Posts tagged with pediatric seminar

Save the date: April 17.

It's not official yet - we're confirming a location - but we hope and expect to produce a pediatric coding and practice management seminar in the greater Washington DC area on or around April 17.  It will be nearly identical to the one we produced in NYC in August.  We hope to get AAP endorsement again and, if everything works out, we may even be able to acquire an educational grant from a generous source that might lower or eliminate the cost for AAP members!

That last item is a bit of a dream still, but it's not off the table.

Anyway, I thought I'd let everyone here be the first to know.  As soon as it's official - speakers, location, date, and content - I'll post it all here.

Our coding/PM event is filling up. I have to update the talk about Pediatric Compensation Models with more recent data, but otherwise we're in good shape. This will be great.

It's not too late to sign up, I'd love to see you there.

* April 17 Pediatric Coding Conference: Earn 5.0 CEUs!

This April 17, put your practice ahead of the curve with PCC's 2008 Spring Pediatric Coding and Practice Management Conference, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatric coding experts will address key issues in a full day of courses and question and answer sessions designed to improve your coding practices and reimbursement. PCC's 2008 Spring Pediatric Coding and Practice Management Conference will be held at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. This is an intensive, one-day session focused on important pediatric issues that effect your practice everyday. You'll master the coding basics, tackle additional coding topics, get answers to your specific questions during Q&A sessions with our pediatric panel, and gain valuable insight on timely pediatric issues!Our expert panel of instructors includes Richard Lander, MD, FAAP, Richard Tuck, MD, FAAP, and PCC's Chip Hart.

* Earn Continuing Education Units (CEU)

This program has prior approval of the American Academy of Professional Coders for 5.0 Continuing Education Units. Granting for prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by AAPC of the program content or the program sponsor.

* Learn More and Register Now

View the complete course schedule and register online now at: www.pcc.com/practmgmt/codeconf0408.php Admission to this conference is only $325 for AAP members ($379 for non-members)! Space is limited, so register now.

I have a vision of being one of those fancy bloggers who somehow writes a "live" blog from some important event. I don't know why, but it seems cool.
So, as I type, Dr. Tuck is giving the first full lecture of the day, his CPT 101 course. Dr. Lander goes next with his "Give Me the Money" bit. My quick assessment of the crowd today:

• A lot of PCC clients! Good to see them.
• This crowd is famished for this information.

I want to get these people to our UC in Vermont this summer.
In NYC, we were (somehow) really good at staying on schedule. Today, we started 10m late and we're going to have to squish Dr. Tuck more than we'd like, I suspect. This is the cornerstone talk, so we're cutting him some slack :-)
Of course, he did his course on time and we're almost back on track. It is always a pleasure working with the pros.
Dr. Lander is on now. I like putting these practice management talks back-to-back with the CPT content. Talking CPTs for 2 hours (or more) will fry any brain. So, talking codes then talking money then talking codes, etc., breaks it up well.
Dr. Lander just name-dropped the Verden Alerts, which is cool!
In theory, we had to cut the break in 1/2, but then we went over on the break by almost 15m again. Ay yi yi! Too many people, too many questions (I'm not complaining). Some of the index card questions we got were awesome.
Dr. Tuck is up for Power CPT Coding now and I'm up next for Pediatric Compensation Models (which I like doing). I'll have to go quickly...and note to self: use the facilities now, not just before I need to talk. OK, back after my talk.

It's been tough getting to the blog the last week or so. I've been busy getting ready for our Pediatric Practice Management Conference in August (why aren't you signed up?!) and will announce later this week a new AAP-endorsed event in Columbus, OH on September 17 (save the date!) and a teleconference series sponsored by Physicians' Alliance to begin in August.Worse, I had a very vivid dream this morning that I'd already written this entry, so it was tough to motivate out of bed.Here is some good content for you, though. First, a while back, I put together an "Immunization Chart" or "Vaccine Chart" (I don't know what else to call it). Then, I found out - thanks Siouxsie - that the AAP puts out something very, very similar. We include the disease associated with each vaccine, theirs might be better laid out. Click on the image below for a PDF version.Originally, I had planned to update ours with the CDC pricing info, but I want to get some sense about whether I should use my original chart, the AAP's, or somehow combine them all together. Eyeball this and tell me what you think. In the meantime, you can get the latest CDC pricing info here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More, perhaps even later today, about our new conferences!.

Whew, we have finally gotten our ducks in a row and announce our Fall Pediatric Coding and PM conference in Columbus, OH on September 17. It's the usual deal: AAP endorsed and AAP members get in cheaper. The individual class titles include:

• Free Online Practice Management Tools
• Coding Primer
• Give Me the Money: How to Decrease your A/R
• The Codes You Leave on the Table
• Pediatric Physicians' Compensation Models
• Vaccine Coding: Preventive Medicine for a Healthy Bottom Line
• The No Surprises Chart Audit

Please check out the promotional site or register ASAP!

