DOCTORS ’ LOUNGE
DOCTORS ’ LOUNGE
paper chart anymore , CDs with images from other locations are misfiled while awaiting transition into the EMR , and can be lost . The result is a missed malignancy , and a patient who has an adverse outcome without even the chance to change the course of her disease . Blame a sloppy doctor if you want , and that is at least partially fair . Sloppy or lazy doctors get no quarter from me . But mostly blame a system which has evolved to reward the greed of hospital systems and the C-suite executives within them who live a cushy life at patients ’ expense . Blame the greed of those who are untrained and incompletely educated , who want to practice medicine by legislation instead of education . Blame the politicians who support whichever group has contributed most recently to their reelection , regardless of the effect on the health of the citizens they purport to serve .
Blame the fact that physicians are expected to do more and more with less and less time to fulfill purposes that have absolutely nothing to do with the quality of medicine , but simply to provide the appearance that quality is important . Blame a disheartened profession , whose disenchantment diffuses throughout the hospital or office , effecting a similar sense of lack of professional status in all personnel , from the office manager to the appointment clerk , to the billing manager . When a patient is ill , the last thing she wants to hear is a disinterested voice coldly telling her that the next appointment is four weeks out .
Do I have an answer ? I fear not . I am , however , angry at those in our community , both geographic and professional , who have , through their greed , avarice and egomania turned the greatest profession in the world into a herd of sheep constantly waiting for the next fleecing , and even more importantly , taken away the faith , belief and that
“ mysticism of medical practice ” that was the bond between physician and patient : the one thing that caused the patient encounter to be a search for excellence instead of just another RVU to click off the list in order to meet the monthly quota established by the hospital system .
Larry Griffin , MD , is the director for Women ’ s Health Policy at Passport Health Plan .
PHYSICIAN EDUCATION & PRACTICE SUPPORT
physician . education @ glms . org 502-736-6354
PATIENT CENTERED MEDICAL HOME AND PATIENT CENTERED SPECIALTY PRACTICE
FREE GAP ANALYSIS First come , first serve
GLMS is offering , on a first come first serve basis , the opportunity for member practices * to receive a free PCMH / PCSP gap-analysis ( a $ 500 value .) Our NCQA-certified PCMH Certified Content Experts ( CCEs ) will also be available on a fee-for-service basis if further assistance is needed for :
• Creation of PCMH policies and procedures
• Staff coaching
• Workflow redesign
• Performance improvement planning
• Assisting with the NCQA PCMH / PCSP application process
For more information , please contact the GLMS Physician Education & Practice Support Department at physician . education @ glms . org or 502-736-6354 .
*
GLMS member practices are defined as having 75 percent or more physicians as GLMS members
30 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE