Jennifer Yeargain, CMPE, CPC, director of support services at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico, joins the MGMA podcast. 

MGMA caught up with Jennifer at the Medical Practice Excellence: Financial and Operations Conference in Orlando. She shares her thoughts on earning her CMPE, staffing challenges for rural health, and tips she employs to help inspire her team -- including bringing donuts to meetings!

This episode is sponsored by MGMA Events. 

Join us June 6-8, 2023, for a robust and convenient learning experience featuring education from industry leaders covering a wide variety of challenges facing medical practices today. MGMA Summit is a signature online event that allows you to take control of your journey by attending live or by accessing the sessions at your own pace until July 8. 

Additionally, new networking opportunities will make it easy for you to meet industry peers and discuss solutions to your biggest challenges. Go to mgma.com/events/2023-mgma-summit to learn more and to register today!

Today’s podcast is sponsored by RingCentral  RingCentral brings staff, patients, and payers together with compliant cloud communications and a modern call center on any device. A free new ebook from RingCentral and MGMA focuses specifically on the payer-provider relationship. With all-too-familiar patient reviews, must-see statistics, and a transformative case study, this eBook illustrates how easily cloud communications can bring patients, providers, and payers together. Download your copy at go.ringcentral.com/mgma-healthcare.html. Support for this podcast also comes from ilumed
ilumed helps Medicare providers practice better medicine so they can get paid in up to three ways. Whether you’re just starting your value-based-care journey or ready to take it to the next level, ilumed can help you do more for your patients while earning more. ilumed offers simple solutions for a complicated industry. Let’s heal healthcare together. Visit ilumed.com to learn more.

Live From Orlando: Addressing Rural Staffing Challenges

Welcome to the MGMA Podcast Network, your gateway to insightful discussions and expert analysis on key topics in healthcare management. Dive into a diverse array of shows tailored to meet the interests and needs of healthcare professionals like you. 

Explore the experiences and perspectives of trailblazing women in healthcare on "Women in Healthcare," or discover innovative strategies and solutions for your practice on "Business Solutions." Stay updated on the latest industry trends and news with "Week in Review," and gain valuable insights from industry leaders and MGMA members on "Member Spotlight." Don't miss our flagship show, "MGMA Insights," where we delve deep into the most pressing issues facing healthcare organizations today.

Whether you're seeking inspiration, practical advice, or in-depth analysis, the MGMA Podcast Network is your trusted companion on your journey towards excellence in healthcare management. Tune in and join the conversation today!

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This episode of the MGMA Business Solutions podcast features John Poli, Industry Principal for Healthcare at RingCentral. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Poli has been at the forefront of leveraging innovative technology to drive digital transformation and business strategy. Chatting with host Daniel Williams, Poli discusses how AI is revolutionizing healthcare communications. He goes on to share innovative applications of AI to assist live agents in call centers while providing a roadmap to utilizing AI's full potential in healthcare communication strategies. Would you like to learn more? To dive deeper into this topic, check out our webinar on using AI in healthcare contact centers, where you can hear from John Poli and also gain continuing education credits! 
Resources: RingCentral on the Web John Poli on LinkedIn 
MGMA Resources: MGMA Stat Ask an Advisor MGMA Conferences MGMA Consulting 
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover or an expert you would like us to interview or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com, rreaves@mgma.com or cluckett@mgma.com. 


Business Solutions: Leveraging AI for a cutting-edge patient experience

This episode of the MGMA Weekend Review Podcast is hosted by Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett. Key topics include HHS reversing course on breach notifications, primary care physician compensation, bipartisan support for healthcare reform, the impact of medical debt, and improving obesity treatment training. 
Major Takeaways:
- HHS will now allow Change Healthcare to file breach notifications for organizations affected by the February ransomware attack. This provides relief for impacted groups.
- The AMA payment system favors specialists over primary care doctors, leading to a shortage. Improving primary care compensation could improve outcomes and lower costs. 
- Rare bipartisan support for site neutral payments to address healthcare consolidation and rising costs.
- Medical debt takes a significant toll on patient health through financial stress and avoidance of care. Efforts are needed to reduce costs and debt burdens.
- Improper prescribing of weight loss drugs without training can harm patients. More obesity treatment training is required as drug approvals increase. 
Direct Quotes: 
"Financial toxicity is a real and growing concern in healthcare. It's crucial that we address the underlying issues driving medical debt to improve patient outcome." - Dr. Ron Robert Ziegler 
Sources:
- The Record - "HHS reverses course allows change healthcare to file breach notifications for others"
- MedPage Today - "Second opinions how the AMA undermines primary care" 
- Fierce Healthcare - "Site neutral payments draw blanket bipartisan support at House budget hearing"
- Physicians Practice - "Is medical debt making patients sicker?"
- Axios - "America's Doctors need more obesity medicine training" MGMA Sources: Ask an Advisor MGMA Membership MGMA Consulting

 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

 Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com or cluckett@mgma.com. If you have a question for our senior advisor, Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

Today’s podcast is sponsored by RingCentral  RingCentral brings staff, patients, and payers together with compliant cloud communications and a modern call center on any device. A free new ebook from RingCentral and MGMA focuses specifically on the payer-provider relationship. With all-too-familiar patient reviews, must-see statistics, and a transformative case study, this eBook illustrates how easily cloud communications can bring patients, providers, and payers together. Download your copy at go.ringcentral.com/mgma-healthcare.html. Support for this podcast also comes from ilumed
ilumed helps Medicare providers practice better medicine so they can get paid in up to three ways. Whether you’re just starting your value-based-care journey or ready to take it to the next level, ilumed can help you do more for your patients while earning more. ilumed offers simple solutions for a complicated industry. Let’s heal healthcare together. Visit ilumed.com to learn more.

MGMA Week in Review: Breach Notifications, Primary Care Compensation, and Medical Debt Impact

Introduction:
Welcome to another episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams. In this episode, Daniel sits down with Cristy Good, Senior Advisor at MGMA, to chat about the essential Human Resources strategies every medical practice leader should know. Cristy, a former healthcare practice administrator and a co-author of MGMA’s new book, Advanced Strategy for Medical Practice Leaders: Human Resources Management Edition, shares her wealth of experience and practical advice on navigating the complexities of HR in the healthcare industry. Episode Highlights:
1. Introduction to the HR Management Edition:
   - Daniel and Cristy discuss the new book's release and its significance for medical practice leaders.
   - Emphasis on aligning HR strategies with organizational goals to enhance operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. 2. Cristy’s Journey and Insights:
   - Cristy shares her career path from laboratory work to healthcare practice administration, highlighting how these experiences shaped the book’s content.
   - Key lessons learned from her 20 years in healthcare practice management, focusing on HR’s pivotal role. 3. Major Challenges in HR for Medical Practices:
   - Addressing staffing issues, turnover, and burnout in medical practices.
   - Importance of work-life balance and the role of HR in fostering a supportive work environment. 4. Strategic HR Partnership:
   - How HR can help medical practices achieve their goals by partnering strategically on hiring, compliance, and culture building.
   - Real-life examples of effective HR strategies in practice. 5. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for HR:
   - Discussion on essential KPIs such as employee turnover rate, time to fill positions, compliance training, and absentee rate.
   - Importance of tracking these metrics to ensure a high-performing and compliant workforce. 6. Evolution of HR in Healthcare:
   - The impact of AI and technology on HR practices, including recruitment and predictive analytics.
   - Future trends in HR, such as flexible work arrangements and integrating social determinants of health. Quotes:
- “I learned by drinking from a fire hose. I made mistakes and learned from them, and I wanted to share that knowledge to help others.” – Cristy Good
- “HR needs to align with organizational goals. They help set these goals, ensure regulatory compliance, and enhance operational efficiency.” – Cristy Good
- “You don’t want to take the 'human' out of human resources. AI can help, but we need to use it wisely and maintain the human element.” – Cristy Good Resources and Links:
- MGMA “Ask an Advisor” Feature: Go to MGMA.com and click on the green "Ask MGMA" button in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen
- New Book! "Advanced Strategy for Medical Practice Leaders: Human Resources Management Edition"
- Join the MGMA Managing Stress Community Group: Email Daniel Williams at dwilliams@mgma.com or Cristy Good at cgood@mgma.com to join the ongoing stress management sessions.

Today’s podcast is sponsored by RingCentral  RingCentral brings staff, patients, and payers together with compliant cloud communications and a modern call center on any device. A free new ebook from RingCentral and MGMA focuses specifically on the payer-provider relationship. With all-too-familiar patient reviews, must-see statistics, and a transformative case study, this eBook illustrates how easily cloud communications can bring patients, providers, and payers together. Download your copy at go.ringcentral.com/mgma-healthcare.html. Support for this podcast also comes from ilumed
ilumed helps Medicare providers practice better medicine so they can get paid in up to three ways. Whether you’re just starting your value-based-care journey or ready to take it to the next level, ilumed can help you do more for your patients while earning more. ilumed offers simple solutions for a complicated industry. Let’s heal healthcare together. Visit ilumed.com to learn more.

