Quality Care, Affordable Care
In Quality Care, Affordable Care, Dr. Lawrence Shapiro explains how by using the simple but potent variation-reduction process, physicians can take charge of healthcare reform to improve health and reduce the cost of care. And he tells the real-life story of how the variation reduction program at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, which he runs, saved $31 million by instituting a series of specialty-oriented variation-reduction programs. He also shares the five pillars of a successful variation-reduction program, and explains how providers can use these approaches to build their own in-house variation reduction effort. Don't miss this opportunity to understand and implement an approach to healthcare change which puts doctors in the driver s seat. This book offers a practical, hands-on guide to getting a variation-reduction program in place that physicians will sign up for. It offers a unique take from a physician leader who has personally led a highly-successful program and explains in plain language how to take advantage of his experience. In Quality Care, Affordable Care, Dr. Lawrence Shapiro explains how by using the simple but potent variation-reduction process, physicians can take charge of healthcare reform to improve health and reduce the cost of care. And he tells the real-life story of how the variation reduction program at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, which he runs, saved $31 million by instituting a series of specialty-oriented variation-reduction programs. He also shares the five pillars of a successful variation-reduction program, and explains how providers can use these approaches to build their own in-house variation reduction effort.Don't miss this opportunity to understand and implement an approach to healthcare change which puts doctors in the driver s seat. This book offers a practical, hands-on guide to getting a variation-reduction program in place that physicians will sign up for. It offers a unique take from a physician leader who has personally led a highly-successful program and explains in plain language how to take advantage of his experience.
Unlocking the Value of NPs and PAs
Unlocking the Value of NPs and PAs: Increase Revenue and Create a Healthy and Thriving Practice with Midlevel ProvidersErin Tolbert, RN, MSN, FNP-CMost medical practice management literature addresses practice structure and profitability as it relates to physicians. The role of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) has evolved significantly over the past several years but most practices are not set up to take full advantage of their potential. Yet fiscally smart and patient-centered practices are effectively using nurse practitioners and physician assistants in this ever-changing healthcare landscape. In the face of such changes, it's essential that healthcare practices reevaluate their provider staffing strategies to maximize the efficiency and profitability in their clinics or departments.This new book discusses what employers can expect when hiring advanced practice providers and how to help midlevel providers in their practices reach their full potential. The book suggests actionable modifications employers can make to recruit, hire, train, and retain Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants in a mutually beneficial employment relationship.This indispensable book provides practical tools including: Understanding the role of midlevel providers and their differences from physicians. Developing systems and processes for recruiting and retaining midlevel providers that maximize the potential for selecting the right candidate and providing a successful onboarding experience. Reviews the role midlevel providers play and suggests various practice structures that maximize these roles. Implementing these structures takes advantage of the unique capabilities of midlevel providers improving practice efficiency and revenue. Discusses the way nurse practitioners and physician assistants are educated and the challenges this poses for employers. The book gives strategies for overcoming these challenges and addressing the education disparity between physicians and midlevel providers. Shares practical steps for interviewing, hiring and structuring the employment relationship with midlevel providers which ultimately improves job satisfaction and encourages retention. Highlights real-world examples of how NPs and PAs are being used today by successful practices. Successful implementation of PAs and NPs gives practices an advantage over their competitors. Readers will feel empowered with practical, actionable strategies for improving practice structure and hiring practices with midlevel providers. Written from the perspective of a nurse practitioner who works with hospitals and clinics examining their recruiting practices and management strategies, readers will gain an all-new understanding of these strategies that will lead to stronger employment relationships with NPs and PAs and ultimately--financial profitability.
The Three Stages of a Physician's Career
Today's medical graduates are superbly trained to practice state-of-the art clinical medicine. However, only in rare instances are they trained to self-manage their careers and medical practices. This new book from Greenbranch Publishing has been planned to fill that gap in training and knowledge.To assist students, interns, residents, fellows, and practicing physicians manage the many challenges of their career, the authors have divided physicians' careers into three stages: Early, Mid-Career, and Late-Career. The goal of this book is to provide a "go-to" resource on strategic career and practice management, highlighting the unique issues, concerns and challenges doctors face during these three, very different stages of their career from medical school through post-retirement. This new book, featuring insights from physician career and practice management experts, is an invaluable treasure trove of practical, hands-on advice from an author team gathering their expertise in one place! Jam-packed with easy-to-implement suggestions, you'll hear sage advice from a career coach for physicians, two certified financial planners, a healthcare attorney, a medical school dean for student advising, two experts who launch, merge, and sell physician practices, and a surgeon who literally "wrote the book," on the business aspects of running a medical practice. All are recognized authorities in their field, and the authors are joined by a distinguished group of contributors including, Randy Bauman, Keith Borglum, Thomas Shapira, and Dr. Neil Gesundheit. The contributors have decades of experience writing about the career and/or practice issues of physicians, and advising physicians and physicians-in-training.The Early-Career section provides in-depth descriptions of career theory, choosing a medical field, renewing and balancing yourself, managing career transitions, and practical guidelines to navigate the many other challenges of early careers in medicine.The Mid-Career section offers the broadest and most detailed information available regarding practice organization and management, building assets and retirement planning, estate planning, common legal issues, and how to manage the challenges of malpractice and/or impairment.The Late-Career section covers deciding what to do after practice, closing the doors or selling a practice, and evolving estate and practice priorities so there is joy in a well-planned retirement filled with fun, meaning, and contribution.The Three Stages of a Physician's Career: Navigating from Training to Beyond Retirement will become your "go to" resource for critical topics such as these: Modern Career Theory as it pertains to medical careers Defining & managing the 3 types of medical career transitions How to transition to a non-clinical career How to choose your area of medical specialization Self-Renewal, work-life balance, and the unique balance challenges of students and trainees The essentials of landing your first job How to dissect and interpret employment agreements How to select a financial advisor and professional support team Learn the essentials to master: Insurance policies, profit sharing plans, 401K and 403b, debt reduction Understanding retirement plans and creating an investment plan Relief from fear of the unknown when experiencing or surviving a malpractice lawsuit Recognizing and knowing how to deal with impairment in a colleague or yourself Practical advice on marketing and practice promotion PROTIREMENT: the proper approach to retirement planning
