Brendon Shank

When it comes to Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and a host of other healthcare-reform-related topics, hospitalists have lots of good questions, such as:

• When does the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier (VBPM) take effect? And will I be included?
• Which primary-care services are covered by the increased Medicaid payments?
• Are hospitalists eligible to bill for Medicare’s new CPT Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes? (see “New Codes Bridge Billing Gap,”).

Now, SHM’s Public Policy Committee has answered all of the above—and many more—in a set of three “Frequently Asked Questions” documents available at www.hospitalmedicine.org/advocacy. Each document goes in-depth on the most cutting-edge policy issues that are top of mind for hospitalists and the hospitals they serve on these issues:

The Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier (VBPM): The VBPM seeks to connect cost and quality of services in order to begin reimbursement for the value, rather than the quantity, of care. It combines the quality measuring in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), cost measures, and a payment adjustment for physicians. Measurement begins this year, and many hospitalists will be included.

Medicaid/Medicare parity regulation: On Nov. 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final regulations implementing Section 1202 of the Affordable Care Act, which increases Medicaid payments for specified primary-care services to 100% of Medicare levels in 2013 and 2014.

New CPT Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes 99495-99496: CMS has created two new CPT Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes designed to improve care coordination and provide better incentives to ensure patients are seen in a physician’s office, rather than be at risk for readmission.

New Action: Getting Involved Just Got Easier

SHM’s Legislative Action Center also makes getting involved easier with a new grassroots outreach tool called Voter Voice. SHM’s first action alert on Voter Voice was sent to members in December. Hospitalists’ willingness to take a few minutes and contact their congressional leaders using Voter Voice increased SHM’s visibility to Congress by nearly five times compared with prior similar alerts.

Getting involved is easy and only takes a few seconds. You can use either your ZIP code to look up your members of Congress or search active legislation by keyword. SHM members can sign up for SHM Legislative Action Center alerts by entering their email address.

To download the new SHM advocacy FAQs or use the improved Legislative Action Center, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/advocacy.

When it comes to Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and a host of other healthcare-reform-related topics, hospitalists have lots of good questions, such as:

• When does the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier (VBPM) take effect? And will I be included?
• Which primary-care services are covered by the increased Medicaid payments?
• Are hospitalists eligible to bill for Medicare’s new CPT Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes? (see “New Codes Bridge Billing Gap,”).

Now, SHM’s Public Policy Committee has answered all of the above—and many more—in a set of three “Frequently Asked Questions” documents available at www.hospitalmedicine.org/advocacy. Each document goes in-depth on the most cutting-edge policy issues that are top of mind for hospitalists and the hospitals they serve on these issues:

The Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier (VBPM): The VBPM seeks to connect cost and quality of services in order to begin reimbursement for the value, rather than the quantity, of care. It combines the quality measuring in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), cost measures, and a payment adjustment for physicians. Measurement begins this year, and many hospitalists will be included.

Medicaid/Medicare parity regulation: On Nov. 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final regulations implementing Section 1202 of the Affordable Care Act, which increases Medicaid payments for specified primary-care services to 100% of Medicare levels in 2013 and 2014.

New CPT Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes 99495-99496: CMS has created two new CPT Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes designed to improve care coordination and provide better incentives to ensure patients are seen in a physician’s office, rather than be at risk for readmission.

New Action: Getting Involved Just Got Easier

SHM’s Legislative Action Center also makes getting involved easier with a new grassroots outreach tool called Voter Voice. SHM’s first action alert on Voter Voice was sent to members in December. Hospitalists’ willingness to take a few minutes and contact their congressional leaders using Voter Voice increased SHM’s visibility to Congress by nearly five times compared with prior similar alerts.

Getting involved is easy and only takes a few seconds. You can use either your ZIP code to look up your members of Congress or search active legislation by keyword. SHM members can sign up for SHM Legislative Action Center alerts by entering their email address.

To download the new SHM advocacy FAQs or use the improved Legislative Action Center, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/advocacy.

When it comes to Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and a host of other healthcare-reform-related topics, hospitalists have lots of good questions, such as:

• When does the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier (VBPM) take effect? And will I be included?
• Which primary-care services are covered by the increased Medicaid payments?
• Are hospitalists eligible to bill for Medicare’s new CPT Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes? (see “New Codes Bridge Billing Gap,”).

Now, SHM’s Public Policy Committee has answered all of the above—and many more—in a set of three “Frequently Asked Questions” documents available at www.hospitalmedicine.org/advocacy. Each document goes in-depth on the most cutting-edge policy issues that are top of mind for hospitalists and the hospitals they serve on these issues:

The Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier (VBPM): The VBPM seeks to connect cost and quality of services in order to begin reimbursement for the value, rather than the quantity, of care. It combines the quality measuring in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), cost measures, and a payment adjustment for physicians. Measurement begins this year, and many hospitalists will be included.

Medicaid/Medicare parity regulation: On Nov. 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final regulations implementing Section 1202 of the Affordable Care Act, which increases Medicaid payments for specified primary-care services to 100% of Medicare levels in 2013 and 2014.

