more questions

[Guest guest]

I sent these around earlier but didn't hear anything....it is the same

doctor...and she is abbreviating some of her words. Any help would be

appreciated.

Bev

First question:

He had blood work done that shows Hematocrit s/l " B and D 20s " with low MCV

at 97. He had a borderline normal B12, normal folate, his HIV, hemoglobin

electrophoresis were all negative. There was a question of alcohol gastritis

even though in his Hemoccult every thing has been negative. Will do some

blood work, CBC, Cholesterol, CMP, TSH, Ferritin Iron, TIBC s/l " percent

retic, " B12 and Folate.

Second question:

Does anyone recognize an OTC drug that sounds like " Dow-some " ?? It would be

for a URI.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Bev

[Guest guest]

Lou,Ok, that makes sense, I think, especially to the IMP group who dont go " by the book " although isnt most of our documentation more for billing/p4p/defensive purposes rather than because we think a cold is a leukemia in disguise

I am waiting for your thoughts on EHRsBut I want a segment of phonecalls. These days I am actively choosing not to return some phone calls ( not patient phone calls) . But a bunch of 3rd parties who all feel they have a claim on my time. Now, getting my receptionist to stop treating these calls as emergencies, thats the next challenge.

Sangeetha

[Guest guest]

Emergencies:

Chest pain

Active bleeding

Sudden leg swelling

Calls from other physicians

 

I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones off the top of my head that we either send to ER or see ASAP.  Everything else can wait.  If you have a policy of always returning calls before you go home (or at lunch, or both), then patients won't continue to call back.  If it is for things like rx requests from pharmacies, home health agencies asking for signatures, etc, have them faxed to the office.  Let your receptionist verify that they have been received and that you will get back to them as soon as possible.  If you don't push things off until days later, people will stop treating everything as if it were an emergency.  I find that many places call repeatedly because they know that is the only way to get attention in a busy office.  But if you take care of things in a timely manner, then those call backs will dimish.

 

Good luck,

 

 

Lou,

Ok, that makes sense, I think, especially to the IMP group who dont go " by the book "

although isnt most of our documentation more for billing/p4p/defensive purposes rather than because we think a cold is a leukemia in disguise

I am waiting for your thoughts on EHRs

But I want a segment of phonecalls. These days I am actively choosing not to return some phone calls ( not patient phone calls) . But a bunch of 3rd parties who all feel they have a claim on my time. Now, getting my receptionist to stop treating these calls as emergencies, thats the next challenge.

Sangeetha

-- Pratt

[Guest guest]

Oh No I am calling about nonpatient callsSangeetha

 

Emergencies:

Chest pain

Active bleeding

Sudden leg swelling

Calls from other physicians

 

I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones off the top of my head that we either send to ER or see ASAP.  Everything else can wait.  If you have a policy of always returning calls before you go home (or at lunch, or both), then patients won't continue to call back.  If it is for things like rx requests from pharmacies, home health agencies asking for signatures, etc, have them faxed to the office.  Let your receptionist verify that they have been received and that you will get back to them as soon as possible.  If you don't push things off until days later, people will stop treating everything as if it were an emergency.  I find that many places call repeatedly because they know that is the only way to get attention in a busy office.  But if you take care of things in a timely manner, then those call backs will dimish.

 

Good luck,

 

 

Lou,

Ok, that makes sense, I think, especially to the IMP group who dont go " by the book "

although isnt most of our documentation more for billing/p4p/defensive purposes rather than because we think a cold is a leukemia in disguise

I am waiting for your thoughts on EHRs

But I want a segment of phonecalls. These days I am actively choosing not to return some phone calls ( not patient phone calls) . But a bunch of 3rd parties who all feel they have a claim on my time. Now, getting my receptionist to stop treating these calls as emergencies, thats the next challenge.

Sangeetha

-- Pratt

[Guest guest]

all patient alls I have no problem with,  but lots of 3rd parties, ( pharmacies, homehealth agencies,other md offices)asking for fax number when the message clearly says soasking for a blown up copy of patients Insurance card because they didnt get it when patient was in their office

asking for documents that have been sent multiple times, ackowledged as recieved  etc etcpharmacies calling for refills despite being told patient needs appoitment.basically just passing their dysfunction along. I am getting more comfortable that this is not something my office needs to do. Like little kids, they will find their own solutions if I ignore them long enough

Sangeetha

Oh No I am calling about nonpatient callsSangeetha

 

Emergencies:

Chest pain

Active bleeding

Sudden leg swelling

Calls from other physicians

 

I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones off the top of my head that we either send to ER or see ASAP.  Everything else can wait.  If you have a policy of always returning calls before you go home (or at lunch, or both), then patients won't continue to call back.  If it is for things like rx requests from pharmacies, home health agencies asking for signatures, etc, have them faxed to the office.  Let your receptionist verify that they have been received and that you will get back to them as soon as possible.  If you don't push things off until days later, people will stop treating everything as if it were an emergency.  I find that many places call repeatedly because they know that is the only way to get attention in a busy office.  But if you take care of things in a timely manner, then those call backs will dimish.

 

Good luck,

 

 

Lou,

Ok, that makes sense, I think, especially to the IMP group who dont go " by the book "

although isnt most of our documentation more for billing/p4p/defensive purposes rather than because we think a cold is a leukemia in disguise

I am waiting for your thoughts on EHRs

But I want a segment of phonecalls. These days I am actively choosing not to return some phone calls ( not patient phone calls) . But a bunch of 3rd parties who all feel they have a claim on my time. Now, getting my receptionist to stop treating these calls as emergencies, thats the next challenge.

Sangeetha

-- Pratt

[Guest guest]

Oh, yes.  Ignore is the way to go on those.  Someone else's lack of efficiency or planning does not constitute an emergency on your part. Pratt

 

all patient alls I have no problem with,  but lots of 3rd parties, ( pharmacies, homehealth agencies,other md offices)asking for fax number when the message clearly says soasking for a blown up copy of patients Insurance card because they didnt get it when patient was in their office

asking for documents that have been sent multiple times, ackowledged as recieved  etc etcpharmacies calling for refills despite being told patient needs appoitment.basically just passing their dysfunction along. I am getting more comfortable that this is not something my office needs to do. Like little kids, they will find their own solutions if I ignore them long enough

Sangeetha

Oh No I am calling about nonpatient callsSangeetha

 

Emergencies:

Chest pain

Active bleeding

Sudden leg swelling

Calls from other physicians

 

I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones off the top of my head that we either send to ER or see ASAP.  Everything else can wait.  If you have a policy of always returning calls before you go home (or at lunch, or both), then patients won't continue to call back.  If it is for things like rx requests from pharmacies, home health agencies asking for signatures, etc, have them faxed to the office.  Let your receptionist verify that they have been received and that you will get back to them as soon as possible.  If you don't push things off until days later, people will stop treating everything as if it were an emergency.  I find that many places call repeatedly because they know that is the only way to get attention in a busy office.  But if you take care of things in a timely manner, then those call backs will dimish.

 

Good luck,

 

 

Lou,

Ok, that makes sense, I think, especially to the IMP group who dont go " by the book "

although isnt most of our documentation more for billing/p4p/defensive purposes rather than because we think a cold is a leukemia in disguise

I am waiting for your thoughts on EHRs

But I want a segment of phonecalls. These days I am actively choosing not to return some phone calls ( not patient phone calls) . But a bunch of 3rd parties who all feel they have a claim on my time. Now, getting my receptionist to stop treating these calls as emergencies, thats the next challenge.

Sangeetha

-- Pratt