 | | Doug Watson, COO/CFO |
As we approach the July 4th Independence Day celebrations, I want to reflect briefly on the journey that PHMG has been on and where we are going. When I arrived over two years ago, we were unable to produce a financial statement of what PHMG's performance was, let alone participate as an equal partner in the budgeting and strategic planning of our networks and health system. Today, many of you were part of this year's budget and strategy planning and have seen how much has changed.
As with all freedoms, there are responsibilities as well. PHMG is on its way to becoming a high-performing medical group that each of us can be proud to be a part of. We have made it through our initial Epic implementation, which I know from experience is never easy for any organization. We are now positioned to begin really getting the benefits from this amazing tool.
Our Fiscal Year 2015 budget will be challenging for us, as it will be for all of PeaceHealth. We must commit to improving our current day performance while we build our future. Toward that end, your medical group has committed to approximately $13 million of operational improvements over the next year. Many of these improvements will be driven by our system and network services performing better for you. Some areas we will focus on are:
* Implementing a contract verification system that will check every payment we receive against what our contract says we should have been paid so that we can recover any underpayments.
* Improving the speed and effectiveness of our provider enrollment team so that new providers can get on board, enrolled with payers and seeing patients faster.
* Investing in medical documentation and coding coaching on a peer-to-peer basis with a company called Medisync to help our providers get the full credit for the work they are already doing.
* Investing in refresher training for our providers and our staff on Epic (this has already begun in Oregon West), implementing the Epic 2014 upgrade and bringing up exciting new capability through the Healthy Planet and other Epic modules that will come online in FY 15.
* Looking at ways to improve the utilization of our clinic space and exam rooms to improve access and results in many clinical areas.
* Implementing a new provider compensation plan that is better aligned with our strategic and operational objectives as a medical group.
There are many other initiatives that we will be undertaking and I ask that you look to your local Dyad leadership for details on how you can help. We will need everyone to participate in identifying ways in which we can improve our performance clinically, from a patient service standpoint and financially.
I sincerely hope that each of you know how important you are to our patients and to our medical group. I also hope that you have a wonderful Independence Day weekend with your family and friends and that you can join us in celebrating the new year together that begins July 1st!
I am excited about our future together.
* No "PHMG Weekly" next week due to the holiday. PHMG news will continue to be posted on The Caregiver.
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 | | PeaceHealth Medical Group |  A look at important pre-work impact and downtime related to the Epic 2014 upgrade. Read More > |  What does a "medical home" mean to you? We want to hear from you through a brief survey. Read More > |  We all know someone at PeaceHealth who helps patients or providers and caregivers in ways that are extraordinary. Now you can recognize your colleague for their contributions by nominating them for the Spirit of Healing Award. Read More > | |
In an effort to streamline and coordinate the way PeaceHealth develops and manages policies and procedures, we are making improvements in our Policy program. Read More >
|  The Caregiver has been our new communication home for about six weeks now and we're getting unpacked and settled in. Read More > |
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