Physician-Hospital Alignment and Compensation Models
Physician-Hospital Alignment and Compensation Models: The Second GenerationBy: Max Reiboldt, CPA, Justin Chamblee, MAcc, CPA, and Ellis M. "Mac" Knight, MD, MBANew book helps hospital and health system leaders and physicians enter into better contracts in a value-based world.The current era of healthcare alignment among physicians, hospitals, and outside independent investors has been underway for 10-15 years. Given this, many of the original contracts that formed the basis of these arrangements have (or will soon) expire. Thus, we refer to these new deals as "second generation" transactions.As the system moves toward a more value-based, fee-for-value reimbursement environment, newer alignment vehicles, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs), clinically integrated networks(CINs), and patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) are beginning to take shape. More physician compensation models now include at least partial incentives for performance, as measured by such matters as specialty-specific quality metrics, cost efficiency metrics, meaningful use of electronic health records, and other parameters.Starting with a review of "First Generation" physician compensation models, the authors then detail components of "Second Generation" models including: How Value-Based Reimbursements of the future call for adjustments to the Volume-Based incentives of the past. How to engage physicians in alignment initiatives that are favorable to both parties. How to approach the imperative today of improved quality of care coupled with decreased costs of care. How to be profitable in a demanding, competitive, and highly-regulated environment. BONUS INCLUDED! Actual templates for your use: Letters of Intent Comparative Review Summary of Key Terms in Physician Employment Agreements Professional Services Agreement for Specialty Services Management Agreement
Your Ultimate Guide to MIPS, 2018 Edition
Your Ultimate Guide to MIPS, 2018 Edition By Joy Rios, MBA, CHTS-PWCMS has a way of giving you 1000 puzzle pieces, without giving the clear big picture. This book helps put all the pieces together.Finally! A decoded, organized, easy-to-read, concise, and detailed reference and teaching tool for MIPS with everything you need to be successful for all physician practices! A must read for practice managers, administrators, executives, or clinicians navigating MIPS, Health IT Consultants and anyone interested in the details of the CMS, Merit Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).This practical, action-oriented book by Joy Rios, MBA, CHTS-PW (in print or eBook) is a comprehensive guide to all MIPS program categories. This book will help stakeholders navigate the MIPS program and its nuances in easy to understand terms to help achieve MIPS program success.In the current landscape, it up to the practice employee to do the research and understand the program. Rather than aggregating all of the information that is available online, let Joy Rios and this book do it for you - using this guide will take the pressure off you and your staff members! You will enjoy a sense of empowerment in being able to take the information in the book and apply it directly to your practice - to have more meaningful conversations with EHR vendors, billers/coders, etc.Healthcare is moving from a pay-for-service model to a pay-for-performance model. Many - in fact, arguably most - healthcare professionals do not understand how this will happen. Your Ultimate Guide to MIPS for 2018 gives you a full spectrum of content.
Own the Phone
The phone rings non-stop at your medical practice, and sometimes it seems like all you can do is put up with the incessant work it creates. Practice leaders struggle to develop proper phone strategies for staff but often give up before they've found the right ones. Sometimes, they simply move the phone answering function to a back room and try to ignore the noise.But thinking that way is a mistake. Every day, potential buyers call your practice, and too often, experience poor customer service, which turns them away. Inefficient phone handling also frustrates existing patients and hurts patient retention. All told, poor phone management causes practices to lose much-needed appointments and revenue more often than they suspect. Luckily, there's a way to turn this situation around. In "Own the Phone: Proven Ways of Handling Calls, Securing Appointments, and Growing Your Healthcare Practice," author Spencer Peller offers a detailed plan for phone improvement which can generate quick results for any medical practice. This includes in-depth instructions on how to set up office phones to your best advantage. "The telephone is the lifeline of your practice," Peller says. "No matter what technology or medium exists today that allows patients to communicate with you and your staff, or how easy it has become for them to learn more about your practice from the Internet, the phone still sits front and center as the key ingredient in their doctor selection process."Own the Phone provides high-level strategies to change the behavior of each member of your team and phone handling best practices that can be put in place quickly and easily (and made repeatable for everyone in the organization), as well as strategies for training.
Think Business!
Thousands of physicians and practice managers have relied on the previous edition of this book. In this revised and updated 2nd Edition, nationally recognized expert, Owen Dahl, provides the vital information that top business schools teach. Think Business! Is designed for the busy professional as a "mini-MBA" for the medical practice environment. If you own, run, or have anything to do with a healthcare practice, you must read this book.Written in a clear style, the revised edition covers the changes occurring in healthcare and reimbursement including the move from volume to "value." All examples and content relate to the daily operations and activities that occur in a healthcare practice. New for this Edition! Where to look first to control costs? We'll give you the first 3 places to look Complete overhaul of the Finance section MACRA, MIPS, PQRS, VBPM - Alphabet Soup How much does it cost you to see a patient? (cost differentials of new patient vs. established patient, one office vs. another office, one provider vs. another provider... Step-by-step guide to revenue cycle management (RCM) What is the expected profit margins on certain patient services? Basics of a strong compliance policy Risk Management: choose the MedMal policy right for you Volume to Value-based reimbursement How Scenario Planning works well in a medical practice Quadrant matrix to aid in decisions regarding ancillaries Tips on benchmarking the practice Avoiding risk of embezzlement Coaching behaviors Managing multi-generational teams BONUS: Case studies that illustrate the change to pay-for-performance, risk management, ACA impact. Filled with winning techniques -- With Think Business! 2nd Edition, You will learn: Financial fundamentals - how to keep tabs on the practice Employees as assets: How to recruit and retain them How to differentiate your practice from your competition Setting the stage for pay-for-performance and quality of care Why individual physicians - and their executive staff should care about satisfied patients and quality outcomes Motivate employees to build great teams; it's not only about money! Packed with plenty of take-home value, you can count on Owen Dahl to provide you with the language, the players, and the management techniques to ensure success in your practice. His energy and sense of purpose translates into winning techniques and illustrative case studies. Refer to Think Business! often for specific strategies you can implement in your practice today. Improve your bottom line, comply with pay-for-performance and increase the patient satisfaction in your practice.!
