Medical practices will need to create six key roles in order to adapt to the changing healthcare industry, according to Michael Sappington, CEO of gloStream, a performance management services firm.
1. Business development. Practices should have a staff member who networks with other practices and attends seminars, according to Mr. Sappington.
2. Patient advocate and outreach manager. This staff member serves as a relationship manager for patient interactions from appointment scheduling to follow-ups. The practice should see patient relationships as crucial for growth.
3. Risk and compliance specialist. For practices to achieve continued business success, Mr. Sappington wrote they need someone who analyzes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and makes compliance situations as smooth as possible.
4. Coding performance manager. With the transition to ICD-10 coming up, practices should appoint a coding specialist or business efficiency manager who reviews all coded procedures for efficiency and accuracy.
5. Referral manager. Practices should participate in a referral network to create a smooth transitional experience for the patient, according to Mr. Sappington. A referral manager can look at how the practice can leverage existing channels and seek new referral networks.
6. Business and clinical information analyst. Outcomes efficiencies are a practice’s “means to an end,” Mr. Sappington wrote. The staff member serving in this role would consider both the practice’s ability to get paid for services and what patients are looking for based on their visit.
Read Mr. Sappington’s full blog post here.
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