Birth Defects Have a Lifelong Impact for Physicians, PAs, and their Patients

/in /by

Every 4-1/2 minutes in the U.S., a baby is born with a birth defect.

Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies in the U.S. each year. That means about 120,000 babies born every year have a defect that affects how their body looks or works, or both. Those defects can range from mild to severe and can be fatal. Birth defects cause 20 percent of all infant deaths.

While some birth defects can be corrected in utero or in infancy, many birth defects have a lifelong impact for patients and physicians — who will treat patients with birth defects not only during pregnancy and childhood but throughout adolescence and into adulthood.

This month, during National Birth Defects Awareness Month, we will provide you with information about birth defect prevention and considerations for lifelong care.

Birth Defect Prevention

Unfortunately, not all birth defects can be prevented, but risks can be mitigated. Evidence points to many factors that cause them, from genetics and the environment to behaviors, medications, medical conditions, and maternal age.

Having one or more of these risk factors may result in a birth defect, or it may not. There’s no exact formula — or fail-safe. That’s why it’s important for physicians and PAs to work closely with patients who are or may become pregnant to help them understand how to lower their risks. Though most birth defects occur in the first 3 months of a baby’s development, they can occur later, so prevention efforts are important throughout pregnancy.

Three prevention strategies to advise patients include:

1. Be cognizant about what you’re putting in your body. Pregnant women should avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and using marijuana and illegal drugs, as well as taking certain prescription and OTC medications and some dietary and herbal supplements.

2. Communicate with your physician to monitor and manage your overall health, not just your pregnancy. Close management of medical conditions like diabetes, infections like the Zika virus, and medical situations like a high fever are critical, as all can contribute to increased risk for birth defects.

3. Learn as much as you can about your medical history. For patients with personal or family histories of birth defects, which includes the baby’s father, genetic counseling is also an option to understand and evaluate risks.

For more prevention strategies, visit The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ FAQ page on “Reducing Risks of Birth Defects” or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s web page titled “Commit to Healthy Choices to Help Prevent Birth Defects.”

Lifelong Care of Patients with Birth Defects

Infants and children with birth defects often require specialized treatment and care, especially those with physical and intellectual disabilities. Early recognition and early intervention and supports are integral to their health, well-being, and quality of life as they grow up.

But what happens next?

To help physicians and PAs understand how best to help your patients with birth defects throughout their lives, here’s a list of challenges they may experience as adults and as they transition from adolescence to adulthood:

  • Navigating changes in insurance providers and coverage
  • Switching from familiar, trusted pediatric specialists to new specialists who treat adults
  • Adapting to new lifestyle situations related to increased independence, like becoming responsible for managing their own care and skill development required to effectively address their daily needs
  • Mental health issues resulting from managing their condition, treatments, transitions, and other circumstances
  • Requirement of additional surgeries, medications, or other procedures to maintain or improve health
  • Increased health risk factors related to their birth defect, like an increased risk of cancer later in life
  • New or ongoing health complications related to their birth defect, like heart defect patients who may develop trouble breathing
  • Loss of family relationships and support on which they depend, such as the death of a parent
  • Developing new social relationships, including dating and marriage
  • Entering the workplace, which may require new skill development and managing needs for adaptation
  • Exposure to discrimination
  • Planning for parenthood, including understanding risks to their own health as well as to their baby
  • Planning for long-term care as their healthcare needs may evolve and change over time

Birth defects have a lifelong impact on patients. With increased awareness and focus, physicians and PAs can help empower their patients with birth defects to live healthier, longer, happier lives.

Sharon Sheffield, MD, FACOG
Obstetrician-Gynecologist

Telephone Communication for Healthcare Providers: Strategies to Mitigate Malpractice Claims

/in /by

Nicole Franklin, MS, CPHRM, Patient Safety Risk Manager II, The Doctors Company

The way we communicate has changed dramatically over the years. Even with the introduction of technology-based communications, such as social networking sites, telemedicine, and texting, the telephone call is still the most widely used communication tool between healthcare providers and patients. Telephone conversations can, however, present difficulties and may be inherently deceptive if both parties lack the ability to observe nonverbal communication (for example, facial expressions, eye contact, and gestures) that clarify and qualify what the voice is expressing.

When casually or carelessly conducted, telephone communications can lead to diagnostic errors and misunderstandings that may culminate in professional malpractice claims.

Mitigate Risk in Telephone Communication with Patients

Creating comprehensive, clear guidelines for telephone encounters with patients is critical in mitigating risk. Establish practice guidelines and ensure that all office and clinical staff are trained on their roles in communicating with patients by telephone. Protect yourself from potential liability by following these general practices:

