MEC SUMMARY / Mary MacDonald, M.D.
President
March 2010
Doctor’s Day
In recognition of the physician’s profession and your contribution as a healthcare provider in the community, a breakfast will be served on Doctor’s Day, March 30, from 0630 to 0930 in the Tower Conference Room.
Administrative Update
· Financials for the past month are positive overall. Changes in the Healthcare Reform will be affecting our short and long term goals.
· The hospital building expansion project has begun on the Center Street side for shell space and the installation of an additional generator. The construction for the new OB unit will begin this summer.
Medical Necessity / Utilization
When completing OP requisitions, remember to match a diagnosis to each ordered test to reduce the number of unbilled charges. A list of tests not meeting documentation for medical necessity will be forwarded to ordering physicians at least monthly beginning this month to increase awareness and improve compliance to billing rules as set by CMS.
Formulary Changes
Formulary Additions
· Minocin (minocycline) 100 mg capsules
· Nicardipine (Cardene IV) 25mg/10 mL vials
· Calcitriol (Rocaltrol) 0.25 mcg capsules
· Niaspan (niacin ER) 500 mg tablets
· Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 1000 mcg tablets
Formulary Deletions
· Cleviprex (clevidipine)
· Pregabalin (Lyrica) 150 mg capsules
· Propine (dipivefrin) 0.1% ophthalmic drop
Therapeutic Interchanges
Orders for: Interchange with:
Avelox 400 mg Levaquin 750 mg (oral or IV)
Reappointment
Reminder that reappointment applications are due on April 1st. A late charge will be applied after that date.
Electronic Documentation for Physicians
The hospital is currently evaluating a different computer platform option with Cerner Corporation. A presentation and demo by Cerner will be made on April 8th and 9th (see attached schedule). All physicians are encouraged to attend any or all of these sessions. The next phase for the complete electronic medical record is physician documentation and physician order entry (CPOE). Choosing the right system for these applications is critical and your insight is needed.
Medication Reconciliation Process
Nurses on MSP and ICU are now entering the patient’s Home Medication List in the ClinDoc system for admissions and observation patients. This creates efficiencies for the physician who can use the printed forms from the system at admission and discharge to check which meds are continued or discontinued without having to rewrite the list. Changes to the dosages and frequencies as well as new prescriptions can be added to the form. Please be sure to add indications to PRN medications and sign the form since this serves as a physician order.
New Coding Query Forms
New forms have been created by HIM to ask physicians for clarification prior to coding the charts. The forms are disease specific with checkboxes for more concise and easy communication.
Physician Survey
In keeping with the goal to keep symbiotic relationships between the hospital and physicians that are open and transparent, you will be receiving a survey for information gathering. The focus of the first survey is general surgery with other services to follow. Your responses may be anonymous if you choose, and all are confidential.
Website Physician Portal
Instructions on how to access the portal are attached. Patient information including lab and x-ray results can be found in the Web Connect application and you can sign off your dictations in ESA from anywhere through this portal. Other applications will be available on the menu in future months.