Rheumatology Practice Management
Subscribe to Rheumatology Practice Management

Stay up to date with rheumatology news & updates by subscribing to receive the free RPM print publications or e‑Newsletters.

RPM e-Newsletter
RPM print publication

NORM as a Partner in the Success of Your Rheumatology Practice

Andrea Zlatkus, CPM, CHRC
Editor-in-Chief, Rheumatology Practice Management
President, NORM

 

 

NORM as a Partner in the Success of Your Rheumatology Practice

Recently, I had the opportunity to fly to Destin, FL, to attend the 2018 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology (CCR). The weather was sunny and hot, with a refreshing, but constant wind flapping the flags that lined the beach. Being there reminded me of this year’s National Organization of Rheumatology Managers (NORM) conference theme of “The Hidden Treasures of Rheumatology: Charting a New Course in Rheumatology.”

At CCR, we learned about many new legislative changes being discussed at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. These initiatives, along with Total Gross Covered Drug Cost Accumulator, Step Therapy, and nonmedical switching, affect our patients’ access to care as well as our ability to provide them with the quality care they deserve. How do we prepare our practices to navigate in uncharted waters and maneuver through wave after wave of legislative change?

NORM is here to partner with you to chart a course of continued success and sustainability. Change is never easy, but in the rheumatology world, it is a constant. Preparing our physicians and staff to anticipate changes and effectively navigate them is part of our job as leaders within our practices. In this issue of Rheumatology Practice Management, Jennifer Vogel explains how the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s Change Management in Healthcare program can assist you in leading your practice through the changes ahead.

If you are new to rheumatology, you may be asking yourself questions such as, “Am I missing anything? Am I doing everything I need to do to make sure my practice is compliant and performing well in terms of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System, human resource management, and other issues?” If these questions sound familiar, I encourage you to read Jay Salliotte’s article on NORM’s New Leaders in Rheumatology Bootcamp, which will be held at this year’s annual conference. Attending this special session may be just what you need to guide your practice through the rough waters of rheumatology practice management.

Also in this issue, Ginny Inman invites you to “get social” in her article about NORM’s footprint in social media. We want to highlight the efforts you are making in your practice and urge you to share your photos with our rheumatology community, whether you are joining the Walk to Cure Arthritis or meeting with state legislators.

I also encourage you to read Donnie Craig’s article detailing the latest efforts of NORM’s Membership Committee, which is always working to recruit new members and extol the value of NORM and its offerings to rheumatology practice managers. If you know someone who can benefit from NORM’s services, please point them in the direction of someone on our Membership Committee, who will be happy to assist them.

Our upcoming annual conference, which will take place October 4-6, 2018, in Tampa, FL, is packed with many hidden treasures—from creating an effective compliance manual to Stark law and an important legislative update. If you join the NORM Circle of Knowledge, you will walk away from this year’s conference with many pearls of wisdom to bring back to your practice. You are not alone. NORM members are here to support each other, and together we will chart a new course in rheumatology.

Related Items