  • Smile when greeting patients. Research has shown that people are able to tell if you are smiling by the tone of your voice. Warmly express to patients that you are happy to speak with them today. This interaction may be the first impression that a patient has of the practice or the staff, and it is a factor in patient satisfaction.
  • Triage and refer all critical calls to emergency services. Examples of critical calls include abdominal or chest pain, fever of unknown origin, high fever lasting more than 48 hours, convulsion, vaginal bleeding, head injury, dyspnea, casts that are too tight, visual alterations, and the onset of labor. For more information on this topic, read our article, Telephone Triage and Medical Advice Protocols.
  • Obtain as much information as possible about the patient’s presenting complaint, medical and surgical history, current medications, and allergies to help you arrive at an accurate appraisal of the patient’s condition. Listen carefully and allow the caller both the time and opportunity to ask questions.
  • Speak to patients clearly and slowly, and enunciate carefully. Use easy-to-understand language that avoids medical terminology.
  • Obtain the services of an interpreter if you encounter a language difficulty. Follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for patients using telephone auxiliary aids or services, including interpreters. For more information, see ADA Requirements: Effective Communication.
  • Avoid distractions, such as checking email or attending to other duties, when speaking with patients. Drowsiness, fatigue, or distraction on the part of either party can affect the ability to communicate effectively.
  • Adhere to HIPAA rules and regulations to maintain patient privacy when communicating over the telephone, both inside and outside the office. Use a low voice when discussing protected health information, and implement reasonable safeguards to avoid disclosing information to others not involved in the patient’s care.
  • Develop written protocols for front office/unlicensed personnel to help them respond to patient questions and concerns. An unlicensed individual cannot provide medical or dental advice. Clinical/licensed individuals answering patient calls cannot exceed their scope of practice.
  • Prescribe or advise by telephone only when you have reviewed the patient’s allergies, medications, and medical and surgical history. If providing new instructions to the patient, such as changing a medication dosage, ensure understanding by asking the patient to repeat back the instructions to you. Document the patient’s understanding in the medical or dental record. For more information on this topic, read our article Rx for Patient Safety: Use Ask Me 3 to Improve Patient Engagement and Communication.
  • Accept a third party’s description of a medical or dental condition only when you have confidence in that person’s competence to describe what he or she sees. If descriptions are unclear, the patient may require an office visit.
  • Make prompt referrals if the patient’s call concerns a medical or dental problem that is outside your expertise. Proactively track the consultation and expected report, and follow up with the referred provider and patient.
  • Confirm that pharmacists understand all dosages and instructions for drug prescriptions given by telephone. Spell out any similar drug names and use individual numbers for dosages, such as “five zero” for 50. Include the reason for the use of the drug. Insist that pharmacists repeat information back to you. Do the same with facility personnel who take your telephone orders. A safer approach is to use electronic prescribing or fax the medication order.
  • Verify and document the patient’s adherence with telephone advice through a follow-up contact to ensure continuity of care.

Mitigate Risk During Provider Cross-Coverage

When you will be away from your own practice or covering for another provider, these additional strategies can help you avoid problems:

  • Implement a communication process between cross-coverage providers. In several instances, a covering provider has been held completely responsible for damages resulting from a telephone misdiagnosis while the original provider was exonerated.
  • Give a brief status report on your acute patients with notice of any anticipated patient calls when handing off care.
  • Document all calls in the patient record. Brief the primary provider on all calls during your coverage period.
  • Prescribe only the amount of medication the patient requires during the period you are covering for another provider. Pain medications and narcotics should be refilled or ordered only in small amounts and per state regulations.

Document Thoroughly to Mitigate Risk

Disagreements about what was said during telephone conversations can be a major problem in professional malpractice cases. Follow these documentation processes to mitigate this risk:

  • Document all patient telephone conversations in the medical or dental record—including those received and returned after hours. Include the date and time of each contact and when follow-up is completed.
  • Record all details immediately about the information you received, what you advised, and the orders you gave. This action is especially important when a telephone call occurs after office hours or on a weekend.
  • Implement an office process for calls received during office hours. Office staff should tell the caller when the provider is most likely to return the call. Include tracking and follow-up to ensure that the caller’s questions and problems are resolved and documented.
  • Document a patient’s hospital medical record with telephone conversations about the hospitalized patient—including any conversations with nurses or other providers.

Effective telephone communication and its documentation are vitally important in preventing and defending litigation.

For further assistance, contact the Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management at (800) 421-2368 or by email.

Physician Self-Care Is Mission-Critical Today

/in /by

There’s no question COVID-19 has up-leveled physician stress and burnout — which you know all too well was already a challenge for medical professionals. Quarantines. Increased patient loads. Staff absences and shortages. Fear of exposure. Supply anxiety. New PPE protocols. Vaccinations and vaccination status concerns. Decreased practice revenue and increased costs. Patient fear. Misinformation. Telehealth visits and their related technology demands. Delayed patient health screenings and treatment.

The list goes on. And that’s all on top of issues already facing physicians and PAs every day before the pandemic.

We’ve all felt it.  We’ve all worried about this.  And we will all need to come together to approach and help solve these issues!

The results from the American Medical Association’s 2020-21 “Coping with COVID-19 for Caregivers Survey” paint a troubling picture for physicians, nurses and other medical professionals:

  • 6 out of 10 reported high fear of COVID-19 exposure for themselves and their families
  • 50% reported symptoms of burnout — including 16% who indicated their symptoms were persistent
  • Over 3 in 10 reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression as a result of COVID-19

While nearly half of the survey respondents indicated being part of the COVID-19 response has increased their sense of meaning and purpose, that bright spot just isn’t enough to counterbalance the stress, anxiety, and increasingly real risk of burnout faced by physicians, PAs, and other members of the healthcare team.

So, what’s the solution? One part of reducing the impacts of COVID-19 stress and anxiety is self-care, and right now it’s mission-critical for us and other healthcare professionals.  Look into this today!

What is Self-care?

Self-care is the modern buzzword encompassing both ongoing and episodic self-help, wellness and coping mechanisms that empower you to live a healthier, more productive life.

The World Health Organization defines self-care as a broad concept, specifically “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.”

What does self-care mean for physicians and PAs? It means taking care of yourself so you can take care of others. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) likens self-care to putting an in-flight oxygen mask on yourself first, so you can then help others.

Let’s look at how you can put self-care into practice.

Self-care for Physicians and PAs

How can you address your self-care needs?

One great place to start is with MSV’s own confidential clinician well-being program, SafeHavenTM, which is focused on addressing and maintaining the mental health and well-being of clinicians. Its customized services for healthcare professionals include 24/7 professional support, time-of-need counseling, and peer coaching for everything from stress and burnout to workplace anxiety to developing healthy habits.