New CPT Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes 99495-99496: CMS has created two new CPT Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes designed to improve care coordination and provide better incentives to ensure patients are seen in a physician’s office, rather than be at risk for readmission.

New Action: Getting Involved Just Got Easier

SHM’s Legislative Action Center also makes getting involved easier with a new grassroots outreach tool called Voter Voice. SHM’s first action alert on Voter Voice was sent to members in December. Hospitalists’ willingness to take a few minutes and contact their congressional leaders using Voter Voice increased SHM’s visibility to Congress by nearly five times compared with prior similar alerts.

Getting involved is easy and only takes a few seconds. You can use either your ZIP code to look up your members of Congress or search active legislation by keyword. SHM members can sign up for SHM Legislative Action Center alerts by entering their email address.

To download the new SHM advocacy FAQs or use the improved Legislative Action Center, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/advocacy.

Medical claim form established by CMS to submit paper claims to Medicare and Medicaid. Most commercial insurance carriers also require paper claims be submitted on CMS 1500s. The form is distinguished by its red ink.

Medical claim form established by CMS to submit paper claims to Medicare and Medicaid. Most commercial insurance carriers also require paper claims be submitted on CMS 1500s. The form is distinguished by its red ink.

Medical claim form established by CMS to submit paper claims to Medicare and Medicaid. Most commercial insurance carriers also require paper claims be submitted on CMS 1500s. The form is distinguished by its red ink.

After the welcomes and plenary sessions by leaders in healthcare, will you go to a breakout session called “More Non-Evidence-Based Medicine: Things We Do for No Reason” or the workshop on point-of-care evidence?

Now is the time to start deciding with the new HM13 “Day at a Glance” schedules, available at www.hospitalmedicine2013.org. With more than 100 events, sessions, and work groups, the schedule is a roadmap for hospitalists planning their annual meeting experience in advance.

This year, hospitalists will have extra help in planning their HM13 strategy digitally. For the first time, hospitalists will be able to use their smartphones and tablet devices to review the HM13 agenda and plan their own personal schedules before they arrive at the conference.

To download a printable PDF of the HM13 “Day at a Glance,” visit www.hospitalmedicine2013.org/pdf/At-A-Glance.pdf.

After the welcomes and plenary sessions by leaders in healthcare, will you go to a breakout session called “More Non-Evidence-Based Medicine: Things We Do for No Reason” or the workshop on point-of-care evidence?

Now is the time to start deciding with the new HM13 “Day at a Glance” schedules, available at www.hospitalmedicine2013.org. With more than 100 events, sessions, and work groups, the schedule is a roadmap for hospitalists planning their annual meeting experience in advance.

This year, hospitalists will have extra help in planning their HM13 strategy digitally. For the first time, hospitalists will be able to use their smartphones and tablet devices to review the HM13 agenda and plan their own personal schedules before they arrive at the conference.

To download a printable PDF of the HM13 “Day at a Glance,” visit www.hospitalmedicine2013.org/pdf/At-A-Glance.pdf.

After the welcomes and plenary sessions by leaders in healthcare, will you go to a breakout session called “More Non-Evidence-Based Medicine: Things We Do for No Reason” or the workshop on point-of-care evidence?

Now is the time to start deciding with the new HM13 “Day at a Glance” schedules, available at www.hospitalmedicine2013.org. With more than 100 events, sessions, and work groups, the schedule is a roadmap for hospitalists planning their annual meeting experience in advance.

This year, hospitalists will have extra help in planning their HM13 strategy digitally. For the first time, hospitalists will be able to use their smartphones and tablet devices to review the HM13 agenda and plan their own personal schedules before they arrive at the conference.

To download a printable PDF of the HM13 “Day at a Glance,” visit www.hospitalmedicine2013.org/pdf/At-A-Glance.pdf.

This month, hospitalists will be a vital part of Choosing Wisely, an important public initiative from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation that identifies treatments and procedures that might be overused by caregivers.

On Feb. 21 in Washington, D.C., the ABIM Foundation, SHM, and more than a dozen other medical specialties will announce recommendations that, in the ABIM Foundation’s words, “represent specific, evidence-based recommendations physicians and patients should discuss to help make wise decisions about the most appropriate care based on their individual situation.” Hospitalists who helped SHM develop its recommendations will be in attendance to help field questions about SHM’s work with Choosing Wisely and its lists.

SHM has developed two lists of recommendations: one for adult HM and another for pediatric HM. SHM will make a special announcement Feb. 21 in The Hospitalist eWire with both lists and commentary for how hospitalists can have informed conversations with their patients about the lists. The Hospitalist will follow up with a feature story and other information about Choosing Wisely in its March issue.

As part of the campaign, the ABIM Foundation, SHM, and consumer magazine Consumer Reports have teamed up to develop material specifically designed to educate patients about the Choosing Wisely recommendations. Materials will be available on the ABIM Foundation and SHM websites.

SHM will continue the conversation about high-value care and working with patients to make wise decisions well beyond February and March. At HM13, SHM’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., SHM will offer a pre-course on Choosing Wisely and its philosophy. The pre-course is May 16, the day before the official start of HM13.

