Welcome to this edition of MGMA's Week in Review podcast. Today we'll review articles and content on no shows, three types of overthinking, and medical debt.

Sources:
3 Types of Overthinking: https://hbr.org/2024/02/3-types-of-overthinking-and-how-to-overcome-them

MGMA Stat: https://www.mgma.com/mgma-stat/in-pursuit-of-health-equity-efforts-sometimes-lack-formal-goal-setting

Medical Coding Update: https://www.mgma.com/member-tools/2024-medical-coding-and-billing-toolkit 

Medical Debt: https://www.axios.com/2024/02/14/medical-debt-united-states 

Resources:
MGMA Stat: mgma.com/stat

Ask an Advisor: www.mgma.com/ask-an-advisor

MGMA Membership: www.mgma.com/membership

MGMA Advocacy: www.mgma.com/advocacy

MGMA Consulting: www.mgma.com/consulting/overview

Music: "Cool Piano" by Tagirijus courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

If you would like additional tools and resources related to medical practice leadership or you have stories to share with us, email us at podcasts@mgma.com or email Daniel Williams directly at dwilliams@mgma.com.

Thank you again for taking the time to listen to the MGMA podcast network.

Week in Review: No Shows, 3 Types of Overthinking and Medical Debt

Welcome to this edition of MGMA's Week in Review podcast. Today we'll review articles and content on health equity, the latest MGMA Stat and workforce shortages.

Sources:

MGMA Stat: https://www.mgma.com/mgma-stat/in-pursuit-of-health-equity-efforts-sometimes-lack-formal-goal-setting  

DMSG Podcast: https://www.dmsghealthcarepodcast.com/2024/02/13/how-practices-can-successfully-prepare-for-the-future-while-being-squeezed/ 

Medical Debt: www.axios.com/2024/02/14/medical…debt-united-states

Workforce shortages: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce/is-the-healthcare-workforce-a-problem-or-not.html  

Affordability: https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/poll-finding/kff-health-tracking-poll-february-2024-voters-on-two-key-health-care-issues-affordability-and-aca  

Global Workforce Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/mgmapods/business-solutions-modernizing-hiring-and-retention-strategies-with-remote-employees?si=b3e65898e6ba404faef70bba081e9852&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Global Workforce Webinar on-demand: https://www.mgma.com/webinars/recreating-the-wheel-modernized-hiring-and-retention-strategies-with-remote-employees-on-demand

Health Equity Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/mgmapods/mindful-medicine-exploring-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-healthcare?si=1e63c578a49c4be9bed673bc9b94e13c&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Resources:
MGMA Stat: mgma.com/stat

Ask an Advisor: www.mgma.com/ask-an-advisor

MGMA Membership: www.mgma.com/membership

MGMA Advocacy: www.mgma.com/advocacy

MGMA Consulting: www.mgma.com/consulting/overview

Music: "Cool Piano" by Tagirijus courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

If you would like additional tools and resources related to medical practice leadership or you have stories to share with us, email us at Daniel Williams at dwilliams@mgma.com.

Thank you again for taking the time to listen to the MGMA podcast network.

Week in Review: Health Equity, More Medical Debt, and Workforce Shortages

Welcome to another episode of Mindful Medicine, the podcast that explores health and wellness through mindfulness and thoughtful discussion. On today's episode, host Daniel Williams speaks with Amanda Jensen about a recent program she facilitated for MGMA employees on Black History Month and health equity. Amanda designed the session to provide education on these important topics and encourage learning directly from Black voices.

Summary:
In this conversation, Jensen provides context around the program she developed for MGMA employees and shares key insights. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open and curious mindset when learning about issues like racial disparities in healthcare. Participants discussed articles on Black maternal health mortality in small groups. Jensen also defines important terms like health equity and discusses factors contributing to inequities faced by Black communities. Throughout, she stresses the need for ongoing education to improve patient care and outcomes. This insightful episode highlights the value of mindfulness and critical thinking when discussing complex social issues.

