HCPro.com - Credentialing Resource Center Insider

Answers or more questions?

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Fifteen states, including California, are considering legislation that could expand nurse practitioners’ scopes of practice, according to a recent National Public Radio news item. An expanded scope for nurse practitioners could be one way to ameliorate a nationwide shortage of doctors and help deliver care to an estimated 25 million people expected to gain insurance under the Affordable Healthcare Act. However, this possible expansion also raises questions: Should advanced practice nurses lead medical homes, which deliver team-based, coordinated care to patients? Should nurse practitioners be paid equally for providing the same health services as physicians? It depends on who you ask, as our top story shows.

Shifting roles can mean new assessment issues. Plan to attend one or more of our upcoming Overcoming Competency Assessment Challenges” webcasts to learn how to handle some of the toughest ones. This series includes Practitioners With Temporary, Telemedicine, and New Technology Privileges June 18; All About Advanced Practice Professionals July 23; and Practitioners in Ambulatory Settings, Selective Practice, and Single Practitioners in a Specialty August 27. Click here for more information.

Thank you for reading! Please email your questions and comments to mstevens@hcpro.com.

Best regards,

Mary Stevens

Managing Editor, Credentialing Resource Center Insider

Joint Commission seeks input on behavioral health home certification

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Joint Commission-accredited behavioral healthcare organizations that are establishing behavioral health homes will soon have a certification option. Beginning in January 2014, The Joint Commission will begin offering Behavioral Health Home Certification. The certification program will provide a framework to better meet the needs of individuals served by emphasizing care coordination and quality, according to a Joint Commission press release. Behavioral health homes integrate physical healthcare services with behavioral healthcare to provide treatment that addresses the needs of the whole person. Health home providers need not provide all services themselves, but must ensure that the full array of primary and behavioral healthcare services is available and coordinated.

Proposed standards are posted on The Joint Commission website through May 24 for comment from the behavioral healthcare field, and prepublication standards are expected to be available online this summer.

Source: The Joint Commission

Experience why your peers call Greeley "the expert in peer review"

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Past Peer Review Boot Camp participants have said, “The boot camp should be mandatory training for PRC chairs and members," and “Greeley is the expert in peer review." Join us in Colorado Springs June 13-15 and see for yourself why peer review by physician experts for physicians works.

Not in an acute-care setting? Peer Review Boot Camp’s new expanded format for 2013 includes data on applying peer review in clinical, ACO, and ambulatory settings; more clinical case reviews and case studies; the ability for attendees to submit their own cases; and more time for discussion. You will leave prepared to:

Increase the use of aggregate data and identify patterns and trends

Create a positive peer review culture
Implement multispecialty-based peer review
Apply peer review methods in ambulatory settings and ACOs

For more information or to register, click here or call 888-232-8915 for details.

Other programs offered in Colorado, June 13-15:

Training Physicians to Lead Clinical integration, June 13-15

Medical Executive Committee Institute, June 13-15

HCA initiative boosts flu shots among hospital workers

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all U.S. healthcare workers get vaccinated annually against influenza, but only about two-thirds get their yearly flu shot. Health workers frequently cite possible vaccine side effects and perceived ineffectiveness of the vaccine as reasons for opposition.

Hospital Corporation of America saw its vaccination rate rise to 90% of clinical personnel after it implemented a mandatory patient safety program in 2009, presenting clinicians with the choice of getting a free flu shot or wearing a face mask. The mask provision was presented as an option rather than as a punitive measure, and when possible, work flows were revised to eliminate patient contact for nonvaccinated employees unable to wear a mask for extended periods. HCA employees were made aware that refusing the vaccination or mask without reason could result in termination. The program included a joint letter from hospital leaders introducing goals and expectations, and a webcast that emphasized seasonal influenza vaccination as a major patient safety initiative.

