Learning Labs : What's New at TransforMED
Learning Labs is the public online resource for updates and insights emerging from TransforMED's National Demonstration Project.
Join TransforMED thought leaders at these Q4 events:
 October 22nd - A TransforMED LearningCollaborative for Practice Improvement presented by TransforMED Vice President for Performance Improvement and Education, Elaine Skoch, in conjunction with the IAFP and the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative. Find out more »
December 4th - Offered in cooperation with the 2008 Conference on Practice Improvement in Savannah, sponsored by STFM and the AAFP, this pre-conference program provides a face-to-face networking opportunity for practices who want to learn more about the TransforMED patient-centered medical home model and get a "jump start" on the TransforMED process. Find out more » |
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TransforMED's MHIQ now offers NCQA conversion tool
TransforMED's Medical Home IQ – a new, Web-based self-assessment tool for primary care practices seeking to become Medical Homes – now offers an MHIQ-to-NCQA PPC-PCMH™ conversion tool. Find out more about this helpful tool »
Or click here to access the MHIQ assessment to evaluate your practice's implementation of the Patient Centered Medical Home concepts. |
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| FOCUS ON GROUP VISITS |
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Group Visits for Diabetes and Other Chronic Diseases
By Edward Shahady, MD
"Group visits are an innovative way to help patients with chronic disease better control their disease. Diabetes is the poster child for chronic disease because it is the most common chronic disease and excellent evidence indicates that improved management reduces the physical, fiscal and psychological burden of the disease."
Click here to read Dr. Shahady's perspective » |
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Take a Group Medical Visits Quick Survey
Please participate in this 1-2 minute survey to help Mary Talen, Ed Shahady and Julie Schirmer of STFM understand what helps and hinders group medical visits practice. Click here to open the survey link in a new window or tab » |
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Group Medical Appointments Improve Access and Patient Satisfaction
"Stories of Change" from Carondelet Medical Group in Tucson, Arizona
Carondelet Medical Group takes the ideas of "do today’s work today" and "open access" very seriously. In hopes that it might improve access for patients as well as increase revenue, Carondelet leadership decided to give group medical appointments a try... Read about how they planned for and implemented group visits » |
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A Q & A Conversation with Lauri Morales, MA
Lauri Morales, MA, conducts group visits for Carondelet Medical Group in Tucson, Arizona. She talks candidly about her experience with patients in group settings. Read about Lauri's experiences and insights» |
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| FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION |
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Leadership Excellence
A TransforMED Workingpaper [view all]
By PEF Barbara Johnson, PhD
Strong and effective leadership is a skill that almost anyone can put into practice by learning the five, basic core competencies of physician leadership. Download the PDF » |
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Office Leaders Dictate Office Attitude
A TransforMED Workingpaper [view all]
By PEF David Garrett, MHA
Have you ever wondered to yourself, "What happened today that made the office run so well?" or "Today was such a light day, why did everything seem to go wrong?" Often times, you need look no further than the mirror! Download the PDF » |
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| Report from the CEO: What's in a name |
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"Many practices or centers of care claim to be Patient Centered Medical Homes. Many physicians claim that they are already part of medical homes. Also several pilots around the country are claiming to be medical home pilots when indeed they are chronic disease or pay for performance projects..."
Read Dr. McGeeney's CEO Report » |
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| Perspectives |
Work/Life Balance
by Ramona G. Seidel, MD
Bay Crossing Family Medicine in Annapolis, Maryland
"The essence of the medical profession is more "WHO I am", than "what I do". Similarly my roles as mother and wife are part of how I define myself as a person. At the core of the balance between work and family life is the knowledge that the monumental tasks required of each, can not be done alone."
Read Dr. Seidel's perspective » |
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Life is like a box of chocolates...
You never know what you're going to get
Surprisingly Simple Improvement Tips from NDP Practices
 One of the most popular activities at the recent Learning Collaborative was the Box of Chocolates – an opportunity for the participants in the National Demonstration Project to share their "tips and tricks" and receive a box of chocolates.
These are quick tips from the actual experiences National Demonstration Project providers and PMs "in the trenches" – a scannable "lunchtime reading" list of easy and inexpensive things you can do TODAY to increase productivity, team communication and motivation, patient satisfaction and more.
Read this fun and useful article – and be sure to bookmark it! »
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Two New TransforMED Workingpapers [view all]
Mission Possible
Crafting a durable, meaningful mission statement is the first step in your practice's strategic planning process. TransforMED Executive Director Marly McMillen explores what it takes to set the vision for your practice in this TransforMED workingpaper.
Read this PDF workingpaper » |
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The Key to Implementing Change in Your Practice
Struggling with change is not unique to medical practice; it's a challenge most organizations face when trying to alter entrenched patterns or processes. It's estimated that somewhere between 50 percent to 80 percent of change initiatives in Fortune 1,000 companies fail. Why?
Read this PDF workingpaper » |
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Download Your Blueprint for Practice Transformation:
The New TransforMED Medical Home Model |
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Spark discussions with your team ~ or educate patients about your practice's transformation efforts.
Get the new TransforMED Medical Home Model in an easy-to-print full-color PDF, perfect for in-office display.
Get your copy of the TransforMED Medical Home model »
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The Practice Is Bleeding Internally
Is your practice hemorrhaging red ink? Make sure you're taking the proper preventative steps to insure your practice maintains its financial health.
Read this workingpaper that recommends 4 basic "preventive measures" to improve your bottom line. |
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Co-pay Collection Best Practices
Is non-collection of co-pays eroding your bottom line? TransforMED Practice Enhancement Facilitator, Jim Arend says, "Co-pay collection is one of the few parts of the revenue cycle that is within direct control of the practice." To find out how practice leadership can improve co-pay collection in just a few concrete steps, click here. |
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Learning Labs
Toll Free 1.866.826.8700 | Phone 913.906.6330 | Fax 913.906.6326 | info@transforMED.com
Learning Labs
The end of the year is a great time to give your practice Web site an "annual check up" to make sure it's up-to-date and accurate. When doing your overview, use these 16 best practices for practice Web sites as a checklist. 
Medical practices that start the transformation process with active steps to address the team's readiness to change see the most improvement and are better able to sustain the changes.