Southern Medical Association

EMR Use Among Rural/Urban Alabama Family Medicine Physicians

Jennifer Price — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:59:21 +0000

This podcast was recorded by Melanie Tucker, PhD, as a supplement to the February 2012 Southern Medical Journal article she co-authored, “EMR Use Among Rural and Urban Alabama Family Medicine Physicians”. To read the article, please visit: http://journals.lww.com/smajournalonline/Fulltext/2012/02000/EMR_Use_Among_Rural_and_Urban_Alabama_Family.4.aspx.

Reference: Tucker MT, Higginbotham, JC, Parton JM. EMR Use Among Rural and Urban Alabama Family Medicine Physicians. South Med J. 2012;105:72-7.

SMA President-Elect Gary Delaney, MD, Honored by SCMA

Jennifer Price — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:31:12 +0000

The Southern Medical Association (SMA) would like to congratulate SMA President-Elect Gary Delaney, MD, for his year of service as the 150^th President of the South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA). Dr. Delaney recently completed his SCMA presidential term and was honored in the April 2012 issue of The Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association, with a wonderful tribute to him and his wife, Gail, a Past President of the SMA Alliance, by SCMA Chairman of the Board H. Tim Pearce, MD. The April 2012 issue with Dr. Pearce’s tribute may be found at http://www.pubman.net/imags/scma0412/pageflip.html.

Congratulations, Dr. Delaney!

May is National Trauma Awareness Month

Vicki Baugh — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:47:46 +0000

The 2012 campaign is “Decide to Drive: Arrive Alive! ” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posts latest unintentional injury death statistics among persons aged 1-19 years. Although the annual rate is declining, unintentional injury remains the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States, led by motor vehicle traffic–related deaths. Click to read more from CDC. The American Trauma Society, in collaboration with the Society of Trauma Nurses and the Emergency Medical Services for Children have focused on the growing problem of distracted driving.

Helpful links to discuss with your adolescent patients.

Distracted Drivers
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted Driving Brochure
Facts & Figures
Driving and Distraction Safety Resources
FAQs

Distractors to the Driver

10 Things People Don’t Know About Teen Driving

Join us to urge communities across the United States to focus on this problem in May and throughout the year.

May is Asthma Awareness Month

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:23:14 +0000

May is Asthma Awareness Month, a time for us to consider what we can do better, as individuals and as a nation, in managing one of the most common lifelong chronic diseases. According to a statement by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, more than 25 million Americans have asthma, including 7 million children. Children with asthma missed more than 10 million days total of school in 2008. There are also financial costs. Medical expenses associated with asthma are estimated at $50 billion annually. Although asthma cannot be cured, it is critical to take the necessary steps to reduce asthma attacks. Successful management includes knowing the warning signs of an attack, avoiding things that may trigger an episode and following the advice of your health care provider.

During National Asthma Awareness Month, join us in making the environment healthier for children and adults with asthma. Learn what you and your community can do to reduce the physical, social, and financial costs of asthma.

For more information visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/naepp
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001196/

Attestation Resources for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:20:52 +0000

Are you an eligible professional (EP) or eligible hospital participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program?[i]

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has resources to help you attest to having met meaningful use requirements in order to receive your EHR incentive payment.

Attestation resources located on the CMS EHR website include:

An Attestation page on the CMS EHR website, where participants in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program can find important information on attestation.

The Meaningful Use Attestation Calculator allows EPs and eligible hospitals to check whether they have met meaningful use guidelines before they attest in the system. The calculator prints a copy of each EP’s or eligible hospital’s specific measure summary.
The Attestation User Guide for Medicare Eligible Professionals and the Attestation User Guide for Eligible Hospitals provide step-by-step guidance for EPs and eligible hospitals participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program on navigating the attestation system.
Attestation Worksheets for EPs and Eligible Hospitals allow users to fill out their meaningful use measure values, so they have a quick reference tool to use while attesting.

You can attest to meeting meaningful use via CMS’ Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System.

Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

###

[i] The Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs were authorized under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The programs provide incentive payments to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) as they adopt, implement, upgrade, or demonstrate “meaningful use” of certified EHR technology in ways that improve quality, safety, and effectiveness of patient-centered care. Under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program, eligible professionals can receive as much as $44,000 over a consecutive five-year period. Under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, eligible professionals can receive as much as $63,750 over six years. Under both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, millions of dollars are available for eligible hospitals and CAHs that satisfy program requirements.

[i] This article provides guidance to professionals and hospitals that may be eligible for EHR incentive payments. However, we urge readers to refer to the regulations for definitive rules on eligibility, payment, and other requirements. To the extent anything in this guidance conflicts with such rules and regulations, our rules and regulations would take precedence. Regulations are available at: http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/60_RegulationsNotices.asp#TopOfPage

Breaking News: HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Announces Delay of ICD-10 until October 1, 2014

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:08:15 +0000

In a press release from HHS, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a proposed rule which would delay the compliance date for ICD-10 from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014.

The ICD-10 compliance date change is part of a proposed rule that would adopt a standard for a unique health plan identifier (HPID), adopt a data element that would serve as an “other entity” identifier (OEID), and add a National Provider Identifier (NPI) requirement. The proposed rule was developed by the Office of E-Health Standards and Services (OESS) as part of its ongoing role, delegated by HHS, to establish standards for electronic health care transactions under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). OESS is part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The full release can be found on the CMS Website, and more information about this proposed rule can be found on the proposed rule ICD-10 fact sheet.

Seven Ways to Protect Yourself from Medical Identity Theft

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:56:12 +0000

Medicare fraud affects everyone – not just people with Medicare.Did you know that physicians are also vulnerable to a type of fraud called “medical identity theft?” Medical identity theft happens when a fraudster uses your unique medical identifiers to bill insurance for items or services that you never provided or prescribed.

Keep your medical information up-to-date
Review billing notices
Protect your medical information
Train your staff
Educate your patients
Report any suspected medical identity theft
Protect your prescription pads

Learn more about it and how to protect yourself in the latest Medicare blog, “7 Ways to Protect Yourself from Medical Identity Theft.”

Medico-Legal Aspects of Health Care: Emerging Policy Issues

Randy Glick — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:32:49 +0000

The Medico-Legal Aspects in Healthcare: Emerging Policy Issues Conference, held in conjunction with Auburn University’s Physician Executive MBA program, held March 19-21 in Washington, DC provided insight into healthcare reform, the PPACA and the future of medicne. This year’s conference was held the week before the hearing by the Supreme Court of arguments regarding the PPACA. Faculty provided clear, concise insight on the issues politics play in health care as well as the issues facing those involved in providing quality, accessable health care to patients. Dr. Nancy Swikert had this to say about the conference,

“Excellent discussions – very timely. Very clear and concise information on various parts of the healthcare reform issues: explaining depth of debt problem, SGR dilemma, timeline for Medicare and Medicaid changes, ACO information, tips for improvement, reinforcing need for physician involvement in political process both time and finances.” – Nancy Swikert, MD

Throughout the course, attendees were polled on several very timely issues. Here are their responses – view the presentation and see how your responses relate to those attending the conference. Internet Explorer users, click here to download a PDF

The conference takes place each year in March and SMA invites all physicians and members of the healthcare team to attend the 2013 conference.

“Whether you’re for or against the new health reforms you need to know the basics of the Affordable Care Act – this course gives you everything you need.” Lawrence Wyner, MD – attendee

The 2012 Heathcare Summit will be held 10 days after the election, November 16-17 in Nashville, Tennessee, long recognized as the capital of the healthcare industry, and will feature nationally recognized speakers discussing the direction of healthcare financing and delivery as we move forward. For additional information visit http://sma.org/summit.

Download (PPT, 1.12MB)

PPACA and the SCOTUS

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 06:52:12 +0000

Read SMA President Michael Gosney’s comments on the six hours of oral arguments to be heard by The U.S. Supreme Court beginning March 26 over a three day period.

