Posted by: AtlasMD

November 16, 2013

Atlas.md EMR — Tutorial Video — Tasks

Drs. Josh and Doug demonstrate the Task feature of Atlas.md. You can create tasks, set due dates, add notes and more. Return to Tasks to check current action items and mark items as complete. Also, Atlas.md can assign tasks to specific patients; that way, when you view a patient profile you can quickly check if there are outstanding items related to them.

VIEW NEXT ATLAS.MD EMR TUTORIAL VIDEO > CALENDAR

Have more questions about Atlas.md? Send them to hello[at]atlas.md …

Want to try Atlas.md EMR? Sign up for free at Atlas.md/signup.

Posted by: AtlasMD

November 13, 2013

The Atlantic Says, Healthcare.gov Tech ‘Surge’ Might Miss Its Deadline

This new post from the Atlantic is worth a read. The deadline for Obamacare enrollment is creeping up on us. Are Americans going to be able to wrap themselves in double-thick red tape? Who knows? However, this piece brought something else to our attention–the law surrounding pre-existing conditions.

Patients who have a pre-existing condition must sign up for an exchange plan by the end of the year (Jan. 1, 2014) in order to qualify for the unmodified fees.

As you know, we take a somewhat unbiased approach to the exchange. Yes, we think it might be one step forward, two steps back, but we’ve said it many times–if Americans can get more affordable wrap-around coverage, excellent. Only problem now is that people with obesity, diabetes, cancers and other serious conditions will only have a tiny window of opportunity to find an approved plan. And being as healthcare.gov is comfortably dysfunctional, this isn’t looking good.

And not to use fear tactics, but the fact is that many doctors don’t want to accept the exchange plans because of concern they themselves won’t be fairly compensated. This makes for an unfortunate conundrum: If someone has diabetes, they are A) running out of time to get fairly priced insurance and B) if they do acquire it, doctors might not accept it.

READ THE COMPLETE POST FROM THE ATLANTIC

Posted by: AtlasMD

November 13, 2013

Direct Care Is Routine Care Fit For A Cat

Direct Care Is Routine Care Fit For A Cat

Wait, come again? Okay, so the title of our post might seem nuts. But not after you read Ari Armstrong’s new piece on The Objective Standard. It’s called “Prior to Concierge Medicine, My Access to Health Care Was Inferior to that of My Cat.” As you know, Armstrong interviewed our own Josh Umbehr a few months ago and supports direct care’s free market approach to healthcare reform.

He compares his own scheduling nightmares (three months for a routine physical!) with that of his sick cat. His cat was able to see a vet and get blood work done in a matter of days. This led Armstrong to ask, “Why is it… that my cat has better access to health care than I have?”

Read more

Posted by: AtlasMD

November 12, 2013

Sean Hannity Demands More Atlas MD

Dr. Josh was invited to speak with Sean Hannity (again) just a few days ago. We don’t want to humblebrag since it’s poor online form, so we’ll be direct–we’re honored to be brought onto the popular show. And we’re blessed to have the chance to tell America, there are alternatives to overpriced health insurance. Thank you, Sean Hannity.

Hannity asked if we’ll go into the insurance exchange. Our answer is no. It’s another form of red tape. It’s not adding anything. It’s actually slowing our nation down. However, if it can make catastrophic insurance more affordable, that’s a fantastic side effect.

Hannity also asked if fee for service docs are accepting insurance from the exchange. All we’ve heard is a resounding no. After 6 national conferences, everyone is worried about participating. Docs are looking for a way around these plans that might short them more than existing ones.

Think about this. Isn’t it a sick irony when our administration spends a billion some-odd dollars to “help” people in need, when the problem was all kinds of red tape making the product more expensive than it needs to be.

Posted by: AtlasMD

November 11, 2013

Wall Street Journal Shares Pros and Cons of Concierge Medicine

Jen Wieczner of the Wall Street Journal stitched together a piece about the benefits and the doubts of concierge medicine. It did successfully clarify the outdated definition of concierge medicine, the personal medicine for jet setters. She also properly incorporated the term “direct primary care” as affordable, non-insurance based care, explaining that on one hand there still are “lavish, celebrity-type treatment” centers, but also a newly emerging option like our Atlas MD-model. She writes that “pared-down clinics charge roughly $50 to $100 a month for basic primary-care medicine, more accessible doctors, and yes, money savings for those looking to reduce their health spending.”

Not bad. That sounds like what we’re up to here at Atlas MD.

She also included this relevant stat. According to Concierge Medicine Today, “Of the estimated 5,500 concierge practices nationwide, about two-thirds charge less than $135 a month on average, up from 49% three years ago.” It’s believed our lower cost practices are driving growth in concierge medicine. Offices are being added at a rate of about 25% a year, says the American Academy of Private Physicians.

