And four more news items for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and CRNAs to peruse this week
- The American Medical Association (AMA) offers clarity for physicians on the new Medicare Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) via an AMA Wire post. Reflecting the message conveyed in its “Thriving Under MIPS—Where to Start?” webinar, the AMA says the program can be broken into four manageable steps to help physicians determine where they are in the process and what to do next. The article also covers the topics of exemption, key considerations to avoid a penalty, and resources.
- Although physicians’ knowledge of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation’s Choosing Wisely campaign is said to have been low, according to Healio, data published in Health Affairs indicates the majority of doctors who were aware of it considered it useful and valuable. Introduced five years ago, the campaign was established to speak to low-value care and further awareness about sidestepping needless tests, treatments, and procedures.
- Physicians are pushed to be more productive, document clinical data, gauge patient satisfaction, and more. Consequently, as numerous studies indicate, many providers are thinking about leaving their profession or are coping with depression, fatigue, and/or a sense of detachment. Harvard Business Review highlights the results of a recent survey, led by athenahealth and the Harvard Business School, and looks at how self-perceived capability could help doctors avoid burnout.
- SelectHub, a technology selection management company, surveyed just over 1,000 Americans with access to electronic health records (EHRs) and 107 medical professionals concerning their perceptions and experiences with using EHRs. As reported by MedCityNews, the findings reveal 53.5 percent of healthcare professionals have a positive view and 33.7 percent a very positive stance regarding the technology, which is somewhat remarkable given many other accounts on the subject. Of the patients who responded, 60.4 percent voiced a positive opinion of EHRs and 19.7 had a very positive opinion of the digitally stored data.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its employment projections for 2016 through 2026. The 10 fastest-growing occupations for this period include physician assistant (37.4 percent) and nurse practitioner (36 percent). Moreover, the BLS news release states employment in the healthcare and social assistance sector is projected to add approximately 4 million jobs—roughly a third of all new jobs—by 2026.
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