You can also try stress first aid for medical professionals. It’s the framework for identifying stress injury — including irritability, decreased impulse control and withdrawal from friends and family — removing a stressor, preventing further harm, and promoting recovery.

In fact, the AMA recently published an entire article focused on how physicians can cope with COVID-19: “With pandemic’s end not in sight, 8 ways to deal with the stress” that’s well worth checking out.

Taking time for yourself is another top recommendation for physician and PA self-care, especially now during the pandemic. It can include everything from using your vacation days to practicing yoga to getting in touch with your creative side through art or music. This can feel like an impossible task with our current workloads, but it is so critical that we all find a way, even if it’s just for 5 minutes a day.  Schedule this time if it helps you.  Don’t schedule it if that feels more spontaneous.  But make yourself accountable.  Recruit friends and family to let you know how you are doing at finding time for yourself!

Finally, the American Psychological Association recommends several self-care strategies for healthcare providers during COVID-19, including maintaining good health habits in areas like diet and sleep, getting regular aerobic exercise, and just taking the time to breathe — literally by pausing to take deep breaths several times a day.

Whether you add breathing, exercise and other healthy habits to your daily routines, or you seek assistance from professional resources that can help you mitigate your stress and anxiety, the important thing is to take action now.

There is strength in deciding to care for yourself.  It’s the right thing to do for yourself, those you love and your own patients.  It is the greatest gift you give others.

Art P. Saavedra, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAD
UVA School of Medicine
Chief of Population Health & Health Policy

Cancer Screenings Are More Important Now Than Ever

/in /by

Do you know when your patients had their last recommended cancer screenings?

At its outset, the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately resulted in the delay of many scheduled health procedures — including cancer screenings. While a recent Dana Farber Cancer Institute study reported cancer screenings rebounded sharply in late 2020 it also indicated racial disparities in the return to screenings, particularly with mammography and with Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients. It’s also worth noting colonoscopy screenings did not return to pre-pandemic levels, although that could result from the use of home-based methods.

Missed or delayed screenings can, of course, lead to delayed diagnoses as well as adverse oncologic outcomes and increased mortality rates. The Dana Farber Cancer Institute study, which was released in July 2021, suggests that, although the late 2020 rebound of screenings helped make up for some “missed” screenings from earlier in the pandemic, a significant number of cancers still remain undiagnosed — making promotion of screenings more important now than ever.

As we know, for patients, there are two key messages to communicate to help get them back on track with their recommended screenings:

  1. Emphasizing the positive impact early detection and treatment can have on their long-term health. Simply put, early detection leads to the likelihood the cancer will be easier to treat and they will be less likely to die.
  2. Reassuring them of COVID-19 safety protocols that will help protect them in a healthcare setting.

Breast Cancer Screenings

Considering October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to discuss the importance of breast cancer screenings with your patients. Check in with them about when they had their last mammogram, or whether now is the time to get started with annual screenings based on their age or history.

As a helpful reminder, the American Cancer Society’s current guidelines for breast cancer screenings are as follows:

  • Age 40–44: Women have the option to start annual mammography screenings
  • Age 45–54: Women should get an annual mammogram
  • Age 55+: Women may choose annual mammograms or go every other year

Due to family history or genetic tendencies, some women with a higher-than-average risk of breast cancer may need to start annual mammography screenings at an earlier age or should be screened with MRIs in combination with mammograms.

Colon and Rectal Cancer and Polyps

It’s all too easy for patients to put off colonoscopy screenings. The idea just makes people uncomfortable. Talk to your patients about whether a stool-based test may be an alternative to colonoscopy — or why it’s not. The critical thing is to help your patients understand why screening is important.

The American Cancer Society’s current guidelines for colon and rectal cancer and polyps screenings are as follows:

  • Age 45–75: Patients should get regular screenings
  • Age 76–85: Screenings are optional based on health and screening history
  • Age 85+: Screenings are no longer recommended

Patients with a higher-than-average risk of these cancers may require screening at an earlier age.

Additional Cancer Screenings

Based on age, gender, genetics, and history, your patients may need regular screenings for other cancers as well, including:

For your convenience, you can click on the links above to get information about screening guidelines for each so you can best inform your patients about what’s recommended to help keep them healthy today and tomorrow.

Robert Winn, MD
Internal Medicine
Richmond, VA

Why Online Medical Marketing is a Must-Have

/in /by

Thanks to the digital revolution, word-of-mouth referrals and directory listings are no longer enough to bring in new patients. More and more, consumers are doing it all online, and this trend shows no sign of stopping – as COVID-19 accelerated the drive to digital.

The modern consumer expects to do everything online, and there is heavy competition for their attention. For this reason, the modern medical practice must be proactive in meeting people where they are: online. Strategic digital marketing increases the chances of introducing your practice to prospective patients while they are looking for answers and to book services.

Medical Advantage and iHealthSpot recently joined forces to provide a powerful digital marketing package with everything the modern practice needs to remain competitive and bring in new patients. In this article, we’ll introduce five essential components of an effective digital marketing strategy.

Be Found When People Search Through SEO Implementation

When considering medical care, over 70% of consumers use a search engine. Consider that when someone is searching for solutions to a problem, it is highly likely that they are ready to do something about it. When people are searching, SEO tactics help your practice be presented as a solution.

When anyone conducts a search on Google, they are presented with a results page. This page displays various sections of media including links to the most relevant content. When a website earns placement on the first page of Google results rather than pays for it (PPC) this is called organic search.

Google rewards websites with quality content and high relevance with high rankings – the pursuit of this merit is known as search engine optimization (SEO). The goal of SEO is to make your page show up toward the top of an organic google search – where your competitors are. SEO is essential but also complex, so it’s best to partner with experts who understand how to best position your web properties for the greatest chance of success in organic search.

