Survey Says...
The combination also helps alleviate some confusion in the marketplace, which was the goal of both organizations, according to Crystal Taylor, MGMA’s assistant director for survey operations. “Our survey has been the gold standard for compensation but hasn’t had a high degree of detail around hospitalist-specific metrics,” Taylor says. “SHM’s research has always had more detail in this area because it was more specialized.”
Subtle Change
Although the research will be published in mid-2010, SHM members will notice changes long before then. In fact, many hospitalists already have taken advantage of the partnership, says Leslie Flores, MHA, the director of SHM’s Practice Management Institute.
“SHM and MGMA have already done a number of collaborative things,” she says. “We’ve presented a webinar together, and SHM is now offering MGMA books on its online store.”
In the near future, SHM and MGMA members can expect to hear from both organizations. MGMA has invited SHM to present at MGMA’s national conference, and MGMA will be presenting at HM09 in Washington, D.C., in April. For other SHM members, their first contact with MGMA will be through the survey, which will begin in January, according to Flores. SHM will issue e-mail invitations to group leaders to participate in the survey. The link in the e-mail will take members to MGMA’s data-gathering Web site. SHM and MGMA will present webinars and other educational tools to help practice administrators and others understand the new survey instrument.
Enthusiastic Partner
Like any other promising relationship, both parties are animated about the potential the partnership has for the future. MGMA hopes working with SHM brings them into a new and growing marketplace.
“The hospitalist market is new to us, which is another benefit of the relationship,” says Steve Hellebush, an MGMA vice president who is responsible for the association’s work with SHM. “By being able to interact with experts at SHM who really understand that segment of the healthcare industry, we’re learning more about it. As we learn more, we’ll find more opportunities.”
Both groups agree the joint project will better define the marketplace for hospitalist jobs and compensation. Those familiar with the challenges of administrating a hospitalist practice know that those changes will have a deep impact on healthcare.
“This is about giving our members the best, most valuable information available,” says Tex Landis, MD, FHM, chairman of SHM’s Practice Analysis Committee. “By enabling hospital medicine groups to make better decisions, this partnership will ultimately translate into better care for patients.”TH
Brandon Shank is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia.