Also not bad. This is becoming the free market reaction we were hoping for.

Read more

Posted by: AtlasMD

November 9, 2013

Atlas.md EMR — Tutorial Video — Doctor Profile

Drs. Josh and Doug show you how to customize your doctor profile. Leave a default sign-off when sending Rx to pharmacies, sync your Twitter account, set up your phone services, upload a profile pic, and more.

VIEW NEXT ATLAS.MD EMR TUTORIAL VIDEO > TASKS

Have more questions about Atlas.md? Send them to hello[at]atlas.md …

Want to try Atlas.md EMR? Sign up for free at Atlas.md/signup.

Posted by: AtlasMD

November 8, 2013

Insurers Are Hiding ACA Benefits From Customers, Like You Do…

We found an article coming at the Obamacare fiasco from the opposite direction. If you have a minute, it’s worth a read. However, we’d like to add a caveat to the piece.

First off, the story they highlighted is a bummer—Donna receiving a letter canceling her current insurance plan and offering a new plan in its place; Donna winding up with a premium that was over $1,000 per month higher than what was offered through the health exchange; Donna being mislead by her insurance company…

However, we’re still of the opinion that both sides of the media are spinning Obamacare and COMPLETELY missing the point. The point should be healthcare–which is totally separate from insurance. Somehow we forget that every time we get sucked into the Obamacare wormhole. So take this as our George Karlin or Bill Hicks moment. Sure, it’s nice to know that big government has taken a moral issue against shoddy insurance policies. But it’s worrisome to see the free market manipulated. Kind of reminds us of Ben Franklin’s saying: “Those who would trade liberty for security, deserve neither.” We’d rephrase it something like this: “Those who’d trade the free market for security, deserve neither.”

Surely, we’re idealistic. But our fight is a fight for price transparency. The demand for transparency is the only way that people like Donna don’t get fed misinformation. It’s misinformation that’s putting money in people’s pockets, when they’ve done nothing to improve a person’s health.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

Posted by: AtlasMD

November 7, 2013

Ayn Rand, 1 : Healthcare, 0

Here’s an apt quotation, relevant on a broad scale, and specifically to the warped reality of our red-tape-wrapped healthcare system:

“Civilization is the progress of a society towards privacy. The savage’s whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men.”

Following this logic, one could assert that our current system is barbaric. Sure, it sounds dramatic at first. But when you think about it in Randian terms, the assertion gains a more solemn truth. And not only that, but it makes direct care feel a bit more civilized.

Thank you, Forbes, for sharing this Quote of the Day.

Posted by: AtlasMD

November 7, 2013

The Latest Way Insurance Companies Are Trying To Pay Practices Less

The Latest Way Insurance Companies Are Trying To Pay Practices Less

Okay, so this is a departure from our red tape world. It looks like fee-for-service practices are noticing a new trend in payments from insurance companies and payers – they are actually paying for services rendered with credit cards or virtual credit cards.

A virtual credit card? Is that a real thing?
Yes it is. According to wiseGeek.com, “A virtual credit card, also known as a throwaway or temporary credit card, is a disposable payment card used for one-time purchases. It consists of a single-use credit card number generated by the credit card issuer. In most cases, virtual credit card numbers can only be used once, and will expire after about a month if not used.”

Read more

Posted by: AtlasMD

November 6, 2013

Patient-Centered Communication Skills Correlate With High Productivity And Satisfaction Scores

People are forever telling Stephen Wilkins that he’s wasting his time talking to providers about the need to improve their patient communication skills. Here’s what the naysayers typically cite:

  1. Physicians usually think they’re good communicators already
  2. There’s no time to talk to patients
  3. Physicians aren’t paid to talk

Lucky for you, Wilkins easily debunks all three of these myths in his new blog post on Mind The Gap. It’s a great read, mostly because he builds a strong case for why patient-doctor communication is NOT a zero-sum game. He cites a recent publication suggesting that providers can in fact be productive while at the same time creating a satisfying patient experience.

READ THE COMPLETE POST ON MIND THE GAP

Also included is a comparison of doctor scores from this study. Certain attributes are emphasized in the group that more successfully communicates, including a focus on teaching and explanations. That reminds us, why do we value the practice of direct care? At the core, it’s time. Teaching takes time, no matter how many self-help books we read or productivity apps we download.

Think of the fee-for-service physician who demanded 30 minutes with every patient (to the chagrin of her employer) and ourselves, who get to spend 45 minutes with every patient who comes in for a check-up. Learning how to communicate with patients is gaining the ability to teach your patients. And teaching them is key to them leaving your office with the ability to better take care of themselves. In essence, this is you being productive and more fully satisfying your patients.