I’m in the midst of some fun RVU analysis and I realized that I’d better get this announcement out stat!  It’s just like our other PM/Coding events, though the AAP endorsement hasn’t happened yet (it should be a week or two).  Sign up quickly, as we expect this one to be a good size.  The proximity to the airport makes this an easy trip for a lot of folks:

http://pedsource.com/events/pediatric-coding-practice-management-conference

Thursday, January 15 2009 — Irving, Texas (Dallas area near the airport)

Put your practice ahead of the curve with PCC’s January 2009 Pediatric Coding and Practice Management Conference. Pediatric coding and practice management experts address key issues during a full day of courses with question and answer sessions designed to improve your coding practices and reimbursement.

The January 15 Pediatric Coding Conference will be held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Irving, Texas just outside of Dallas.

This is an intensive, one-day session focused on important pediatric specific coding and practice management issues that affect your practice every day.

You’ll master the coding basics, get answers to your specific questions during Q&A sessions with our pediatric panel, and gain valuable insight on timely topics about immunizations, pay-for-performance programs, physician compensation, and more.

Earn 5.0 CEUs!*

You’ll also earn CEU credit for attending this conference. This conference has prior approval of the American Academy of Professional Coders for 5.0 Continuing Education Units.  Granting of this approval in no way constitutes endorsement by the  Academy of the program, content or the program sponsor.

Our expert panel of instructors includes Richard Lander, MD, Richard Tuck, MD, and PCC’s Chip Hart.

Register Now Admission to this conference is only $325 for AAP members ($379 for non-members)! To receive your discount, enter the discount code PCC AAP.

Download the conference brochure, with complete course descriptions, instructor bios, and an order form.

Event Schedule

It's official - go sign up.  Space is limited.  Similar to our previous endeavors but two days, a lot of content, and the largest collection of pediatric practices in one place all year long.  The best part -it's at Disney, you bring your family! 

It's also substantially cheaper than other events held at the same location (or elsewhere) around the same time...

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PCC is pleased to announce that this summer's Pediatric Coding & Practice Management Conference will take place at Walt Disney World® Resort, Florida from July 23-24 2009.

We are planning an exciting conference packed with pediatric practice
management education in a fun-filled learning environment. Mark your
calendars or begin to plan your trip to Walt Disney World® Resort now.

New! Register Now!

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I'd also like to call attention to these archived teleconferences about the Medical Home model that everyone with interest in this issue should listen to:

 

Medical Home Implementation Teleconference Series

The American Academy of Pediatrics is hosting a free
teleconference series to provide child health professionals with
practical strategies for implementing medical home in practice. These
informative calls will be led by nationally recognized experts with the
goal of educating participants about the value of the family-centered
primary care medical home for all children and youth, the availability
of practical tools and resources, and will provide strategies for
improving care and increasing patient/family satisfaction. Note: Calls 3,4, and 5 will be held in a Webinar format to accommodate the demand for additional participation. 

 

Presentations and podcasts are now available online for the first call (held on March 3^rd) at http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/training/archivescall1.html and the second call (held on March 25th) at http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/training/archivescall2.html. Descriptions of the calls are listed below:

 

Call #1: Implementing Medical Home for all Children and Youth
Featured Speakers:  
Vera Fan Tait, MD, FAAP; Associate Executive Director, American Academy of Pediatrics

Jeanne McAllister, BSN, MS, MHA; Director, Center for Medical Home Improvement (CMHI); Crotched Mountain Foundation, New Hampshire; AAP Medical Home Implementation Toolkit, Lead Consultant

 

By the end of this event, participants will be able to:

- Learn about essential tools to have in your practice that provide successful Medical Home for all children and youth;

-  Understand how those tools can help your practice pass Level 1 of the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) standards

 

Call #2: Improving Communication and Co-management Between Specialty Providers and the Medical Home

Featured Speakers:  
Chris Stille, MD, MPH, FAAP;
Co-Principal Investigator with the American Academy of Pediatrics and
the Shriners Hospitals for Children Project; Assoc Professor, UMass
Medical School, Worcester, MA
Jennifer Lail, MD, FAAP; Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Adolescents, PA, Chapel Hill, NC
Donald Lighter, MD, MBA, FAAP, FACHE; Vice President for Quality at WellCare, Inc

 

By the end of this event, participants will be able to:

-
Discuss the importance of primary and specialty care collaboration in
the provision of comprehensive, family-centered care provided in the
medical home.
- Describe the benefits of enhancing communication in the continuity between health systems.
-
Identify 3 practical approaches to enhance communication and
co-management and their potential applications for improved chronic
condition management in their practice.