Key Takeaways:
- Differences between equality and equity in healthcare
- Social determinants that impact health inequities
- Lack of doctor/nurse training contributing to inequities

Quotes:
"Black history is American history. So I really think that we should be learning about it all year, especially as so much of it is left out of traditional history, education." - Amanda Jensen

"Health equity requires the examination of social determinants of health and providing appropriate supports, so that people have what they need in order to access and experience safe healthcare." - Amanda Jensen

Resources:
- Black History For Real podcast (https://wondery.com/links/black-history-for-real/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAivGuBhBEEiwAWiFmYbiZ9lf0SRx9I4z5P901gUz9qfk9lGTYqrRP4uqCNBBVGXWjzNTY3RoCpssQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)
- CDC's Foundations of Health Equity training (https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/training/index.html)
- AMA's program on health equity champions (https://www.ama-assn.org/education/improve-gme/give-resident-physicians-know-how-advance-health-equity#:~:text=The%20course%20is%20part%20of,for%20residents%20on%20the%20go.)
- Book "Legacy" by Dr. Uché Blackstock (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705871/legacy-by-uche-blackstock-md/)

MGMA Resources:
MGMA Stat: mgma.com/stat

Ask an Advisor: www.mgma.com/ask-an-advisor

MGMA Membership: www.mgma.com/membership

MGMA Advocacy: www.mgma.com/advocacy

MGMA Consulting: www.mgma.com/consulting/overview

Music: "Street Walk" by Paolo Pavan courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com.

Mindful Medicine: Cultivating an Open Mind When Discussing Racial Disparities in Healthcare

This Women in Healthcare podcast features healthcare payer contracting strategies and personal growth lessons from Doral Davis-Jacobsen, a consultant with over 20 years of experience in payer contracting. 

Davis-Jacobsen shares her experiences with host Adrienne Lloyd on recent trends impacting negotiations, successful negotiation tactics, contract timeline best practices, the use of AI and data in negotiations, and her internship program focusing on professional development.

Key Takeaways:
- Plan contract discussions far in advance of renewal windows to allow time for successful negotiations.
- Use empathetic, collaborative approaches rather than confrontational tactics when negotiating.
- Prioritize self-care and boundaries to avoid burnout and focus energy on high-impact work.
- Seek new professional circles and define your own structure when transitioning from large teams to independence.

Resources:
"I Love It Here" by Clint Pulver (https://clintpulver.com/book/) Book on company culture
"Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss (https://www.blackswanltd.com/never-split-the-difference) Book on negotiation tactics

MGMA Resources:

MGMA Stat: mgma.com/stat

Ask an Advisor: www.mgma.com/ask-an-advisor

MGMA Membership: www.mgma.com/membership

MGMA Advocacy: www.mgma.com/advocacy

MGMA Consulting: www.mgma.com/consulting/overview

Music: 
"Pablito's Way" by Paolo Pavan courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

If you would like additional tools and resources related to medical practice leadership or you have stories to share with us, email us at Daniel Williams at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you would like to appear on Women in Healthcare, contact Adrienne Lloyd at adrienne@optimizehealthcarellc.com.

Thank you again for taking the time to listen to the MGMA podcast network.

Women in Healthcare: Healthcare Payer Contracting Insights from Doral Davis-Jacobsen

This episode explores how Lean principles can be applied in healthcare organizations to create a culture of continuous improvement through effective leadership. Guest Owen Dahl shares strategies for empowering teams, addressing challenges like staffing models, and maintaining culture in a changing workplace environment.

Key Takeaways:
- Leaders must demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement initiatives by allocating resources and time to engage staff.

- Involving employees in problem identification and solutions through teams/projects enhances buy-in and ownership.

- Applying Lean principles to challenges like scheduling, meetings and time management can help eliminate waste and better manage constraints.

- Understanding patient and staff needs through metrics is important for developing flexible staffing models that balance work arrangements.

Greenbelt Course Taught by Owen Dahl:
This course provides participants with the skills and knowledge to formulate and manage detailed project plans aligned with their practice's goals. 
https://www.mgma.com/online-courses/lean-six-sigma-green-belt-on-demand

Resources:
1.	https://www.mgma.com/articles/using-lean-methodology-to-address-medical-practice-staffing-challenges
4.	https://www.mgma.com/articles/using-lean-and-six-sigma-to-improve-clinic-and-patient-flow
5.	https://www.mgma.com/articles/using-the-lean-startup-model-to-drive-healthcare-performance-transformation

Music: 
"Street Walk" by Paolo Pavan courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA"

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

MGMA Insights: Owen Dahl on Humanizing Lean Leadership in Healthcare

Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett discuss the latest news from MGMA, focusing on trends around AI adoption, automation challenges and opportunities, and the disproportionate burnout faced by women in healthcare.

