Author: dianawinder

NRHA Today Weekly Newsletter

October 16, 2023

NRHA Today Weekly Newsletter

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has posted the latest copy of NRHA Today.

In this issue:

  • What rural health providers need from Washington
  • NRHA now accepting Health Equity Conference presentations
  • Legislative error derails millions for struggling hospitals
  • What does CEO Alan Morgan see as the future of rural health?
  • Louisiana hospital leading in midwife care – more is needed
  • University establishes center for health care cybersecurity
  • Is the health care industry selling telemedicine short?
  • Ways for Congress to tackle rural health care shortages
  • How has your rural community changed in your lifetime?
  • JRH publishes new article on rural mammography services
  • Wondering where you can find qualified rural health pros?
  • Throwback: NRHA CEO on top rural health, hospital concerns
  • NRHA webinars on wound care, leadership succession planning
  • What parking lot mobile clinics say about rural health care
  • Rural child hunger summit, primary care ECHO upcoming
  • Participate in NRHA’s latest rural health advocacy campaigns
  • University receives grant to combat rural physician shortage
  • Rural emergency rooms take on health care challenges
  • Study examines health, other factors in happiest states
  • Rural youths who drink heavily more likely to carry a gun

Go to NRHA Today

CDI Online: For the Clinic or Outpatient Medical Office

October 10, 2023

CDI Online: For the Clinic or Outpatient Medical Office

Check out this online course offered by the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC) for medical office professionals. This course is designed for experienced health information management (HIM) professionals, office nurses (RNs, LPHs), professional coders, chart auditors, and those working in a health plan Special Investigation Units (SIU). Providers and other individuals tasked with the responsibility of improving documentation standards for medical practices are also encouraged to register.

Appropriate documentation is an important part of your practice compliance program.

Learning Objectives

  • Overview of Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI)
    • Facing challenges of medical office CDI professional
    • Managing conflict
    • Know the language of medicine
  • Basics of compliant documentation
    • The medical record is a legal document
    • Top #1 high risk practice coding issue
    • Signature requirements, acceptable and unacceptable practices
    • Addendums, corrections and deletions to the medical record
  • Intro to E/M documentation improvement
    • Overview of clinical documentation & progress (clinical) notes
    • Achieving compliant E/M documentation to avoid fraud, abuse & waste
    • There is a changing health care environment – increased poverty
    • Documentation and addressing social determinants of health
    • Reimbursement depends on capturing documentation
    • Measuring SDOH program performance
  • Office/Outpatient visit documentation considerations
    • New patient E&M visits
    • Established patient E&M visits
  • Other E/M services and documentation considerations
    • Emergency department
    • Inpatient/Observation as of 2023
    • Discharge services
    • Consultations
  • E/M and documentation of time
    • Concept of time, documentation, and levels of service for E/M as of 2023
    • Know what counts as “time”
    • Split/shared visits & time
    • Prolonger services and time
    • Discharge management
    • Time & critical care visits
  • E/M and documentation of MDM
    • Medical decision-making (MDM) for evaluation & management as of 2023
    • Using MDM Table to select level of service
    • Terms & definitions related to MDM
  • Operative notes & compliant documentation
    • General principles of operative notes documentation
    • Documentation to support appropriate reimbursement
    • Identifying the surgeon, vs the co-surgeon, assistant surgeon, or surgical team
  • Documentation of medical necessity
    • What is medical necessity?
    • General definition of medical necessity for physicians
    • Documentation and coding that demonstrates medical necessity
    • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) sets the standard (typically)
    • Documentation requirements for DME
  • Medications, supplies, and diagnostic tests
    • Do no harm – documenting drugs and biologicals (medications)
    • Supplies
  • HIPAA, confidentiality and you, the clinical documentation professional
    • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Public Law 104-191
    • Special consideration for highly protected psychotherapy notes
    • Patient information pertaining to behavioral health or substance abuse
    • Your EHR and preventing cyber-attacks

Option to certify is included in course tuition to earn your Certified Medical Documentation Professional CMDP credential.

Cost:

Non-member tuition – $625

AIHC member price – $375

Course tuition is all-inclusive

  • Access to a qualified online instructor if and when you need help
  • Training materials and access to the online training page
  • Quizzes and downloadable information: accessed through the online training page
  • AIHC membership for one year: available for first-time members only.
  • Mock exam: this mock exam is one exam total that covers all of the certification exam domains
  • One certification exam attempt, provided exam is taken within three months of completing the course

Online Registration

NRHA Now Accepting Health Equity Conference Presentations

October 10, 2023

NRHA Now Accepting Health Equity Conference Presentations

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is now accepting presentation proposals and research posters for the expanded Health Equity Conference next spring. Join NRHA and hundreds of rural health leaders in New Orleans, May 6-7, for one of the only meetings in the nation to focus on rural health equity issues. This conference is designed for those dedicated to bringing quality health care to under-served and often under represented populations, including LGBTQIA+, veteran, and homeless rural residents as well as multiracial and multicultural m embers of rural communities. Stick around for NRHA’s Annual Rural Health Conference and Rural Hospital Innovation Summit featuring more than 80 innovative, practical, and cost saving sessions.

Learn More

Driving Employee Engagement through Tactical Approach of Leader Rounding

October 10, 2023

Driving Employee Engagement through Tactical Approach of Leader Rounding

Join the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) for this educational webinar focused on the strategic use of Leader Rounding to transform rural healthcare. Discover how this practice can drive cultural change and improve overall care quality in rural healthcare settings.

