Improving the Efficiency and Productivity of Your Practice Dr. Neil Baum New Orleans, Louisiana.

Improving the Efficiency and Productivity Improving the Efficiency and Productivity of Your Practiceof Your Practice

Dr. Neil Baum

New Orleans, Louisiana

ObjectivesObjectives

• Demonstrate how a scribe can increase your efficiency

• Use of checklists that improve efficiency and safety for your patients

• Attracting media attention for your practice

• Social media networking

Rule of 72Rule of 72

• If you have a plan or an idea and don’t take action on it in 72 hours, chances are you never will

Needs and Wants of UrogynecologistsNeeds and Wants of Urogynecologists

• Maintain existing patients• Attract new patients• Improve reimbursements• Decrease overhead• Decrease litigation• Improve morale of the staff• Learn techniques to stay on the cutting edge of

our specialty• Add new technology to your office practice• Improve the efficiency of the practice

Use of Check ListsUse of Check Lists

BackgroundBackground

• IOM estimated 100,000 deaths\year and most of these deaths were preventable

A True StoryA True Story

• 40 y\o with hypoandrogenism• Was on Coumadin and told to stop

medication before inserting testosterone pellets

• Procedure performed without checking on the discontinuation of the anti-coagulant

• Developed a post procedure hematoma

SolutionSolution

1) Use a checklist to reduce avoidable death and injuries resulting from surgical procedures (savings of $20 billion)

2) Use a checklist to prevent infections (saves 15,000 lives and $1.3 billion)

Summary of NEJM ArticleSummary of NEJM Article

Clearly demonstrated that complications and mortality could be significantly reduced using a checklist prior making a surgical incision.

Now known as “time out” concept used in every OR in the nation

New Use of Checklists in New Use of Checklists in OfficeOffice

• Checklists for all outpatient procedures: vasectomy

testosterone implants minimally invasive therapy for BPH bladder biopsiesUDS and cystoscopy

Bottom LineBottom Line

• Checklists are becoming part of our routine in the hospital setting

• Reduces complications and mortality rates

• Checklists can be used in the office setting as well and will certainly improve the efficiency and the care we provide our patients

Using the EMR To Improve the Using the EMR To Improve the Efficiency of Your PracticeEfficiency of Your Practice

Advantages of using a Advantages of using a scribescribe

• Doctor sees other patients while scribe takes the CC, PMH, ROS

• Doctor does not need to touch the computer

• Doctor does not need to type • Improves efficiency and productivity

Bottom Line on ScribeBottom Line on Scribe

• Doctor eyeball to eyeball time with patient reduced from 15 - 20 minutes to <5 minutes

• You are more efficient and can see more patients and do more office procedures if you use a scribe

Economics of A ScribeEconomics of A Scribe

• Increase just 1 patients\hour• Work 7 hours\day• 7 additional patients\day• Each patient increases revenue by ~$75• Work 5 days a week and 48 weeks\yr• Bottom line: Increase of revenue of

$126,000!!Who needs ancillary income?

CMS Guidelines on CMS Guidelines on Use of a ScribeUse of a Scribe

If ancillary staff is present while the provider is gathering information related to the patients visit, he/she (scribe) may document what is dictated and performed by the physician or NP 

http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/(Docs)/0A62D71EB93B9660852574A4005EA139?OpenDocument

Finding a scribeFinding a scribe

• Use existing staff-transition a transcriptionist to a scribe

• Craig’s List

• Get the word out

• Someone interested in healthcare

• College graduate interested in medical school, pharma sales, device sales

Take Home MessageTake Home Message

• Doctors should ONLY do those functions that can ONLY be done by a doctor and no one else. All other activities should be delegated to others.

Attracting New Patients By Attracting New Patients By Becoming a Media DarlingBecoming a Media Darling

ObjectivesObjectives

• How to use the media to make you and your practice visible in the community

• How to get the attention of the media

• How to be asked back again

Become a Resource For:Become a Resource For:

• Newspaper

• Television

• Radio stations

• Local magazines

• National media attention

Getting StartedGetting Started

• Look for health news stories that are receiving a lot of media attention on the national level

• Find a local angle to a story about a famous celebrity or politician that have a podiatric condition

Getting StartedGetting Started

• If you are using new technologies and new devices for treating podiatric conditions, then certainly contact the media as this might be newsworthy

Getting StartedGetting Started

Provide a testimonial from one of your patients who have had the new treatment that you have used

Attracting the attention of the Attracting the attention of the assignment editor of the local assignment editor of the local

mediamedia

• Call the station and ask for the health or medical reporter or the assignment editor

• Do not call right before or right after the program airs

• Keep call brief• Alert him\her that information will be coming

by FAX or E-mail (their choice)• Return all calls to media in a timely fashion

The PitchThe Pitch

• Point out the benefit and newsworthiness of <your topic> to the station's viewers or listeners

• Send a packet in a professionally packaged fashion

• Follow up by phone a few days after you have sent your information packet

Lights, Camera, ActionLights, Camera, Action

• For television-think about providing visuals• Do a vasectomy on a rubber band• Demonstrate how the bladder and sphincter

work with a balloon• If possible request segment be filmed on site • Use photographs, slides, video clip, or simple

props to demonstrate your procedure

Best IdeaBest Idea

• Provide patients who have had a positive experience with your practice may be eager to appear with you in media interviews

• “Ask and you shall receive!”