Article Summaries:
1) AI Advances but Adoption Remains Uneven 
 - Results from MGMA stat poll on automation levels across organizations. (https://www.mgma.com/mgma-stat/steps-toward-revenue-cycle-automation-vary-across-medical-groups  )

2) Mercy Health Finds Success Through Staff Alignment
 - How focusing on individual strengths improved efficiency and morale. (https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/mercyhealths-revenue-cycle-benefitted-putting-staffers-right-roles )

3) Burnout Takes Larger Toll on Women 
- Research showing women in healthcare experience worse burnout. (https://www.axios.com/2024/02/22/health-worker-burnout-women?mkt_tok=MTQ0LUFNSi02MzkAAAGRia_SqOWWszxrtRAs1W-P2VMUz1JqnIpsgIxxzahC8ttfyWEgbXTTvhTeJ8IM9mWinijCEa6M5GgnbtlxC-Hn0pvj1J86d5mXurjtD1lXBg )

4) Automation Revolutionizes ASC Operations  
- Impact of AI and automation on ambulatory surgery centers. (https://www.physicianspractice.com/view/healthcare-staffing-and-reimbursement-challenges-automation-and-ai-are-here-to-help )

5) Book Club Insights for Leaders
- Discussion of recent book "Think Again" from MGMA book club. 
(https://adamgrant.net/book/think-again/)
(https://community.mgma.com/communities/community-home?communitykey=2811bd2f-87b0-451e-9dc7-018c7e8a233a)

Key Takeaways: 
- Varied state of automation requires continued progress
- Aligning roles to strengths can overcome challenges  
- Supporting women in healthcare is an industry priority
- Technology is transforming operations for the better
- Shared knowledge benefits healthcare professionals

Music: 
"Cool Piano" by Tagirijus courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

If you would like additional tools and resources related to medical practice leadership or you have stories to share with us, email us at Daniel Williams at dwilliams@mgma.com.

Thank you again for taking the time to listen to the MGMA podcast network.

Week in Review: AI, Automation, and Disproportionate Burnout for Women Healthcare Workers

This week, MGMA editors Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett discuss the latest challenges facing medical practices, including rising claims denials and ongoing cash flow issues stemming from the Change Healthcare cyberattack. They share insights and resources for addressing these hurdles.

Articles and Resources mentioned:

1) MGMA stat poll results - Results from the weekly poll reveals rising claims denial rates and show how practices have been impacted (https://www.mgma.com/mgma-stat/steps-toward-revenue-cycle-automation-vary-across-medical-groups )

2) Claims denials webinar - On-demand webinar providing strategies for reducing denials through documentation, authorizations, and eligibility verification (https://www.mgma.com/webinars/future-proof-your-practice-on-demand)

3) Employee loyalty article - Insights newsletter piece on building workplace commitment and prioritizing employee well-being (https://www.physicianspractice.com/view/8-strategies-for-improving-employee-loyalty-and-commitment)

4) The New MGMA Community Home Site: Check out the cool new design where you can connect, network, get questions answered and share your own knowledge in the new member community. (https://community.mgma.com/home  )

5) Harvard Business Review change execution article - Article outlining the importance of clear internal communications for successful change initiatives using the "ACE" approach (https://hbr.org/2024/03/how-to-actually-execute-change-at-a-company?mkt_tok=MTQ0LUFNSi02MzkAAAGRrh59b6aSQzfkxBFh44Fjss76163vnPh9eW3-l2I9ktMfH0MI3NRtudupHCHSMFh6TiFSuoJ28RfqSX6BNDOsONllh8DVlvCzOWCh173iLw)

6) Cash flow crisis management article - Strategies for stabilizing operations and finances after disruptions through immediate cash management and securing short-term financing (https://www.mgma.com/articles/cash-flow-management-strategies-change-healthcare-outage)

Music:
"Cool Piano" by Tagirijus courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

If you would like additional tools and resources related to medical practice leadership or you have stories to share with us, email us at Daniel Williams at dwilliams@mgma.com.

Thank you again for taking the time to listen to the MGMA podcast network.

Week in Review: Navigating Claims Denials and Cash Flow Crises

Today we feature Marie Eslick, Director of HR at Apex Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center. Apex has experienced tremendous expansion across Northeast Ohio, growing from 1 to 14 locations. Marie shares how she revamped HR strategies to support this growth while maintaining a strong company culture.