MGMA Insights: Unlocking HR Strategies for Medical Practice Leaders with Cristy Good

In this MGMA Member Spotlight Podcast episode, host Daniel Williams speaks with Tony Schier, Executive Director of Cheyenne Obstetrics and Gynecology, about implementing successful human resources practices. They discuss strategies for developing employee skills, tracking performance goals, conducting effective interviews, and onboarding new hires. Tony contributed to MGMA's newest book, Advanced Strategy for Medical Practice Leaders: Human Resources Management Edition.  
Summary: 
Tony shares how his practice evaluates staff annually and encourages career development through certifications and training. He explains how setting organizational, department, and individual goals tied to key metrics helps improve performance in areas like patient satisfaction. Tony also discusses prioritizing integrity and cultural fit when interviewing candidates. The conversation provides insights on developing employees, implementing performance reviews, and strengthening recruitment practices at small medical offices. Takeaways: - Performance reviews focus on open-ended questions about accomplishments rather than a 1-5 scale to encourage dialogue. Goals are set to improve patient satisfaction scores and financial metrics like days in AR. - When hiring, integrity and cultural fit are priorities. Schirer assesses soft skills during interviews and ensures fairness. - New hires complete onboarding materials online and receive orientation, training, and shadowing with a mentor. Sources:
Cheyenne Obstetrics and Gynecology
Advanced Strategy for Medical Practice Leaders: Human Resources Management Edition MGMA Sources: Ask an Advisor MGMA Membership MGMA Consulting

 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

 Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com. If you have a question for our senior advisor, Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

Today’s podcast is sponsored by RingCentral  RingCentral brings staff, patients, and payers together with compliant cloud communications and a modern call center on any device. A free new ebook from RingCentral and MGMA focuses specifically on the payer-provider relationship. With all-too-familiar patient reviews, must-see statistics, and a transformative case study, this eBook illustrates how easily cloud communications can bring patients, providers, and payers together. Download your copy at go.ringcentral.com/mgma-healthcare.html. Support for this podcast also comes from ilumed
ilumed helps Medicare providers practice better medicine so they can get paid in up to three ways. Whether you’re just starting your value-based-care journey or ready to take it to the next level, ilumed can help you do more for your patients while earning more. ilumed offers simple solutions for a complicated industry. Let’s heal healthcare together. Visit ilumed.com to learn more.

MGMA Insights: Developing Your Team Through HR Strategies for Employee Growth, Performance Management, and Recruitment

In this MGMA Week in Review podcast episode, Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett discuss the shocking costs of ignoring mental health issues, strategies medical groups use to recruit nurses, and ways to prevent physician burnout through mindfulness and partnerships. 
Key Takeaways and Resources:
(Healthcare Finance News) - Colleen shares a recent analysis projecting that avoidable healthcare costs from mental health inequities could reach $1.3 trillion by 2040. 
(Harvard Business Review) - Leaders can improve decision-making by embracing diverse questioning techniques. 
(MGMA Stat) - Despite challenges, medical groups have increased clinician productivity and compensation by 4-6% through strategies like extended hours and increased telehealth usage. 
(MedPage Today)—Despite numerous challenges, medical practices' resilience and adaptability have led to increased productivity and compensation. 
(Medical Economics) - Preventing burnout includes mindfulness practices, congressional support for the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Protection Act, and applying the NIOSH Impact Wellbeing Guide within organizations.  
MGMA Resources: Ask an Advisor MGMA Membership MGMA Consulting

 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

 Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on the member spotlight podcast. Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com or cluckett@mgma.com. If you have a question for our senior advisor, Cristy Good, email advisor@mgma.com.

Today’s podcast is sponsored by RingCentral  RingCentral brings staff, patients, and payers together with compliant cloud communications and a modern call center on any device. A free new ebook from RingCentral and MGMA focuses specifically on the payer-provider relationship. With all-too-familiar patient reviews, must-see statistics, and a transformative case study, this eBook illustrates how easily cloud communications can bring patients, providers, and payers together. Download your copy at go.ringcentral.com/mgma-healthcare.html. Support for this podcast also comes from ilumed
ilumed helps Medicare providers practice better medicine so they can get paid in up to three ways. Whether you’re just starting your value-based-care journey or ready to take it to the next level, ilumed can help you do more for your patients while earning more. ilumed offers simple solutions for a complicated industry. Let’s heal healthcare together. Visit ilumed.com to learn more.

Live From Orlando: Addressing Rural Staffing Challenges

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