The Internet has revolutionized medicine much as it has most areas of modern life, yet one of the most profound areas of impact on medicine concerns neither doctors, hospitals, nor health care providers; it concerns patients. Never before have patients had access to information - and each other - with such speed and ease. The Internet has totally transformed the way doctors deal with patients and the manner in which patients perceive their diseases. Gone are the days of patients receiving all information from their doctors and routinely following that advice. We are living in the age of the empowered patient. The explosion of knowledge and connectivity, especially as promulgated by the ground up, user driven Web 2.0, provides a number of benefits to the art and science of delivering medical care. It also comes with its share of problems.

At the first sign of “tingling,” the average computer literate person turns first to Google, and consequently patients are becoming much more pre-informed about their conditions. Google turns up approximately 85 millions sites under the generic word “symptoms” and 65 million entries for “diagnosis.” Even a relatively obscure condition like “Ataxia” turns up over 2.5 million sites (though at least one site is for the progressive jam band Ataxia). When patients do see their physician, they are often better informed and have a better idea of the various disease entities possibly causing their symptoms. This can cut out time wasting steps and help drive even the hospital phobic to seek medical attention. When doctors recommend certain tests, the patient is more receptive to have them carried out, as they have previously studied them on the Internet. They may even call back or email their MD regarding other tests that they have read about, and whether these additional tests should be included in their workup. While second-guessing from selectively or partially informed patients can be distracting, there’s no question that there are benefits from this redundancy, especially in the minds of the patients who can feel some relief that they are doing everything they can.

I am very pleased to inform members of a new relationship HCMA has implemented with ABC Staffing, Inc. The name ABC Staffing was derived from the desire to offer A Better Choice to clients and employees. 90% of ABC Staffing focuses on and serves the medical profession.

ABC Staffing will provide recruiting and staffing services at a discounted rate for HCMA members. Members will be charged a 49% markup over the established pay-rate…compared to the usual 60-65% mark-up. In addition, members will be charged 15% (of the annual salary) for all direct placements…compared to the usual 20-25%.

ABC Staffing provides only highly qualified employees. Their philosophy is simple, “When you provide the best options for clients and employees, the result is success for all.” ABC Staffing has the processes in place to ensure HCMA members receive only the employees that meet their established standards.

“This letter is to inform you there is a pending investigation against your license to practice medicine in the State of Florida.” No physician ever wants to receive a letter that begins this way; however, it could happen to any one of us. Why? There are a variety of reasons, amongst other issues, which I’ll discuss in this article in an attempt to help you better understand the system and “how it works.”

First, it is important to be aware of some of the basics. A complaint against your medical license can be filed by a variety of sources - the most common being from the Department of Financial Services (closed malpractice claims), a healthcare facility, other healthcare providers, attorneys, patients, their families, or just about anyone!

Active members can pay dues online ($350 per year). Log in and click on the PayPal link.  If you are not an Active member (Associate, Retired, Life, Student, etc) please call the HCMA at 813.253.0471 and you can pay by credit card over the phone.

Information for practice managers and staff members

What is the leading complaint in patient satisfaction studies? Long wait time. Patients frequently feel that wait time equates to Physicians not caring about them or their needs. Many Doctors find that patients are annoyed or unhappy by the time the patient enters the exam room. Long wait time has even been argued as a failure to respond timely to a patient’s medical concern. Here are some ways to avoid this contributing
cause of many claims: