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FootZine,
Volume 3 |
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Three issues in three weeks? How long can we keep up that pace?! There has been some mail, but I also wanted to share some terrific new developments with you before I take off on vacation for 10 days. Ray Posa, of R. Francis Associates, has contributed a series of articles about HIPAA, first to the ASPMA NewsFlash and then to FootZine. He is familiar to members of AAPPM as the Academy's technology consultant. Last week, Ray offered to have his company sponsor and host my FootZine web site! FootZine is still not officially affiliated with any podiatric organization, and the intent is the same as it was two weeks ago. With the new web site location, and the technical know-how available through Ray's company, FootZine.com should be able to have even greater resources at our disposal. Hopefully this will make the site more interesting and useful. Many thanks to Ray and his company for their support! The new site is now available at: www.FootZine.com I expect that this will be a lasting address, so you can change that old bookmark. Along with the domain name and web address, Ray arranged for a matching email address. So, for what I hope will be the last for a very long time, here's a new email address for me (although the others will work for a while longer): gaylepmac@attbi.com I'm really amazed and delighted to receive this level of support at this early stage, and just as pleased with the wonderful welcoming notes I've had from so many of you. Thank you! ~ Gayle *_* *_*
*_* *_* *_* Letters
>>>>>>>>>>>From: Linda Harr, PMAC re: Classifieds Love being "in touch" again - these newsletters are extremely helpful. So, I was wondering if you were going to start the classified listings again? Please advise exactly what information you would like included. Thanks again for your help & dedication to podiatric assistants. Linda *_* Editor's Reply *_* Hi Linda, Thanks for writing. It is good to be back in touch........ There will be classified-type listings, called "Networking". We will again list job openings as well as jobs wanted. We may also expand that to include other things, like resources, equipment wanted or for sale, etc. There is already one listing there, and you can take a look at http://www.footzine.com/FZ_6.htm As before, listings should be sent to me. You should give as much information as you can as concisely as possible. You want to interest the reader and let them know whether this listing has potential for them. If it's a job opening, obviously you should tell where it is, whether full-time or part-time, and the kind of skills and experience needed. Beyond that, if you give a contact name and number (email also makes sense for people who read e-zines, right?), the interested party can get in touch about other specifics like hours, salary and benefits. A job-seeker should give a sketch of their qualifications and where they want to work, and again offer a way to be in touch. There will be no cost to post these notices, and they can remain as long as needed. ~ Gayle *_* *_* *_* From: Roman Paulus re: Fungal Nail Precautions Hi Gayle: I am looking for anyone who may have written guidelines for treatment of nails in skilled nursing homes, including grinding of nails. What precautions are taken including treatment of more than one patient in the facility. Anything would help. Please respond to my e mail @ rpaulus@podiatrists.org Roman Paulus CPMA Executive Director *_* *_* *_* From: Susan K. Scanlan, DPM re: HIPAA (Excerpted from a report on the September 2002 meeting of ASPE (the American Association of Podiatric Executives) HIPAA: In 1996 the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act became law. It established standards for Privacy, Security and Electronic Transmission. The Feds realized compliance would not be attainable and offers an extension. One of the benefits of membership in our organization is that APMA is giving us a free compliance manual. We recommend you do not currently buy anything or go to any seminar as the manual will be ready in October. We all need to file for an extension by October 15, 2002. It is easy to do. Go to: www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa. It will take you about 15 minutes. The feds are making you do this so that you realize that you have until October 2003 to be in compliance and that you need to start preparing. It is highly suggested you do this yourself and name yourself as the compliance officer as if your staff member is named and is no longer with you at a time of audit, you are out of compliance unless you notify HIPAA of the change. You are ultimately responsible no matter who you list anyway. Electronic filing is easy and you are immediately given a confirmation number. If you really want to do it on paper you can but you will have no confirmation that it was received. You will be asked "why you will not be compliant?". Feel free to answer "other" if you do not have a good reason. When asked "budget to be compliant?", feel free to click on the choice that you do not know. The only very important answer is that you will be compliant by October 2003!! The entire exercise is all about you knowing that you need to be looking into this. WSPMA and APMA will give you all the tools in a timely manner. DON'T WORRY, JUST FILE FOR THE EXTENSION BY OCTOBER 15TH, 2002!!! Susan K. Scanlan DPM, Executive Director, WSPMA *_* *_*
*_* *_* *_* We often speak of the importance of first
impressions but too often forget the critical nature of your closing
words with each patient. A common complaint from patients is
that the doctor or assistant did not answer all their questions, and
they do not feel appreciated by the practice. Two simple
expressions presented to every patient, every time, can address both
of these issues.<> Gems of Practice Management <> "What Other Questions Do You Have, Ms. Jones?" by Hal Ornstein DPM, FACFAS and Lynn Homisak, PRT, PMAC At the end of each visit and also when checking out at the front desk simply say: "What other questions do you have?" "Thanks you for coming in today" Try to stay away from the closed-ended "Do you have any questions?" versus the open-ended query of "What other questions do you have". I will never forget the patient who was always speaking about how he adored his primary care physician. When asking him why, his response was clear, "He always thanks me for coming into the office". We suggest that these two short phrases are posted at your front desk for your staff to see and in an area for the doctors to see on a regular basis. Previous "Gems" can be found on their own page of the FootZine.com web site, at http://www.footzine.com/FZ_9.htm *_* *_*
* _* *_* *_* As mentioned above, I am going on vacation for
about 10 days and will not be close to a computer during that time.
But there is plenty of room in the inbox for any email that arrives
while we're gone. In the meantime, please have a look at the
FootZine web site in its new abode: www.FootZine.com
and feel free to write when you can!~ Gayle * _* *_*
*_* Copyright 2002 Gayle S. Johnson, PMAC All
Rights Reserved.DISCLAIMER: Acceptance and publication of any letter, article, news item or advertisement does not necessarily constitute or imply approval or endorsement by myself of the product, idea, or content therein. I reserve the right to edit or to not publish any material received. Any health-related information is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or a substitute for the advice of a health care professional. Information pertaining to legal matters should not perceived as legal advice, nor should discussion about such issues as Medicare and billing be considered as definitive. All content is presented as being only the opinions of the contributors and is for educational purposes only. To Subscribe or Unsubscribe, simply send an email request to me at: gaylepmac@attbi.com Gayle S. Johnson, PMAC |
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