Spinal surgery represents a complex challenge for clinical documentation. Difficult to code and representing query situations that can be demanding, this is the area of focus for this episode of Modern Practice. Joining Dr. Tomas Villanueva is a leading expert returning to the podcast to talk about the challenges of spinal surgery documentation.

Moderator: Tomas Villanueva, DO, MBA, FACPE, SFHM Senior Principal Clinical Operations and Quality Vizient

Guest: Rachel Mack, MSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, CCS, CRC Consulting Director Clinical Documentation Improvement Vizient

Show Notes:

[01:26] Around 1.62 million procedures per year

[02:22] Procedures on the increase (2.4 times the level of 15 years ago)

[03:54] The most common spinal diagnoses

[05:15] Often not caught by primary care

[06:20 Less common reasons for spinal surgery

[07:09] Reasons for planned surgeries—often a last resort

[08:45] Risks for avoiding surgery

Links | Resources:

To contact Modern Practice: modernpracticepodcast@vizientinc.com

Rachel Mack’s email: rachel.mack@vizientinc.com

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Years of medical school, residency and fellowships have proven to do little in teaching physicians how to care for themselves. Physician burnout is at an all-time high. On this episode, a physician who is a leading expert on physician stress discusses how to improve mental fitness in those who’ve given their lives to the care of others.

Moderator: Tomas Villanueva, DO, MBA, FACPE, SFHM Senior Principal Clinical Operations and Quality Vizient

Guest: Cecilia Cruz, MD, MPH, CPCC, ACC Founder and Chief Executive Officer Marpe, LLC Board-certified emergency medicine physician Former co-chair of Quality Division of Emergency Medicine NorthShore University HealthSystem

Show Notes:

[00:34] Physician suicide

[02:44] Need connection

[04:03] What organizations need to do

[06:20] A learned skill and resource

[06:37] Mental fitness

[08:20] The Marpe approach

Links | Resources:

To contact Modern Practice: modernpracticepodcast@vizientinc.com

Dr. Cruz’s email: ceciliacruz@marpejourney.com

Dr Cruz’s Linkedin page: Cecilia Cruz - Founder and CEO - MARPE, LLC | LinkedIn

MARPE, LLC website: https://www.marpejourney.com/

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This episode of our award-winning podcast continues the discussion on why mental fitness is so crucial for physicians and other clinicians today and yet is a concept that physicians still tend to avoid or downplay. Physician training and medical school have not helped. Join us for this gritty discussion.

Moderator: Tomas Villanueva, DO, MBA, FACPE, SFHM Senior Principal Clinical Operations and Quality Vizient

Guest: Cecilia Cruz, MD, MPH, CPCC, ACC Founder and Chief Executive Officer Marpe, LLC Board-certified emergency medicine physician Former co-chair of Quality Division of Emergency Medicine NorthShore University HealthSystem

Show Notes:

[01:00] The in-box, EMR documentation and authorizations have only gotten worse

[01:40] If we don’t change, it’s all going to fall apart

[03:23] Examples from medical school and training—a lack of respect

[06:45] The EMR and the need for a 27-hour day

[08:05] Deficit of 40,000 primary care physicians by 2030 (AAMC)

[08:30] Emerging mental health issues and workplace violence

Links | Resources:

To contact Modern Practice: modernpracticepodcast@vizientinc.com

Dr. Cruz’s email: ceciliacruz@marpejourney.com

Dr Cruz’s Linkedin page: Cecilia Cruz - Founder and CEO - MARPE, LLC | LinkedIn

MARPE, LLC website: https://www.marpejourney.com/

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