Key Takeaways:
- Developing recognition programs, newsletters, and sponsorship events to communicate the "People First" culture  
- Streamlining hiring processes through technology and focus on cultural fit
- Improving benefits packages to attract and retain talent in a competitive market
- Implementing 90-day onboarding checklists to train new employees
- Leveraging applicant tracking systems to enhance the candidate experience

Resources:
- Apex Dermatology website: https://apexderm.com/
- ADP Workforce Now applicant tracking and HRIS solutions: https://www.adp.com/solutions/large-business/workforce-now.aspx
- SHRM resources on building an HR function: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/how-to-guides/pages/buildinganhrfunction.aspx

MGMA Resources:
MGMA Stat: mgma.com/stat

Ask an Advisor: www.mgma.com/ask-an-advisor

MGMA Membership: www.mgma.com/membership

MGMA Advocacy: www.mgma.com/advocacy

MGMA Consulting: www.mgma.com/consulting/overview

Music:
"Be Cool" by Mr. Smith, courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

MGMA Member Spotlight: Putting People First -- Prioritizing Culture Through Strategic HR

This week's MGMA Week in Review podcast discusses how skill assessments and emerging AI technologies can help medical practices improve workforce development and patient care.

Summary:
- Colleen Luckett discusses a recent MGMA stat poll on using skill assessments to identify training needs and a related summit session on the topic. (https://www.mgma.com/mgma-stat/bridging-gaps-in-healthcare-worker-knowledge-with-skill-assessments)
- Daniel Williams shares a podcast discussing credit card surcharge regulations for medical practices. (https://www.mgma.com/podcasts/ask-mgma-credit-card-surcharges-for-medical-practice-payments)
- New coalition aims to improve care for patients with disabilities through provider training. )https://www.axios.com/2024/03/13/disabilities-health-care-disparitie)
- On-demand webinar on staff retention strategies. (https://www.mgma.com/webinars/playing-for-keeps-on-demand )
- Epic is partnering with Microsoft and Nuance to develop AI-powered note drafting and messaging to reduce clinician burden. (https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/himss24-how-epic-building-out-ai-ambient-technology-clinicians)

Music:
"Cool Piano" by Tagirijus courtesy of Free Music Archive, CC BY-NC-SA

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our Sr Advisor Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

MGMA Week in Review: Leveraging Skill Assessments and AI to Improve Healthcare

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams speaks with Sharon Sagarra, MBA, FACMPE, owner of Sagarra Medical Consulting, and an MGMA Consultant. Sharon shares her extensive experience in healthcare management and provides actionable strategies for medical practice leaders to optimize compensation and benefits plans for their employees. Her insights are particularly relevant for those attending the upcoming MGMA Staffing Conference, where she will present on this very topic.

Practical Takeaways for Medical Practices 

1. Develop a Comprehensive Budget 
Maintaining a detailed budget is essential for managing financial challenges such as rising minimum wages and decreasing insurance reimbursements. "Make sure you're doing a budget. I was surprised the last two practices I was at did not have a budget," Sagarra emphasizes. A comprehensive budget helps practices monitor expenses, identify cost-saving opportunities, and allocate resources efficiently​

2. Streamline Operations and Utilize Group Purchasing 
Streamlining operations and leveraging group purchasing organizations can significantly reduce costs. Sagarra advises, "Look at supplies that could be streamlined with maybe one or two vendors or group purchasing organizations." This strategy helps negotiate better rates and simplifies inventory management, reducing both costs and administrative burdens​.

3. Automate to Improve Efficiency 
Implementing automation can help reduce payroll and overtime expenses while enhancing staff efficiency. Sagarra notes, "Automation of tasks can make things easier for your staff, reducing costs in payroll and overtime." Automating billing, appointment scheduling, and other administrative tasks frees up staff time for more impactful activities​.

Resources Mentioned 
MGMA Staffing Conference Information 
Sagarra Medical Consulting 
Sharon Sagarra on MGMA
Sharon Sagarra on LinkedIn

Consultants Corner: Key Strategies for Optimizing Compensation and Benefits with Sharon Sagarra

Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) equips practice administrators and executives with the knowledge and tools to head high-performance physician group practices in a complex and evolving healthcare environment.

New tracks tagged #MedicalPractice