Mgma Small Talk

In this episode of the MGMA Member Spotlight, Daniel Williams, senior editor at MGMA, sits down with Adam Pople, HRMC, FMC, FACMPE, practice administrator at Cape Girardeau Surgical Clinic. Adam shares his experiences and insights from attending the MGMA Leaders Conference, discussing the key challenges he faces in his role and the strategies he employs to drive success and innovation in medical practice management.Main Points:Leveraging the MGMA Leaders Conference: Adam discusses his goals for attending the conference, including networking, learning new tools and strategies, and staying up-to-date on industry changes. He highlights an impactful session on addressing the psychology behind staff and physician burnout.Navigating Scarce Resources and Burnout: As a seasoned practice administrator, Adam identifies the critical challenges of managing limited funds amidst declining reimbursements and rising costs, as well as the ongoing issue of employee burnout. He emphasizes the importance of creative problem-solv

Welcome to the latest episode of the MGMA Week in Review podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett. In this episode, we delve into critical topics shaping the healthcare landscape just days before the U.S. election. Daniel and Colleen discuss the healthcare policies proposed by major candidates, upcoming Medicare and Medicaid changes, and urgent issues surrounding opioid addiction treatments. Additionally, we explore the latest cybersecurity threats and the increasing role of AI in medical practice management. These insights offer healthcare leaders timely knowledge to help navigate current challenges and prepare for the months ahead.Major Takeaways:Election Tension & Healthcare Policy:With the election just around the corner, Daniel and Colleen explore policy stances of the primary candidates, focusing on healthcare issues. Colleen highlights a tool from the Kaiser Family Foundation that compares the health records and proposals of the major candidates, emphasizing ACA-related changes, Medic

Welcome to the MGMA Insights Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams. In today’s MGMA Member Spotlight, we feature Tulika Vohra, Director of Operations at University Physicians Associates in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tulika’s career path is unique, as she transitioned from real estate to healthcare, bringing a fresh perspective to medical practice administration. Throughout her journey, she’s leaned on professional development, earning certifications like ACMPE and Lean Six Sigma, and engaging deeply with MGMA’s resources and community. This episode covers Tulika’s inspiring career evolution, valuable insights on certification benefits, and strategies for career advancement. Join us to uncover key takeaways for healthcare leaders seeking growth and improvement.Key Takeaways:Transition to Healthcare: Tulika shares her journey from real estate to healthcare, noting, “In my past life, I was a real estate agent...I just found [healthcare] really fascinating and loved working with [the HR] team.”Professional Development an

Welcome back to the MGMA Insights Podcast. This week, Senior Editor and host Daniel Williams sits down with Dr. Tej Singh, Medical Director of Vascular Surgery at Intermountain Health, Peaks Region in Colorado. Dr. Singh, a recognized leader in healthcare billing innovation, shares his expertise on the transformative impact of time-based billing for surgeons. In this episode, Dr. Singh discusses how time-based billing helps reduce physician burnout, improve revenue cycles, and integrate AI to streamline healthcare billing and compliance. Tune in to understand why time-based billing is becoming essential for medical practices aiming to enhance billing accuracy, increase efficiency, and capture revenue for non-clinical work.Key Takeaways:Understanding Time-Based Billing: Dr. Singh explains how time-based billing captures a surgeon’s non-clinical work—such as reviewing imaging, coordinating with other physicians, and pre- and post-clinic tasks. This approach, introduced by the AMA in 2021, allows surgeons to acc

 In this special episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Steve Dickens, the recipient of MGMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, at the Leaders Conference in Denver. They dive deep into Steve’s remarkable journey with MGMA, discussing his career highlights, mentorship, and the evolution of the organization. With more than 20 years of experience, Steve shares valuable insights for medical practice leaders, emphasizing the importance of resilience, mentorship, and staying adaptable in an ever-changing industry.Key Takeaways:The MGMA Journey: Steve reflects on his time with MGMA, describing it as the “ultimate MGMA experience,” having moved through the ranks from local chapter involvement to becoming a national leader. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship and relationships, which have been pivotal in shaping his career and personal growth.Seismic Changes in Healthcare: Steve discusses the “seismic changes” he has witnessed in MGMA and healthcare over the years. He encourages le

