RBMA Fall Educational Conference — Sessions

Monday, October 23, 2006

8:15 am – 9:00 am
The Global Journey to Cure Breast Cancer
Keynote: Ernie Bodai, MD  
After treating thousands of patients with breast cancer Balaz “Ernie” Bodai, MD, became frustrated at the pace of funding for research. In a remarkable one-man lobbying effort, he was able to convince Congress and the U.S. Postal Service to issue the Breast Cancer Research Stamp – the first ever stamp in U.S. history that sells at more than face value (45 cents) with the surplus amount donated directly to breast cancer research. Over 800 million stamps have been sold raising over $60 million for crucial research. Dr. Bodai is also a prostate cancer survivor. Since his diagnosis in 2000, he has become a passionate advocate for prostate cancer research and is currently working with the U.S. Postal Service to produce a similar stamp to benefit prostate cancer research. Hi s mission is now twofold: to eradicate both prostate and breast cancer. During this session, you will hear of this incredible journey, the challenges and the frustrations along the way, and be inspired to work t ogether to find a cure in the near future.

9:00 am – 9:30 am
RBMA’s 2006 Strategic Plan – Charting a New Course
Gregory M. Kusiak, MBA, Michael R. Mabry
Learn about the RBMA’s strategic opportunities and new directions contained in the RBMA’s 2006 Strategic Plan. RBMA’s perspective on the radiology management environment will be discussed. An environmental analysis template that can be applied to your practice/organization is included in this session.

10:15 am – 11:15 am
ACR Update: Tough Times Call for Tough Actions
Pamela Kassing, RCC
Congress and Medicare are taking action to control the exponential growth in imaging expenditures. Learn what actions ACR is taking to respond to these concerns and avoid inappropriate cuts in payment rates for radiology procedures.

11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Utilization, Unit Cost and Variation Management
Thomas G. Dehn, MD, FACR
This interactive discussion will frame public concerns related to the rapid increase in cost trends for diagnostic imaging. Economic drivers such as increased utilization and unit cost will be weighed, considered and matched to potential solutions. The discussion will include an extensive data review with time allocated for questions and answers.

1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Concurrent Sessions:
Learning Lab: Utilization, Unit Cost and Variation Management
Thomas G. Dehn, MD, FACR, Gregory M. Kusiak, MBA
After attending the General Session in the morning, join your colleagues for a learning laboratory to practice what you learned and hash out the details of your own groups utilization challenges. In a smaller facilitated setting, attendees will convene to discuss the various issues pertaining to Utilization and the future.

Learning Lab: Developing and Training Radiology Coders
Kathleen A. Wolf, RCC
Explore methods for hiring, developing and training successful radiology coders. In a group setting, define a program that will ensure that your new coders possess the necessary knowledge to successfully code radiology procedures. Attendees are encouraged to pre-submit challenges and concerns for discussion.

Learning Lab: What Does the 2006 RBMA Strategic Plan Mean to Your Association, Profession, and Practice?
Patrick L. Epting, Kathleen R. Henrichs, PhD, Barbara F. Rubel, MBA
After attending the General Session in the morning, join your colleagues for a learning laboratory featuring an in-depth discussion with RBMA leaders on: (1) the goals and strategies contained in the RBMA’s 2006 Strategic Plan and (2) the opportunities and challenges underlying the RBMA's environmental assessment template. Learn from an expert in strategic planning how the RBMA’s Strategic Plan and environmental assessment template can be applied to your individual practices. In a smaller facilitated setting, attendees will convene to discuss and develop new ideas for growth and facing challenges in the future.

Evaluating a Marketing Department’s Performance
Wendy Lomers, CPA, MBA, Bobbie de Los Santos, RT, (R)(M), CNMT
Evaluating marketing representatives and marketing managers can often be difficult. Marketers spend the majority of their time in the field. Marketing managers are often laying ground work for the future and their results are not seen on daily basis or measurable. In addition, many factors beyond their control affect their goals. So, how can management effectively evaluate the marketing staff's contribution to the practice?