 
For additional information about the teleconference series, please visit: http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/training/archives.html

Thanks, Siouxsie, for that info.

For years, I have unintentionally made the rounds of the pediatric speakers circuit, as many of you know.  I enjoy the public speaking process simply because I learn so much and all of my best "material" comes from either being in an office or in front of an audience.

In all immodesty, I think I give pretty good talks.  Don't get me wrong, I could improve 1001 things (just ask 1/2 the folks reading here), but my data is often quite enlightening and I like to think I'm pretty funny. Funnier than most pediatric speakers, anyway, which isn't saying much.  And it doesn't hurt that the number of people in this country who really can speak well on the matters of pediatric practice management is under a dozen, imo.

As a result, I get a lot of offers to speak, which is both flattering and helpful for my job.  Usually, because so few pediatric organizations have any real budget, I am happy to exchange my speaking effort for, say, a booth at the event and my room to be covered so my family can come with me - freeing up $$ for them to get other speakers or even stay alive.

Over the years, I bet I've spoken for at least 10 of the state AAP chapters, more than a dozen hospital systems, and even the AAP itself.  I think most people reading here have seen me at one of these events and it's always great to meet someone in person for the first time.

But I have a feeling those talks are coming to an end.  At least the CME-related ones.

Over the past few years, I've had some interesting discussions with a handful of CME-producing events about me, my materials, etc., each of which was borne from the changes to the CME rules.  Apparently, with the new rules, anything I produce is verboten for CME purposes simply because I work for a "commercial" interest.  Even though PCC is, perhaps, the sole (or best) source for certain pediatric content in the world, we can't share it with you for CME purposes.  Nor can we suggest to anyone anything that we've learned as a result of working with real doctors.

But it gets worse.  Attached, please find the oral testimony of Dr. Murray Kopelow, the CEO for AACME, the people who manage the CME process.  Read it carefully, there are some doozies in there.  Now, I may misunderstand what I read here and I certainly welcome comments, corrections, and contradictions...but how are these changes going to benefit the education of physicians, exactly?

- With the doubling of CME fees and greater (and let me suggest from my experience: ridiculous and inappropriate) scrutiny of those providing it, I think most small time CME providers are going to bai outl.  The bottom line is that the costs associated with providing CMEs have already moved past the benefit of doing so, as a rule.  Do CMEs really put that many butts in the seats?  In the pediatric world, I don't see it.

The people left will be the giants, the big CME machines.  Is that really what CME wants?

- Why is any content developed with the influence of commercial interests automatically unworthy of CME?  By implication, the rejection of my material means that I'm somehow inappropriately influencing people?  That's not only insulting (I'll get over it), but stupid.

The secondary effect of this position is that the quality of CME speakers and content will drop.  I've been to PLENTY of talks - most of them are really boring.  We've just cut off many of the better performers.

In my instance, there is no other source for some of the material that PCC is able to present.  So where are peds going to hear about it now while also rightfully earning CMEs?

- The definition of commercial, as I understand it, is completely bogus.  I've heard talks by hospital administrators and health systems that were way more biased and potentially harmful than any "commercial" presentation I've witnessed.

Just because someone works for a "non-profit" doesn't mean they don't have an inappropriate agenda.  CCHIT (and those who watch them) suffers the same problem

However, here's the most troubling quote:

 Next month new policy becomes effective that excludes from accreditation any entity that markets, re-sells, or distributes health care products or services.

 Someone correct me if I'm wrong...but doesn't this mean that the AAP will no longer be CME accreditable?  Who will be allowed to provide CMEs any more?  No physician, no hospital, no association - they all market, re-sell, and/or distribute healthcare products and services.  Someone explain how I am mis-reading this?
 

If I read this properly, people like Dr. Rich Lander, Dr.Jan Berger, Dr. Chip Harbaugh, Dr. Joel Bradley (to name only a few of our favorite speakers) - they can no longer give CME courses!

Correct me if I'm wrong...

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I've been given the wonderful opportunity to present at the annual Pediatric Gurus event hosted by Goryeb Children’s Hospital again this year.  At one point, I am sandwiched between two very heavy-hitters, Dr. Rick Oken and Shireen Hart, which means I'll have to bring the A-game.

Topics include:

•  2012 Pediatric Benchmarks (me)
• Strategies for Economic Survival
• Practical Pediatric Legal Update
• Make the RBRVS Work for You (me)
•  A Day in the Life: Coding
• Secrets to Success in Contract Negotiations
•  Social Media: Building a Positive www Presence (me)

The Skytop location makes this one of my favorite events of the year (plus, I get to see so many PCC clients). If you're in the northeast, I hope I see you there!