Mid-revenue cycle professionals must ask: What would make our physicians’ lives easier?

By Brian Murphy

Every so often—check that, on a regular basis—it pays to step back and think about the physician.

We are pushing ever more complex, freighted decisions on the MD. Asking for more, and for less reimbursement. Instead of focusing on just optimal coding and documentation, we should also ask: How can we make physician’s lives easier?

A recent article by Becker’s on this subject caught my eye. I found it a rich reminder of the plight of the overburdened MD. But also what mid-revenue cycle professionals and the tech industry might do to ease the burden.

The link to the full article is below. It’s a series of short interviews with real MDs in their own words. I recommend it. Unfortunately, none of their problems are easy fixes (if they were, they’d be fixed already) but regardless of whether they can be improved in the short term, hearing the provider perspective is worth your time. And might spark an idea or two.

Here’s the list:

1. Targeted technology to reduce administrative burden.
2. Removal of preauthorizations. Unfortunately this one requires the cooperation of insurers (United, are you listening?), but HIM and CDI professionals can play a role by taking a first pass.
3. Fair enforcement of HIPAA administrative simplification requirements. Some great points made about the benefits of enforcing an existing law.
4. Elimination of check box quality measures. Many have talked about how hard it is to truly measure quality, but one way to get it wrong is death by clicks.
5. Reduced reliance on publicly reported and patient satisfaction measures. I found this one perhaps the most interesting. As mergers increase and organizations grow, competition for patients has grown. Public perception is pushed to the forefront. Hospitals are leaning heavily into U.S. News and World report rankings, Leapfrog grades, and more … but has anyone asked the physician what they think, or how they are personally impacted?

Brian Neal, attending physician at Huntington Hospital and South Shore Emergency Department of Northwell Health, raises some fantastic points.

An ED physician, Neal estimates he sees 4,320 patients per year, but only around 120 surveys are returned annually — less than 3%. Says Neal:

“These surveys often come from patients who are not critically ill or admitted, and the feedback typically does not reflect the complexity or acuity of the care delivered. Basing physician evaluations, compensation or institutional rankings on such a small, nonrepresentative sample is not only statistically flawed but also harmful to morale … The shift toward value-based care should not confuse customer service with medical care.”

It seems AI can help here on the patient messaging front, with automated surveys in in friendly ChatGPT language. It’s also a call for improved case management messaging, outreach, and post-procedure follow-up.

Overall the article is a good reminder that the women and men serving under the Hippocratic oath to heal and not harm are themselves hurting, and need some healing directed their way.

What do you think? Does anything on this list surprise you? Is there anything you’ve found effective for emoting with physicians and easing their burdens? Send me your comment to brian.murphy@norwood.com.

Reference

Becker’s, “What Would Make Physician’s Lives Easier.” https://www.beckersphysicianleadership.com/physician-workforce/what-would-make-physicians-lives-easier/