Improving Quality Measures - March 2012
Many insurance carriers have begun the shift from fee-for-service to value-based provider payment. California health plans such as United Healthcare, Cigna, Blue Shield of California and Aetna are now defining the quality measures that are an integral part of value-based payment.

Team-Based Care in a Patient Centered Medical Home - December 2011
It is remarkable to see various members of the care team performing synchronized tasks, each doing their part to create a seemingly effortless, well-orchestrated patient experience.

Leverage Your Medical Home to Reduce Unplanned Hospital Re-admissions - June 2011
Hospital re-admissions pose significant quality of care issues for physicians and hospitals nationwide. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 19 percent of Medicare fee-for-service patients were re-admitted in California within 30 days of discharge.

20 Things Family Physicians Should Know About ACOs - May 2011
On March 31, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a new rule governing Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The proposed rule details the requirements for eligibility and participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), Medicare's ACO program.

Moving Muda Out of Your Practice - March 2011
A family physician practice has numerous work processes operating at any given time. From treating patients with congestive heart failure to messaging patients, every day at the office is a busy one.

The Timely Access Regulation - What It Means to You - February 2011
On January 17, 2011, California health plans adopted policies that implemented the 2002 Timely Access Law (TAL).  

Whose Medical Home is It? Four Steps to Make Sure Your Medical Home is Patient Centered - December 2010
The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) concept is broadly recognized as an innovative care delivery model that will improve access and quality and reduce costs.

Is it Time for a Legal Check-Up?  February 2010
You know what a medical check-up entails, but what is a legal "physical"?  And why might you need one?  

Three Strategies to Improve Access and Make Office Visits More Patient-Centered - August 2009
The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model appropriately emphasizes the importance of improving patient access and patient experience.

Panel Management News - May 2009
Panel management is emerging as an important strategy for monitoring and improving patient care. It can be particularly useful if you participate in pay-for-performance or are considering National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recognition as a Patient Centered Medical Home.   

What is a Data Wall and How Can it Enhance Your Work? - July 2008
As accountability for systems and clinical improvements increases, many practices are using data walls to post and share relevant data. For those not already familiar with this tool, a data wall can be as simple as a bulletin board on which both current and relevant practice data are posted. 

The Patient-Centered Medical Home: Fad or Key to a Sustainable Future? - April 2008
At first glance, the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) may look like another laundry list of practice redesign strategies. Further examination, however, reveals a comprehensive roadmap to a sustainable future for family medicine and primary care.

Do Patients Belong on Your Care Team - April 2007
Forty-five-year-old diabetic patient Clarissa Martinez has an appointment today. It's only April, but she's had five office visits this year, most for minor problems.

Where to Start on Improvement - February 2007
It's Monday morning and the phones at Dr. Artoro's office are ringing nonstop. His first patient is concerned about the results of her recent colonoscopy, but there are no procedure results in her chart.

Preparing For Advanced Access Scheduling - June 2006
Advanced-access scheduling, also referred to as open-access scheduling, enables patients to schedule same-day office visits. Initiated at Kaiser Permanente in Roseville, Calif., by Mark Murray, MD, and Catherine Tantau, RN, advanced access and its various forms have been implemented in many practices nationwide.

Getting Started With Planned Care - February 2006
Do you have 825 hours to care for your patients with chronic disease? That's the amount of time it would take to provide care as advised in national guidelines for well-controlled patients with the top 10 chronic diseases for a panel of 2,500 patients.

Three Keys to Sustainable Redesign - December 2005
During a clinical redesign project several years ago, I spent time with the medical director (Dr. D) of a group in Oregon, observing patient flow and accompanying him during a number of patient visits.

Why and How To Initiate Simple Change - June 2005
In today's challenging health care environment, many physicians feel overwhelmed just keeping up with each day's workload. However, reacting only to today's urgent demands without addressing the important issues that shape the workload can lead to chronic frustration and even burnout.