For more information about Choosing Wisely, visit www.choosingwisely.org. To register for the Choosing Wisely pre-course at HM13, visit www.hospitalmedicine2013.org.

This month, hospitalists will be a vital part of Choosing Wisely, an important public initiative from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation that identifies treatments and procedures that might be overused by caregivers.

On Feb. 21 in Washington, D.C., the ABIM Foundation, SHM, and more than a dozen other medical specialties will announce recommendations that, in the ABIM Foundation’s words, “represent specific, evidence-based recommendations physicians and patients should discuss to help make wise decisions about the most appropriate care based on their individual situation.” Hospitalists who helped SHM develop its recommendations will be in attendance to help field questions about SHM’s work with Choosing Wisely and its lists.

SHM has developed two lists of recommendations: one for adult HM and another for pediatric HM. SHM will make a special announcement Feb. 21 in The Hospitalist eWire with both lists and commentary for how hospitalists can have informed conversations with their patients about the lists. The Hospitalist will follow up with a feature story and other information about Choosing Wisely in its March issue.

As part of the campaign, the ABIM Foundation, SHM, and consumer magazine Consumer Reports have teamed up to develop material specifically designed to educate patients about the Choosing Wisely recommendations. Materials will be available on the ABIM Foundation and SHM websites.

SHM will continue the conversation about high-value care and working with patients to make wise decisions well beyond February and March. At HM13, SHM’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., SHM will offer a pre-course on Choosing Wisely and its philosophy. The pre-course is May 16, the day before the official start of HM13.

For more information about Choosing Wisely, visit www.choosingwisely.org. To register for the Choosing Wisely pre-course at HM13, visit www.hospitalmedicine2013.org.

This month, hospitalists will be a vital part of Choosing Wisely, an important public initiative from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation that identifies treatments and procedures that might be overused by caregivers.

On Feb. 21 in Washington, D.C., the ABIM Foundation, SHM, and more than a dozen other medical specialties will announce recommendations that, in the ABIM Foundation’s words, “represent specific, evidence-based recommendations physicians and patients should discuss to help make wise decisions about the most appropriate care based on their individual situation.” Hospitalists who helped SHM develop its recommendations will be in attendance to help field questions about SHM’s work with Choosing Wisely and its lists.

SHM has developed two lists of recommendations: one for adult HM and another for pediatric HM. SHM will make a special announcement Feb. 21 in The Hospitalist eWire with both lists and commentary for how hospitalists can have informed conversations with their patients about the lists. The Hospitalist will follow up with a feature story and other information about Choosing Wisely in its March issue.

As part of the campaign, the ABIM Foundation, SHM, and consumer magazine Consumer Reports have teamed up to develop material specifically designed to educate patients about the Choosing Wisely recommendations. Materials will be available on the ABIM Foundation and SHM websites.

SHM will continue the conversation about high-value care and working with patients to make wise decisions well beyond February and March. At HM13, SHM’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., SHM will offer a pre-course on Choosing Wisely and its philosophy. The pre-course is May 16, the day before the official start of HM13.

For more information about Choosing Wisely, visit www.choosingwisely.org. To register for the Choosing Wisely pre-course at HM13, visit www.hospitalmedicine2013.org.

If you’re ready to demonstrate your commitment to HM and hospitalized patients, you still have time to submit your SHM fellowship application.

The deadline for 2013 applications is Jan. 18. To apply online or learn more, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/fellows.

The class of 2013 Fellows will be inducted during a plenary session at SHM’s annual meeting in May in National Harbor, Md.

This year’s class will reach a milestone—not just for hospital medicine, but for all of healthcare. SHM has expanded eligibility in its Fellowship in Hospital Medicine program to include nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and HM practice administrators. By opening the designation to nonphysicians, SHM becomes the only medical society to offer a singular designation to the entire care team.

SHM members who meet eligibility criteria are recognized as Fellows each year at the annual meeting. Based on current membership, SHM estimates that more than 300 NPs, PAs, and administrators are eligible immediately; thousands more will be eligible after they meet the three-year membership requirement for fellow status.

“We are proud to be able to recognize excellence within the specialty and contributions to the field by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and practice administrators,” says SHM President Shaun Frost, MD, SFHM. “The standards by which SHM fellows are measured promote the highest quality of patient care and systems efficiency. And they can be equally applied to physicians, NPs, PAs, and administrators within the hospital medicine specialty.”

SHM’s Fellows program is rooted in the society’s Core Competencies in Hospital Medicine, and those who earn the Fellow in Hospital Medicine (FHM) or Senior Fellow in Hospital Medicine (SFHM) designation have demonstrated a commitment to hospital medicine, system change, and quality-improvement (QI) principles.

All candidates for the designation are required to submit applications that demonstrate experience, organizational teamwork and leadership, and a dedication to lifelong learning. Applicants must receive endorsement from practitioners in the field and are subject to committee review.

“Hospital medicine was built on the principle that caregivers must act as a team,” Dr. Frost says. “We are honored to recognize more members of that team today through our Fellows designation.”