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Roundtables:
Small Practice
Large Practice
Imaging Center
Billing Service

	Mini Radiology MBA Patricia A. Kroken, FACMPE, CRA The concept of the radiology “mini MBA” is tongue in cheek when compared to the complexity of radiology practice management, but offers a structured focus on critical management skills—for those recently entering radiology, assigned to a new leadership position or for physician leaders. While many of today’s senior radiology managers had the luxury of adapting to changes in the radiology business environment gradually, today’s administrators and managers are challenged to ramp up quickly in a challenging, highly regulated field. Mini Radiology MBA courses for the RBMA Fall Conference are designed to build on each other in terms of basic skills and knowledge. However, they will also stand alone for the manager who is interested in a particular topic. 7:30 am – 9:30 am Transition Management 10:15 am – 11:15 am Tomorrow’s Leader—the Radiology Business Manager of the Future 11:30 am – 12:30 am Analyzing Billing Effectiveness 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Basics of Insurance Contracting: More than Just Fees 3:34 pm – 4:45 pm Improving Management Reporting

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

7:30 am – 9:30 am
Roundtables (includes continental breakfast 7:30 am – 8:00 am)
CAC/Managed Care
HIPAA/Compliance
Marketing
Mini Radiology MBA – Transition Management

10:15 am – 11:15 am
Concurrent Sessions:
The Radiologist Entrepreneur
Robert L. Falk, MD
Entrepreneurism and the traditional practice of medicine are as different as oil and water. Explore ways the two can mix, as well as pitfalls and lessons learned along the way. Find out how to deal with the entrepreneurial radiologist in your group; incorporate entrepreneurism in your practice, and enhance corporate satisfaction and revenues

Valuation of Radiology Specific Entities – How Much Art and How Much Science in a Valuation?
Douglas G. Smith, Reed Tinsley, CPA, CVA
How do you determine your practice’s valuation? This session will cover the most prevalent purposes of valuations and the methodologies available to calculate valuation, including principal factors of influence (historical and prospective) which may either increase or decrease value. The mysterious discount rates, risk adjusters and other factors included in valuations will be unveiled so we can understand – and explain to our owners. Case studies and examples will be included.

Satisfaction Surveys: Are You Getting What You Need?
Janet Duffy, RT, (R)(M), Peggy Wagner, CRA
A look into the needs, goals, and results of patient, employee, radiologist, and referring physician satisfaction surveys. Common questions such as the delivery, length, and the frequency of conducting surveys will be discussed. Analyzing your surveys and implementing programs to address your identified problems can increase the quality of your service, improve operational efficiency and ultimately increase satisfaction for all.

Mini Radiology MBA – Tomorrow’s Leader—the Radiology Business Manager of the Future
Patricia A. Kroken, FACMPE, CRA
As the radiology business environment becomes more complex, highly regulated and technology-dependent, what will it take to lead the business side of radiology in the future? While many groups feel hiring an MBA or CPA will give them a leader with sufficient educational background, most of the knowledge to run a radiology practices is gained “on the job” and leaders must be self-motivated to develop their skills—and must know how to use available resources.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Concurrent Sessions:
Building a Recognition Culture
Alex Allion
The desire to be recognized is a basic element of human nature. As we go through our schooling, recognition is elemental to our drive to succeed. Through the pursuit of good grades, we are encouraged to study and learn. We pursue a gold medal in sport competition; words of admiration from our coach vaults us to higher levels of striving. As we become adults and enter the workforce, this craving doesn’t magically disappear. With encouragement and recognition of our efforts, that desire to succeed will grow and flourish. Without it, isn’t our effort reduced to drudgery?

How to Design an Imaging Center with Increased throughput to Combat Decreased Reimbursement
Tobias Gilk, Robert Junk, AIA
In highly competitive markets and with declining reimbursement rates, it becomes increasingly important to optimize efficiency. Find out how the design of a facility can improve efficiency and increase throughput.

Interventional Radiology: A Collaborative Case Study in Improving the Billing and Coding Process
Mary Jo Swanson, RN, MPH, Patricia Kinsley, RT, CPC, RCC
Hospital-based interventional labs, specifically radiology, present some of the most complex coding cases in hospitals. Hear how one improvement team practice found significant issues with coding, dropped bills from an external audit, and how what they collaborated to combat the problem and arrive at a positive solution.