Increase Search Visibility with PPC Campaigns

PPC (or Pay Per Click) is the Google Ads bidding space and is yet another opportunity to be found in search. Advertisers earn preference from Google based on the quality of their ads (relevance to user search) and what maximum spend is set (CPC).

Just be aware that ad campaigns for medical entities must be carefully communicated, lest they violate any healthcare regulations. With that said, some practices cannot afford to not have PPC in their budget because the competition lures away too many leads through PPC campaigns. PPC is a full-time effort, so when you recruit help to manage your campaigns, you need experts who are skilled at getting the most for your ad spend.

Take Control of the Conversation with Reputation Management

Around 70% of prospective patients read patient reviews as a first step in finding a new provider. When it comes to your online reputation, it pays to be proactive and pursue any recourse for remediation.

No establishment can control what is said about it online, but this doesn’t mean practice managers should be passive about what is being said. By moderating what is said about your practice online, you mitigate the influential power of negative reviews. Your practice should be represented fairly, with only legitimate reviews displayed and an overwhelming number of positive reviews.

When you’re running a medical practice, you don’t have time to be reading every review posted and responding to every patient complaint. A team of review platform moderators dedicated to managing your reputation takes proactive measures while you give full attention to your operations and to encourage satisfied patients to leave positive reviews.

Leverage Social Media Tools for Brand Building and Laser-Focused Target Marketing

We think of social media as being all about entertainment, but these platforms are built for business advertising. According to Statista, Facebook generated close to 84.2 billion U.S. dollars in ad revenues in 2020. But a medical practice is not a typical business, so why bother with social media?

Why a medical practice should have active social media campaigns:

  • PR value – With your social media presence, you have control over how your brand is presented to the public. Business page visitors will become acquainted with who you are, learn more about what you do, discover what differentiates your practice, and see the quality of your public outreach.
  • Social media platforms are search engines – Like Google, Facebook provides a search bar for users to enter what they are looking for and specify a location when they seek goods and services.
  • Patient engagement opportunity – Patients can post a check-in on Facebook or tag your practice in a praise post which is effectively influencer marketing. We recommend encouraging your patients to connect with your practice’s social media channels by posting promotional signage in the waiting areas, exam rooms, restrooms, etc.
  • Sophisticated ad targeting – Facebook has comprehensive knowledge of each user including their demographics, specific interests, search history, website visits, and more. This means you can be extremely specific in who you market to. For example, run a sports physical campaign targeted only to parents of middle school students who are in groups or like pages about competitive sports in your local community.

With the assistance of healthcare social media marketing experts, a team dedicated to crafting social media marketing copy and assisting with laser-focused campaigns can help your practice reach its revenue goals.

Get the Most of Online Medical Marketing by Tracking ROI

The big question is – are you gaining enough leads and conversions to make the marketing spend worth it?  No one should continue pouring money into marketing activities that are not attracting and converting qualified leads. With any marketing budget, you should know exactly what you are gaining from your investment. Ideally, marketing should pay for itself.

If one or more aspects of your marketing plan are not generating leads, something needs to change. A marketing plan must be organized. Every digital marketing service used and campaign executed must be accounted for, so you don’t lose track of expenditures and end up wasting resources.

Better yet, partner with an all-in-one medical marketing service. Our clients are given full transparency and input into marketing activities for their practice.

Get the All-In-One Online Medical Marketing Package

Every facet of online marketing strategy is best handled by a professional who gives their full attention and expertise to a specialty. It would take months to recruit all the talent needed to run comprehensive digital marketing operations – but the good news is you don’t have to.

With our monthly marketing services — including search engine optimization, digital advertising, online reputation management, social media marketing and more — our clients have seen tangible results that boost online presence, increase patient and visit volume, and improve ROI for their medical practice marketing. Our clients have reported:

  • 47% boost in website visits.
  • 58% increase in appointment requests.
  • 160% gain in online reviews.
  • 2,645% growth in Facebook followers.

To find out how well your digital presence is performing, fill out our FREE Website Analysis. Those who submit an analysis will hear from a Medical Advantage Practice Marketing consultant to discuss the results and how Medical Advantage Practice Marketing can help you expand your patient population!

Plus as an MSV member you can take advantage of NO UPFRONT FEES and YOUR FIRST MONTH FREE on any of Medical Advantage’s Practice Marketing Packages!

Back to School with COVID-19

/in /by

Virginia’s students head back to school during COVID-19 for the second year in a row. Variants like delta, lambda, and now mu continue making news. With mask protocols in place for students and vaccine availability evolving for children, it’s a lot for parents and students to keep up with.

This blog is for you to share with your pediatric patients and their families to help them navigate the current COVID-19 landscape.

COVID-19 VACCINE

VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing serious outcomes for those who get sick with the virus, including severe disease, hospitalization, and even death.

AGES 12 & UP: The CDC recommends all children ages 12 and older get the COVID-19 vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also recommends all children ages 12 and older without contraindications get the COVID-19 vaccine. In mid-August, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for all people ages 16 and up. Its brand name is now COMIRNATY. Children ages 12 to 15 may still be vaccinated under the FDA’s emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are currently restricted to ages 18 and older under the FDA’s emergency use authorization.

UNDER AGE 12: The AAP recommends against giving the COVID-19 vaccine to children under age 12 until it is authorized by the FDA. No COVID-19 vaccine has currently been FDA approved for use in children under age 12. Clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine use in children under age 12 are ongoing, with the goal of securing the FDA’s emergency use authorization and eventually full approval. Pfizer is reporting it expects to complete studies on children ages 5 to 11 in September, and studies on children up to age 4 shortly afterward. Moderna’s clinical trial data for COVID-19 vaccine use in children is tracking for late fall or early winter. And Johnson & Johnson will begin clinical trials on children ages 12-17 this fall, followed by trials for ages 2 to 11. After the FDA receives clinical trial data, it could take as long as 4 to 6 months to review.