Source: American Medical News

New hires near you

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

April saw continued job growth in healthcare settings, building on March’s gains. Preliminary numbers show 19,000 jobs were added in ambulatory care services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities, according to Bureau of Labor statistics released earlier this week. How many of those new hires are in the medical staff office? Our recent MSP salary survey found fewer salary/hiring freezes in place compared to recent years, so if your organization is added MSP staff—whether part-time or full-time—please let me know. And watch for more results from the MSP Salary Survey in a future edition of Credentialing Resource Center Journal.

Looking ahead to June, if your organization is struggling to develop a meaningful peer review program that is an effective performance measurement tool, help is on the way. Next month, we’ll roll out a completely updated edition of Effective Peer Review by Robert J. Marder, MD,CMSL, an expert on all aspects of peer review. This new edition explains the connection between peer review, OPPE, and FPPE. It also contains updated information on OPPE and FPPE as related to The Joint Commission’s standards. It can help you engage physicians in the peer review process, create tools to recognize and celebrate excellence, design OPPE profiles, eliminate bias, and improve case reviewer efficiency. Click here for more information.

Thank you for reading! Please email your questions and comments tomstevens@hcpro.com.

Healthcare job growth continues

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Preliminary numbers indicate robust hiring continues in healthcare. The month of April saw 19,000 more jobs added in ambulatory healthcare services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities, according to Bureau of Labor statistics released earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Hospitals added 2,700 jobs last month to reach a seasonally adjusted 4.8 million workers, while physician offices added 5,400 jobs for a seasonally adjusted 2.4 million. Reflecting the burgeoning home-based care movement, home healthcare services saw 6,100 more jobs in April.

Source: Fierce Healthcare,Bureau of Labor Statistics

Healthcare job growth continues

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Healthcare hiring gained momentum last month, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The month of April saw 19,000 more jobs added in ambulatory healthcare services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities, according to Bureau of Labor statistics released earlier this week. More than 18,000 jobs were added in March, according to the bureau's preliminary data.

Source: Fierce Healthcare, Bureau of Labor Statistics

It's official: NPDB, HIPDB have merged

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB) have merged into one data bank, to be called the NPDB. The merger went into effect May 6.

There is no change to the reporting workflow or requirements, but users’ query results may include reports that were not previously available to them, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. Information previously collected and disclosed through the HIPDB will now be collected and disclosed through the NPDB. Users may see federal and health plan actions/decisions in their query results that were previously available only through querying the HIPDB. Currently there are no plans to change the query fees, according to HHS.

Source: HHS

A good mix

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

This past week’s news offered a good mix of stories related to credentialing, medical staff, and certification. Read on to get information about HHS’ program to help soldiers apply their military medical training to civilian nursing education. You can also read a physician’s suggestion that a drug and alcohol testing policy can help identify impaired physicians and strengthen peer review. Other headlines include litigation aimed at the American Board of Medical Specialties recertification program and legislation to ensure that patients understand who is an MD and who isn’t. Variety is the spice of life, and it’s also good news for newsgathering.

Speaking of variety, you can learn how to address a plethora of assessment issues by attending the upcoming “Overcoming Competency Assessment Challenges” webcasts. This series includes Practitioners With Temporary, Telemedicine, and New Technology Privileges on June 18; All About Advanced Practice Professionals on July 23; and Practitioners in Ambulatory Settings, Selective Practice, and Single Practitioners in a Specialty on August 27. Click here for more information.

Thank you for reading! Please email your questions and comments tomstevens@hcpro.com.

Best regards,

Mary Stevens

Managing Editor, Credentialing Resource Center Insider

HHS program will help veterans become nurses

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A new Health and Human Services program will assist military veterans with healthcare experience or training, such as medics, to pursue nursing careers. The program, announced by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at the April 29 White House Forum on Military Credentialing and Licensing, is designed to help veterans get bachelor’s degrees in nursing by building on their unique skills and abilities.

The Veterans’ Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program helps veterans formalize their healthcare skills and training, while growing the nursing workforce, Sebelius said. The program will fund up to nine cooperative agreements of up to $350,000 a year. Funding will go to accredited schools of nursing to increase veterans’ enrollment in and completion of baccalaureate nursing programs, and to explore ways to award academic credit for prior military healthcare experience or training. The institutions will also train faculty to provide mentorships and other supportive services.

