This session focuses on the skill sets needed to transition from private practice or residency into the hospitalist role. Key points discussed are:

a. Developing a team mentality
b. Building collegial relationships
c. Establishing group as the in-patient experts
d. Creating effective referral patterns
e. Enhancing communications

Groups are provided with sample job descriptions for the provider and office coordinator.

Coding for Hospitalist Medicine

This session assists providers in the development of skills necessary to accurately and completely capture the services they are providing. The key areas reviewed are:

a. Principles of Documentation
b. ICD-9 CM Diagnosis Coding – 2006 updated codes
c. Key Components and Documentation requirements of Evaluation and Management (E\M) Services
d. Admission and Discharge Services
e. Observation Services
f. Consultation Services
g. Critical Care Services
h. Nursing Facility Services

Providers are given pocket cards which serve as a resource for documentation guidelines. Although there is a primary focus on professional fees, there is also a focus on documentation requirements that assist the hospital in capturing the appropriate case mix index and enhancing DRG rates and revenue per case.

The Hospitalist and Risk Management

This session focuses on the key components that decrease risks to the practicing physician. Areas that are discussed are:

a. An effective risk management program
b. Communications – the key to reducing risks
c. Creating mechanisms to handle patient complaints
d. The use of chaperones in providing care
e. National Patient Safety guidelines

This session can be coordinated with the hospital risk management department as there is often an overlap in duties and functions. It is very important for the two to work in harmony.

Establishing Value and Quality of the Hospitalist Practice

This session focuses on aligning the goals of the hospitalist practice with the goals of the hospital. In the process, hospitalists focus on defining value including the Healthcare Value Cascade and improving quality through structure, processes and outcomes. Key components of measuring quality discussed are:

a. Volume growth
b. Length of stay and Costs per case
c. JCAHO core measures
d. Patient and Physician satisfaction
e. Charge per encounter
f. Coding Compliance

Additionally groups are provided with sample balanced scorecards, sample satisfaction questionnaires, sample growth tracking templates, sample physician marketing tools and sample physician service agreements.

The Role of the Hospitalist in Case Management

This session focuses on the importance of the hospitalist and case management interface. The best session is coordinated with the hospital’s case management department. Prior to this session, I usually meet with case management to understand how it currently functions within the facility. Together with the Case management leadership and the Hospitalist Medical Director, excellent communication mechanisms and a team approach can be created between the two groups.
The goal of the session is to:

a. Identify mechanisms to provide patients excellent care in the most appropriate setting
b. Assist physicians in understanding how their every day actions can impact the hospital’s financial situation.