RVUs at Work
RVUs at Work: Relative Value Units in a Changing Reimbursement World, 3rd Edition is a practical print (and eBook) by Coker Group's Max Reiboldt and Justin Chamblee that gives medical practices roadmap for the transition from fee-for-service to fee-for-value-based payment systems.The reimbursement models are in transition causing confusion and uncertainty in the healthcare community. (MACRA and MIPS) By using RVUs in the correct manner, there is confidence that the provider gets paid for all the services he or she is rendering.This book provides the latest information on RVUs and applies working knowledge to executives who are tasked with measuring various areas of productivity in the medical practice within the current healthcare landscape. Specific recommendations around physician productivity in the context of RVUs and the accountable care era are covered, including quality outcomes and allowable reimbursement.Noteworthy Features for the 3rd Edition: Expands the content well beyond just "RVUs" to consider other key considerations in the healthcare environment. Takes into consideration hot topics in the current market, such as MACRA and MIPS. Specific content is included that is focused on the current value-based environment. Updates RVU-based content to current market practices. Given that the last version was published four years ago, that is like four decades in the healthcare realm. Includes a specific chapter focused on technology. Securing the right technology to attain necessary data to provide to the right people at the right time. Includes a specific chapter on the care coordination process. Specifically considers practice management in the current healthcare environment, balancing fee-for-service and fee-for-value. Practical--includes examples of how different real-world medical practices are using RVUs to cut costs, enhance efficiency, boost profitability, and assure quality of care. Although RVUs (Relative Value Units) were created as a payment methodology for Medicare, they have evolved into a valuable practice management tool used to track provider productivity, measure and define costs, negotiate managed care contracts, compensate physicians and benchmark key indicators. If you aren't tracking them and using them to their full value in medical practice management, you're missing a key piece of your practice's success The transition from fee-for-service to fee-for-value-based payment system is extremely concerning to healthcare providers. This book unwraps the critical issues and presents solutions for handling these challenges. Read this book and you'll have a feeling of competency in this confusing reimbursement system. This book is directed to the following: Physicians, Practice Administrators and Office Managers, Hospital Network Administrators, Consultants, Revenue Cycle Managers, Healthcare Attorneys.
Choosing Autonomy
Physician Employment in a Large Organization is Not for Everyone. "Most of my colleagues who are employed by hospitals are miserable." Anonymous physician This leading edge book is a guide for unwinding an unhappy hospital employment relationship and reestablishing a private medical practice. Designed for employed physicians (and their administrative staff and advisors) who are searching to regain independence or control over their practice of medicine. "Choosing Autonomy: The Physician's Guide to Returning to Private Practice," gives you: - An understanding of how to evaluate the substantial risks returning to private practice entails in today's environment.- Insight on how hospital employment of physicians is repeating the same cycle as in the 1990's, how this cycle works and its implications in your decision-making and negotiations.- Strategies to evaluate your options, negotiate around legal barriers and develop financial projections critical in assessing the feasibility of leaving employment and striking out on your own.- Examines legal considerations that may prevent you from leaving your current job.- Insight to creative financing options, availability of financing sources, techniques and alternatives.- Provides a comprehensive start-up checklist and worksheets to aid in developing financial projections.- Provides simple and concise success factors to monitor during the critical early stages of start-up. "The checklists and financial proforma worksheets alone are worth the price of the book!"Physicians, minimize risky decisions by reading this book before you make a move! Hospital CEOs and executives will find this book useful as they seek to understand the perspective of physicians they employ. For medical practice consultants, the book provides a transfer of knowledge necessary to successfully practice in this growing area.
Patient-Centered Payoff: Driving Practice Growth Through Image, Culture and Patient Experience
For the first time medical practices and organizations are about to see their income either increase or decline based on regulations that directly measure patient care and satisfaction. CMS has now made the patient experience its business. The patient experience is critical to the future of healthcare and the cost of care. Practices that have paid little attention to this in the past can learn how to improve the patient visit through the environment, culture and the actions of physicians and staff. Learn the steps your practice can take to reap the many payoffs of achieving high patient-centered standards without having to make a big financial investment. In The Patient-Centered Payoff: Driving Practice Growth Through Image, Culture and Patient Experience, authors Cheryl Bisera and Judy Capko explain how healthcare professionals and organizations can thrive in the new patient-centered environment. In their book, Judy Capko and Cheryl Bisera describe how the patient-centered movement has changed medical practice and offer insights into the opportunities this new environment provides to practices. As in Judy Capko's bestselling books, (Secrets of the Best-Run Practices, 2nd Edition and Take Back Time--Bringing Time Management to Medicine) The Patient-Centered Payoff: Driving Practice Growth Through Image, Culture and Patient Experience is clearly written, engaging, and packed with easy-to-implement ideas. What the book covers: * How create an impressive image * Identity: Knowing who you are and expressing it with conviction * Defining your online presence and protecting your online reputation * Developing a patient-centric office culture * How to live and measure your adherence to your mission * How to speak the language of patients * Evaluating your patient's experience (a look in the mirror!)* Making patients feel at home when they visit your facility Benefits: *Discover how to succeed in the rapidly growing patient-centered care movement. *Includes carefully chosen case studies that highlight successes in building a patient-centric medical practice. * Learn how to deliver customer service that delights patients. *Gain valuable insight into how practices should claim and take control of their online presence. * Take advantage of a list of twenty one things you can do now without breaking the bank. * Leverage tools to evaluate your existing office culture and transform it into one that creates an exceptional environment for patients and staff. Fortunately, there are many steps a practice can take to develop an attractive, engaging presence without making a big financial investment. In this book, doctors and medical practice administrators get a practical guide to creating a positive practice image which grows a loyal, referring patient base. It includes advice on how to measure performance and maintain accountability; how to define your practice image and express it with conviction; and how to manage your online and social media presence. It also offers a list of twenty-one steps practices can take right away without breaking the bank. This book provides all the tools practices need to begin reaping the many benefits to running a profitable patient-centered practice. By following these recommendations by Capko and Bisera, medical practices will improve their competitive position, gain financial incentives with payer reimbursement, and grow a loyal patient base.
