Author: Dr. Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 12 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: Is your physician compensation plan aligned with value-based reimbursement?

6 steps to transition your organization to a performance-based physician compensation model Since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, healthcare reimbursement changes are rapidly evolving from primarily volume-based, fee-for-service reimbursement to value-based, risk-sharing accountable care contracts. As a result, physician compensation models that are primarily volume-based must quickly migrate […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 12 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: Bundled payments can be gateway to payment reform

When insurers implement bundled payment projects, they’re transforming care by focusing on quality and lowering costs, making it a strong gateway to propel payment reform, according to a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Institute. In fact, the “most attractive element” of a bundled payment pilot is often the opportunity to prepare for “future demands […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 11 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: No Drop in Malpractice Payments When Caps Rise to $500K

Putting in place noneconomic damage caps appears to reduce payouts more than not having caps, but when caps increased to $500,000, the effect on payments was neutralized, new research shows. Specifically, any cap trimmed average payments by 15% ($42,980) compared with no cap, and a $250,000 cap reduced average payments by 20% ($59,331), researchers report […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 11 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: Prescription Opioids Involved in Most Overdoses Seen in Emergency Departments

In a national study of hospital emergency department visits for opioid overdoses, 67.8% of the overdoses involved prescription opioids (including methadone), followed by heroin, other unspecified opioids, and multiple opioids, according to a study published online by JAMA Internal Medicine. Michael A. Yokell, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, and colleagues analysed the 2010 […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 11 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: Pain, Depression Place Older Adults at Risk of Delirium After Surgery

Pre-operative pain and depressive symptoms in older adults place them at greater risk of delirium following surgery, according to a study published in The Lancet Psychiatry. Both pain and depression are independent and interactive risk factors for delirium, suggesting a cumulative effect. “Understanding the impact of preoperative pain and depression on risk of delirium in […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 11 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: Nellcor Puritan Bennett, 980 Ventilator System: Class I Recall – Software Issue May Stop Ventilator

Food and Drug Administration (US) AUDIENCE: Anesthesiology, Pulmonary, Biomedical Engineering, Risk Manager ISSUE: FDA notified health professionals and their medical care organizations of the Class 1 recall of the Puritan Bennett 980 Ventilator Systems with software versions below 2.8, with distribution dates March 3, 2014 through August 22, 2014 and serial numbers listed here. The […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 11 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: Ebola Updates as of Nov. 9, 2014

I thought our readers would appreciate an update on Ebola. • As of 7 Nov., There have been 13,268 reported Ebola cases in 8 affected countries since the outbreak began, with 4,960 reported deaths. (WHO) • Spain: 83 contacts of health-care workers have completed 21-day follow up. • US: 124 of 177 contacts have completed […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 10 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: 12 common phrases that turn a boss into a jerk

You’re human. You’re entitled to say some obnoxious things now and then. But keep in mind your employees absorb and weigh your words, and they’ll give you a pass on those annoying expressions for only so long. Spew these dozen phrases at your peril: 1. Hold that thought. OK. For how long? Later today? Tomorrow? […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 10 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: Winners thrive on pressure while losers fear it

Pressure. The very word strikes fear into many people. Winners thrive on pressure while losers fear it. What is pressure? My definition of pressure is when you absolutely have to do something you are not prepared to do. If you have to kick a field goal to win a big football game and you aren’t […]

Read More
Uncategorized Published - 10 November, 2014    By - Dr. Clemens
Anesthesia Management: Price transparency picks up speed

This is another interesting article that I thought our reader would like to see. Raw data on pricing doesn’t mean much to the average consumer, who lacks the resources to translate or comprehend it It’s no secret that the price transparency movement has picked up speed and become increasingly complicated for all stakeholders. Though over […]

Read More