Contents tagged with fiesinger
-
So easy a child can do it
By Troy Fiesinger, M.D.
TAFP President, 2012-2013When we walked into the dentist’s office, my kids ran straight up to the computer to check in for their appointments. This was my first time to take them to the dentist, as my wife usually drives them. My son and daughter quickly entered their names on the touch screen, grabbed books, and took their seats. Freed from manually registering patients, the front-desk clerk monitored patient flow and welcomed everyone to the clinic with freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies.
Later that day, I went to my doctor’s office where I signed my name on a clipboard and patiently waited in the lobby as patients have done for decades. His office has the same electronic medical record as mine, but his clipboard system has not changed in decades. My clinic has an electronic medical record with a web portal and secure patient e-mail, but our patients still queue at the front desk to give their information to a clerk. At the gas station, I swipe my credit card and fill my gas tank without talking to another human being. At the airport, I walk up to the kiosk, insert a credit card, and print the boarding pass for the flight I checked in to the night before. We expect businesses to adopt the latest customer service technology and embrace their use while we keep our clinics in the technological dark ages, suspiciously questioning each new innovation. We complain about the inefficiencies of our EMRs but are slow to adopt innovations to improve the efficiency and ease of our patients’ visits to our offices. Are we so focused on our frustrations that we forget our patients?
more -
CAPITOL UPDATE: Senate passes bill to increase residency slots
Capitol Update: Senate passes bill to increase residency slots
posted 04.24.13
The Senate passed legislation last week proposed by Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, that will strengthen the … more
-
Senate Bill 143 unanimously approved
Capitol Update: Senate committee approves bill to increase access to primary care
posted 04.03.13
The Senate Committee on Higher Education approved Senate Bill 143 Wednesday, April 3, which would … more
-
CAPITOL UPDATE: TAFP Board of Directors unanimously supports Medicaid expansion
Capitol Update: TAFP Board of Directors unanimously supports Medicaid expansion
posted 03.07.13
At last weekend’s Interim Session, TAFP’s Commission on Legislative and Public Affairs put forth a … more
-
Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt
By Troy Fiesinger, M.D.
TAFP President, 2012-2013We received our monthly physician quality report cards recently. Software mines our electronic health record and generates reports to tell us if we are meeting our goals. These quality measures are defined by Medicare, our clinically integrated physicians group, and commercial payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield. While some are based on solid medical evidence, others seem arbitrary and not relevant to the day-to-day reality of seeing family medicine patients.
I prefer creating and using our own data instead of relying on the often incomplete and inaccurate claims data from insurance. Despite our efforts to be good sports, often we feel bombarded by the endless number of things we should do to show we are good doctors.
more -
CAPITOL UPDATE: 83rd Texas Legislature convenes
Capitol Update: 83rd Texas Legislature convenes
posted 01.11.13
Dr. Fiesinger served as Physician of the Day Jan. 8
And they’re off. The first week of the new 140-day legislative session is … more
-
Time to swing for the fences
An excerpt from the 2012 incoming presidential address
By Troy Fiesinger, M.D.
TAFP President, 2012-2013Whether we practice in Houston or Henderson, Wichita Falls or Weimar, El Paso or Del Rio, Alpine or Austin; we are all Texas family physicians. We bring different perspectives to the Academy based on where we live and where we’re from. I know what it’s like to work in a large integrated health care system, run a community health center, and teach our future family physicians, but I don’t know how to run your practice. I want to hear from each of you about how we can strengthen family medicine and take care of our patients.
Our health care system is in the midst of a painful rebirth. The insurers, the government, and the hospitals are pulling us in different directions. We stand with our patients at the middle of this storm of abbreviations and acronyms: ACA, ACO, PCMH, EHR, and the Medicaid 1115 waiver.
more