Year: 2018
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Patients, Doctors Dissatisfied with Electronic Health Records
Electronic Health Records are intended to streamline and improve access to information — and have been shown to improve quality of care — but a new study shows they also leave both doctors and patients unsatisfied, even after full implementation. The study, by researchers at Lehigh University and the Lehigh Valley Health Network, surveyed physicians, mid-level providers and…
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FY 2019 ICD-10 Code Changes Released
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the fiscal year 2019 ICD-10-CM code changes, which become effective Oct. 1. The changes include 473 total new code changes with 279 new codes, 143 revised codes, 51 deactivated codes, and 39 additional changes added from a proposed rule list. There are changes to the International…
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Association Special Committee Looks at Solving Manpower Shortage
MONTGOMERY – Earlier this week, the Association’s Manpower Shortage Task Force met in person for the first time to begin addressing a resolution adopted by the House of Delegates at the 2018 Annual Meeting in April. The resolution, submitted by the Pickens County Medical Society, directs the Association’s new task force to develop and restore…
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CVS Health to Begin MinuteClinic Video Visits through App
CVS Health is rolling out a new virtual health care offering for patients with minor illnesses and injuries, skin conditions and other wellness needs through the company’s MinuteClinic section of the CVS app. MinuteClinic Video Visits, a telehealth offering via Teledoc, will provide patients with access to health care services 24 hours a day, seven…
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Brookwood Baptist Medical Center Medicare Certification Extended
Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, the second largest hospital in the metro Birmingham area, received an 11th-hour reprieve Thursday night with regulators from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services accepted the facility’s action, thus allowing the hospital to continue its Medicare and Medicaid billing privileges. However, the facility is not out hot water just yet.…
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Front Office Transformation – First Impressions
I recently visited a specialty practice at a major health system. As I approached the registration desk, a posted sign directed me to a standing kiosk to sign in. The family member I accompanied to the appointment was unable to stand at the kiosk, so I provided the needed information and signed her in. Although…
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Six Association Members Inducted into Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame for 2018
MONTGOMERY — This year the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame inducted 12 new members into the Class of 2018, six of which are currently or were previous members of the Medical Association. We are very proud of our physicians, and we would like to extend our best wishes to these medical pioneers for their amazing…
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Reducing Opioid Prescriptions for One Operation Can Have a Spillover Effect to Other Procedures
Study results show revised recommendations resulted in about 17 fewer pills being dispensed per patient for four major operations. CHICAGO – To curb the use of opioids after major elective operations and prevent these pain relievers from falling into the wrong hands, surgeons at the University of Michigan developed prescribing recommendations based on published medical…
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Looking Forward to Retirement? Solo Practitioners Can Still be HIPAA Compliant as You Close the Doors
Maybe you’ve been planning for retirement for some time or perhaps you’ve had a bad month and have decided that you’re better suited for life on the lake. In either circumstance, when you get ready to leave your practice and wind down your affairs, don’t forget that you still have responsibilities pursuant to state and…