The Field Guide to Physician Coding, 4th Edition
"All Physicians can increase their revenue and improve their compensation through accurate coding. This book tells you how."The Field Guide to Physician Coding, 4th Edition delivers a payload of precise information on coding rules and relevant billing guidelines. Betsy Nicoletti selects topics that answer the questions she is asked most frequently in her speaking and consulting work. Her explanations are clear and detailed and tell the practice what it needs to know to code for services. Nicoletti also steers you to critical source documents for today's coding rules so you don't have to spend hours hunting for key facts in long official documents.This book is organized, in a way that makes looking up topics easy. The book simplifies complex coding rules and provides source citations for the reader. NEW AND UPDATED FOR THIS EDITION! Anticoagulation management coding Care management for behavioral conditions Non-face-to-face prolonged services CPT codes Prolonged services for wellness visits, new HCPCS codes Psychiatric collaborative care coding Cognitive assessment and care plan services Chronic care management Critical care Global surgical package Coding drives revenue in medical practices and physician compensation, and as you know, coding is also a risky endeavor because of the necessity to do it right. There is Complexity: coding is complex, and practices find it hard to be certain if they are doing it correctly. There is Change: the codes and rules change every year and a practice needs to stay up to date. And there is Concept: this is a book that explains the concepts that drive coding. Designed with the most common coding issues that plague medical practices in mind, Betsy Nicoletti's "No-nonsense" advice supported by weblinks that answers the most pressing questions from physicians, practice managers, billers and coders. The "rules" that help doctors get paid, not just the codes Organized alphabetically, by topic, for ease of use Relevant to all specialties Detailed explanations Each entry includes: The definition of the service Explanation of billing rules Key points Clinical examples, when relevant CPT or CMS references With The Field Guide to Physician Coding, 4th Edition, there is a confidence that the claims sent to the insurance company are accurate and compliant. Sleep well knowing that your practice is compliant with government rules and you're collecting all the money you are entitled to collect! "This book should be on the desk of every clinician, biller and coder in the country!"
Grateful for Grace
Are you currently caring for someone or seriously considering it? Do you desire to be the one to take on this act of kindness, but wonder if you have what it takes? Such a challenge can be quite rewarding, with each day presenting unknowns resulting in unrehearsed outcomes. Grateful for Grace is a collection of anecdotes and reflections, shared by the author to encourage and inspire the caregiver. It serves as a reminder that the endeavor of caregiving is not a solo act, but rather a selfless act of love, requiring an intentional dependency on God. In all things, one must hasten to seek God's guidance and direction for wisdom throughout the journey. Donna Olivia, a native Floridian, is a retired teacher with over 35 years of experience in education, having taught dance, gifted education, and reading. She has also served over 30 years collectively as a liturgical dancer, working with several dance ministries, and is impassioned about using her artistic gifts to glorify God. She feels that working with children, by teaching through the arts, is her calling from God. Olivia resides in Georgia with her husband, Theodore, son Joseph, and mother, Ms. Grace.
Non-Fee-for-Service Revenue Cycle Management
Non-Fee-for-Service Revenue Cycle Management: Managing Patient Service and Clinical Performance to Maximize Healthcare Practice Profit By Ronald B. Sterling, CPA, MBA As the healthcare system migrates from the fee for service (FFS) model to a variety of non-fee for service (non-FFS) payment systems, practices/HCOs will be seeking strategies and tactics to fill the care gaps that exist because of the fee for service model. From more active patient engagement to establishing and maintaining collaborative patient and provider relations, practices/HCOs need to rethink their own added value strategies and how to best serve healthcare stakeholders including patients, patient caregivers, physicians and other providers. Consequentially, practices/HCOs will need to modify a variety of processes, strategies, and tools. Using existing FFS focused tactics could inhibit the ability to analyze clinical and/or financial performance.2017From managing services that generate revenue to the billing process and tracking clinical and business performance, the non-FFS models present resource, patient service, billing, and reporting challenges. In today's high-stakes healthcare practice business climate, physician leaders and healthcare organization will need to answer the following questions: What are the clinical and operational requirements to earn the non-FFS revenue? How will the practice/HCO track clinical performance and patient service that could impact non-FFS revenue? What are the costs incurred in producing the non-FFS revenue? How will the practice/HCO verify that the non-FFS payment is correct? How will non-FFS revenue be credited to physicians in calculating their compensation? What are the analytical tools needed to evaluate the financial performance of the non-FFS arrangement? The Non-Fee for Service reimbursement changes for healthcare practices are a business challenge that you cannot afford to ignore. These transformative challenges must be addressed for health care organizations to succeed in the coming years. Leveraging his extensive knowledge of healthcare information technology and accounting, Ron Sterling provides a complete view on how to track and manage Non-FFS reimbursement and how to capitalize on the financial opportunities of Non-FFS arrangements.
The Employed Physician
More and more physicians are opting for employed positions, either when starting their careers or in transitioning from independent practice to "employee" status, when a practice is sold or merged.Nationally known healthcare consultant Jeffrey Gorke translates his nearly 30 years of experience into a winning playbook for employed physicians in a healthcare practice.Packed with tips, insights and action-oriented tools, this guide helps readers rapidly master the language, the players, and the management structures of healthcare practices. Learn how to size up location, culture, compensation, benefits, and be prepared to ask all of the right questions in identifying, seeking, and landing the best job.Written in the no-nonsense tone that has made Greenbranch Publishing the definitive voice of physician practice management, The Employed Physician: Your Essential Guide to the Business of Medicine (in print or convenient eBook) is the ultimate tool to give you the confidence you'll need as you become an employed physician. Remember, the more control you have going in, you will have fewer surprises during the recruitment and negotiation process.Noteworthy Features: A comprehensive, step-by-step checklist makes sure you cover every question in the practice-selection process and lets you do revealing side-by-side comparisons of all the practices under consideration.Practical tips and reality checkpoints on what to expect in the healthcare practice setting.Instant financial mastery: Spreadsheets and graphs make it easy for readers to evaluate business and financial data to learn what's really happening in a practice -- and what questions you'll need to keep asking if you decide to join.Decision points enabling readers to compare/contrast private or employed (hospital-owned) medical practice employment.Value-based care content and how that paradigm shift will have an impact on clinic finances.The dream job can turn out to be the wrong job if the employment contact is not fair. Make sure you are armed with the critical details.Accountants, lawyers, financial advisors. How to find competent professionals.Clear action steps: How to evaluate factors such as a practice's location or culture and what plusses and minuses to look for in terms of managers, consultants, and business structure.And a Bonus! Illustrative real-life anecdotes from the medical practice trenches.
Tweets, Likes, and Liabilities
Electronic medical records, websites, cellphones, email, and social media have created tricky new legal problems for healthcare practices. The digital world, namely social media, offers healthcare practices a vehicle to attract patients and potential employees but also presents risk to healthcare providers. This book will give practices the knowledge and tools to reduce liabilities and provide a "roadmap" to that world.Although physicians, practice managers, administrators, and risk managers of practices and health systems know these issues are important, there is a dizzying array of issues (and interpretation) on the Web. Staff member have difficulty in identifying areas of potential risk, lack of a strategy to address electronic risksThis essential book will give you peace of mind by flagging areas of risk - and then provide guidance and templates to address the risk.Find out what's important, and what's not, in this easy-to-use guide. Selected topics include: No more guessing: a Social Media Policy for Your Employees Reviewing the social media profiles of employment candidates? We'll give you state by state guidelines. Train Your Employees on Cyber Security Basics Don't Let Your Website Turn Into a Law Suit The only Mobile Device Policy you'll need How you can be hacked through your website, "Contact Us" feature. "I know the perfect guy for you. He put together the website for our church." How to select a website designer The skinny on SSL Certificates and why you need one Who Owns the Content in our website? Patient photos on your site Astroturfing - Fake Reviews, Real Consequences Are generic HIPAA training models enough? Focus on the Biggest Cyber Risks First - we'll give you the roadmap BONUS! Templates for your mobile device policy, social media policy, business associate agreement, photo and video release, plus others!
31 1/2 Essentials for Running Your Medical Practice
While many books address medical practice management, this book goes beyond textbook theory. Drawing on nearly 50 years of combined experience consulting with and running highly successful private practices, the authors map out practical, turnkey solutions to the harsh realities facing medical, dental, and all healthcare practices, including: tough competition, patient expectations, shrinking reimbursement, litigation, malpractice insurance costs, complex regulations, high rents, soaring utilities, and other challenges. FEATURES: A "fast start" users-guide style: Spend less time reading! Each chapter zeroes in on one success essential, concisely explaining how to identify problems, clear obstacles, make improvements and measure success. Covers every aspect of your practice: No more guesswork! You can get right to work with today's best strategies for everything from choosing an office location and the right staff, to controlling overhead and getting patients to comply with treatment plans. Real-world examples: From mission statements to budgets, you can build your own improvements on the best work already done by other successful practices. Ready-to-use tools: The book includes financial benchmarks, numbers and equations that make it even easier to put the 31 success strategies into action in your practice. Offers 31 "essentials" - concrete solutions that have been tested, refined and proven to make a difference by highly successful practices.
Lean Six SIGMA for the Medical Practice: Improving Profitability by Improving Processes
With medical practices facing financial challenges - and lagging 20 years behind other businesses in using Lean Six Sigma to drive profits, Greenbranch Publishing announces a book by Frank Cohen, and Owen Dahl, Lean Six Sigma for the Medical Practice - Improving Profitability by Improving Processes.This book is written to translate Lean Six Sigma principles, and to provide the tools, specifically needed for the real-world medical practice environment.Drawing on his involvement with over 2,000 medical practices, author and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Frank Cohen empowers practices - and their advisors - to use 24 process improvement tools to boost efficiency so more of the revenues that come in go directly to the bottom line. What types of improvements can practices make? Prevent medical mistakes. Improve patient care. Decrease mortality rates. Use analytics to identify inconsistent behavior by payers - so practices can hold payers' feet to the fire. Use process improvement to help practices reduce denials by upwards of 50%. Use techniques to improve both patient satisfaction and staff morale. Eliminate bottlenecks in your practice and use metrics to make smart practice improvement decisions. Over the past 20 years, Lean and Six Sigma approaches have created profit breakthroughs for other types of businesses. Cohen and Dahl bring this methodology to health care providers, whittling down the myriad of traditional Lean Six Sigma tools to only those that matter most to their practices. Add Lean Six Sigma for the Medical Practice to your "must-read-now" bookshelf and take the first steps toward improving everything from patient visit cycle time to, A/R to staff and patient satisfaction and morale to compliance.
The Nurse Manager's Guide to Budgeting and Finance, 3rd Edition
Nurses focus on the art and science of caregiving, but nurse managers are faced with the economic reality of patient-staffing ratios, budgets, reports, and accounting. Acronyms such as FTEs and ADCs can feel like a foreign language, but thankfully, help is available.Updated to include details about key legislation that will affect budgeting, The Nurse Manager's Guide to Budgeting and Finance, 3rd Edition, provides practical tools, tips, and strategies for running a unit that you weren't taught in nursing school: Operating and capital budget development and planning for the yearFormulas and calculations for full-time employee hours, variances, and benefit costsExplanation of financial statements, budgets, and reimbursement documentsThe relationship between high reliability organizations (HROs) and finance/budgetsDifferences between not-for-profit and for-profit institutions
Disability and Discourse Analysis
Although efforts have been made to integrate disability into the discourse analysis and conversation analysis canon, the link between the two fields needs to be strengthened. This ground-breaking volume contributes to this link by thoroughly applying the analytical vocabulary of discourse analysis to issues that are central to the field of disabili
Innovation in Community-Based Private Practices Through Ehealth
There are many definitions of eHealth and no consensus around the underlying idea. Most contributions on eHealth focus on informatic, public health, legal, social and anthropological implications. This book investigates eHealth through community-based private practices such as pharmacies, hearing centres, opticians, and private medical centres from a management perspective. It first presents a systematic review of the theoretical research models that have been developed on eHealth. It then identifies the many innovative managerial implications of eHealth, and finally, it analyses reasons why some eHealth tools are or are not adopted.
Pictures of Health
From the days of its colonial glory, Philadelphia has had an important place in the history of American health care. In Pictures of Health, Janet Golden and Charles E. Rosenberg have assembled a series of photographs illuminating that history.
The Hospice Companion
The Hospice Companion is a guide to the processes of care during the intensive, interpersonal experiences of hospice work. This resource highlights the mission and values of modern-day hospice through the individual and combined efforts of the field's most valuable asset, the hospice professional. This easy-to-navigate clinical decision support tool for caregivers of those with life-limiting illnesses allows for personal and professional growth and a deeply gratifying sense of accomplishment as they proceed in the all-important work of caring for the dying. The fourth edition of The Hospice Companion features a thoroughly current guide to clinical processes and symptom management, providing hospice professionals with a concise summary of changes that have influenced clinical practice over the last several years.