House Votes to Repeal IPAB

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:36:14 +0000

The House of Representatives voted to repeal a provision in the healthcare law that would create the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a 15-member panel with responsibility for controlling Medicare cost growth.

5010 Delay of Enforcement Discretion Period from CMS

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:46:15 +0000

Originally scheduled for March 31, 2012, an extension to June 30, 2012 was announced today, March 15.

The Office of E-Health Standards (OESS) announced in a statement an extension of the enforcement discretion period for updated HIPAA transaction standards. In November, 2011 the OESS announced, for a 90-day period, it would not initiate enforcement action against any covered entity not compliant with the updated versions of the standards by the January 1, 2012 compliance date. However, OESS is aware of there are still a number of outstanding issues and challenges impeding full implementation.

Read the entire statement.

Physicians Succeed with Social Media

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:13:42 +0000

Success with communicating with patients and advancing careers are a couple of the ways physicians are successful using social media.

Recovery and Needs Assessment of Survivors of the Rhode Island Station Nightclub Fire

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:09:03 +0000

Karen Badger, PhD, MSW, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, Amy Acton, RN, BSN, and Pam Peterson, RN, BSN, The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors

• Identify priority needs of burn survivors and grieving survivors involved in a large-scale fire

• Discuss potential support resources to assist their psychosocial recovery and inform longitudinal intervention planning

INTRODUCTION: In 2003 a catastrophic fire occurred at the Station Nightclub,Rhode Islandthat impacted many individuals, families, and the surrounding community. The fire resulted in 100 casualties and significant emotional and physical injuries for many others. Efforts to heal and move forward have been made since the occurrence of this tragedy. This study assessed the psychosocial recovery of those impacted by the fire and identified priority needs of respondents.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study surveys were mailed to 226 potential respondents who were either injured in the fire or experienced the loss of a relative in the event for whom mailing addresses were available. A second follow-up mailing was also employed. After accounting for surveys that were undeliverable, the n was adjusted to 194. Participants responded anonymously and the data collected requested no personal identifiers.

RESULTS: The response rate obtained for the survey was 24% (n = 46). The majority of the respondents were female (n = 30) with an average age of 49 years. Thirty-three percent of the sample were burn-injured (n = 15), reportedly sustaining an average 16% TBSA burn and experiencing an average hospital LOS of 50 days. Eleven percent of the respondents (n = 5) sustained smoke inhalation injuries, and an additional 11% (n = 1) reported that they were in the fire but were not physically injured. Forty-three percent of the respondents (n = 20) experienced the loss of a loved one as a result of the fire. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder related symptoms of participants were assessed utilizing the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, which produced an overall scale score of 44.63 [possible range 0 (lowest) - 88]. The Intrusion symptom sub-scale yielded the highest mean score [M = 2.37, range 0 (low) - 4] for the overall sample. Items utilized from the State Hope Scale assessed respondents’ perception of level of hope, success, and goal attainment (Chronbach Alpha = .93), yielding a mean score of 13.57 (SD = 7.1.) with a possible range of 3(low) to 24(high). The overall score on the State Hope Scale was negatively correlated with the overall score on the IES-R at a significant level (r = -.46, p =.004). Topics of Survivor’s Guilt (M = 3.48), Grief/Loss (M = 3.51) and Trauma Reactions (M = 3.67) were rated as the most important areas for additional education or support [scale of 1 (most important) to 6]. To assist with recovery, half of the sample attended counseling, 22% utilized group support, and 13% received individual peer support. Respondents cited Family/Friends (22%) and Faith (20%) most frequently as important recovery supports with the greatest frequency in a qualitative response. Tangible support received from a designated relief fund was also noted as beneficial by many respondents. Close to half of the sample (45%) had returned to jobs full-time similar to those they held prior to the fire. Qualitative data showed that respondents identified outstanding current and anticipated needs in physical, emotional, self-sufficiency, and community categories.

CONCLUSIONS: Although this study utilized a small sample, these data suggest that respondents have made recovery gains but are still in need of attention and support to address the impact of the event. The findings from the study indicate that targeted educational and support services may be helpful to continue to support respondents’ ongoing recovery efforts, despite the years after the event. This study has implications for the planning of psychosocial intervention in response to traumatic events that have community-wide ramifications.

Utilizing Benner’s “Novice to Expert” in Burn Unit New Graduate Nurse Orientation

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:56:09 +0000

Sarah M. Bishop, RN, BSN, CCRN, Anna Smith, RN, MSN, and Mandi Walker, RN, MSN, CCRN, University of Louisville Hospital, Burn Unit, Louisville, KY

• Describe basic concept(s) of novice to expert development

• Describe the benefits of a burn specific orientation curriculum

Patricia Benner’s “Novice to Expert” model states a goal of orientation is to guide the new graduate nurse beyond a novice level to an advanced beginner (Benner, 2001). During the period of January 2008-March 2011, the University of Louisville Hospital’s (ULH) Burn Unit had a new graduate retention rate of 33.3%. New graduate nurses left the Burn Unit for a variety of reasons including “failed orientation period”. Upon evaluation of Burn Unit new graduate attrition, it was decided new graduates would benefit from a Burn Unit specific orientation curriculum. Four new graduate nurses were hired into the Burn Unit in the spring of 2011 and participated in the new pilot orientation program.

The Burn Unit created the New Graduate Nurse Orientation Program with the objectives of enhancing the orientation process, assisting in the transition from novice nurse to an advanced beginner, promoting learning through the use of didactic materials, group discussion and practical application and to increase satisfaction with the orientation process. Secondary objectives include; decrease preceptor frustration related to orientation and improve new graduate nurse retention.

The Burn Unit Clinical Manager, Director, and educator reviewed feedback from past and present new graduates and preceptors. A Burn Unit specific curriculum was developed. Interdisciplinary healthcare providers presented didactic material, incorporating discussion and practical application. Reflection was encouraged through the use of journaling and group dialogue. A Burn Care resource binder was provided for each new graduate as an additional learning tool.

Outcomes included an increased engagement and satisfaction of both the new graduate nurse and preceptor regarding orientation. The “Participant Evaluation Forms” revealed an above average to excellent rating of the overall learning experience. New graduate nurse retention will continue to be trended. At this time, all four new graduate nurses remain employed on the Burn Unit.

Xeroform vs. Xeroform plus High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): A Comparison of Donor Site Healing and Patient Comfort

Mrs. Kendra Blackmon — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:49:33 +0000

Christopher Craig, MMS, PA-C, Himanshu Kenjale, PA-C, and James H. Holmes, IV, MD, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC

• Recognize how xeroform compares to an alternative dressing in donor site management

• Apply new knowledge to burn centers, improving outcomes and patient comfort during routine burn care

Split-thickness skin grafting continues to be a fundamental component of burn treatment. However, this unavoidably leads to the creation of a donor site, which then too must be treated. While burn clinicians all agree that the dressing used to treat a donor site has a significant effect on healing; there is currently no consensus as to which donor site dressing provides maximum benefit to the patient.

As a matter of internal quality improvement and process improvement, our burn center performed a prospective, within-patient controlled study in which one donor site was managed with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plus an overlying layer of Xeroform gauze as the primary dressing, and the other donor site was treated with our current standard of care primary dressing – Xeroform gauze. All dressings were initially applied in the operating room, following the patient’s grafting procedure. The primary dressings were covered with gauze and elasticized bandages for 24 hours, and then allowed to air-dry, followed by re-application of gauze as needed.

Healing was determined to be complete once the dressings peeled off and full re- epithelialization was observed. The patient’s subjective pain was measured daily using a standard visual analog scale. Mean length of healing was also calculated based on daily wound observations. The overall preference of the study subjects was also noted to compare clinical findings with subjective views. Data for these parameters are being calculated, and will be presented in their entirety at the Southern Region Burn Conference in Winston Salem, NC (December 2011).