The Supreme Court of the United States' ruling on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has raised the stakes for healthcare professionals. Patient safety is now not only about protecting patients but also part of new incentives for physician reimbursement . Greenbranch Publishing and Stevens & Lee have joined forces to help physicians and their practices in the new safety environment.
PHOENIX, Md., July 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To help medical practices meet all-new requirements for patient safety and thrive in the new healthcare environment, medical practice management advocate Greenbranch Publishing has joined with Stevens & Lee (a law firm also known for counseling medical practices), to launch a practical series of print, audio, and eBooks titled "Operation Safety."
Critical timing. The new venture comes in response to growing emphasis on patient safety raised by two recent developments: the Supreme Court ruling of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as constitutional, and a court ruling that clears the way for authorized organizations to use the CMS claims database to develop public ratings reports on physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers. These trends focusing on outcomes, safety, and quality combined with increased transparency will accelerate and, without a refocus on risk and safety management, may lead to increasing liability for physicians. In addition, hospitals are employing more doctors and practices and are in need of similar resources.
Creating a safety culture. The new "Operation Safety" series will focus on how medical practices can use safety and risk assessments, new tools and strategies and best practices to create and maintain cultures that enhance patient safety and patient experience. Both are aspects that are also increasingly being tied to physician reimbursement.
Greenbranch Publishing's President Nancy Collins says that the motivation driving this new series of educational materials is "bottom line, to help practices stay in business." And that, she notes, it is tougher than ever with new patient safety concerns combining with shrinking reimbursement, growing regulation and higher costs for everything from malpractice insurance to utilities and rents. "With a focus on patient safety, we can help practices avoid costly, reputation-damaging lawsuits while freeing clinical staff to practice better medicine."
James Saxton, Stevens & Lee's Healthcare Litigation and Risk Management Chair, notes that "while patient safety has always been a priority, the PPACA and similar initiatives raise new ground for accountability – and litigation. Physicians simply cannot afford to push safety endeavors aside, as new implications include economics." Maggie Finkelstein, attorney shareholder in Stevens and Lee's Healthcare Litigation and Risk Management practice, adds "we want to create a series of educational materials that give physicians very practical guidance on the training and communication necessary to improve patient safety."
About Greenbranch Publishing. For the past 14 years, Greenbranch Publishing has earned a loyal following for its medical practice management educational materials, including the flagship publication, The Journal of Medical Practice Management® and highly regarded books and seminars for physicians and practice managers covering reimbursement, practice development, quality of care, and financial and operational issues. www.greenbranch.com
About Stevens & Lee. Stevens & Lee is a professional services firm of over 180 lawyers and 60 non-lawyer business and consulting professionals. In addition to legal counsel, the firm's Healthcare and Risk Management practice draws on the expertise of its team of noted physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers to offer clinical and medical practice management consultation services. www.Stevenslee.com
For More Information, Contact:
Nancy Collins, Greenbranch Publishing
(800) 933-3711
http://www.greenbranch.com
ncollins@greenbranch.com
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