In this episode of the MGMA Week in Review Podcast, host Daniel Williams is joined by Cristy Good, Senior Advisor at MGMA, for a timely discussion on disaster preparedness and the invaluable resources available to medical practices. This episode addresses questions from MGMA members on navigating the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Cristy shares expert advice on relocating medical practices, ensuring continuity of care, and accessing critical MGMA resources that can help practice leaders during challenging times.Key Takeaways:Ask MGMA Resources: MGMA offers a free member benefit through the “Ask MGMA” service, where practice leaders can submit their toughest questions, ranging from daily operations to disaster management. These questions are answered by MGMA subject matter experts, such as Cristy Good.Disaster Preparedness: Cristy responds to a member’s query about relocating a medical practice due to hurricane damage. She emphasizes the importance of having a disaster preparedness plan i

Welcome to the MGMA Member Spotlight Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA. In this special episode, we feature a dynamic panel of healthcare leaders recognized as MGMA's 2024 Future Five Award recipients. These outstanding professionals are in the first five years of their healthcare careers and are already making a significant impact. The panelists—Kyle Hussey, Jonathan Renzi, Anastasia Delaney, Disha Sawhney, and Samantha Baker—share their inspiring journeys and offer insights into healthcare innovation, patient-centered care, leadership, and operational efficiency. This episode explores the unique challenges of rural healthcare, telehealth advancements, service line development, and the evolving regulatory environment.Key Takeaways:Kyle Hussey (Chief Operating Officer, Colorado Surgical Affiliates):Kyle discusses his transition from the telecom industry to healthcare and the importance of creating sustainable service lines. He emphasizes the balance between financial goals, operational

Welcome to another episode of the MGMA Consultants Corner Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA. In today’s episode, Daniel sits down with Jonathan Tamir, Principal Consultant of Tamir Healthcare Advisors, who brings a unique perspective on the intersection of healthcare and business management. Jonathan shares insights from his extensive experience in healthcare administration and consulting, with a focus on improving operational efficiency, understanding financial health, and preparing practices for investor readiness. Whether you're a small practice or a large healthcare organization, this episode provides practical strategies to boost your practice’s financial performance.Major Takeaways:Transition from Wall Street to Healthcare: Jonathan discusses his unique journey from Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins and trading at Morgan Stanley to healthcare administration, bringing corporate efficiency principles into the healthcare space.Administrative Fellowship Importance: Jonathan emp

Welcome to the MGMA Week in Review Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA, and Colleen Luckett, Editor and Writer at MGMA. In this episode, Daniel and Colleen bring you the latest updates on key health metrics, strategies for combating burnout in healthcare, and new tools from MGMA to improve practice efficiency. Tune in as they cover the most important topics from life expectancy improvements to innovative solutions for healthcare professionals facing burnout.Major Takeaways:Positive Health Trends in the U.S. (reported by Axios):Life Expectancy: Increased to 77.5 years in 2022, rebounding from 76.4 years in 2021.Overdose Deaths: Decreasing in 2023 and continuing into 2024 due to factors like reduced social isolation and the availability of Naloxone.Cancer Survival Rates: Increased survival rates for all cancers combined (up to 69%), with breakthroughs in treatments for blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic cancers.Obesity: The obesity rate has leveled off after a decade of increases, although

Welcome to another episode in our Leaders Conference 2024 series, where we bring you sounds and insights from MGMA’s annual event, held in Denver from October 6-9, 2024. In this episode, Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA, speaks with Laura Weeks from HelpUCompli. Laura shares her expertise on essential compliance issues such as HIPAA privacy, Stark and kickback laws, and OSHA regulations. Tune in to learn how healthcare practices can stay compliant, avoid common pitfalls, and prepare for audits by employing proactive strategies and thorough documentation.Major Takeaways:Key Compliance Challenges: Laura outlines the major compliance challenges facing healthcare practices today, including HIPAA, Stark and kickback regulations, and OSHA standards, offering advice on how to navigate these complexities.Importance of Documentation: Laura emphasizes that while adhering to compliance regulations is important, documenting these actions is equally crucial to safeguard practices during audits and investigations.Pro

