Articles

Essential documentation is critical to support the work physicians do. It only takes a few seconds longer, and it can make all the difference.

When it comes to improving the performance of your emergency department, engagement should be a top priority. Providers and hospital leaders need to be aligned and engaged to truly provide the best care and increase performance of your department.

If you want your claims to be approved, you must provide accurate and detailed documentation. Here are a few common reasons for denials of acute respiratory failure and why clear documentation is critical.

On rare occasion, a patient presents to the emergency department without the acute care needs that would warrant hospital admission or observation services. Unfortunately, the patient cannot safely return to their prior disposition, which presents a challenge for the patient and the hospital. Here are a few steps providers can take to best manage these…

I recently had the privilege of attending a conference in Miami on Targeted Temperature Management (TTM), more commonly known as ‘Therapeutic Hypothermia.’ The lively discussions enjoyed at the conference had me reflecting on what it means to care for our patients and how that care relates to quality of life.

Being a patient in the hospital can be a stressful ordeal. When a patient experiences long waits for their provider to visit them, delays for procedures, or anticipation of test results, it can create a great deal of angst. I’m sharing a few techniques providers can incorporate to manage the patient’s hospital experience.

Based on case studies from different health systems and clinical contexts, two thought leaders describe lessons learned in using provider-specific performance feedback and transparency to drive clinical improvement and high-value healthcare.

Unless you’ve been living under a well-sanitized rock the last three months, you’ve certainly experienced the epidemic flu season raging across the United States January through March. While the flu season peak has passed, we’re not totally out of the woods yet. Here are six guidelines provider teams can follow to accommodate the surge while…

At times, it can be frustrating when patients are readmitted to the hospital for not following discharge instructions. A recent experience with a patient post-discharge provided a good reminder to consider the reasons for non-compliance and to think beyond the diagnosis.

Detailed documentation is required for payors to approve claims for reimbursement. Increasingly, claims are denied for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Learn what physician advisors are seeing in their reviews and how to properly document for patients with CHF.

I’m a researcher and life-long learner. The Sound Ambassador career offered me a chance to study many health systems, understand how they function, and provide process improvements when change is needed.

Have you ever received a personal note thanking you for the care you provided to a patient? Communicating the right information to patients can have a profound impact on their hospital experience. It’s not what you say, but how you say it that can make the difference.

The difference between an insurance claim being approved and denied can be miniscule. Physicians need to remember that payors can’t read minds – they can only read the documentation provided. The better the documentation, the easier it is for everyone involved.

In May 2007, Dr. Neha Sharma received two pieces of big news. The first, she was accepted into medical school. A month later she was diagnosed with cancer. Her experience has given her a unique perspective when it comes to treating patients, after all she’s walked in their shoes.

Do you wonder how some providers are great at establishing trust with their patients that ultimately leads to higher HCAHPS scores? If so, read Dr. Mark Rudolph’s Op-Med blog post on gaining trust.

Accurately documenting a patient’s medical condition ensures acuity is accounted for to achieve proper reimbursement and performance metrics. It also promotes clear communication between providers and others involved in the patient’s care.

2017 has been the 17th deadliest hurricane season since 1900, and it’s not over yet. Unfortunately, every natural disaster is also a public health setback. As the immediate effects of a natural calamity dissipate, the public health concerns surge significantly.

A simple change in how you communicate with patients can lead to an improved patient’s experience of their care, including how satisfied patients are with their provider and how well they understand their condition.

It is difficult for hospitals to keep up with the mounting regulatory changes. The demand for physician advisors at hospitals is growing at a healthy pace.

For many years, our provider focus has been on the time our patients spend at the hospitals we serve. Going forward, we must spend more time thinking about the days, weeks and months after they leave.