Author: Staff

Boosting Medicare reimbursement, embracing pharmaceutical alternatives and keeping the scope of practice for non-physicians in check should be priorities for ophthalmologists, said Paul Sternberg, MD, the newly-elected president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Susan Charkin, MPH, is the founder and president of Healthcents, a Salinas, Calif.-based medical provider contracting company, where she helps healthcare providers and ambulatory surgery centers negotiate favorable reimbursements and contracts with HMOs, PPOs, worker's compensation organizations and other payors.

Health Systems Management Network created a physician clinical documentation ICD-10 and hospital ICD-10 specialty practices to address the gap between coders and physicians, according to Healthcare Finance News.

To be more proficient at ICD-10, coders should focus on a few techniques, according to ICD-10 Watch.

Michael Prescher, MD, has his Iowa medical license reinstated after a year suspension, according to the South West Iowa News.

Research now suggests that a prophylactic intravenous dose of acetaminophen could reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting associated with anesthesia, according to News-Medical.

Buffalo (N.Y.) VA Medical Center notified Congress that insulin pens were reused at the hospital, putting more than 700 patients at risk for infection, according to a Buffalo News report.

Facilitators, or quality improvement coaches, and care managers are key roles in a primary care team, according to a special report in Annals of Family Medicine.

Healthgrades announced 262 hospitals received the 2013 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, which recognizes superior performance in a range of procedures.

The Joint Commission announced it is seeking comments on its "Proposed 2014 National Patient Safety Goal on Alarm Management."