In this informative webinar, participants will:

  • Explore Leader Rounding in Rural Healthcare
  • Understand the significance of Leader Rounding and its impact on rural healthcare.
  • Learn Effective Practices
  • Discover practical strategies to boost employee engagement and leadership development in rural healthcare organizations.
  • Cultural Transformation
  • Gain insights into using Leader Rounding as a tool for fostering cultural change within rural healthcare settings.

This webinar will provide you with real-world examples and actionable strategies to enhance the quality, operational efficiency, and financial performance of your rural healthcare institution.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of an enlightening discussion that can empower your rural healthcare organization to excel in the face of unique challenges. Register today and be prepared to lead your organization toward a brighter, more sustainable future in rural healthcare.

When: Tuesday, October 24, 1:00 – 2:00 pm CST

Register Here

Strategic Succession Planning for Leadership in Today’s Rural Healthcare Landscape

October 10, 2023

Strategic Succession Planning for Leadership in Today’s Rural Healthcare Landscape

Leadership transitions in rural healthcare come with their own set of complexities. With the landscape changing rapidly due to shifts like remote care adoption, new payment models, and changing reimbursement paradigms, the importance of succession planning cannot be overstated. Erika Sundrud, Senior Vice President of Advisory Management at Ovation Healthcare, brings her 20 years of expertise to this session. Rural healthcare executives will gain a comprehensive understanding of succession strategies uniquely tailored for their challenges.

Objectives:

  • Understand the unique dynamics of leadership transitions in rural healthcare.
  • Engage with succession planning techniques specifically designed for rural contexts.
    • Outline clear, actionable steps to fortify their institution’s leadership succession plans for long-term resilience.

When: Tuesday, October 17, 2:00 – 3:00 pm CST

Register Here

The Untapped Fiscal Potential of Chronic Wound Care

October 10, 2023

The Untapped Fiscal Potential of Chronic Wound Care

In this webinar, Sarah Hull RNP, WCC, DWC will present valuable insights and practical strategies aimed at optimizing wound care management in Critical Access hospitals.

Participants will explore innovative approaches to chronic wound care, emphasizing the advantages of localized and cost-effective treatments. Sarah Hull will shed light on the benefits of incorporating advanced wound care therapies to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

The webinar will cover essential topics, including the significance of local wound care services, the effectiveness of advanced wound care therapies, and actionable steps for transforming your wound care center into a financial success. Attendees can expect to gain practical tips and best practices from Sarah Hull to maximize the fiscal potential of their wound care services.

  • Join this informative session to enhance your wound care practices and contribute to better healthcare outcomes while optimizing financial sustainability.

When: Thursday, October 12, 1:00-2:00 pm CST

Register Here

First-ever Rural Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Compensation Survey

October 10, 2023

First-ever Rural Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Compensation Survey

This “First-ever Rural Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Compensation Survey” webinar, delves into groundbreaking survey results which boasted 4x the number of rural respondents compared to the largest current survey on the topic. This pivotal discussion will be led by Opal Greenway, Principal at Stroudwater Associates. As a seasoned healthcare and finance expert with a rich background in physician compensation, strategic healthcare needs, and regulatory compliance, Opal brings unparalleled insight to the table.

During this webinar, participants will:

  • Discover the findings of this inaugural rural-focused compensation survey.
  • Understand how affiliation with a health system influences compensation.
  • Gain insights into how compensation competitiveness varies across state practice environments, guided by Opal’s extensive experience in analyzing physician compensation structures and advising healthcare entities on market trends and regulations.

When:  Wednesday, October 11, 2:00 – 3:00 pm CST

Register Here

CDC’s State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report: Vaccination in Rural America Special Report

October 6, 2023

CDC’s State of Vaccine Confidence Insights Report: Vaccination in Rural America Special Report

This report examines vaccine confidence and uptake among rural populations in the United States, between 2017 and 2023, with a focus on COVID-19 vaccination. The report also covers differences in vaccine uptake among rural, suburban, and rural populations, including discussions around concerns about vaccination and identifies strategies for successful outreach to rural areas.

Read Report

Access to Jobs, Economic Opportunities, and Education in Rural Areas

October 6, 2023

Access to Jobs, Economic Opportunities, and Education in Rural Areas

This National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) research report provides an overview of the challenges experienced in rural communities such as connectivity issues; access to goods, social services, and healthcare; and a lack of educational and economic opportunities. Includes implementation strategies for rural communities to evaluate, plan for, and improve accessibility, along with related case studies.

Read Online

Upcoming Webinar – Rural Definitions and Data: Changes after the 2020 Census

October 6, 2023

Upcoming Webinar – Rural Definitions and Data: Changes after the 2020 Census

This RHIhub webinar on October 17, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. CT, highlights recent changes in rural definitions from the Census Bureau and the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the impact on rural data, and how it may affect rural areas’ eligibility for federal funding.

This webinar is free. High-speed internet is required to participate. A recording will be available on the RHIhub website after the live event. Connection details will be emailed to you immediately upon registration.

If you have questions or problems with the registration process, please contact RHIhub Webinars at webinars@ruralhealthinfo.org.

When: October 17, 2023, 12; 00 p.m. CT

Register Here