Scientific Writing and Publishing in Medicine and Health Sciences
Schreiben und Publizieren geh繹ren zum Kerngesch瓣ft von Wissenschaftler*Innen. Die hohe Qualit瓣t von Forschungsergebnissen allein reicht jedoch oftmals nicht aus, um diese in einem renommierten Journal platzieren zu k繹nnen, denn ganz verschiedene Aspekte nehmen Einfluss auf den Publikationsprozess. Der Weg bis zur Ver繹ffentlichung eines Aufsatzes wird h瓣ufig als schwierig und frustrierend wahrgenommen. Die Publikation ist eine Kurzanleitung zum effektiven Schreiben und Ver繹ffentlichen wissenschaftlicher Artikel. Sie bietet Autor*Innen Schl羹sselinformationen zu zw繹lf Schritten des Schreib- und Publikationsprozesses, vom Anfangen mit dem Schreiben bis zum Umgang mit den Gutachterkommentaren von Journalen. Klar, pr瓣gnant und leicht lesbar gibt der Band Hintergrundinformationen (''Was Sie wissen sollten'') sowie konkrete Ratschl瓣ge (''Was Sie tun sollten'') und fasst die wichtigsten zu beachtenden Punkte in Checklisten zusammen. Autor*Innen k繹nnen die Kurzanleitung als Ganzes lesen, sie aber auch als Nachschlagewerk verwenden, um w瓣hrend des Schreibens Ratschl瓣ge auf konkrete Fragen zu erhalten. Das Buch erh繹ht die Freude am Schreiben wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten und zeigt effektive Methoden zur Ver繹ffentlichung in guten Journalen. Die Publikation erscheint zweisprachig, in Englisch und Deutsch.
Clinical Rotation Manual for the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Student
"Provide[s] the foundation needed for new graduates as well as seasoned acute care nurse practitioners to practice at the highest level. This author has taken great care to write this book in an easy-to-read-and-follow format to meet the needs of acutely ill patients while providing high-quality, cost-effective care." -Mary Ellen Roberts, DNP, APN-c, NP-c, FNAP, FAANP Director, DNP and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs Seton Hall University, Nutley, NJ From the Foreword Written specifically for the AGNP-AC student or the incoming Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, this handy guide provides a quick but thorough reference on the basics of the many complex challenges encountered in the clinical rotation portion of the AGNP-AC curriculum. Conveniently spiral-bound, it covers key skills such as patient assessment, billing, labs, imaging, and major diagnoses, among many others in a bulleted format for on-the-go comprehension. Chapters are deliberately designed to aid in surmounting practice knowledge gaps by synthesizing resources often found in disparate references, making them easily accessible and pertinent to the AGNP student. Organized by body system, this text covers a wide array acute care conditions. Each diagnosis is broken down into cause, assessment findings, diagnostics, and treatment and management. Every chapter provides a wealth of "clinical tips and tricks" boxes that summarize key information so the reader can avoid common mistakes in acute care. This resource concludes with a special "billing" section that received praise from reviewers for its usefulness. Content is presented in a straightforward, accessible style based on the author's many years of clinical expertise in precepting to help make the challenging clinical rotation in this high-acuity specialty a great transition to practice experience. Key Features: Written specifically for the AGNP-AC student in clinical rotations to provide appropriate, role-specific guidance Serves as a guide for instructors for effective precepting of AGNP-AC students Instructs on principles of accurate diagnosis and management of the major acute conditions by body system Cuts through the complexities of billing Provides abundant "clinical tips and tricks" boxes in each chapter
One Simple Breath
Learn simple and empowering steps to reduce stress in your life. A practical guide for caregivers, Collamer explores the virtues of lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and even-mindedness that we all wish we had more of. Then she teaches how to put words to one breath in and one breath out. In the pause between breaths is a moment to release stress and boost your energy so you can keep going. Put these steps into practice and start living with more peace in your caregiving life. All you need is one simple breath.
Health Information Technology Evaluation Handbook
Governments and clinical providers are investing billions of dollars in health information technologies (HIT). This is being done with the expectation that HIT adoption will translate into healthier patients experiencing better care at lower cost.
Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity
The Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity: Research, Education and Policy is an open access journal published by Winston-Salem State University with support from the National Association of Medical Minority Educators. Visit www.uncpress.org for open access links and more information. Articles in Volume 13, Number 1 (Spring 2020) are: - Leveraging Community Cultural Wealth to Bridge the Divide Between Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners and Physical Therapy Culture- The Effects of Phone Coaching on Self-Blood Pressure Management among African-American Adults- All Seated at the Table: Interprofessional Educational Experiences at Family Houses- Black and Latinx Faculty Perspectives on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiatives- Supporting Underrepresented Premedical Students while Maintaining Social Distancing: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Education Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic- Reducing Health Disparities through an Education Rich in Cultural Competence and Service
Netter’s Physiology Coloring Book
Reinforce your knowledge of physiology with this active, engaging, and relaxing review method! Netter's Physiology Coloring Book makes abstract concepts more concrete as you use color and tactile movement to reinforce your memory and understanding of challenging topics. It's a fun and interactive way to learn and review a complex but fascinating subject-whether you're taking a physiology course or lab, or preparing for a career in science or medicine and healthcare.More than "just" a coloring book, this unique learning tool offers: More than 100 key topics in physiology, using bold, clear drawings based on classic artwork by Frank Netter, MD and other master scientific and medical illustrators. Coloring exercises that emphasize pathways, processes, and cycles for a visual memory aid. Quick-reference tables and Pathophysiology Notes that bridge basic science with health care and medicine. Workbook review questions and drawing challenges to reinforce comprehension and retention. Enhanced eBook version included with purchase. Your enhanced eBook includes completed coloring and workbook pages for reference and allows you to access all of the text and figures, from the book on a variety of devices.
’Purpose-Built’ Art in Hospitals
Over the past three decades, guidance on the selection of art in hospitals has suggested realistic art that depicts soothing and comforting images such as tranquil waters, green vegetation, flowers, and open spaces. Based on these findings, curators have been cautioned to avoid art with uncertain meaning that risks upsetting viewers in stressful states. However, some hospitals exhibit ambiguous or abstract art and cite anecdotal evidence of its appropriateness for healthcare settings. More recent research is going beyond anecdotal evidence, and indicates that the ambiguity of meaning in abstract compositions can have positive effects. 'Purpose-built' Art in Hospitals is built on an international study of artwork in hospitals around the globe. Exploring 'purpose-built' (specially commissioned) artwork in hospitals through the dual lens of an artist and healthcare professional, Rollins identifies 15 specific 'purposes' of visual artwork in hospitals and presents a compelling case for their use that is grounded in research. The book builds the reader's understanding of the many functions of artwork in hospitals, with the goal of encouraging greater variety in art offerings to better serve the many diverse needs of patients, families, visitors and staff within the hospital environment.
