Rheumatology Practice Management
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Rheumatology Practice Management September 2013 Vol 1 No 1 — September 11, 2013
Iris W. Nichols
Founding Editor-in-Chief, Rheumatology Practice Management
Practice Administrator, Arthritis and Osteoporosis Consultants of the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC

It is an exciting time for rheumatology practice managers when the National Organiza­tion of Rheumatology Managers (NORM) and Engage Healthcare Communications, LLC, begin a partnership to launch a publication designed exclusively for those of us who are responsible for running a rheumatology practice. Going forward, each issue of Rheumatology Practice Management will include timely, valuable information on such topics as office processes, billing, coding, information technology (IT), and the many ways we can manage our medical businesses as efficiently as possible.
Information Transfer

What is the correct information, the most needed information, and how does this information find you? While we have excellent ideas for this publication, we do not know absolutely everything about what information you, the reader, needs, so we are asking for your help. I know, you must be thinking, “How can I put one more thing on my plate?” or find any time that is not already committed? I find myself feeling the very same way. My desire is for this magazine to be used as a true resource for your rheumatology business. Just as the journal Value-Based Care in Rheumatology contains pertinent information for the physicians, we want Rheumatology Practice Management to contain pertinent information for us. We want to be able to combine clinical knowledge and claims data, coupled with our IT department’s knowledge, to help all of us manage our risk and bring value to our practices.

Managers are the backbone of rheumatology practices. You, as the practice manager, are in a position of influence. You are tasked with providing the strongest infrastructure possible that will allow your physicians to care for their patients in the most efficient way possible while delivering the “gold standard” of medical care. We all know that the very best way to ensure that this infrastructure is strong is through talking with each other and sharing “best practice” standards. As we create and maintain this infrastructure, we must stay on top of healthcare trends by using tools that help us to tighten our budgets and to strengthen our processes without compromising efficiency. How do we manage all of this and maintain our bottom line? Our jobs are more challenging today than ever before.

My image of this publication is to be a unique conduit by which we can share these standards, ideas, and tools. Practice managers and administrators have a wealth of information that comes from hands-on experience. What better resources to tap into for assistance, ideas, and directions for running a well-rounded practice? I hope to see the names and contact information from our members as we ask you to contribute to the success of this journal. Through combined efforts, we as leaders will learn how to operate under the new laws and regulations imposed through the ever-changing healthcare environment. Although change in the healthcare environment is not an easy task, we know that working together will make the process easier.

We are excited about the partnership between NORM and Engage Healthcare Communications. How­ever, the most important element of this partnership is you, the reader. We would like to hear from you. What are the challenges you face? Some of these challenges could include EHR, meaningful use, physician compensation, HIPAA issues, OSHA issues, contracts with payers, quality measures, the transition to ICD-10, Medicare reimbursement issues, healthcare exchanges, and rising operating costs. It is daunting to think about all of these challenges.

In the article “Medical Practice Today,” which was published in the July 2013 edition of MGMA Connexion, Heather Grimshaw stated, “Resilience is a word that comes to mind when you look at the challenges faced by medical group managers, who grapple with regular small business issues, such as economic uncertainty, operational changes and staffing, in addition to rigorous government regulations, an industry overhaul and—most importantly—a responsibility to create environments that support patient health.” I have heard it said that healthcare is the only industry where we are mandated to deliver a stellar product without knowing what the rules are. We do not know from one minute to the next what—or if—we are going to get reimbursed, yet we are to maintain business as usual. We have chosen to be in the healthcare field, and, therefore, we will meet the challenging days ahead.

Collaboration with all partners will move us forward as we strive to provide insight into process improvements to enhance patient care. No one should have to reinvent the wheel. Someone who is much smarter than I has a patent on this wheel, has tested it for pitfalls, and is willing to share. Remember, you are not in this maze of change all alone.

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