In this episode of the MGMA Week in Review podcast, hosts Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA, and Colleen Luckett, Editor and Writer at MGMA, discuss the latest news and insights for medical practice leaders and MGMA members.

Major Topics

• Bipartisan legislation to improve healthcare cybersecurity after a ransomware attack
• The need for more institutional support for physicians treating addiction
• The importance of flexible goal setting for personal and professional growth
• The resurgence of nurse self-scheduling in healthcare

Key Takeaways

• Healthcare Cybersecurity Act:
  • Introduced by Senators Jackie Rosen, Todd Young, and Angus King, this act aims to coordinate cybersecurity efforts between government agencies to protect patient data and healthcare systems.
• Support for Physicians Treating Addiction:
  • Physicians lack the necessary training, resources, and administrative support to effectively treat addiction, leading to frustration and an uphill battle.
  • "We're expected to manage complex addiction cases, but without proper training and support, it's an uphill battle." - Physician quoted in the article
• Flexible Goal Setting:
  • Flexible goal setting, where goals are seen as adaptable and malleable, can enhance chances of success and foster a more fulfilling path to achieving aspirations.
  • "When goals are too rigid, they become a source of stress and frustration. Flexibility allows for a healthier relationship with our ambitions, making the journey as rewarding as the destination." - Erica Pandy, author of the Harvard Business Review article
• Nurse Self-Scheduling:
  • Nurse self-scheduling, where nurses have autonomy to choose their own work shifts, is making a comeback due to electronic scheduling systems and nurses' demands for more flexibility. This can lead to higher job satisfaction, reduced burnout, and better patient care.

Resources

• Health Care Cybersecurity Act
• Medical Economics article on addiction treatment
• FTC and Healthcare Consolidation
• Harvard Business Review article on flexible goal-setting
• Becker's Clinical Leadership article on nurse self-scheduling

We Want to Hear From You:
Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on an MGMA podcast. Email us at:

Daniel Williams: dwilliams@mgma.com

Ryan Reaves: rreaves@mgma.com

Colleen Luckett: cluckett@mgma.com
Cristy Good: cgood@mgma.com

Thank you for tuning in to the MGMA Podcast Network. Please subscribe and leave us a review. See you next time!

Midmark
Founded in 1915, Midmark Corporation is the only company transforming healthcare experiences through innovative design within the medical, dental and animal health environments.

With a deep understanding of the healthcare environment, Midmark helps physicians and care teams deliver exceptional patient care through seamless room design, better equipment, smarter workflows and integrated technologies.

Midmark can help you improve clinical outcomes and eliminate the barriers preventing seamless, well-coordinated patient care. Visit our website to learn more about Midmark, or join us for the MGMA webinar on October 24, or on demand at MGMA.com.

RingCentral:
We’d like to thank RingCentral for their sponsorship. You can visit their website at ringcentral.com to learn how they’re helping healthcare organizations create the ideal patient experience with AI powered communications; helping to reduce risk, drive efficiency, and improve patient satisfaction.

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Sarah Clark, owner of Sarah Clark Consulting, as she dives into the crucial aspects of improving patient experience and increasing profits within medical practices. This discussion explores practical strategies to help medical practice leaders tackle common challenges and elevate their operations.

Major Takeaways:

The 4 Ps to Success:

• Process: Streamlining administrative workflows to enhance efficiency and reduce patient wait times.
• People: Investing in staff training and development to improve patient interactions and satisfaction.
• Paperwork: Simplifying documentation processes to minimize errors and improve compliance.
• Patients: Focusing on patient-centric care to boost overall satisfaction and loyalty.

Key Strategies for Enhancing Patient Experience:

• Implementing robust feedback systems to understand patient needs and expectations.
• Utilizing technology to facilitate better communication and streamline appointment scheduling.

Increasing Profits Through Improved Processes:

• Identifying and eliminating bottlenecks in practice operations.
• Leveraging data analytics to make informed decisions about resource allocation and service offerings.

Resources:
Sarah Clark Consulting

We Want to Hear From You:
Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on an MGMA podcast. Email us at:

Daniel Williams: dwilliams@mgma.com

Ryan Reaves: rreaves@mgma.com

Colleen Luckett: cluckett@mgma.com
Cristy Good: cgood@mgma.com

Thank you for tuning in to the MGMA Podcast Network. Please subscribe and leave us a review. See you next time!

Midmark
Founded in 1915, Midmark Corporation is the only company transforming healthcare experiences through innovative design within the medical, dental and animal health environments.

With a deep understanding of the healthcare environment, Midmark helps physicians and care teams deliver exceptional patient care through seamless room design, better equipment, smarter workflows and integrated technologies.

Midmark can help you improve clinical outcomes and eliminate the barriers preventing seamless, well-coordinated patient care. Visit our website to learn more about Midmark, or join us for the MGMA webinar on October 24, or on demand at MGMA.com.

RingCentral:
We’d like to thank RingCentral for their sponsorship. You can visit their website at ringcentral.com to learn how they’re helping healthcare organizations create the ideal patient experience with AI powered communications; helping to reduce risk, drive efficiency, and improve patient satisfaction.

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

Midmark
Founded in 1915, Midmark Corporation is the only company transforming healthcare experiences through innovative design within the medical, dental and animal health environments.

With a deep understanding of the healthcare environment, Midmark helps physicians and care teams deliver exceptional patient care through seamless room design, better equipment, smarter workflows and integrated technologies.

Midmark can help you improve clinical outcomes and eliminate the barriers preventing seamless, well-coordinated patient care. Visit our website to learn more about Midmark, or join us for the MGMA webinar on October 24, or on demand at MGMA.com.

RingCentral:
We’d like to thank RingCentral for their sponsorship. You can visit their website at ringcentral.com to learn how they’re helping healthcare organizations create the ideal patient experience with AI powered communications; helping to reduce risk, drive efficiency, and improve patient satisfaction.