The Jefferson Parish Council has appointed former parish administrator Nancy Cassagne to lead West Jefferson Medical Centerin Marrero, LA. Cassagne had filled the job on an interim basis since the previous chief executive resigned in October 2007. The unanimous approval came the same week that anonymous complaints were made about Cassagne not meeting the requirements set out by the state Department of Health and Hospitals.
Security may not be the top priority on your practice's implementation list, but it certainly is essential. It reduces liability, protects a practice's reputation, and guards other areas that could put your small, large, or private practice out of production.
The bottom line to successfully address security regulations and safety measures is to have an organized security plan, which should include the following three elements: adequate, regular training, current and communicative policies and procedures, and employee knowledge of government sanctions.
"Developing a sound security program is only effective in how it's built," says Chris Apgar, CISSP, president of Apgar & Associates, LLC, in Portland, OR. "Part of the plan is what security measures to follow, what are my needs. You need to put that together in an organized fashion."
Use these five steps to develop a successful staff plan and see results:
1. Research the best places to get information (e.g., HIPAA Academy).
2. Implement changes as needed. Set up a tool to easily insert new information into the system.
3. Staff training: Sign confidentiality agreements, documentation, and policies and procedures, and follow government sanctions.
4. Conduct a risk assessment, audit, and/or analysis. The assessment is the first way to prioritize the most important areas, examine the threats, and identify what is already in place for your plan. The audit is a way to detect what has happened with risk management areas of your practice.
5. Evaluation helps determine whether changes are working in the practice, whether the plan is effective, and whether there have been any significant changes in the market.
Shannon Sousa is the editor of The Doctor's Office. She may be reached at ssousa@hcpro.com. This story was adapted from one that first appeared in the February edition of The Doctor's Office, a monthly newsletter by HealthLeaders Media.
A bill that would expand the role of physician assistants has passed in the New Mexico Senate. The bill would allow physician assistants to direct the use of a prescription device, help assess functional impairment and be included in a list of practitioners that an individual may select for treatment of an illness or injury within the terms and limits of the individual's insurance coverage plan.
The sites for Merck's Januvia, for diabetes, and Singulair, for asthma and allergies, were the top two product sites visited by primary care doctors, according to results of a market research study by Manhattan Research. Merck's corporate site was tops among all U.S. doctors as well.
Second opinions have without a doubt saved many lives and are likely to gain in importance with a growing focus on medical errors. But they can be awkward for doctor and patient, and surprisingly little is known about them.
Wall Street Journal columnist Benjamin Brewer, MD, advocates for the patient-centered "medical home" model of primary care. Brewer claims he could provide comprehensive primary care on a subscription basis for $20 a month. The problem, however, is when it comes to reimbursement, for that care, he says.