Medical Staff Services

Some of the leading causes of hospital readmissions and poor health outcomes can be attributed to ineffective care practices and dated procedures. Not only do these inefficiencies hinder an organization’s ability to deliver quality care, it can impact the patient experience, its reputation, bottom line and much more.

As healthcare organizations focus more on value-based care rather than volume-based and also deal with other strategic issues, the role of medical services professionals (MSPs) is changing. Once seen as an administrative role, MSPs are increasingly asked to provide strategy and value — and that can be a challenge.

Last week, medical services professionals (MSPs) gathered at The Broadmoor in scenic Colorado Springs to advance their careers during the 41st National Association Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) Educational Conference and Exhibition. The 2017 conference theme, “New Heights and New Horizons,” not only reflects the changing environment of the medical staff profession, but also the new era of the professional organization. At the closing of Monday morning’s keynote presentation, NAMSS President Susan DuBois revealed a rebranded logo along with the new tagline: “Education. Advocacy.

The current attitude toward employment in the healthcare workforce is not where it used to be. This is especially true for physicians who own their own practice and are employed by a hospital or healthcare facility, according to a 2017 survey released by Physicians Practice.

This year has had its fair share of devastating storms and wildfires, highlighting the importance of preparedness for natural disasters. The need for being prepared goes double for healthcare organizations, which play a front-line role in helping people recover from disasters. Is your organization ready?

Patient safety is an ongoing issue across the continuum of care. This includes workplace safety, healthcare-acquired infections, and medical errors, just to name a few examples. In fact, a study finds that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease and cancer. Respondents say that the contributing factors that led to medical errors include:

Since the transition from fee-for-service (FFS) to value-based care, customer service in healthcare has been a hot topic among physicians and medical service professionals (MSPs). No longer are physicians to receive payments based on the quantity of care; reimbursements are now contingent on the quality of care—aiming to reduce readmission rates and improve patient outcomes.

As more physicians become employees, they represent a valuable potential resource for healthcare employers. Physicians who can also serve as leaders can help uphold an organization’s culture, mission and values — but only if they know how. Too often they are expected to lead without getting any training on how to do so, experts say.

Medical Services Professionals (MSPs) are the gatekeepers of patient safety for healthcare organizations. In the last few years, their roles have expanded beyond credentialing to include provider enrollment, onboarding, ongoing and focused professional practice evaluation (OPPE/FPPE), and standardization across health systems and other entities.

In recent years, healthcare organizations have experienced an expansion of physician employment. The healthcare landscape is changing compared to what it looked like ten years ago, but what does this mean for Medical Staff Services?