Brendon Shank is associate vice president of communications for SHM.

If you’re ready to demonstrate your commitment to HM and hospitalized patients, you still have time to submit your SHM fellowship application.

The deadline for 2013 applications is Jan. 18. To apply online or learn more, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/fellows.

The class of 2013 Fellows will be inducted during a plenary session at SHM’s annual meeting in May in National Harbor, Md.

This year’s class will reach a milestone—not just for hospital medicine, but for all of healthcare. SHM has expanded eligibility in its Fellowship in Hospital Medicine program to include nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and HM practice administrators. By opening the designation to nonphysicians, SHM becomes the only medical society to offer a singular designation to the entire care team.

SHM members who meet eligibility criteria are recognized as Fellows each year at the annual meeting. Based on current membership, SHM estimates that more than 300 NPs, PAs, and administrators are eligible immediately; thousands more will be eligible after they meet the three-year membership requirement for fellow status.

“We are proud to be able to recognize excellence within the specialty and contributions to the field by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and practice administrators,” says SHM President Shaun Frost, MD, SFHM. “The standards by which SHM fellows are measured promote the highest quality of patient care and systems efficiency. And they can be equally applied to physicians, NPs, PAs, and administrators within the hospital medicine specialty.”

SHM’s Fellows program is rooted in the society’s Core Competencies in Hospital Medicine, and those who earn the Fellow in Hospital Medicine (FHM) or Senior Fellow in Hospital Medicine (SFHM) designation have demonstrated a commitment to hospital medicine, system change, and quality-improvement (QI) principles.

All candidates for the designation are required to submit applications that demonstrate experience, organizational teamwork and leadership, and a dedication to lifelong learning. Applicants must receive endorsement from practitioners in the field and are subject to committee review.

“Hospital medicine was built on the principle that caregivers must act as a team,” Dr. Frost says. “We are honored to recognize more members of that team today through our Fellows designation.”

Brendon Shank is associate vice president of communications for SHM.

If you’re ready to demonstrate your commitment to HM and hospitalized patients, you still have time to submit your SHM fellowship application.

The deadline for 2013 applications is Jan. 18. To apply online or learn more, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/fellows.

The class of 2013 Fellows will be inducted during a plenary session at SHM’s annual meeting in May in National Harbor, Md.

This year’s class will reach a milestone—not just for hospital medicine, but for all of healthcare. SHM has expanded eligibility in its Fellowship in Hospital Medicine program to include nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), and HM practice administrators. By opening the designation to nonphysicians, SHM becomes the only medical society to offer a singular designation to the entire care team.

SHM members who meet eligibility criteria are recognized as Fellows each year at the annual meeting. Based on current membership, SHM estimates that more than 300 NPs, PAs, and administrators are eligible immediately; thousands more will be eligible after they meet the three-year membership requirement for fellow status.

“We are proud to be able to recognize excellence within the specialty and contributions to the field by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and practice administrators,” says SHM President Shaun Frost, MD, SFHM. “The standards by which SHM fellows are measured promote the highest quality of patient care and systems efficiency. And they can be equally applied to physicians, NPs, PAs, and administrators within the hospital medicine specialty.”

SHM’s Fellows program is rooted in the society’s Core Competencies in Hospital Medicine, and those who earn the Fellow in Hospital Medicine (FHM) or Senior Fellow in Hospital Medicine (SFHM) designation have demonstrated a commitment to hospital medicine, system change, and quality-improvement (QI) principles.

All candidates for the designation are required to submit applications that demonstrate experience, organizational teamwork and leadership, and a dedication to lifelong learning. Applicants must receive endorsement from practitioners in the field and are subject to committee review.

“Hospital medicine was built on the principle that caregivers must act as a team,” Dr. Frost says. “We are honored to recognize more members of that team today through our Fellows designation.”

Brendon Shank is associate vice president of communications for SHM.

Years ago, hospitalists were introduced as new, efficient options for staffing hospitals. Today, they are known as the quarterbacks for patient care and quality improvement (QI) within the hospital.

This year, hospitalists everywhere can help their hospitals resolve to make 2013 a landmark year for QI. And making time for quality improvement need not be a major investment, nor do you have to “reinvent the wheel” and create your own programs.

SHM’s full menu of QI options gives hospitalists and other caregivers the confidence that their program is field-tested as well as the ability to choose the level of involvement that’s right for them.

For more information, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/qi.

Years ago, hospitalists were introduced as new, efficient options for staffing hospitals. Today, they are known as the quarterbacks for patient care and quality improvement (QI) within the hospital.

This year, hospitalists everywhere can help their hospitals resolve to make 2013 a landmark year for QI. And making time for quality improvement need not be a major investment, nor do you have to “reinvent the wheel” and create your own programs.

SHM’s full menu of QI options gives hospitalists and other caregivers the confidence that their program is field-tested as well as the ability to choose the level of involvement that’s right for them.

For more information, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/qi.

Years ago, hospitalists were introduced as new, efficient options for staffing hospitals. Today, they are known as the quarterbacks for patient care and quality improvement (QI) within the hospital.

