Organizations that were once “just” business associates of Covered Entities are realizing that they’re subject to HIPAA regulations to the same extent as the Covered Entities they contract with. And…
The Healthcare ACO … “What it is and why I should care”
The Accountable Care Organization, or “ACO”, is among healthcare’s latest trends. And what about the “Medical Home“? Is that the same as an ACO, or different? Some organizations, after their…
The Home Healthcare Industry has Many Changes & Challenges Ahead
No doubt about it: The home healthcare industry is booming right along with the baby boomers. The economic downturn, healthcare reform legislation, the changing preferences of seniors in America (or…
HIPAA Security Risk Assessment and Meaningful Use
There’s lots to do and keep track of when your medical practice is preparing for Meaningful Use Attestation. With that in mind, one of the Meaningful Use Criteria that I…
Business Associate Agreements – HIPAA and HITECH
Since 2003 HIPAA regulations have required that Business Associate Agreements be in place. However, some of the most far-reaching provisions of the HITECH Act of 2009 have to do with…
HIPAA Violation – Your Risk of Being Audited Just Went Up
Up to now, the many healthcare organizations that are Covered Entities under HIPAA law did not have to worry too much about outside scrutiny of their compliance activities. Most entities…
The Benefits of EHR are Many, but Most Small Practices Miss Out
A recent article in InformationWeek highlighted the slow progress in small and midsize physician practices in expanding the use and realizing the benefits of EHR technology in their offices. A survey…
Physicians To Receive 30% Less From Medicare: Are You Still In?
A couple of today’s news headlines … “The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued its proposed changes to the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including a long anticipated…
Your Healthcare Project Financial Proforma – Determining cash needs
“How much cash will I need to pull this idea off?” Maybe you’ve got plans to open a new private medical practice? Or is it that you’re finally about to…
Successful EHR Implementation: Ten Ways to Improve Your Chances
An EHR system can be a significant investment, and adopting one is certainly one of the most far reaching changes that your medical practice may make. However, even with the…
The Top Four Reasons for EHR Implementation Failure
Prior to the recent surge in EHR installations, the figure most often quoted for EHR system failed installations was 20%. It should be noted that figure covered a period when…
HIPAA Compliance: EHR Incentives, Risk Assessment, and Penalties
Financial penalties for HIPAA violations. How real are they? How about a recent $4.3 million civil penalty faced by Cignet Health of Prince George’s County, Maryland; or the also recent…
Nursing Home Floor Plans: Optimizing Valuable Space with Improved Circulation
As an architectural firm specializing in nursing homes, we’re often asked how we design our facilities, what concepts we use, and where we get our ideas from. As a response,…
Medical Accounts Receivable: Monitoring and Measuring Performance
One of the common issues we confront when called to perform a physician billing department assessment, or a more broad based medical practice analysis, is the lament: “Why aren’t we…
Disaster Preparedness – A Must for Every Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility
Over the past several days, I’ve watched the tragic events unfold in Japan as a result of the massive earthquake and resulting tsunami. The images-photos and videos, served as a…
Three Financial Strategies for your Medical Practice that are “Like Money in the Bank”
A question recently posted on LinkedIn regarding the “Do’s, Dont’s, Thrills and Spills” of using a lockbox for payments generated a lot of comments, and got me to thinking more…
Why a Good Healthcare Facility Feasibility Study Should Involve Aerobic Activity …
So you’re considering a feasibility study, or even a full blown business plan for a proposed healthcare facility. Congratulations-it means that you’re contemplating some kind of new business venture-maybe an…
EHR Installation and Training – keeping up requires focus!
If you thought the selection process for EHR systems was intense, wait till you get to implementation! EHR vendors will drive the implementation process, but you must be prepared to…
Nursing Homes and MDS 3.0 – the Winds of Change are Upon Us
Well, it’s here. MDS 3.0. A couple of years in the making, about 6 months of training made available to SNF providers, and with the tears and fears of MDS…
An Operational Analysis of Your Medical Practice is a Logical Step in the EHR Selection Process
I’m often surprised by how some medical practices are so casual in their approach to selecting an EHR system. As if the EHR selection process itself is inconsequential. And I’m bordering…