Most anesthesiologists believe residency programs do not adequately train physicians in practice management, according a recent survey reported in Anesthesiology News.
The results, presented at the 2012 American Society of Anesthesiologists Conference on Practice Management, revealed that most of the 3,600 anesthesiologist respondents felt residents receive inadequate exposure to key issues in billing, reimbursement, liability, contracts and other aspects of running their practice. Most respondents also identified these issues as "important" in their workday.
Specifically, between 68 percent and 88 percent of respondents said they thought residents were inadequately exposed to billing issues, and 71 percent said that training in insurance reimbursement was insufficient. Not all areas were noted as lacking, however — more than half of respondents said they believed residents had adequate exposure to quality assurance and improvement topics and scheduling in the operating room.
David Mackey, MD, professor in the department of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine at the University of Texas in Houston, recommended that leaders of private practices form a standing group to create a practice management curriculum that would give trainees exposure to business and interpersonal skills. "OR skills are as important as ever," Dr. Mackey said, "but business management and leadership skills are becoming equally important."
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The results, presented at the 2012 American Society of Anesthesiologists Conference on Practice Management, revealed that most of the 3,600 anesthesiologist respondents felt residents receive inadequate exposure to key issues in billing, reimbursement, liability, contracts and other aspects of running their practice. Most respondents also identified these issues as "important" in their workday.
Specifically, between 68 percent and 88 percent of respondents said they thought residents were inadequately exposed to billing issues, and 71 percent said that training in insurance reimbursement was insufficient. Not all areas were noted as lacking, however — more than half of respondents said they believed residents had adequate exposure to quality assurance and improvement topics and scheduling in the operating room.
David Mackey, MD, professor in the department of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine at the University of Texas in Houston, recommended that leaders of private practices form a standing group to create a practice management curriculum that would give trainees exposure to business and interpersonal skills. "OR skills are as important as ever," Dr. Mackey said, "but business management and leadership skills are becoming equally important."
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