COVID-19 VACCINE WITH ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS: According to the AAP and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the COVID-19 vaccine may be given along with a child’s routine immunizations including the flu vaccine.

COVID-19 SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

MASKS INDOORS & ON TRANSPORTATION: Due to the COVID-19 delta variant, the CDC is currently recommending universal indoor masking for all students age 2 and older, in addition to staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are also recommended during school transportation, whether public transportation or on school buses.

MASKS OUTDOORS: Masks should be worn by unvaccinated children and adults when in crowded settings or during activities with prolonged close contact with others. Fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings if they or someone in their household is immunocompromised.

SOCIAL DISTANCING: Current CDC guidelines recommend schools maintain 3 feet of distance between students in classrooms to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. If the 3-foot minimum is not possible, layering other prevention strategies such as screening testing and improving ventilation is advised. A distance of 6 feet is recommended between students and teachers or other school staff.  Social distancing should be maximized, ideally 6 feet or more, when masks are taken off during lunch. Strategies should be employed to minimize the time with the mask off.

HANDWASHING

BENEFITS: Regular handwashing with soap and water continues to be important in keeping children safe from COVID-19 at school and at home — and it protects against other germs as well.

TECHNIQUE: Handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is recommended by the CDC, and especially in these situations that particularly apply to kids: after being in a public place, after blowing your nose, after coughing or sneezing, before eating or preparing food, before touching your face, after handling your mask, and after using the restroom.

HAND SANITIZER OPTION: Soap and water is the preferred handwashing technique, according to the CDC. If soap and water are not readily available, the CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. All surfaces of the hands should be covered with the sanitizer and rubbed until dry. Children under age 6 should use hand sanitizer only with adult supervision.

To learn more about vaccine myths such as “I don’t need the vaccine if I already had COVID-19” or “The COVID-19 vaccine will disrupt puberty,” see our August 16, 2021 blog, Busting Common COVID-19 Myths.

Michael Martin, MD FAAP
Pediatrician
President, Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Patient Engagement: 7 Simple Strategies to Implement Now

/in /by

Patient engagement strategies are proactive measures taken to enhance what is known as patient activation levels. These strategies include patient education, shared decision-making, encouraging patients to take initiative to learn, patients taking ownership in their care, and monitoring patient activation levels.

Patient activation measurement (also referred to as PAM) is an assessment of a patient’s knowledge, skill, and the level of confidence they have in managing their own healthcare. Through this measurement, providers better understand the patient behaviors, motivators, and attitudes at play in their care in addition to the related outcomes.

The primary benefits of patient engagement and patient activation are:

  1. Gain payment adjustments through Value-Based Care/MIPS – Interventions that come about from better patient engagement have a positive impact on your bottom line.
  2. Nurture patient lifetime value and loyalty – Investment in patient retention secures solid and reliable revenue from customer lifetime value (CLV).
  3. Optimize staff workflow – When more patients are engaged, this frees up time for the staff. Patient portal self-service reduces telephone communication demand on PSRs, nurses, etc.
  4. Improve provider reputation – When patient engagement leads to patient satisfaction, patients are more likely to recommend a care provider. Also, pursuing patient feedback is an instrumental part of a patient engagement playbook.
  5. Increase quality of care – Engaged patients fare better than those who are not involved in their care. Patients who do not participate in their own health management incur up to 21% higher healthcare costs than those who are more engaged. More success stories to refer to is a meaningful key performance indicator.

As we emerge from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients are looking to resume care after an extended period of disruption. This presents the perfect opportunity to revisit your patient engagement blueprint while encouraging patients to get back on track with routine care. Our expert consultants have gathered strategies you can implement today to improve patient engagement.

7 Patient Engagement Strategies You Can Implement Now

Promote the Patient Portal at Every Opportunity

While it has been estimated that 90% of providers are equipped with a patient portal, the ONC reported that only 26% of patients were actively using their portal. So, it’s likely that most practices have room for improvement in this area. With portal-using patients being 2.6 times more likely to remain patients, promoting portal engagement is one way to nurture patient retention.

According to an Accenture survey, 68% of patients say they are more likely to choose medical providers who extend the ability to book, change, or cancel appointments online. To bridge the gap between low participation and the willingness indicated in this survey, a practice should consider more aggressive efforts.

The ONC also found that 63% of patients accessed their medical record online when encouraged to do so versus only 38% who did so without being prompted. This indicates that a mere suggestion to use the patient portal has an impact on participation.

To get more patients to use the portal, be persistent, consistent, and repetitive with mentions of the portal. Have all staff use the portal so they understand it from a user perspective and will better assist patients in learning how to use it. Remind patients of how convenient the portal is by mentioning all they can do online: schedule appointments, get lab results, request prescription refills, review visit notes, etc.

Utilize Emails and Text Messages to Encourage Use of the Patient Portal

Per the Accenture survey mentioned earlier, 70% of patients said they are inclined to choose a provider who will send emails or text messages when they are due for a return visit. It has also been reported in survey results that over half of the respondents expect text messages, voice mails, or email reminders from a medical practice reminding them to schedule an appointment or take medications.

If your practice already has text messaging and email capability for patient communication, encourage more patients to opt-in to this service and consider communicating with them through their preferred channel. Find ways to expand this service so that your patients hear from you more often. Email and text messages are a way to request feedback from patients via surveys and online reviews.

Email lists are perfect for sending out newsletters, invitations to upcoming educational events, seasonal reminders (back-to-school physicals, flu shots, etc.), and to encourage patient portal use.

