ECG Management Consultants

In the fifth session of the ECG and Foley & Lardner LLP Web conference series, we discuss the key the role research can play in your hospital and what you need to know to maximize success. Our speakers share information on research program development strategies, critical regulations and risk areas, protecting intellectual property, and the current funding environment.

Physician compensation and performance incentives are undergoing a fundamental shift as healthcare providers embrace value-based delivery models. This webinar explores several important aspects of redesigning physician compensation plans that all organizations must consider. This includes the group culture, compensation plan elements, process and infrastructure, and transition planning. Additionally, this webinar discusses the conceptual options that represent a path to integration with physicians to drive toward value.

Despite all the political rhetoric surrounding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the initial unpopularity of the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) in the provider community, and the complexity of the requirements for participation in the MSSP, a sizable number of organizations are considering participation. CMS currently counts 65 organizations as participants in shared savings arrangements, including the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) members, Cohort I of the MSSP, and the Physician Group Practice Transition Demonstration participants. This Diagnostic explores the mechanics behind this reimbursement model and the reasons why organizations are considering participation, regardless of what happens on the national regulatory front.

Attaining meaningful integration with providers is no easy task. The complexities involved, as well as the tools required to making integration initiatives successful and sustainable, require both clear vision and sophisticated expertise. Among the most important lessons is matching the management of the employed physician network to the changing needs of the network over time. Specifically, there are four overlapping phases of integration - Network Expansion, Operational Excellence, Clinical Coordination, and Physician Partnership. This Diagnostic focuses on the phases of physician integration and discusses the management skills that are most appropriate to each phase.

This presentation explores the operational challenges and solutions to integrating care in a medically underserved market with numerous independent provider entities. By using Maui Memorial Medical Center as a case study, we also examine the steps for overcoming financial and political barriers to network establishment and ensuring continuity of care across the acute and subacute spectrum in a geographically isolated and financially challenging environment.

Many organizations participate in clinical trials. Yet, as an example, over 20% of cancer center trials result in zero (0) accruals. What distinguishes those organizations that successfully enroll patients and meet their financial targets? This Webinar will present best practices for organizations that participate in or are considering participating in clinical trials. The session will discuss the role of proper planning and administration including key considerations in trial selection, patient accrual, and ways to effectively involve physicians and define their responsibilities. It will also offer methods and processes that administrators can use to monitor and continually improve their trial performance.

Although academic departments within a school of medicine (SOM) have a tripartite mission of teaching, research, and patient care, research administration typically receives less attention than management of clinical and teaching resources. However, given the increasing competition for investigators, reduction in available grant funding, and heightened compliance concerns, having a clear plan for management of the research enterprise is critical for departmental success. Such a plan is particularly valuable in large departments (e.g., Department of Medicine) that have resources at both the central and divisional levels. This Executive Briefing considers the impact of resource levels and distribution in organizing departmental research administration and in answering the fundamental question, “Does the department’s administrative infrastructure appropriately support its research endeavors?”

New industry research indicates that conducting a clinical trial in the United States costs nearly twice as much as the same trial in other countries. Global competition for research funding has increased the pressure on United States cancer programs to successfully manage resources and processes to start trials in a timely fashion, meet participation targets, and limit financial risk to the organization. This article describes how planning plays a crucial role in the economics of clinical trials.

Permission granted by Oncology Business Review

The economics of clinical trials are impacted by the administrative time of initiating the trial and revenue collection during the trial. This presentation looks at both clinical and cooperative group trials and provides techniques for reducing start-up time as well as best practices for financial success. Of specific interest, are the administrative considerations - both identifying administrative barriers to efficient trial initiation and applying administrative best practices for enhanced accrual and financial outcomes.

Many healthcare organizations struggle with developing effective oversight of clinical trial activities. Clinical trial billing is complex and can be difficult to integrate with institutional revenue cycle procedures. This presentation dissects the key components of clinical trial billing and discusses the requisite tools to develop clear and transparent procedures. In addition, the presenters discuss the management resources necessary to successfully navigate the challenges specific to clinical trial billing.