This year, hospitalists everywhere can help their hospitals resolve to make 2013 a landmark year for QI. And making time for quality improvement need not be a major investment, nor do you have to “reinvent the wheel” and create your own programs.

SHM’s full menu of QI options gives hospitalists and other caregivers the confidence that their program is field-tested as well as the ability to choose the level of involvement that’s right for them.

For more information, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/qi.

In hospital medicine, what a hospitalist doesn’t do can be just as important as what he or she does do.

That’s why SHM and hospitalist experts from across the country collaborated with the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation on its groundbreaking Choosing Wisely campaign to publish 10 procedures that hospitalists should think twice about before conducting. Together, with more than a dozen medical specialties, SHM will announce the list of procedures in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21.

Of the medical specialties contributing lists to Choosing Wisely, SHM is unique in that it will publish two lists (each with five recommendations): one for adult HM and another for pediatric HM.

Once the recommendations have been made public, hospitalists will have multiple ways of learning about them. SHM will publish the recommendations online, via email, and in The Hospitalist. Details about the unique process of developing the Choosing Wisely lists—and the impact they will have on everyday hospitalist practice—will be published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Others in healthcare, including patients and family members, will have a chance to learn about Choosing Wisely through a partnership with Consumer Reports and the public dialogue that the campaign hopes to generate.

SHM President Shaun Frost, MD, SFHM, has been unequivocal in his support for the campaign and has urged all hospitalists to support it as well. “Attention to care affordability and experience are essential to reforming our broken healthcare system, so let’s lead the charge in these areas and help others who are doing the same,” Dr. Frost wrote in the November 2012 issue of The Hospitalist.

To get more involved with this industry-changing campaign, visit www.choosingwisely.org and check out the upcoming Choosing Wisely pre-course at SHM’s annual meeting at www.hospitalmedicine2013.org.

In hospital medicine, what a hospitalist doesn’t do can be just as important as what he or she does do.

That’s why SHM and hospitalist experts from across the country collaborated with the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation on its groundbreaking Choosing Wisely campaign to publish 10 procedures that hospitalists should think twice about before conducting. Together, with more than a dozen medical specialties, SHM will announce the list of procedures in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21.

Of the medical specialties contributing lists to Choosing Wisely, SHM is unique in that it will publish two lists (each with five recommendations): one for adult HM and another for pediatric HM.

Once the recommendations have been made public, hospitalists will have multiple ways of learning about them. SHM will publish the recommendations online, via email, and in The Hospitalist. Details about the unique process of developing the Choosing Wisely lists—and the impact they will have on everyday hospitalist practice—will be published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Others in healthcare, including patients and family members, will have a chance to learn about Choosing Wisely through a partnership with Consumer Reports and the public dialogue that the campaign hopes to generate.

SHM President Shaun Frost, MD, SFHM, has been unequivocal in his support for the campaign and has urged all hospitalists to support it as well. “Attention to care affordability and experience are essential to reforming our broken healthcare system, so let’s lead the charge in these areas and help others who are doing the same,” Dr. Frost wrote in the November 2012 issue of The Hospitalist.

To get more involved with this industry-changing campaign, visit www.choosingwisely.org and check out the upcoming Choosing Wisely pre-course at SHM’s annual meeting at www.hospitalmedicine2013.org.

In hospital medicine, what a hospitalist doesn’t do can be just as important as what he or she does do.

That’s why SHM and hospitalist experts from across the country collaborated with the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation on its groundbreaking Choosing Wisely campaign to publish 10 procedures that hospitalists should think twice about before conducting. Together, with more than a dozen medical specialties, SHM will announce the list of procedures in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21.

Of the medical specialties contributing lists to Choosing Wisely, SHM is unique in that it will publish two lists (each with five recommendations): one for adult HM and another for pediatric HM.

Once the recommendations have been made public, hospitalists will have multiple ways of learning about them. SHM will publish the recommendations online, via email, and in The Hospitalist. Details about the unique process of developing the Choosing Wisely lists—and the impact they will have on everyday hospitalist practice—will be published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Others in healthcare, including patients and family members, will have a chance to learn about Choosing Wisely through a partnership with Consumer Reports and the public dialogue that the campaign hopes to generate.

SHM President Shaun Frost, MD, SFHM, has been unequivocal in his support for the campaign and has urged all hospitalists to support it as well. “Attention to care affordability and experience are essential to reforming our broken healthcare system, so let’s lead the charge in these areas and help others who are doing the same,” Dr. Frost wrote in the November 2012 issue of The Hospitalist.

To get more involved with this industry-changing campaign, visit www.choosingwisely.org and check out the upcoming Choosing Wisely pre-course at SHM’s annual meeting at www.hospitalmedicine2013.org.

This month, hospitalists can play a role in crowdsourcing the future of the community hospital. And one hospitalist is helping to shape the game.

On Jan. 8, the Institute for the Future launched its Future of Hospital foresight game (www.futureofhospital.org). The game will tap the wisdom of healthcare experts, urban planners, technologists, sociologists, local community leaders, social entrepreneurs, and citizens interested in engaging in a thoughtful discussion about future possibilities for community hospitals.