Source: HHS

JAMA Viewpoint: Proactive medical staff monitoring could bolster peer review

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Peer review is the accepted modality to identify physicians with impaired performance, but a robust physician health program could further protect patients, wrote Julius C. Pham, MD, PhD, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in an April 29 Journal of the American Medical Association online Viewpoint. Such a program could include a physical examination, drug testing, or both before a medical staff appointment, with random alcohol/drug testing thereafter, as well as mandatory drug/alcohol testing for all physicians involved with a sentinel event leading to patient death. Physicians found to be impaired would be required to attend a treatment program and be subject routine monitoring as a condition of licensure/hospital privileges.

“Patients and their family members have a right to be protected from impaired physicians. In other high-risk industries, this right is supported by regulations and surveillance. Shouldn't medicine be the same? A robust system to identify impaired physicians may enhance the professionalism that peer review seeks to protect,” Pham concluded.

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association

News about clinical integration

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Dear Medical Staff Colleague,

Clinical integration, the advancement of physician-hospital collaboration to increase quality and decrease costs, is harder than it looks. The impending pay for value world we are rapidly entering requires that physicians lead clinical integration to achieve success.

Join me and my fellow speakers in Colorado Springs June 13-15, 2013 for a brand-new Greeley course titled Training Physicians to Lead Clinical Integration. This is the most hands-on program on the market aimed at teaching participants new, practical skills necessary to lead physician-hospital integration: from the vision to the correct players “on the team” to metrics, rewards/incentives, dealing with performance issues, and a full communication plan.

Click here for information about other courses offered June 13-15, 2013 in Colorado Springs.

I hope to greet you and your colleagues in Colorado Springs!

Sincerely,

Rick Sheff, MD

Principal and Chief Medical Officer

The Greeley Company

AAPS sues to end recertification program

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has filed an antitrust suit against the American Board of Medical Specialties, claiming its board recertification program violates antitrust laws and reduces patient access to physicians.The physicians' group filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, seeking to end the ABMS’ Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, according to its 20-page complaint. ABMS works with 24 specialty boards, which cover nearly every medical specialty, to develop recertification programs and promote continuous professional development. The boards aren't named in the lawsuit.

Bill seeks to clarify medical credentials

Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to eliminate patient confusion over who is considered a medical doctor. The bill, "Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2013," (HR 1427) was co-sponsored by Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD, (R-In.) and Rep. David Scott, (D-Ga.) and referred to the Energy and Commerce committee. The bill would make it illegal for any healthcare professional to make false or deceptive claims in advertisements and marketing materials regarding their training, degree, license, or clinical expertise. Anyone marketing a health provider's services also must clearly state the license the provider holds.

Source: NAMSS, MedScape

Ownership and influence

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

MSPs play a key role in protecting their facilities from risk and ensuring patient safety. However, there can be a disconnect among top staff as to who "owns" patient safety and who is most responsible for it, as the story below shows. The surveyed C-suite members and risk managers recognized that everyone has a part to play in protecting patients, and many of them agreed that medical staff is an “Influential Internal Entity,” but only 4% of each respondent group cited medical staff as most responsible for patient safety.

Accurate assessment of practitioners is crucial to ensuring high-quality care. Gain insight and strengthen your expertise by attending our upcoming webcast trio, “Overcoming Competency Assessment Challenges,” which will address Practitioners With Temporary, Telemedicine, and New Technology Privileges (June 18); Advanced Practice Professionals (July 23); and Practitioners in Ambulatory Settings, Selective Practice, and Single Practitioners in a Specialty (August 27). You can get more information here.

Thank you for reading! Please email your questions and comments tomstevens@hcpro.com.

Best regards,

Mary Stevens

Managing Editor, Credentialing Resource Center Insider

Calling medical staff leaders!

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Greeley Company invites you to an engaging and informative seminar experience at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, June 13-15, 2013.