Mini Radiology MBA – Analyzing Billing Effectiveness
Patricia A. Kroken, FACMPE, CRA
How do you know if your billing department—or billing service—is doing a good job? Too many physicians and managers receive a mountain of data on a regular basis, but what is important and what should you be looking for to evaluate performance? This session will focus on standard industry reporting formats, the language of key indicators (and what influences them), as well as a summary of billing/collections processes.

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Concurrent Sessions
Valuation of Radiology Specific Entities – How Much Art and How Much Science in a Valuation? (repeat)
Douglas G. Smith, Reed Tinsley, CPA, CVA
How do you determine your practice’s valuation? This session will cover the most prevalent purposes of valuations and the methodologies available to calculate valuation, including principal factors of influence (historical and prospective) which may either increase or decrease value. The mysterious discount rates, risk adjusters and other factors included in valuations will be unveiled so we can understand – and explain to our owners. Case studies and examples will be included.

The Importance of Operations Management in Imaging Services
Robert A. Maier
Every successful imaging service relies on a cohesive team with a common mission and vision as well as operational and financial goals. In order to understand the actions needed to improve, the current operational methods and key measurements must first be determined. Learn important factors to consider when reviewing your services including workflow, scheduling, registration, patient interaction, testing and reporting.

Strategies and Tactics for Operational Improvement in Healthcare
Mary Jo Swanson, RN, MPH
Improve operations by adopting strategies and tactics that include “just do it,” PDCA, Six Sigma and Lean. Learn the practical applications of these key concepts and how to use them in other settings. See how one hospital-based healthcare service applied these application s resulting in an operational improvement process cycle time from 38 to 20 minutes and a 10 percent improvement in patient wait time satisfaction – in just three months.

Mini Radiology MBA – Basics of Insurance Contracting: More than Just Fees
Patricia A. Kroken, FACMPE, CRA
Insurance contracting can be intimidating, especially since contract clauses seem to change every few years. After the fee analysis, what are the important things to look for? How have Medicare Choice plans and the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) changed contract language? What is the role of communications in contract management? When is it better not to participate in a contract at all? These and other critical insurance contracting elements will be discussed to take some of the mystery out of the process and make it truly manageable.

3:45 pm – 4:45 pm
Concurrent Sessions:
Ten Things Your Equipment Vendor Won’t Tell You
Tobias Gilk, Robert Junk, AIA
Radiology managers are asked to budget millions of dollars on complex-to-site imaging modalities based, largely, on the promises of construction simplicity from the vendor c iting simplicity from the vendor. Too often, budget/schedule-shattering SNAFUS are uncovered into the design or construction process. Find out 10 of the most common omissions from equipment vendors when buying a new modality.

Six Strategic Elements for Medical Imaging Success
Robert Maier
Ever wonder how some outpatient imaging operations grow like wildfire while others wither and fade out of sight? The difference is millions of dollars in revenues and the relationships you forge with your patients and physician clientele. That difference is the result of having a strategic focus and a commitment to service. It applies equally to hospitals and freestanding imaging centers. Having a strategic focus requires identification of customer needs in your market. It also requires an intimate knowledge of your competitors and the services they provide. Learn the importance of six critical elements which when executed will result in increased market share and medical imaging success.

Building a Recognition Culture (repeat)
Alex Allion
The desire to be recognized is a basic element of human nature. As we go through our schooling, recognition is elemental to our drive to succeed. Through the pursuit of good grades, we are encouraged to study and learn. We pursue a gold medal in sport competition; words of admiration from our coach vaults us to higher levels of striving. As we become adults and enter the workforce, this craving doesn’t magically disappear. With encouragement and recognition of our efforts, that desire to succeed will grow and flourish. Without it, isn’t our effort reduced to drudgery?

Mini Radiology MBA – Improving Management Reporting
Patricia A. Kroken, FACMPE, CRA
What kinds of information do you need to make good management decisions, solve problems and to communicate with physician leadership? This session will cover various types of reports that are helpful in practice management, what to watch and why, as well as how to develop effective reports to review with the Board members or Executive Committee. In addition, tips in effective communication with physician and management leadership will be discussed for those new to radiology—or assuming new responsibilities.