting with offshore hospitals and JCAHO has accredited 88 foreign hospitals through a joint international commission.  

To be sure, when India can discount costs up to 80%, the effects on domestic hospital reimbursement and physician compensation may be assumed to increase downward compensation pressures.

dhimc-book1Conclusion

Regardless of the salaried compensation model, its review and understanding is vital for long-term success.

How have the above compensation models affected your medical practice business model, and salary, if any?

Speaker: If you need a moderator or a speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA is available for speaking engagements. Contact him at: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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MARCINKO’s New Risk Management and Asset Protection Textbook for MDs and Financial Advisors

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Risk Management, Liability Insurance, and Asset Protection Strategies for Doctors and Advisors [Best Practices from Leading Consultants and Certified Medical Planners]

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“BY DOCTORS – FOR DOCTORS – PEER REVIEWED – FIDUCIARY FOCUSED”

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Book Reviews

“Physicians who don’t understand modern risk management, insurance, business and asset protection principles are sitting ducks waiting to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous insurance agents and financial advisors; and even their own prospective employers or partners. This comprehensive volume from Dr. David Marcinko, and his co-authors, will go a long way toward educating physicians on these critical subjects that were never taught in medical school or residency training.”
—Dr. James M. Dahle, MD, FACEP, Editor of The White Coat Investor, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

“With time at a premium, and so much vital information packed into one well organized resource, this comprehensive textbook should be on the desk of everyone serving in the healthcare ecosystem. The time you spend reading this frank and compelling book will be richly rewarded.”
—Dr. J. Wesley Boyd, MD, PhD, MA, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

“Physicians have more complex liability challenges to overcome in their lifetime, and less time to do it, than other professionals. Combined with a focus on practicing their discipline, many sadly fail to plan for their own future. They need trustworthy advice on how to effectively protect themselves, families and practice, from the many overt and covert risks that could potentially disrupt years of hard work.
Fortunately, this advice is contained within ‘Risk Management, Liability Insurance, And Asset Protection Strategies For Doctors And Advisors: Best Practices From Leading Consultants And Certified Medical Planners™’. Written by Dr. David Edward Marcinko, Nurse Hope Rachel Hetico and their team of risk managers, accountants, insurance agents, attorneys and physicians, it is uniquely positioned as an integration of applied, academic and peer-reviewed strategies and research, with case studies, from top consultants and Certified Medical Planners™. It contains the latest principles of risk management and asset protection strategies for the specific challenges of modern physicians. My belief is that any doctor who reads and applies even just a portion of this collective wisdom will be fiscally rewarded. The Institute of Medical Business Advisors has produced another outstanding reference for physicians that provide peace of mind in this unique marketplace! In my opinion, it is a mandatory read for all medical professionals.”
—David K. Luke, MS-PFP, MIM, CMP™, Net Worth Advisory Group, Inc., Sandy, Utah, USA

“This book is a well-constructed, comprehensive and experiential view of risk management throughout the entire medical practice life-cycle. It is organized in an accessible, high-yield style that is familiar to doctors. Each chapter has case models, examples and insider tips and useful pearls. I was pleased to see multi-degreed physicians sharing their professional experiences in a textbook on something other than clinical medicine. I can’t decide if this book is right on – over the top – or just plain prescient. Now, after a re-read, I conclude it is all of the above; and much more.”
—Dr. Peter P. Sidoriak, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, USA

“When a practicing physician thinks about their risk exposure resulting from providing patient care, medical malpractice risk immediately comes to mind. But; malpractice and liability risk is barely the tip of the iceberg, and likely not even the biggest risk in the daily practice of medicine. There are risks from having medical records to keep private, risks related to proper billing and collections, risks from patients tripping on your office steps, risks from medical board actions, risk arising from divorce, and the list goes on and on. These liabilities put a doctor’s hard earned assets and career in a very vulnerable position. This new book from Dr. David Marcinko and Prof. Hope Hetico shows doctors the multiple types of risk they face and provides examples of steps to take to minimize them. It is written clearly and to the point, and is a valuable reference for any well-managed practice. Every doctor who wants to take preventive action against the risks coming at them from all sides needs to read this book.”
—Richard Berning, MD, FACC, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

“This is an excellent companion book to Dr. Marcinko’s Comprehensive Financial Planning Strategies For Doctors And Advisors: Best Practices from Leading Consultants and Certified Medical Planners™. It is all inclusive yet easy to read with current citations, references and much frightening information. I highly recommend this text. It is a fine educational and risk management tool for all doctors and medical professionals.”
—Dr. David B. Lumsden, MD, MS, MA, Orthopedic Surgeon, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

“This comprehensive text book provides an in-depth presentation of the cyber security and real risk management, asset protection and insurance issues facing all medical profession today. It is far beyond the mere medical malpractice concerns I faced when originally entering practice decades ago.”
—Dr. Barbara s. Schlefman, DPM, MS, Family Foot Care, PA, Tucker, Georgia, USA

“Am I over-insured and thus wasting money? Am I under-insured and thus at risk for a liability or other disaster? I never really had the means of answering these questions; until now.”
—Dr. Lloyd M. Krieger, MD, MBA, Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery, Beverly Hills, California, USA

“I read and use this book, and several others, from Dr. David Edward Marcinko and his team of advisors.”
—Dr. John Kelley, DO, Orthopedic Surgeon, Tucker, Georgia, USA

“An important step in the risk management, insurance planning and asset protection process is the assessment of needs. One can create a strong foundation for success only after all needs have been analyzed so that a plan can be constructed and then implemented. This book does an excellent job of recognizing those needs and addressing strategies to reduce them.
—Shikha Mittra, MBA, CFP®, CRPS®, CMFC®, AIF®, President – Retire Smart Consulting LLC, Princeton, New Jersey, USA

“The Certified Medical Planner™ professional designation and education program was created by the Institute of Medical Business Advisors Inc., and Dr. David Edward Marcinko and his team (who wrote this book). It is intended for financial advisors who aim specifically to serve physicians and the medical community. Content focuses not only on the insurance and professional liability issues relevant to physicians, but also provides an understanding of the risky business of medical practice so advisors can help work more successfully with their doctor-clients.”
—Michael E. Kitces, MSFS, MTAX, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC, CASL, http://www.Kitecs.com, Reston, Virginia, USA

“I have read this text and used consulting services from the Institute of Medical Business of Advisors, Inc. on several occasions.”
—Dr. Marsha Lee, DO, Radiologists, Norcross, Georgia, USA

“The medical education system is grueling and designed to produce excellence in medical knowledge and patient care. What it doesn’t prepare us for is the slings and arrows that come our way once we actually start practicing medicine. Successfully avoiding these land mines can make all the difference in the world when it comes to having a fulfilling practice. Given the importance of risk management and mitigation, you would think these subjects would be front and center in both medical school and residency – ‘they aren’t.’ Thankfully, the brain trust over at iMBA Inc., has compiled this comprehensive guide designed to help you navigate these mine fields so that you can focus on what really matters – patient care.”
—Dennis Bethel, MD, Emergency Medicine Physician

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