Make Patient Engagement a Team Effort

All interactions between a medical practice and patients have an impact. For example, ONC reports that patients were many times more likely to sign up for the patient portal when presented with the opportunity to do so in person. The more guidance and encouragement patients receive from the practice team, the more empowered they are to get involved in their own care.

Medical practices should consider holding weekly team meetings and staff training for ongoing collaboration and coaching for patient engagement objectives. Foster a patient engagement mission by exploring ways to make it fun for staff, competitive gamification, employee performance review inclusion, and rewarding your team when goals are reached.

Medical Advantage Managing Consultant and patient engagement expert Sarah Saj shares that better patient engagement begins with educating your team, “making sure that the staff understands why they are doing this outreach to the patients.” With all hands on deck for patient engagement strategy implementation, it won’t be long before all patients are well aware of their opportunities to be more active in their healthcare.

Capitalize on Telehealth to Improve Patient Engagement

After seeing a surge of popularity in 2020, the momentum for telehealth shows no signs of slowing. 83% of patients surveyed said they would continue with telemedicine after COVID-19 and 48% of physicians report that they currently utilize telemedicine to treat patients.

As more providers and patients turned to telehealth during the height of the pandemic, our healthcare system embraced the alternative to in-person visits – the convenience of the remote telehealth appointment. What’s more, some behavioral health patients have too much anxiety when going to a mental health maintenance appointment and fare better when they can do this remotely instead.

Telehealth is an opportunity to better serve patients, so consider offering this solution whenever feasible as it helps high-risk patients or those with transportation issues to better engage.

Provide Guidance Through Education Resources

It has been reported that 73% of consumers use the internet to search for healthcare information, and Google reports that 1 in 20 queries are health related. There lies an opportunity to support and encourage knowledge-hungry patients by providing them with credible and readily accessible resources via articles, webinars, newsletters, workshops, and more.

Medical Advantage recently joined forces with iHealthSpot to create a Practice Marketing solution that further promotes patient engagement through patient education libraries available to our clients on their medical websites.

83% of seekers are skeptical of medical information they read on social media. By leveraging social media channels, you can be the voice of reason and establish authority by dispelling myths and misinformation surrounding trending health topics.

Encourage Patient Engagement Through Personal Goal Inclusion

Becker’s Hospital Review reports that patients are more likely to stick to a care or treatment plan if they are working toward a personal goal. During encounters with patients, ask open-ended questions to encourage a dialog about their struggles and desires.

Whenever possible, frame a treatment plan around their individual goals. Motivation rooted in the aspirations and emotions of the patient both nurtures and incentivizes patient engagement.

Refine Communication Methods for Better Patient Experience

Becker’s Hospital Review also reported that bedside manner matters greatly to patients. The better a clinician is at communicating with patients, the more trust they establish so patients feel better supported in their healthcare goals. Make a point to recruit team members who are committed to compassionate communication.

Two ways to achieve a better patient experience are the inclusion of scribes and a continuous refinement of communication tactics. Augmedix is a virtual scribe service that frees clinicians to be more present with patients as a remote scribe takes all the notes for them. On the other hand, consider communication improvements such as behavioral interviewing or other healthcare communication strategies that reinforce a patient’s care matters greatly.

Recap: 7 Simple Patient Engagement Strategies

  1. Consistently promote the portal: The patient portal is your best tool in getting patients to take ownership of their healthcare. Promote it as much as possible.
  2. Expand usage of electronic communication channels: Leverage text messaging and email to keep the lines of communication active with your patients.
  3. All hands on deck: The drive for patient engagement begins with better staff training – make everyone a stakeholder in this effort.
  4. Embrace telehealth: Telemedicine is here to stay, so use it whenever it keeps patients engaged.
  5. Be the go-to for information: Your patients will encounter dubious claims on the internet, so arm them with credible information.
  6. Consider the patient’s personal goals: Set your patients up for success by aligning their treatment plan with their own personal goals.
  7. Continuous communication improvement: Commit to a patient engagement plan that includes ongoing adoption of communication improvements.

Medical Advantage Can Help Keep Your Patients Engaged

It’s no secret that patient engagement is a pathway to healthcare success and helps encourage patient retention and loyalty. Because Medical Advantage is committed to helping practice managers and clinicians deliver efficient high-quality healthcare, we offer several areas of support for your patient engagement efforts:

  • Healthcare Consulting: We optimize your Value-Based Care operations.
  • Telehealth Consulting: We enable you to keep pace with the telemedicine revolution.
  • Care Management and RPM: We improve engagement and outcomes for high-risk patient populations.
  • Practice Marketing: We create engaging medical websites that make the portal easy to access, helps you attract new patients, and help you to retain and educate patients through a patient education library and regular social media posts.

Set up a consultation today with MSV’s partner, Medical Advantage, to explore all your patient engagement opportunities!

Busting Common COVID-19 Vaccine Myths

/in /by

The topic of COVID-19 vaccination is continuously present in today’s daily news cycle. Our busy primary care office has incorporated discussion of vaccine availability and safety into almost every recent office visit. Much of our time has been spent combatting confusion and misinformation. We have successfully calmed many of our patient’s anxieties and fears and have acted as a trusted source of information by conveying scientifically valid information.

News about the delta variant continues to increase focus on vaccines. Nationwide, 50% of residents are fully vaccinated and more than 70% of adults have received at least one dose, yet the U.S. now averages 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day. In fact, COVID-19 was recently called “a pandemic of the unvaccinated” by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To help you help your patients, we’ve put together a list of several common myths about the COVID-19 vaccine.

MYTH: I DON’T NEED THE VACCINE IF I ALREADY HAD COVID-19.