Teaching Writing in the Health Professions
This collection provides a research-based guide to instructional practices for writing in the health professions, promoting faculty development and bringing together perspectives from writing studies, technical communication, and health humanities. With employment in health-care sectors booming, writing instruction tailored for the health professions is in high demand. Writing instruction is critical in the health professions because health professionals, current and aspiring, need to communicate persuasively with patients, peers, mentors, and others. Writing instruction can also help cultivate professional identity, reflective practice, empathy, critical thinking, confidence, and organization, as well as research skills. This collection prepares faculty and administrators to meet this demand. It combines conceptual development of writing for the health professions as an emergent interdiscipline with evidence-based practices for instructors in academic, clinical, and community settings. Teaching Writing in the Health Professions is an essential resource for instructors, scholars, and program administrators in health disciplines, professional and technical communication, health humanities, and interdisciplinary writing studies. It informs the teaching of writing in programs in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and allied health, public health, and other related professions.
A Guide to Laboratory Investigations
This seventh edition is a practical guide to the interpretation of normal and abnormal laboratory results which is fully revised. With increasing responsibility this book includes guidelines on clinical conditions like heart failure, female infertility, lipid monitoring and renal failure.
The Insider’s Guide
From prerequisites to applying, this Book reveals the 7 steps every aspiring nurse needs to know to get into nursing school and thrive!
In Sickness and in Health
"In Sickness and In Health" is a Christian themed self-help guide to Care Giving, from the Care giver's perspective. Following the Seven Stages of Grief, this guide takes you through all the steps of your journey as a Care Giver and is packed with practical information guiding you in each of the Stages of Grief, to help you make the necessary decisions that come your way. "In Sickness and In Health" covers short-term Care Giving that has minor surgery and the fast recovery, to the Long Term, permanent life changing Care Giving. When you have the crisis occur, the emotions that you have are overwhelming and maybe gut wrenching. You feel buried under a blizzard. This book will help you dig out of that blizzard and allow you to step back and see the whole big picture and be better organized. You will become creative with your care plan options, finding available resources, able to think outside of the box, and become a strong patient advocate. It shows the importance to keep Faith with God and to not give up. You are not in this journey alone.
In Sickness and in Health
"In Sickness and In Health" is a Christian themed self-help guide to Care Giving, from the Care giver's perspective. Following the Seven Stages of Grief, this guide takes you through all the steps of your journey as a Care Giver and is packed with practical information guiding you in each of the Stages of Grief, to help you make the necessary decisions that come your way. "In Sickness and In Health" covers short-term Care Giving that has minor surgery and the fast recovery, to the Long Term, permanent life changing Care Giving. When you have the crisis occur, the emotions that you have are overwhelming and maybe gut wrenching. You feel buried under a blizzard. This book will help you dig out of that blizzard and allow you to step back and see the whole big picture and be better organized. You will become creative with your care plan options, finding available resources, able to think outside of the box, and become a strong patient advocate. It shows the importance to keep Faith with God and to not give up. You are not in this journey alone.
The Business Side of Veterinary Medicine
So you're a practicing veterinarian, with a mind filled with the science of veterinary medicine. But there's a business side to veterinary medicine you were not taught in school, and it is relevant at every stage of your career. Just starting out? This book is essential to transitioning from your training to "the real world." It offers practical advice on crossing that bridge, including key ways to establish good citizenship in your new environment and guidance for building your own practice. Do you know how to manage and plan your finances and think about the future? Have you chosen the right practice model for you and your family? This book will help you answer these and other questions and establish good habits that will benefit your entire career.But this is by no means a "newbie manual." It gives a masters-level education on the business side of things that affect every practicing vet, new blood and veteran alike: accounting and corporate finance, business law, operations management, business communication, organizational behavior, strategy, and much more. Not to mention guidance on career longevity, planning for retirement, and increasing your net worth. This book truly is a business manual for your entire career in veterinary medicine.
The Lean Healthcare Handbook
Part I: Lean Tools and Techniques.- 1. Introduction to Lean and Muda (Waste).- 2. Product Family Matrices.- 3. Spaghetti Diagrams.- 4. Value Stream Maps.- 5. Lean Value Stream Design.- 6. Standardized Work Design.- 7. 5S.- 8. Fast Work Changeover.- Part II: Continuous Improvement and Kaizen.- 9. Introduction to Continuous Improvement.- 10. Process Mapping- 11. Statistical Thinking.- 12. Descriptive Statistics.- 13. X-Charts.- 14. Pareto Analysis.- 15. Graphical Data Analysis.- 16. Problem Solving Tools.- 17. Project Management.- 18. Kaizen Events.- 19. A3 Thinking.
Improving Nurse Retention & Healthcare Outcomes: Innovating with the Impact Model
Awarded third place in the 2021 AJN Book of the Year Awards in Professional Issues!Empowering, engaging, and retaining qualified nurses are critical healthcare priorities. Why? Nurse retention is directly correlated to healthcare outcomes, and nurse turnover has a negative, multidimensional effect on healthcare organizations.Turnover affects job satisfaction among clinical nurses, which leads to burnout, making it harder for them to provide safe patient care and achieve overall organizational initiatives. Further, the high costs associated with nurse turnover can have a huge impact on a hospital's or health system's profit margin. Improving Nurse Retention & Healthcare Outcomes will help clinical nurses understand how to elevate their practice as frontline care providers and give executives a new, strategic approach to nurse retention. Authors Judy Thomas and Mellisa Renter outline the IMPACT Program they created to stimulate empowerment and professional growth. In addition to explaining the program, how it works, and what it has achieved, this book provides an implementation path to make an immediate impact on nurse empowerment, engagement, and retention.Chapter 1 outlines the retention practices commonly used by most organizations. As you'll see, these practices are often nothing more than short-term fixes. They only see you through the immediate crisis, are quite costly, and offer little return on investment in terms of overall strategic initiatives. Chapter 2 discusses the key stakeholders and instrumental decision points in the creation of our program to improve nurse retention. Chapter 3 takes a high-level look at the structure of the IMPACT Model. Chapters 4-7 offer step-by-step details on each phase of the IMPACT Model. Chapter 8 describes the type of leadership commitment ittakes to start and sustain a program of this magnitude. Chapter 9 explains how we obtained leadership buyin from the get-go to begin the process of developing a program and achieved broader organizational buy-in to sustain it once it was off the ground. Chapter 10 reveals outcomes from specific IMPACT Model projects completed by participating nurses as well as broader organizational gains associated with the IMPACT Model. Chapter 11 showcases the professional journey of clinical nurses as they navigate the program. You will gain a greater perspective on how the IMPACT Model empowers clinical nurses, who spend the majority of their time on the front lines. Appendix A: Includes our full Explanation of Activities forms. Appendix B: Offers full-page forms discussed earlier in the book
End of life IS life
Hospice provides specialized services in managing complex symptoms caused by advanced diseases. Hospice does not mean you're going to die today. This is one of the biggest misconceptions. This book aims at decreasing the level of anxiety by just a notch. Realizing that the minute you're born, our end of life clock begins. The services hospice provides will aid you or your loved one to focus on optimal quality of life at end of life.