Episode Summary:In this episode of the MGMA Business Solutions Podcast, host Daniel Williams is joined by Tom Rossi, Dirk Jansson, and Mark Dotson from Jackson Physician Search to discuss a new joint research study between Jackson Physician Search (JPS) and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). This research, conducted in 2024, provides deep insights into physician leadership and recruitment challenges, including the motivations behind physicians seeking leadership roles and how healthcare organizations can better identify, recruit, and support them.The conversation centers on the following key research findings:Physician Interest in Leadership Roles: The study highlights the growing desire among physicians to take on leadership positions, driven by the need for greater influence in organizational decision-making and community impact.Organizational Benefits of Physician Leadership: Healthcare systems are increasingly recognizing the value of having physicians in leadership roles. The discussion foc

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Dr. Paul White, psychologist and co-author of The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace with Dr. Gary Chapman. Dr. White shares his journey from focusing on family-owned business dynamics to helping organizations like the Mayo Clinic and St. Jude's Children's Hospital improve workplace cultures through authentic appreciation. They discuss how fostering a culture of appreciation can reduce turnover, improve team morale, and ultimately lead to better patient outcomes. Dr. White also explains the difference between employee recognition and authentic appreciation, emphasizing the importance of making appreciation personal and meaningful.Listeners will gain insights into:How to identify the appreciation languages of team membersThe tangible benefits of authentic appreciation in healthcare settingsPractical steps leaders can take to build a more appreciative workplaceDr. White’s key advice on starting small but with meaningf

In this week’s episode of the MGMA Week in Review podcast, Daniel Williams and Colleen Luckett dive into highlights from the 2024 MGMA Leaders Conference and key takeaways from World Mental Health Day. The episode offers insights for healthcare leaders on improving workplace culture and supporting mental health initiatives.Key Points:World Mental Health Day (October 10): The theme this year was "My Mental Health at Work," focusing on the disconnect between employer and employee perceptions of mental health. Studies show that 55% of employees feel their mental health is not accurately perceived by their employers. Learn how leaders can take steps to foster open conversations and provide support through employee assistance programs.988 Mental Health Crisis Hotline: Colleen highlights the introduction of this new nationwide mental health crisis hotline, discussed in a session at the MGMA Leaders Conference. Raising awareness of 988 and integrating behavioral health into primary care are crucial steps for healthc

This episode of the MGMA Member Spotlight Podcast features Karen Bowman, the recipient of the ACMPE Forum Representative of the Year Award. Karen, with over 30 years of experience in healthcare administration, currently leads Gastrointestinal Associates of Cleveland in Tennessee. In this episode, she shares her career path, the significance of the ACMPE award, and her passion for helping others achieve certification and fellowship.Join us as we discuss her achievements and how she supports medical practice leaders through ACMPE’s certification process.Key Takeaways:A 30-Year Career in Healthcare AdministrationKaren Bowman’s career spans over three decades in healthcare administration. “I’ve been a healthcare administrator for more than 30 years,” she shares. Initially working in reception and billing, Karen quickly moved into management roles, eventually becoming the administrator at Gastrointestinal Associates of Cleveland. Reflecting on her role, she emphasizes teamwork: “We all have to fill in and make sur

Live from the Leaders Conference in Denver, Colorado, MGMA Sr. Editor Daniel Williams sits down with Steve Brewer, a seasoned healthcare administrator with over 30 years of experience. Brewer led a workshop on the topic of burnout at the MGMA Leaders Conference, where he demonstrated a unique approach - infusing humor into a serious subject. Throughout the conversation, Brewer shares his personal journey, insights into the psychology of burnout, and practical strategies for healthcare professionals to manage stress and prevent burnout. This engaging discussion offers valuable perspectives on maintaining well-being and effective leadership in the demanding healthcare industry.MGMA Resources:MGMA StatAsk MGMAMGMA ConferencesMGMA ConsultingWe Want to Hear From You:Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on an MGMA podcast. Email us at:Daniel Williams: dwilliams@mgma.comRyan Reaves: rreaves@mgma.comColleen Luckett: cluckett@mgma.com