Hospitalist Jason Stein, MD, SFHM, is working with the Institute for the Future to help judge the responses and participation in the online, crowd-sourced game. As an advisor to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center, Dr. Stein is no stranger to new ideas for hospitals. He was one of the co-architects of SHM’s Implementation Guides, which create step-wise approaches for system-level change. He also has been recognized nationally for his work redesigning traditional medical wards into accountable-care units, each featuring unit-based physician teams that conduct structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds (SIBRs).

“This is an exciting way for hospitalists to join a dynamic conversation about how hospitals—and their staff—provide the best care possible to their patients in 21st-century, American healthcare,” Dr. Stein says.

The Future of the Hospital is a game that anyone can play; all that is required is ideas. If others build on those ideas, contributors win points and create award-winning chains of innovation, linking people and their ideas from all over the world.

“Hospitalists have been on the cutting edge of some of the best ideas in healthcare for the last two decades,” Dr. Stein says. “This is an exciting and innovative way for all of us to contribute ideas and leverage our collective experience for the good of our hospitals and patients.”

This month, hospitalists can play a role in crowdsourcing the future of the community hospital. And one hospitalist is helping to shape the game.

On Jan. 8, the Institute for the Future launched its Future of Hospital foresight game (www.futureofhospital.org). The game will tap the wisdom of healthcare experts, urban planners, technologists, sociologists, local community leaders, social entrepreneurs, and citizens interested in engaging in a thoughtful discussion about future possibilities for community hospitals.

Hospitalist Jason Stein, MD, SFHM, is working with the Institute for the Future to help judge the responses and participation in the online, crowd-sourced game. As an advisor to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center, Dr. Stein is no stranger to new ideas for hospitals. He was one of the co-architects of SHM’s Implementation Guides, which create step-wise approaches for system-level change. He also has been recognized nationally for his work redesigning traditional medical wards into accountable-care units, each featuring unit-based physician teams that conduct structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds (SIBRs).

“This is an exciting way for hospitalists to join a dynamic conversation about how hospitals—and their staff—provide the best care possible to their patients in 21st-century, American healthcare,” Dr. Stein says.

The Future of the Hospital is a game that anyone can play; all that is required is ideas. If others build on those ideas, contributors win points and create award-winning chains of innovation, linking people and their ideas from all over the world.

“Hospitalists have been on the cutting edge of some of the best ideas in healthcare for the last two decades,” Dr. Stein says. “This is an exciting and innovative way for all of us to contribute ideas and leverage our collective experience for the good of our hospitals and patients.”

This month, hospitalists can play a role in crowdsourcing the future of the community hospital. And one hospitalist is helping to shape the game.

On Jan. 8, the Institute for the Future launched its Future of Hospital foresight game (www.futureofhospital.org). The game will tap the wisdom of healthcare experts, urban planners, technologists, sociologists, local community leaders, social entrepreneurs, and citizens interested in engaging in a thoughtful discussion about future possibilities for community hospitals.

Hospitalist Jason Stein, MD, SFHM, is working with the Institute for the Future to help judge the responses and participation in the online, crowd-sourced game. As an advisor to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center, Dr. Stein is no stranger to new ideas for hospitals. He was one of the co-architects of SHM’s Implementation Guides, which create step-wise approaches for system-level change. He also has been recognized nationally for his work redesigning traditional medical wards into accountable-care units, each featuring unit-based physician teams that conduct structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds (SIBRs).

“This is an exciting way for hospitalists to join a dynamic conversation about how hospitals—and their staff—provide the best care possible to their patients in 21st-century, American healthcare,” Dr. Stein says.

The Future of the Hospital is a game that anyone can play; all that is required is ideas. If others build on those ideas, contributors win points and create award-winning chains of innovation, linking people and their ideas from all over the world.

“Hospitalists have been on the cutting edge of some of the best ideas in healthcare for the last two decades,” Dr. Stein says. “This is an exciting and innovative way for all of us to contribute ideas and leverage our collective experience for the good of our hospitals and patients.”

Now is the time to make plans to attend Hospital Medicine 2013. With top-notch featured speakers, a full slate of high-demand pre-courses, and even more opportunities to network

and learn, HM13 promises to be SHM’s most popular meeting yet.

More than 3,000 hospitalistsare expected to attend HM13 (www.hospitalmedicine2013.org), May 16-19 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

New this year are two sessions in the “potpourri” track and two sessions in the “workshop” track, including how hospitalists can constructively learn from their mistakes and a workshop session titled “Innovative Scheduling and Rounding: How to Improve Continuity, Efficiency and Quality.”

Also new are tracks designed to address some of the most pressing topics facing hospitalists. The “comanagement” track will focus on the relationship between hospitalists and subspecialty consultants in a case-based format. The new “updates” track will feature the latest research and how it applies to clinical work.