Health in a Fragile State
Based on extensive field research in the Manianga region of the Lower Congo, Health in a Fragile State is an anthropological account of public health and health care after the collapse of the Congolese state in the 1980s and 1990s. This work brings into focus John M. Janzen's earlier books on African health and healing, revealing the collaborative effort by local, national, and international agencies to create viable alternative institutions to those that represented the centralized state. This book documents and analyzes the realignment of existing institutions and the creation of new ones that shape health and healing. Janzen explores the manner in which power and information, including science, are legitimized in the preservation and improvement of health. Institutional validity and knowledge empower citizens and health practitioners to gain the upper hand over the region's principal diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid, and HIV/AIDS.
The Unshackled Prescription
Healthcare is often a confusing maze with many moving parts. It can be hard to understand your role as a patient and the power that you wield within that role to get your needs met.Seeing the vast amounts of misinformation, distrust of political and other leaders, and the subpar performance of the U.S. in the COVID-19 pandemic, author Rahul Anand was inspired to write The Unshackled Prescription: How YOU Can Fix American Healthcare to cultivate a broad understanding of American healthcare. Tackling a range of topics from the history of America's healthcare system, The Unshackled Prescription uses stories from within the system as told by doctors and patients alike. Anand explores ideas of how to tackle malpractice nightmares, power struggles between patients and providers, exorbitant pharmaceutical prices, and the consequences of these, and more. Reading The Unshackled Prescription, you will discover how to navigate the maze of American healthcare to better advocate for yourself, your loved ones and, perhaps, the larger patient community through your actions.
The Reach Out Caregiver Support Program
Older adults increasingly rely on family members or friends (i.e., informal caregivers) for needed care and support as they age. Family caregivers typically assume their caregiving role willingly and reap personal fulfilment from helping a loved one, developing new skills, and strengthening family relationships. For these benefits, however, caregivers often sacrifice their own health and well-being. Depression, anxiety, poor physical health, and compromised immune function are more common among family caregivers than in adults not providing such care. The REACH OUT Caregiver Support Program offers a multi-component, tailored, and flexible intervention for caregivers of people with dementia that is focused on the evidence-based therapeutic strategy of problem solving. This practical volume is designed to guide clinicians through the process of implementing REACH OUT (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health: Offering Useful Treatments) and to provide them with necessary tools to share with caregivers, with the goal of enhancing caregiver physical and mental health. Five common risk areas (home safety, caregiver health, social support, challenging behaviors, and emotional well-being) are described in the manual, and interventions are outlined that respect the nuances of each risk area. By beginning with an individualized risk assessment and being flexible to the needs and issues of the caregiver, the REACH OUT intervention helps clinicians identify risk areas and provides caregivers with tailored action plans to reduce risk and promote well-being.
M(odified) E(ssay) Q(uestions) for Medicine Finals
There is a paucity of high-value examination-style questions for final-year medicine undergraduates. This book uses true (and modified) clinical scenerios (for realism), appropriate and pragmatic clinical questions (for clinical reasoning), explanations and tips in solutions (for self-reflection). The good reception received for Vols. 1 and 2 is the main stimulus for this Vol 3. The strong selling points are highly challenging and realistic clinical questioning, comprehensive solutions (which include wrong answers that candidates may give), and useful examination-oriented and practice-based tips for selected solutions.The book is useful for:
M(odified) E(ssay) Q(uestions) for Medicine Finals
There is a paucity of high-value examination-style questions for final-year medicine undergraduates. This book uses true (and modified) clinical scenerios (for realism), appropriate and pragmatic clinical questions (for clinical reasoning), explanations and tips in solutions (for self-reflection). The good reception received for Vols. 1 and 2 is the main stimulus for this Vol 3. The strong selling points are highly challenging and realistic clinical questioning, comprehensive solutions (which include wrong answers that candidates may give), and useful examination-oriented and practice-based tips for selected solutions.The book is useful for: Final-year exam preparation for Medicine undergraduates around the worldJunior residents to evaluate their own knowledge and approaches in internal medicineSenior doctors in providing inspiration and ideas for setting examination questionsThe book includes: Challenging and realistic clinical questioningComprehensive solutions (which include wrong answers that candidates may give)Useful examination-oriented and practice-based tips for selected solutions
Hospitality and Health
This title includes a number of Open Access chapters.In the last several decades, international traffic volume has significantly increased, raising the risk of infectious diseases and their spread. In this important volume, the impact of health issues is explored in connection with travel. Not only does the book explore the risk of diseases such as H1N1 (otherwise known as swine flu), malaria, salmonella, and Legionellosis, it also addresses health regulations for travel to foreign countries, alcohol use and hospitality-related health problems and issues, medical tourism (patients seeking less expensive medical procedures in countries other than their own), and much more.
One Little Mosquito
One Little Mosquito brings to the fore, the prevalence of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The author creates a realistic story with fictitious characters. She gives an interesting account of how malaria foils two events within a week. Alero rises to the challenge and makes a great impact.
Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking
This book details Anne Allbright Smith's eleven days of discomfort and pain as she voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) to bring about her own death. This was despite compassionate hospice care throughout. There is overwhelming public support for Medical Aid in Dying (MAID). Yet only ten states and the District of Columbia have MAID statutes on their books. Why won't more legislators support the will of their constituents? By contrast, our pets have quick, humane and painless deaths.
The Hospice Choice
Hospice is the primary system to provide care for the terminally ill and their families. Warm, compassionate, and absolutely practical, this definitive resource from the National Hospice Organization will answer all your questions about hospice care and will show you how to make this comprehensive and flexible system work for you and your family. The Hospice Choice illustrates the gamut of situations dying people and their families may face and suggests ways to manage them. Throughout is information on the broad range of services hospice can provide: Physicians and Nursing Services: to help with care specifically designed to keep the patient comfortable and at home Counseling Services: to help families and patients sort out their needs and responses Respite Services: to allow caregivers needed breaks Bereavement Counseling: to provide support for surviving family members and significant others for as much as a full year after loss The Hospice Choicealso addresses sensitive issues like methods of payment, issues of ethnicity, the special problems raised by sudden death, and the realities of caregiver exhaustion. It will give you the concrete information, support, and encouragement that will help you make wise, compassionate decisions for yourself and for your loved ones.