If you have recovered from COVID-19, you may still benefit from getting the vaccine, even though you likely developed a natural immunity to that variant as a result. Re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, and the vaccine may lessen the severity if you get sick with COVID-19 again. Scientists are also not yet sure how long natural immunity lasts, so the vaccine will protect you if that natural immunity lapses. Some scientists also believe you will have better protection from re-infection, regardless of variant, with the vaccine versus natural immunity.

If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

If you have a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) or children (MIS-C) you should consider delaying vaccination until you have recovered from being sick and for 90 days after the date of your diagnosis of MIS-A or MIS-C.

MYTH: THE COVID-19 VACCINE WILL MAKE ME SICK WITH COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick because none of the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the U.S. contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine can cause side effects — like fever, headache, and tiredness which are normal signs your body is building protection against the virus, and should go away within a few days.

MYTH: I CAN’T SPREAD THE DELTA VARIANT IF I HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

Even if you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, you can get sick with the delta variant and are able to spread it to others if you are symptomatic. Fully vaccinated people who get sick with the delta variant are likely infectious for less time than unvaccinated people, meaning they can spread it for less time. There is still not enough data to determine whether fully vaccinated people who have an asymptomatic infection with the delta variant can spread it.

MYTH: THE VACCINE WON’T PROTECT ME FROM THE DELTA VARIANT.

Although currently available COVID-19 vaccines are slightly less effective against emerging COVID-19 variants, they still appear to protect you against getting a severe case of COVID-19.

MYTH: I CAN’T GET THE VACCINE IF I WANT TO GET PREGNANT.

Whether you’re trying to become pregnant now or want to someday, you may get the COVID-19 vaccine. There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes problems with pregnancy, including the with development of the placenta or with male or female fertility. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant individuals and all individuals who may consider future pregnancy be vaccinated with any of the currently available vaccines.

However, pregnant and post-partum people less than 50 years old should be aware of the rare risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after receipt of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine.

MYTH: I CAN’T GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE IF I’M BREASTFEEDING.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that lactating people be vaccinated with any of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines. If you have been vaccinated and you are breastfeeding, you may pass antibodies through your breast milk that may help protect your infant from COVID-19.

However, lactating people less than 50 years old should be aware of the rare risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after receiving the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine.

MYTH: THE COVID-19 VACCINE WILL DISRUPT PUBERTY.

There is no evidence the COVID-19 vaccine affects puberty.

MYTH: I CAN’T GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE IF I HAVE ALLERGIES THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO VACCINES OR INJECTIBLE MEDICATIONS — LIKE FOOD ALLERGIES.

If you have a history of severe allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injectable medications — such as food, pet, venom, environmental, or latex — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you get the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have a history of allergies to oral medications, or a family history of severe allergic reactions, the CDC also recommends you get vaccinated.

See Other COVID-19 Myths and Facts Here

Written By:

Sterling N. Ransone, Jr., MD, FAAFP
Family Physician

1752 Financial Presents: Your Guide to Disability Insurance for Physicians

/in /by

 

For anyone who earns an income and desires financial wellness, disability insurance is vital. For physicians, disability insurance is also a must-have. As a physician, it can be time-consuming, overwhelming, and confusing to find the right disability insurance policy for your situation.

In this post, you will learn the basics of disability insurance, why it’s so important for physicians, what to look for, and how to get your own physician disability insurance policy. This post will help guide you towards getting the right disability insurance policy with confidence.

But before we go deeper, let’s quickly run through the meaning of disability insurance and how it applies to physicians to bring newer doctors up to speed.

Sounds good, right?

Let’s get started.

Why Do Physicians Need Disability Insurance?

Disability insurance is an insurance policy that pays you an income when you are not able to perform your occupational duties in the event of an injury or illness.

The Social Security Administration has asserted that more than 25% of today’s American 20-year old’s will become disabled before age 67, and accidents and illnesses can happen to anybody. As a physician, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What happens if you are unable to perform your medical duties?
  • What does your income pay for and who relies on it?
  • How would the loss of your income affect your lifestyle?

Dentists, surgeons, and other doctors aren’t immune to illness or injury, and disability insurance protects your ability to earn an income. Many disabling situations are not covered by worker’s compensation and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are substantially less than an individual policy. These types of benefits would not cater to a physician’s income needs and lifestyle.

Many physicians are offered a group disability insurance policy through their employer. Group policies are a great start, but benefits are often limited, usually taxed, and don’t cover enough income to cover your monthly expenses. Group policies often aren’t transferable, so you lose your benefits if you change employers. An individual policy provides higher benefit amounts that stay with you through job changes, and additional riders that protect more of your hard-earned income.

An illness or bad accident could result in significant financial hardship. If your ability to work is taken away, the right disability insurance policy can replace some of your lost income.

What Does It Cover?

Disability insurance can pay for things like your mortgage, rent, car payment, groceries, student loans, or anything else while you’re out of work. It helps you maintain your lifestyle when you are not getting a paycheck.

According to the Council for Disability Awareness, the most common long-term disability insurance claims are for:

  1. Musculoskeletal disorders affecting the back and spine, knees, hips, shoulders, and other parts of the body (29%)
  2. Cancer (15%)
  3. Pregnancy (9.4%)
  4. Mental health issues including depression and anxiety (9.1%)
  5. Injuries such as fractures, sprains, and strains of muscles and ligaments (9%)

As you can see, oftentimes it isn’t a tragic accident that stops someone from working. Even the most careful doctors could lose their ability to earn an income due to an underlying condition.

So, what does a disability insurance policy for doctors look like? Generally, a physician’s disability insurance policies should feature:

  • A true own-occupation definition, you get your money even if working in another specialty
  • High monthly benefits, up to 60-70% of your income so you don’t have to change your lifestyle if you can’t work
  • Portable benefits, coverage that goes with you if you change employers

Other common features can include options for partial or total disability, flexible waiting periods, coverage up to age 70, and lump sum benefits.

