Message from the president:
My previous rantings led me to start feeling like I was well on my way to curmudgeonhood so I swore off ranting some years ago and have tried becoming a more proper optimist. Ok, well that didn't work. I can't stand it anymore, I am back to ranting. Some forces just cannot and should not be resisted.
I realize how remarkable and special we think we are, and we are right; but we are still part of a messed up system that is too expensive and too disconnected. We will be working on both those aspects of our Healthcare Non-System at HVPA and will keep you apprised of all of our successes.
This newsletter is part of our communication blitzkrieg to keep you up to date on things. We are sending out newsletters to your office staff as well.
Read on. Give us feedback (info@hvpa.com). Don't be shy. We are used to criticism and worse. It is no secret that some have left our ranks over the last year. Managed care contracting is very different than it used to be. It will be back to be sure, but we are in somewhat of a twilight zone phase just now. We trust that you will see the value of the hard work we are doing if you understand it; but you need to know what it is, first.
Welcome to our physician newsletter. I don't know how much "Knowledge Heals" but I do know that "Knowledge is Power."
"just my opinion, I could be wrong" |
| SJMHS Advanced Directive Initiative |
 Less than 25% of Americans have expressed their thoughts about how they wish to be cared for at the end of life by completing Advance Care Planning documentation.
· As part of their commitment to delivering patient-centered care, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) has launched an initiative to better ensure that patients' wishes are respected by assisting them in creating an individualized health care plan that incorporates their personal values and preferences
· SJMHS will begin this initiative with pilot groups in Faith Community Nursing, the Academic Internal Medicine Clinic and the Outpatient Oncology Clinics at Ann Arbor and Brighton. Additional sites include Senior Health Services, the Heart Failure Clinic, Livingston Home Care and Hospice, Saline Medical/Surgical Unit, and the Saline Evangelical Home.
· HVPA physicians can check the notes tab in PowerChart to verify whether a patient has a current advance care directive on file beginning mid April. You may also encounter patients coming to their appointments prepared to initiate advance care planning conversations with you and your staff.
· For more information regarding the Advance Care Planning Initiative, please contact Julie Seitz, RN at seitzjm@trinity-health.org.
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| HVPA Assembles A Utilization Management Cross Functional Team |
Cross Functional Teams are groups of people with different functional expertise working toward a common goal. The first meeting of the Utilization Management (UM) team took place March 27th with energizing results. Initial members bring expertise from primary care, cardiology, emergency medicine, radiology, pharmacy, pulmonary/critical care, a community employer, heath plans, SJMH Quality Institute along with HVPA staff. Membership will further evolve as initiatives dictate. Much work is to be done yet. Very specific objectives will be developed, guided by the expertise brought to the table.
Background
Market pressures exist by payers, employers and consumers to align incentives with evidence-based practice. Specific areas of concern extend to the use of high-tech imaging, over-use of emergency services and prescription generic use rates. Not all players in the health care equation have an understanding of today's realities in delivering health care services. On the other hand, practice variation does exist. Understanding "best practice" will be one of the challenges. Therefore, it is critical that HVPA tackles the issue of health care utilization issues/barriers. Failure to do so will, over time, bring negative consequences. The Utilization Management CFT has been formed as one step in integrating purpose and commitment.
Mission
To provide decision support in advancing network excellence in the delivery of safe, efficient and timely health care services.
Scope
To create a transforming and sustainable network strategic action plan:
- In-depth analysis of network information, profiling and "best-practice" benchmarks
- Understanding of incentives, structures and other forces in health care that support and/or discourage efforts to improve patterns of practice
- To foster health system and physician alignment to achieve significant results
- To assist providers in achieving desired levels in clinical quality measures
Questions and suggestions are welcomed. You may anticipate future updates as work progresses. Please contact Paul Harkaway, MD (CFT chair) at harkawayp@hvpa.com or Barb Donohue (CFT support) at donohueb@hvpa.com. |
| Pediatric Corner |
In an effort to address the rise in pediatric obesity,  BCBSM has developed a pediatric healthy weight toolkit. The toolkit was created by physicians and is available from BCBS by clicking here.
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| New HVPA Members |
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HVPA would like to welcome our newest members!
- Ina Shamraj, MD- Pediatrics
- Muhammed Sial, MD- Emergency Medicine
- Sanjaya Gupta, MD- Hospitalist
New members' information have been add to the searchable physician database on the HVPA website at www.hvpa.com/physicians_directory_search.html as well as on the PDF version of the member directory. |
| Reminders |
- Have you heard about our partnership with MedFusion to bring a provider-patient portal to your office? Click here to read the overview of what it's all about. If you are interested in seeing a demo, please contact Marilyn Schwinn at schwinnm@hvpa.com or 734-973-0137 ext. 432.
- The deadline for compliance with the Medicaid tamper-resistant prescriptions is has come. As of April 1st, all written prescriptions for Medicaid recipients must be on paper with at least one tamper-resistant feature as outlined by CMS and defined by the state. Beginning October 1, 2008 these same prescriptions must be on paper that meets all three baseline characteristics.
- Tamper-resistant pads and laser paper are available from the HVPA group purchasing vendor, American Solutions for Business. Click here to read more about the tamper-resistant features of their products. To learn more about American Solutions for Business click here.
- HVPA and BCBSM are hosting a townhall meeting on April 14th at the Michigan Heart & Vascular Institute auditorium to discuss details of the Physician Group Incentive Plan (PGIP). Drs. Tom Simmer and David Share along with other BCBSM PGIP staff, will talk about the program and answer your questions. HVPA leadership will briefly summarize what we have done as part of our participation in the program and what our plans are for 2008. RSVP to Janine at capsourasj@hvpa.com or 734-973-0137 ext. 425.
- An HVPA disease registry super user forum is scheduled for April 29th from 12:15-1:15pm at HVPA in the lower level conference room. Lunch will be provided so please RSVP by April 14th. Agenda and directions will be sent out April 22nd. There may be the option of participating by webinar. Stay tuned for more details.
- Don't forget to register for the ProNational (ProAssurance) risk management seminar From the Exam Room to the Courtroom: Loss Prevention for Today's Physician if you haven't already. The next seminar will be held on April 29th from 6-8pm in the SJMH Auditorium. Click here for specific details of what will be covered at the seminar. RSVP to Janine at capsourasj@hvpa.com or 734-973-0137 ext. 425.
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| HAP Withhold |
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You should be receiving your HAP withhold check in the mail soon if you haven't already. The check will be mailed to the tax ID we have on file for your office as of March 1, 2008. An email went out on March 17th with more specific details. If you have further questions please contact Paul Harkaway at harkawayp@hvpa.com or Lori Kostoff at kostoffl@hvpa.com, 734-973-0137 ext. 405.
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| IT Corner |
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Thinking about getting an EHR? Not sure which one to choose? A recent study by the American Academy of Family Physicians looks at user satisfaction and shows the most commonly used systems as reported by the respondents. Click here to read the complete article. | |
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