In addition to the new elements, hospitalists also can take advantage of annual-meeting favorites, including the Research, Innovation, and Clinical Vignettes (RIV) poster competition. The RIV competition offers hundreds of the very latest ideas and research in hospital medicine.

One of the primary reasons hospitalists come to SHM’s conferences is career-building and networking, and HM13 will have unstructured time for general networking, as well as special-interest forums for 20 different topics, including:

• Evidence-based medicine—a new forum in 2013;
• Women in hospital medicine;
• Early-career hospitalists;
• Quality improvement (QI); and
• Information technology.

View the full program and registration details at www.hospitalmedicine2013.org.

Brendon Shank is SHM’s associate vice president of communications.

HM13 Tracks

• Academic/Research
• Clinical
• NEW: Comanagement
• Rapid Fire
• Pediatric
• Potpourri
• Practice
• Management
• Quality
• NEW: Updates Workshops

HM13 Pre-Courses

• NEW: Bugs, Drugs, and You: Infectious Disease Essentials for the Hospitalist
• NEW: What Keeps You Awake at Night? Hot Topics in Hospitalist Practice Management
• ABIM Maintenance of Certification
• Advanced Interactive Critical Care
• QI for High-Value Healthcare: Making the ABIM Foundation Choosing Wisely Campaign a Reality
• Perioperative Medicine: Medical Consultation and Comanagement
• Medical Procedures for the Hospitalist
• Portable Ultrasound for the Hospitalist

HM13 Featured Presentations

Taking Patient Safety and Quality to the Next Level

Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM, professor, departments of anesthesiology/critical care medicine and surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore; professor, John Hopkins Carey School of Business, director, Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety at Johns Hopkins.

 

 

Healing Humankind One Patient at a Time

David T. Feinberg, MD, MBA, president, UCLA Health System, CEO, UCLA Hospital System, associate vice chancellor, UCLA Health Sciences.

 

Quality, Safety, and IT: A Decade of Successes, Failures, Surprises, and Epiphanies

Robert M. Wachter, MD, MHM, professor and associate chairman of the department of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, chief of the division of hospital medicine, chief of the medical service at UCSF Medical Center, and author of the blog Wachter’s World (www.wachtersworld.com).

 

Now is the time to make plans to attend Hospital Medicine 2013. With top-notch featured speakers, a full slate of high-demand pre-courses, and even more opportunities to network

and learn, HM13 promises to be SHM’s most popular meeting yet.

More than 3,000 hospitalistsare expected to attend HM13 (www.hospitalmedicine2013.org), May 16-19 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

New this year are two sessions in the “potpourri” track and two sessions in the “workshop” track, including how hospitalists can constructively learn from their mistakes and a workshop session titled “Innovative Scheduling and Rounding: How to Improve Continuity, Efficiency and Quality.”

Also new are tracks designed to address some of the most pressing topics facing hospitalists. The “comanagement” track will focus on the relationship between hospitalists and subspecialty consultants in a case-based format. The new “updates” track will feature the latest research and how it applies to clinical work.

In addition to the new elements, hospitalists also can take advantage of annual-meeting favorites, including the Research, Innovation, and Clinical Vignettes (RIV) poster competition. The RIV competition offers hundreds of the very latest ideas and research in hospital medicine.

One of the primary reasons hospitalists come to SHM’s conferences is career-building and networking, and HM13 will have unstructured time for general networking, as well as special-interest forums for 20 different topics, including:

• Evidence-based medicine—a new forum in 2013;
• Women in hospital medicine;
• Early-career hospitalists;
• Quality improvement (QI); and
• Information technology.

View the full program and registration details at www.hospitalmedicine2013.org.

Brendon Shank is SHM’s associate vice president of communications.

HM13 Tracks

• Academic/Research
• Clinical
• NEW: Comanagement
• Rapid Fire
• Pediatric
• Potpourri
• Practice
• Management
• Quality
• NEW: Updates Workshops

HM13 Pre-Courses

• NEW: Bugs, Drugs, and You: Infectious Disease Essentials for the Hospitalist
• NEW: What Keeps You Awake at Night? Hot Topics in Hospitalist Practice Management
• ABIM Maintenance of Certification
• Advanced Interactive Critical Care
• QI for High-Value Healthcare: Making the ABIM Foundation Choosing Wisely Campaign a Reality
• Perioperative Medicine: Medical Consultation and Comanagement
• Medical Procedures for the Hospitalist
• Portable Ultrasound for the Hospitalist

HM13 Featured Presentations

Taking Patient Safety and Quality to the Next Level

Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM, professor, departments of anesthesiology/critical care medicine and surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore; professor, John Hopkins Carey School of Business, director, Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety at Johns Hopkins.

 

 

Healing Humankind One Patient at a Time

David T. Feinberg, MD, MBA, president, UCLA Health System, CEO, UCLA Hospital System, associate vice chancellor, UCLA Health Sciences.

 

Quality, Safety, and IT: A Decade of Successes, Failures, Surprises, and Epiphanies

Robert M. Wachter, MD, MHM, professor and associate chairman of the department of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, chief of the division of hospital medicine, chief of the medical service at UCSF Medical Center, and author of the blog Wachter’s World (www.wachtersworld.com).