Prior to ProgramPrior to Program

• Provide a fact sheet that you send to the interviewer before the program

• Let producer know what props you will be using or bringing

• Send a list of questions that you are comfortable answering or that you want the interviewer to ask

It’s show time!It’s show time!

• Answer the interviewer's questions and tell your story with as much energy and enthusiasm as you can generate

• Modulate your pitch and speak at an even pace

• Use memorable sound bites, word pictures, or metaphors

• Keep answers succinct, clear, concise, to the point, and in layperson terms

Prepare for curveball Prepare for curveball questionsquestions

• Sometimes interviewers will ask about insurance coverage or cost of medicine

• If you don’t know the answer, say so

• If your host is moving off the topic, find a bridge back to your story

• No “off the record” comments

And in conclusion..And in conclusion..

• One or two sentences of positive advice for the audience

• Thank the interviewer

• Exit promptly so the next guest can get ready

After the interviewAfter the interview

• Send a thank-you note to the host, the producer, and the director

• You want to be invited back

Nervous?Nervous?

• The only way to make the butterflies fly in formation is to expose them to the fun and excitement of the media

• Practice makes perfect

SummarySummary

• Becoming a media darling is a possibility available to all of us

• Wonderful way to showcase you and your practice

• Increase your visibility in the community

• Potential to increase number of new patients who come to your practice

And one more idea…And one more idea…

• Put those media clips on your webpage

• Show them in your office to patients

• Put them on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and make them into a podcast

Social Media-The Next Social Media-The Next Level of Internet MarketingLevel of Internet Marketing

Social Media-Web 2.0Social Media-Web 2.0

• Ability to interact with others through text, video, or audio and allow others access to interact with you.

Social MediaSocial Media

• Social media allows you to influence what people say about you and your practice

• Can reach thousands and even millions of potential patients

If Facebook were a If Facebook were a country…country…

Social Media is a Disruptive Social Media is a Disruptive TechnologyTechnology

• Hard to understand-like electricity!• Opportunity for those who jump in first• Ideal for the early adaptors• You don’t need to be a techie• People are already talking about you;

why not control\influence their chatter

Main PlayersMain Players

• Facebook• Myspace• Linkedin• Plaxo• Blogger.com• Twitter• iTunes• Podcasts

• YouTube• RSS• Skype• Gotomeetings• iChat• Wikipedia• Google Buzz

TrendsTrends

• Patients are turning away from Madison Avenue messages and looking to social media networking to obtain their health related information

• Need to transform old conventional methods of communicating with patients and potential patients and do what they do - social networking

Bottom LineBottom Line

• Social networking leverages your relationships

• It explodes not exponentially but by a viral explosion

• If it’s good for Mayo Clinic, it’s got to be good!

Getting StartedGetting Started

• Verbal-(E-mail) and blogging

• Audio-Podcasting

• Video-YouTube

• Networking-Linkedin, Twitter and FaceBook

BloggingBlogging

• Easiest way to communicate with patients and potential new patients

• Website maintained by an individual with regular entries which allows readers to interact with the author

• Contains text, images, videos and links to other blogs and websites

Website vs. BlogWebsite vs. Blog

• Static• Facts, figures,

articles• Serious information• One way flow of

information

• Interactive-easy to modify by average user

• Links, talk, commentary

• Not so serious• Promotes interaction

Make a Blog PlanMake a Blog Plan

• What are you going to write about?

• Start with a specific topic

• How will you deliver the information

• Will you post links?

• Use photographs?

BloggingBlogging

• Hosted on your own server with software-WordPress, Blogger, MovableType, LiveJournal

• Blogger.com, GoingOn.com, Wordpress.com

BloggingBlogging

• Requires regular posting

• Want to keep the eyeballs returning

• Promotes a forum to exchange between you and your potential patients

BloggingBlogging

• It’s easy• Go to WordPress.com• Create an account-free• Select New Post button• Type out your content• Hit Publish• Creates an impression of industry leader by

providing the latest information in your field

YouTubeYouTube

• Video preferred over audio and audio preferred over text

• Requires the most effort to create

• Like public speaking without an audience

SummarySummary

• Checklists can improve care, improve efficiency, and decrease complications

• A scribe can improve efficiency and productivity

• It’s easy and fun to obtain media attention

• Social media is the next phase of Internet marketing

Let me hear from youLet me hear from you

• [email protected]

• (504) 891-8454