Join executive leaders, directors, and physician leaders for what promises to be an exciting and informative exchange of ideas, strategies, and practical advice for dealing with today’s most pressing hospital and medical staff leadership challenges. The Greeley seminar experience provides an unparalleled opportunity to bring hospital executive and medical staff leadership teams together to learn and participate in cutting-edge discussions and to walk away with shared goals and strategies for your organization. Click on the seminars links below to register, or call 888-232-8915 for more information today:

• ALL NEW: Training Physicians to Lead Clinical Integration

• EXPANDED: Peer Review Boot Camp

• Medical Executive Committee Institute

We hope to greet you and your colleagues in Colorado Springs this June!

Study: Intern bedside time is lagging

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Medical interns spend very little time directly caring for patients, possibly raising questions about whether interns are getting the training and experience needed to deliver high-quality care, according to a Johns Hopkins study published online in this month's Journal of General Internal Medicine. First-year residents at Baltimore's two large academic medical centers spent 12% of their time talking with and examining patients; 64% on indirect patient care, such as placing orders and filling out electronic paperwork; 15% on educational activities; and 9% on miscellaneous activities, according to the study.

Source: Fierce Healthcare

"What if the bombing happened here?"

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

By many accounts, it was a relatively quiet day in the Boston Marathon medical tent, just a few steps past the finish line. That all changed in about 30 seconds on Monday afternoon.

If there is a silver lining to be found amid the tragedy in Boston on Monday, it’s that the medical staff at the race and in nearby hospitals were prepared for almost anything, including the aftermath of a bombing. Their efforts probably saved lives on that horrific afternoon and in the days following. Sadly, hospitals across the country must take a page from Boston’s experience—and the experiences of a growing number of other cities—and keep planning for a range of disasters, whether natural or man-made.

Please send questions and comments to mstevens@hcpro.com. As always, thank you for reading!

Best regards,

Mary Stevens

Managing Editor, Credentialing Resource Center Insider

Boston bombing a lesson in prep for hospitals

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The Boston Marathon bombing serves as yet another tragic reminder that American healthcare must be prepared to deal with terrorist attacks that result in the injuries typical of the wide-ranging damage caused by explosive devices.

Emergency disaster response has been on the agenda for most hospitals since the bombings in the World Trade Center parking garage in 1993 and the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 and injured more than 680 in 1995, said Roslyne Schulman, director of policy at the American Hospital Association in Washington. And in a Post-September 11 world, more events will occur in the U.S., said David Marcozzi, MD, director of the Hospital Preparedness Program. "You can anticipate large numbers of victims in these attacks."

Boston was particularly prepared because of the marathon, explained Schulman. Medical staff was ready for a potential emergency and their coordinated efforts showed when victims were attended to quickly and properly.

American doctors will need to learn from military doctors how to handle bomb injuries at home. In addition to treating myriad wounds, healthcare systems will need to be as organized for bomb events as military systems in the battlefield. Coordination and integration among the hospital staff, as well as the greater community, is key, experts said.

Source: MedPage today

HHS rule merges healthcare integrity, practitioner data banks

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has merged the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank and National Practitioner Data Bank, in a move to eliminate duplication of data.

The final rule, as written in the Federal Register, revises regulations under the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 and the Social Security Act governing the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), to incorporate statutory requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. HHS also is removing regulations which implemented the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB). The rule goes into effect May 6.

All data in the HIPDB will be transferred to the NPDB, and HHS will cease operating the HIPDB when that transition is complete. Information previously collected and disclosed through the HIPDB will be collected and disclosed through the NPDB.

The final rule revises the definition of "health care practitioner, licensed health care practitioner, licensed practitioner, or practitioner" to include physicians and dentists.HHS modified language to clarify that a Data Bank report "may not be disclosed, but nothing in this section will prevent the disclosure of information by a party from its own files used to create such reports where disclosure is otherwise authorized under applicable state or Federal law."

Click here for the full text of the final rule.