News
CMS Introduces Billing Code for Hospitalists: What You Need to Know
March 4, 2016
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the approval of a dedicated specialty billing code for hospitalists that will soon be ready for official use.
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Opinion
A Closer Look at Characteristics of High-Performing HM Groups
March 2, 2016
Early in 2015, SHM published the updated edition of the “Key Principles and Characteristics of an Effective Hospital Medicine Group,” which is a free download via the SHM website.
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Opinion
A New Schedule Could Be Better for Your Hospitalist Group
January 13, 2016
Present “hospitalist” in a word association exercise to a wide range of healthcare personnel in clinical and administrative roles, and many would instantly respond with “seven-on/seven-off schedule.” Some numbers from SHM’s 2014 State of Hospital Medicine report: 53.8%: Portion of hospitalist
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Opinion
Concerns Grow as Top Clinicians Choose Nonclinical Roles
December 22, 2015
On a spring day a couple of years ago, I met with some internal medicine residents in a “Healthcare Systems Immersion” elective.
News
Where Leading GOP Presidential Candidates Stand on Health Policies
December 15, 2015
As the long 2016 presidential election season draws on, Republican hopefuls strive to stand out among their fellow party candidates; however, many in the running remain tacit about specific policies on issues ranging from immigration to gun control and healthcare. “Many of these candidates … do n
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Audio
LISTEN NOW: Scott Sears, MD, Discusses Hospitalist Challenges with Unassigned, Uninsured Patients
December 1, 2015
Scott Sears, MD, chief clinical officer for Sound Physicians in Tacoma, Wash., discusses why patients without health insurance put hospitalists in a difficult situation.
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Opinion
Poor Continuity of Patient Care Increases Work for Hospitalist Groups
November 30, 2015
[caption id="attachment_12166" align="alignright" width="295"] Image Credit: ILLUSTRATION/PAUL JUESTRICH; PHOTOs shutterstock.com[/caption] I think every hospitalist group should diligently try to maximize hospitalist-patient continuity, but many seem to adopt schedules and other operational prac
News
New Medicare Rule Will Reimburse Physicians for Advance Care Planning
November 5, 2015
Hospitalists care for patients with the most serious, chronic, and complex illnesses. As a result, they are often faced with the daunting task of counseling their patients to help them clearly define their end-of-life wishes.
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News
Policy Changes Hospitalists May See in 2016
November 4, 2015
The year 2015 brought the repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and new rules for advanced care planning reimbursement.
News
Risk Adjusting Readmissions: Coming Soon?
November 4, 2015
Nearly three-quarters of hospitals will be receiving penalties from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2016 for excess readmissions, having failed to prevent enough patients from returning to the hospital 30 days post-discharge.
