Rosemarie Nelson – Independent Consultant/MGMA Principal Consultant
by Richard Stokes
For the better part of the last ten years we’ve seen a steady increase in the introduction and adoption of technology into the healthcare space. EHR systems are now common place in practices today and the way in which patients are treated and cared for is constantly evolving in an effort to incorporate these new forms of technologies.
So, in keeping with this theme, we are hearing from Rosemarie Nelson at this month’s NFMGMA meeting. Rosemarie has over 20 years of experience working in the healthcare field and her core experience is as consultant in the areas of operations and technology. She has worked in many different specialties including radiology, cardiology, internal medicine, orthopedics, OB/GYN, family medicine, dermatology and gastroenterology.
The crux of what she is going to be talking to us about is the spot where ‘technology and healthcare delivery collide’, an area that causes many a great deal of headache and frustration. Specifically, and as the title implies, she’s going to be delving in to patient portals and giving us a number of practical IT tips – I love IT tips!
I asked Rosemarie why this is so important now and she tells me it’s because practices are getting pushed and pulled into partnering with patients as well as having to constantly look for ways in which to improve efficiencies as a means to remain viable and profitable.
One of the key things you can expect to learn at the meeting is identifying how to use technology to improve access for patients and how to use that to reduce operational costs – something that I know every medical practice is interested in.
Rosemarie hopes that after you leave the meeting the immediate action items that you should take and adapt in to your practice would be:
- Simulate patient access! – Call and walk thru your practice as a patient does (either in simulation mode or shadowing a patient).
- Try one new app that might increase efficiency in operations or improve patient/provider/staff satisfaction.
I’m biased because I work for a tech company so I’m really interested to hear about the tech tips part but I know this is going to be of interest to everyone because this topic really is something that is important and relevant to all practices today. So come armed with questions and be prepared to interact with our speaker.
Some other areas that Rosemarie suggests you look into on your own time to stay up to date and for information on are:
- Subscribe to the HIStalk Practice
- Check out ZITE app, with pre-identified topic of healthcare IT
- MGMA and of course the NFMGMA – (what better place than your peers)
Please join us for this next session; it’s going to be very interesting so make sure you register today. Feel free to share this with your peers and colleagues and invite them to attend as well. North Fulton MGMA