How Much Does Physician Disability Insurance Cost?

Physicians should expect to pay between 1% and 5% of their gross income on an individual disability insurance policy. Policy premiums increase as you age, so getting a policy when you are young or in residency is good practice to lock in those lower premiums.

Some other items that affect disability insurance cost are:

  • Riders: Additional benefits can be added to an insurance policy, like a Future Increase Option, Cost of Living Adjustment, or Student Loan Rider.
  • Gender: Women generally pay slightly more than men, due to the higher chance of going on claim and longer life expectancy.
  • Specialty: Every medical specialty is coded into an “occupation class” that has its own premium rate based on risk level.

How To Get A Disability Insurance Policy

Step 1: Find an agent

The first step to finding the right physician disability insurance policy is finding a licensed insurance agent. Working with a licensed agent helps the underwriting process move along more quickly, as they can act as a liaison between you and the company and answer any important questions. They will communicate with the insurance company to make sure you’re getting the correct rates and be able to negotiate around any potential exclusions to your policy.

There are two types of disability insurance agents to choose from – independent and captive agents. While independent agents are usually contracted with several insurers, captive agents work with one insurance company. Working with an independent agent gives you the ability to compare policy rates across multiple companies to ensure you’re getting the best offer.

Before enlisting the services of an independent agent, do some research to avoid wasting your time and money. Seek referrals from people you trust, your medical association, and set up an initial conversation with the agent to talk about your needs.

Step 2: The application

After comparing quotes with your agent, the next thing to do is to kick-start the application process. Most applications can be completed online, but paper options are also available for those who prefer. The application form gathers your contact, demographic, and employment information. After completing the form, your agent will review it with you, then submit it to the insurance company.

You will attach some supporting documents like your proof of income or employment. Some insurance companies request driving records and medical records. You may have to fill out a record release form, but the insurance company will cover all and any costs associated with requesting those records.

Step 3: The interview and exam

Most insurance companies require an interview to go over your medical history. This interview generally takes place over the phone, but some carriers have started doing an online questionnaire.

Depending on your age and benefits applied for, the insurance company can request a mini-medical exam to assess your health. During the exam, a nurse will check your height, weight, vitals, and take a blood and urine sample. This exam is also paid for by the insurance company, and can be completed at your home or place of work. The process should not take more than 45 minutes.

Step 4: The underwriting

The insurance company will review your application, records, interview and exam results, and financial information to underwrite your case. The underwriter’s goal is to assess your risk of filing a claim, so they will be the ones deciding if your application is approved or if any exclusions apply. Your insurance agent will keep you updated about any questions the underwriters may have or any outstanding requirements.

Step 5: The offer

After determining your risk, you’ll receive your disability insurance policy offer. You and your agent should review the offer together to go over your proposed benefits and any changes from your quoted offer.

Once you accept the offer, the company will issue your policy, you’ll sign the delivery receipts and pay your first premium, then your policy is active! The timing of the process varies, but averages around 4 – 6 weeks.

From here, you’ll continue paying your insurance premiums on the agreed upon schedule with peace of mind that you and your family are protected in the event of an illness or injury.

Disability Insurance Awareness Month

Each May is designated as Disability Insurance Awareness Month (DIAM). DIAM is championed to raise awareness about the benefits of income protection. Like we earlier mentioned, without disability insurance, an illness, injury, or a chronic condition could result in financial hardship. Even a temporary illness can push you towards debt or harm the nest-egg you’ve built for yourself, so protecting your income is important.

If you are ready to talk about disability insurance with a reputable agent, we’ve got you covered. As Disability Insurance Awareness Month wraps up, learn more about the policies that are available to you. We offer own-occupation policies with discounts up to 20%, exclusive to physicians. Get your quote today, or reach out for questions or a no-cost review of your current policy.

The SafeHaven™ Program Welcomes its First Primary Care Group, Central Virginia Family Physicians

/in /by

Central Virginia Family Physicians (CVFP) fully launches SafeHaven™, MSV’s clinician well being program.

To support the needs of healthcare workers struggling with stress, burnout and the effects of COVID-19, the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) conceived and manages, SafeHaven™, which is implemented in partnership with VITAL WorkLife. CVFP is the first group of family physicians to begin offering this program to their providers.

SafeHaven™ was created by the passage of the Virginia legislation, which is the first of its kind in the nation, signed in March 2020. During the 2021 Virginia General Assembly Session legislation was passed to include additional provider groups to the SafeHaven™ protections including nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and medical, PA, nursing and pharmacy students. The law allows healthcare providers to seek professional support to address career fatigue, burnout and behavioral health concerns with confidentiality and civil protections.

“The SafeHaven™ protections are something that we as clinicians have never been offered before”, said Tom Eppes, MD, family medicine physician at CVFP. “This program will allow us to continue the work we love, but also acknowledges that even healthcare providers need someone to care for them.”

Through SafeHaven™, CVFP’s providers have gained access to healthcare specific resources from VITAL WorkLife. The resources offered include VITAL WorkLife’s Clinician Well Being Resources solution, a comprehensive set of resources that includes peer coaching, elite concierge services and expanded behavioral health resources to promote work/life balance and well being for physicians, PAs and their families.

“The SafeHaven™ program really makes a difference in the lives of our physicians and healthcare providers” said Shawn Crawford, CEO at CVFP. “Being the first group to offer this program to our primary care providers is extremely exciting and I think highlights the need for this program across all medical specialties.”

SafeHaven™ is pleased to welcome CVFP as its first primary care group and looks forward to building a strong and successful partnership.

Central Virginia Family Physicians
434|534-6726
Medical Society of Virginia
804|377-1042
VITAL WorkLife
877|731-3949