Today, we're joined by Melinda Mastel, an early careerist, who joins us live from the MGMA Leaders Conference in Denver, Colorado. Melinda shares her adventures exploring the natural wonders of the Centennial State, from the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge to the stunning vistas of Pike's Peak. She also provides a fascinating look into the interactive "early careerist" session she led, discussing topics like mentorship, career pathing, and work-life balance. Join us as we learn from Melinda's unique perspective and discover the valuable lessons she's gleaned on her professional journey so far.MGMA Resources:MGMA StatAsk MGMAMGMA ConferencesMGMA ConsultingWe Want to Hear From You:Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on an MGMA podcast. Email us at:Daniel Williams: dwilliams@mgma.comRyan Reaves: rreaves@mgma.comColleen Luckett: cluckett@mgma.comThank you for tuning in to the MGMA Podcast Network. Please subscribe and lea

In this conversation, Ahmed Danawala from Edge Health discusses the challenges of burnout in healthcare and the innovative solutions his organization provides through remote employment. He highlights the importance of training and retention strategies to ensure that healthcare practices can effectively manage staffing shortages. The discussion also touches on the personal anecdotes of the speaker, including his journey to the conference and his passion for the Raiders.Resources Mentioned:Edge HealthMGMA Resources:MGMA StatAsk MGMAMGMA ConferencesMGMA ConsultingWe Want to Hear From You:Let us know if there's a topic you want us to cover, an expert you would like us to interview, or if you'd like to appear on an MGMA podcast. Email us at:Daniel Williams: dwilliams@mgma.comRyan Reaves: rreaves@mgma.comColleen Luckett: cluckett@mgma.comThank you for tuning in to the MGMA Podcast Network. Please subscribe and leave us a review. See you next time!

Introduction:Welcome to the MGMA Member Spotlight Podcast! I'm your host, Daniel Williams, Senior Editor at MGMA. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Christi Siedlecki, CEO of Grants Pass Clinic and former President of Oregon MGMA. Christi brings over 36 years of leadership experience in healthcare and joins us to discuss a critical topic: how late-career healthcare leaders can navigate the unique challenges they face today.As healthcare demographics shift and workforce shortages intensify, late-career leaders find themselves balancing personal responsibilities, succession planning, and the evolving demands of their roles. Christi offers her insights on these issues, along with a preview of her upcoming session at the MGMA Leaders Conference, titled “Late Careerist Leaders in Healthcare.” Alongside co-presenter https://www.mgma.com/mentorship-program Christi will explore vital topics like mentoring, burnout, and the legacy of leadership. Whether you’re in the early stages of your career or

Introduction:Welcome to the MGMA Week in Review Podcast, hosted by Daniel Williams, Sr. Editor at MGMA, and Colleen Luckett, Editor and Writer at MGMA. In this episode, they share a recorded interview with Andy Swanson, Chief Revenue Officer at MGMA, to preview the upcoming MGMA Leaders Conference and discuss key topics impacting healthcare leaders. These include healthcare market concentration, leadership strategies, succession planning, and ongoing staffing challenges in medical practices.Key Takeaways:Healthcare Market Concentration:Colleen highlights a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation revealing that nearly half of U.S. metropolitan areas have one or two health systems controlling the inpatient hospital care market. Colleen explains, "Consolidation can bring efficiencies and keep hospitals open in underserved areas, but it often leads to reduced competition, driving up healthcare costs with unclear impacts on the quality of care."Leadership Tips for Physicians:Daniel shares insights from a Medical

Introduction:In this episode of the MGMA Business Solutions Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Dr. Aram Alexanian, a family medicine physician with over 23 years of experience at Novant Health in North Carolina. Dr. Alexanian discusses the evolving role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in healthcare. The conversation delves into the benefits and challenges of AI implementation, the future of technology in family medicine, and the importance of maintaining the human element in patient care. Dr. Alexanian shares his insights on how healthcare providers can best navigate the rapidly changing technological landscape while ensuring that technology serves to enhance—not replace—the doctor-patient relationship.Key Takeaways:AI and Healthcare: The Present and FutureDr. Alexanian highlights the expansive role of AI in healthcare, noting that it has become a buzzword across industries. "AI is everywhere," he explains, adding that it has the potential to revolutionize how healthcare pr