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How to renegotiate your building lease

This is crucial as more than 80 percent of healthcare providers lease office space.

How to lower your monthly rent during a lease renewal negotiation

Commercial real estate often occupies the second highest expense on most health care providers’ profit and loss statements.

3 pitfalls to avoid when making real estate decisions for your practice

How has the pandemic impacted healthcare real estate? And what does that mean for physicians occupying or looking for space? 

Healthcare real estate in a post-COVID market

Reflecting the soaring growth of concierge medicine, the Concierge Medicine Forum (CMF) in Atlanta is now one of the year’s most highly anticipated conferences. For the first time, Medical Economics has partnered with Specialdocs to bring you in-depth coverage of the industry’s premier event, now in its 10th year.

Start with our video series designed to give you a sneak peek of intriguing sessions on the CMF agenda. Take a few minutes to learn about:

Concierge medicine’s auspicious beginnings and exceptionally bright future from Specialdocs CEO Terry Bauer and conference organizer Michael Tetreault. 

Ups and downs of being “married to medicine” from spouses who’ve worked side by side to successfully convert to a concierge practice. (Coming soon!)

How to determine the best time to make a change to concierge medicine from three physicians at very different stages in their career. 

The critical role of concierge doctors in detecting and preventing cardiac disease. 

 to register with promo code “FORSPECIALDOCS” and receive an exclusive 15% discount.

After the conference, check back here for 

 featuring highlights and insights from industry thought leaders and practitioners, all dedicated to changing healthcare for the better, one patient at a time.

Reflecting the soaring growth of concierge medicine, the Concierge Medicine Forum in Atlanta is one of the year’s most highly anticipated conferences. 

This year’s don’t miss event: The Concierge Medicine Forum, October 17–19, 2024 

Medical Economics Editorial Director Chris Mazzolini and Eve Cunningham, MD, chief of virtual health and digital care at Providence and founder of MedPearl, discuss challenges with patient management and workflow.


Music Credits: POSITIVE HAPPY RNB (FUNK NATION) NO MEL by Yummy Tunes - stock.adobe.com
Relaxing Lounge by Classy Call me Man - stock.adobe.com
COCKTAIL by Mythical Audio - stock.adobe.com



Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

Access Challenges in Healthcare (00:00:00)


Discussion on the growing access challenges in healthcare if not addressed.




Keith Reynolds introduces the podcast and its focus on healthcare challenges.




Dr. Eve Cunningham is welcomed to discuss patient management and workflow challenges.



Challenges in Patient Management (00:01:23)


Dr. Cunningham outlines the complexities of patient management and referral decisions for primary care physicians.



Overwhelming Medical Knowledge (00:01:27)


Discussion on the rapid increase of medical knowledge and its impact on clinicians.




Exploration of common referral dysfunctions and the need for optimized transitions.




Real-life examples illustrating the frequent misdirection in patient referrals.




Highlighting the shortage of doctors and its effect on access to care and clinician burnout.




Overview of MedPearl as a solution to the challenges faced by doctors.




Dr. Cunningham shares the story behind the development of MedPearl.



Communication Gaps in Healthcare (00:07:13)


Discussion on the knowledge-sharing gap between primary care and specialists.



Need for Clinician-Centric Technology (00:08:13)


Emphasis on creating technology that supports primary care clinicians effectively.




Description of MedPearl's capabilities and how it aids clinicians at the point of care.




Discussion on a case study highlighting the impact of MedPearl in clinical settings.




Review of pilot results demonstrating Med Pearl's effectiveness in referrals and patient care.




Description of MedPearl's scaling process and its growing user base.

I


Discussion on enhancing referral quality and outcomes through MedPearl.



Burnout and Clinician Efficiency (00:15:10)


Exploration of how MedPearl addresses clinician burnout and improves efficiency.



Importance of Clinician Involvement (00:17:02)


Discussion on why clinician input is essential in developing effective healthcare solutions.




Dr. Cunningham shares upcoming implementations and goals for MedPearl.

The discussion centers on the challenges in patient management and workflow, emphasizing the growing access issues in healthcare. Dr. Eve Cunningham highlights the complexities faced by primary care physicians, including referral dysfunctions and the overwhelming increase in medical knowledge. MedPearl is introduced as a solution to these challenges, offering features that enhance clinician efficiency and improve referral quality. The conversation also addresses the importance of clinician-centric technology and the need for clinician involvement in developing effective healthcare solutions. Future plans for MedPearl's expansion and implementation are also discussed.

Eve Cunningham, MD, chief of virtual health and digital care at Providence and founder of MedPearl, joins the podcast to discuss challenges with patient management and workflow.

Topics

Ep 42: Patient management challenges with Eve Cunningham, MD, of Providence

Social drivers of health: Research and initiatives

Social drivers of health: Effects of COVID-19

Social drivers of health: More attention this year?

Social drivers of health: Integrating new medicines for diabetes and obesity

Social drivers of health: Use of technology

Social drivers of health: Integrating artificial intelligence

Social drivers of health: Food insecurity

 Social drivers of health (SDOH) deal with interconnections among patient health and living conditions such as food security, housing stability, transportation, utilities access, and interpersonal safety.

As physicians look for new ways to help their patients, they may choose to integrate techniques and technologies that are emerging across health care. 

 has become a new leader in this area, launching a multi-year effort to help doctors assist patients with SDOH.

Part 3 of this video series features Physicians Foundation President Gary Price, MD, MBA, and Research Fellow Deborah Rose, MD. They talk about broader trends in health care ranging from research to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to the possibility of using artificial intelligence and new antiobesity medications as part of medicine’s armamentarium to treat SDOH.

Be sure to check out the earlier segments in this series:

SDOH: What every physician needs to know about social drivers of health. Part 1: An introduction

SDOH Part 2: What every physician needs to know about social drivers of health - practical steps to integrate SDOH in primary care

Social drivers of health (SDOH) encompass factors like food security, housing, and transportation that impact patient health. Physicians are increasingly integrating emerging techniques and technologies to address these issues. The Physicians Foundation is spearheading efforts to support doctors in managing SDOH. In a video series, experts discuss healthcare trends, including the impact of COVID-19, artificial intelligence, and new antiobesity medications in addressing SDOH. The series aims to educate physicians on understanding and integrating SDOH into primary care practices.

Two experts discuss The Physicians Foundation and its efforts to affect the factors that affect health outside the doctor's office.

SDOH: What every physician needs to know about social drivers of health. Part 3: Unique factors and influences

Discover the strategies that are transforming healthcare practices.

 Learn how top practices are using innovative solutions to optimize patient engagement, reduce costs and increase revenue. Our comprehensive guide, 

"HealthTech Survey: What Specialty Practices are Using to Fuel Profitability,"

 reveals the latest trends and best practices in healthcare technology. 

 to gain valuable insights and unlock the potential of your practice.

Fill out the form below to download the guide:

Healthcare practices are increasingly adopting innovative strategies to enhance patient engagement, reduce operational costs, and boost revenue. A comprehensive guide provides insights into the latest trends and best practices in healthcare technology, offering valuable information for specialty practices aiming to improve profitability. By leveraging these technological advancements, practices can unlock their full potential and achieve significant improvements in efficiency and financial performance. The guide serves as a resource for understanding how top practices are successfully integrating these solutions into their operations.

Discover the strategies that are transforming healthcare practices. Learn how top practices are using innovative solutions to optimize patient engagement, reduce costs and increase revenue. Our comprehensive guide, "HealthTech Survey: What Specialty Practices are Using to Fuel Profitability," reveals the latest trends and best practices in healthcare technology. Download now to gain valuable insights and unlock the potential of your practice.

Resources

HealthTech Survey: What Specialty Practices Use to Fuel Profitability 

 examined the prevailing trends in physician salaries, and private practices are the place to be if you want a better salary.

Private practices continue to offer the highest 

, with physicians witnessing an 8.4% median salary increase from $253,731 in 2022 to $275,072 in 2023. In contrast, hospitals present a mixed picture, showing an average increase of 3.3% but a decrease in median salaries from $252,011 in 2022 to $244,373 in 2023.

While overall, the average physician salary increased by 5.8% from 2022 to 2023, after adjusting for inflation, the buying power for the average doctor's salary rose by approximately 2.5%, surpassing the national average salary increase for all U.S. workers at 4.6%.

However, the recently passed 2024 Physician Fee Schedule introduces a 3.4% conversion factor reduction in Medicare payments, impacting the value of services billed for Medicare coverage. This cut, from $33.89 to $32.74 in the calendar year 2024, raises concerns among doctors, particularly as 36% of their existing patients use Medicare, and 66% of practices accept Medicare.

The survey also examined trends in physician negotiations and supplementary income sources. While 43% of doctors have successfully negotiated higher salaries, 41% have never attempted to negotiate. Additionally, 44% of physicians supplement their income with side work unrelated to their primary practice, with men being more likely to engage in side jobs than women.

 persist, with the median salary for male doctors in 2023 at $284,853 compared to $226,034 for female doctors. Despite a median salary increase of 8% for men, women experienced only a 2.9% increase.

According to the survey, 43% of doctors report that Blue Cross Blue Shield typically pays the most for services, followed by United Healthcare at 21%, and Aetna at 19%.

The survey was conducted in November 2023 among 300 physicians who had been in their current practice at least two years.

Private practices offer the highest physician salaries, with an 8.4% increase in 2023. Hospitals show a mixed trend, with a 3.3% average increase but a decrease in median salaries. Adjusted for inflation, physician salaries rose by 2.5%, outpacing the national average. The 2024 Physician Fee Schedule's 3.4% Medicare payment cut raises concerns, as many practices accept Medicare. Gender pay disparities persist, with male doctors earning significantly more than female doctors. Many physicians supplement income with side work, and Blue Cross Blue Shield is the top payer for services.

Survey shows that on average, physicians in private practice made more money than those working for hospitals

Colin Carr

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