Will Latham, MBA President, Latham Consulting Group, Inc., Chattanooga, TNIn the previous issue of The Communiqué ("Hope Is Not a Strategy: A Primer for Anesthesia Groups on Strategic Planning," Fall 2016) we described the need for strategic planning and described the overall process. This process includes: Developing mission and vision statements ...

SUMMARY A recent claims analysis by the Office of Inspector General has revealed "vulnerabilities" in the Two-Midnight rule, a policy implemented in 2013 to contain healthcare costs, improve the accuracy with which physicians characterize inpatient and outpatient hospital stays, and reduce the number of long outpatient stays. Among other things, th...

You have heard of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) and, most likely, its Quality Payment Program (QPP). But do you really know what it is? Do you know what it means to your practice? Do you know what your practice will need to do to thrive under the QPP? If you haven't already, you'll need to develop a firm understan...

SUMMARY Nitrous oxide for the management of labor pain is experiencing a rebirth in labor and delivery suites across the United States. Still, despite the increased interest, debate regarding nitrous oxide's advantages, as well as its potential adverse effects on women, newborns and healthcare workers, is ongoing. We present evidence from the Socie...

One of the most important responsibilities of any anesthesia group's governance is to develop a strategic plan for the group. For some groups this is the role of the Board. In other groups, all shareholders participate in this process.Unfortunately, it appears that for many groups, "hope" is their strategy.We are continually surprised to find group...