 

Now is the time to make plans to attend Hospital Medicine 2013. With top-notch featured speakers, a full slate of high-demand pre-courses, and even more opportunities to network

and learn, HM13 promises to be SHM’s most popular meeting yet.

More than 3,000 hospitalistsare expected to attend HM13 (www.hospitalmedicine2013.org), May 16-19 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

New this year are two sessions in the “potpourri” track and two sessions in the “workshop” track, including how hospitalists can constructively learn from their mistakes and a workshop session titled “Innovative Scheduling and Rounding: How to Improve Continuity, Efficiency and Quality.”

Also new are tracks designed to address some of the most pressing topics facing hospitalists. The “comanagement” track will focus on the relationship between hospitalists and subspecialty consultants in a case-based format. The new “updates” track will feature the latest research and how it applies to clinical work.

In addition to the new elements, hospitalists also can take advantage of annual-meeting favorites, including the Research, Innovation, and Clinical Vignettes (RIV) poster competition. The RIV competition offers hundreds of the very latest ideas and research in hospital medicine.

One of the primary reasons hospitalists come to SHM’s conferences is career-building and networking, and HM13 will have unstructured time for general networking, as well as special-interest forums for 20 different topics, including:

• Evidence-based medicine—a new forum in 2013;
• Women in hospital medicine;
• Early-career hospitalists;
• Quality improvement (QI); and
• Information technology.

View the full program and registration details at www.hospitalmedicine2013.org.

Brendon Shank is SHM’s associate vice president of communications.

HM13 Tracks

• Academic/Research
• Clinical
• NEW: Comanagement
• Rapid Fire
• Pediatric
• Potpourri
• Practice
• Management
• Quality
• NEW: Updates Workshops

HM13 Pre-Courses

• NEW: Bugs, Drugs, and You: Infectious Disease Essentials for the Hospitalist
• NEW: What Keeps You Awake at Night? Hot Topics in Hospitalist Practice Management
• ABIM Maintenance of Certification
• Advanced Interactive Critical Care
• QI for High-Value Healthcare: Making the ABIM Foundation Choosing Wisely Campaign a Reality
• Perioperative Medicine: Medical Consultation and Comanagement
• Medical Procedures for the Hospitalist
• Portable Ultrasound for the Hospitalist

HM13 Featured Presentations

Taking Patient Safety and Quality to the Next Level

Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM, professor, departments of anesthesiology/critical care medicine and surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore; professor, John Hopkins Carey School of Business, director, Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety at Johns Hopkins.

 

 

Healing Humankind One Patient at a Time

David T. Feinberg, MD, MBA, president, UCLA Health System, CEO, UCLA Hospital System, associate vice chancellor, UCLA Health Sciences.

 

Quality, Safety, and IT: A Decade of Successes, Failures, Surprises, and Epiphanies

Robert M. Wachter, MD, MHM, professor and associate chairman of the department of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, chief of the division of hospital medicine, chief of the medical service at UCSF Medical Center, and author of the blog Wachter’s World (www.wachtersworld.com).

 

Staying up to date on the latest techniques for optimal coding can be daunting, but you don't have to do it alone. SHM's exclusive CODE-H program enables hospitalists (and others in their practice) to learn best practices in coding from national experts in the field. It also allows participants to ask questions of other hospitalists who may be experiencing similar coding challenges.

CODE-H works through SHM's new online collaboration space, HMX (www.hmxchange.org), and provides live webinar sessions with expert faculty, downloadable resources, and a discussion forum for participants to ask questions and provide answers.

Previous CODE-H participants can extend their CODE-H subscriptions. The extension is $300, and free for prior participants who refer an individual or group to CODE-H.

For more information, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/codeh.

Staying up to date on the latest techniques for optimal coding can be daunting, but you don't have to do it alone. SHM's exclusive CODE-H program enables hospitalists (and others in their practice) to learn best practices in coding from national experts in the field. It also allows participants to ask questions of other hospitalists who may be experiencing similar coding challenges.

CODE-H works through SHM's new online collaboration space, HMX (www.hmxchange.org), and provides live webinar sessions with expert faculty, downloadable resources, and a discussion forum for participants to ask questions and provide answers.

Previous CODE-H participants can extend their CODE-H subscriptions. The extension is $300, and free for prior participants who refer an individual or group to CODE-H.

For more information, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/codeh.

Staying up to date on the latest techniques for optimal coding can be daunting, but you don't have to do it alone. SHM's exclusive CODE-H program enables hospitalists (and others in their practice) to learn best practices in coding from national experts in the field. It also allows participants to ask questions of other hospitalists who may be experiencing similar coding challenges.

CODE-H works through SHM's new online collaboration space, HMX (www.hmxchange.org), and provides live webinar sessions with expert faculty, downloadable resources, and a discussion forum for participants to ask questions and provide answers.

Previous CODE-H participants can extend their CODE-H subscriptions. The extension is $300, and free for prior participants who refer an individual or group to CODE-H.

For more information, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org/codeh.