April 4, 2024
An internal message for Tufts Medicine Integrated Network physicians, leaders and staff. Please do not forward, post or share with other groups. To submit content for a future Briefing, please email Eric Bourke at Eric.A.Bourke@tuftsmedicine.org.
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Dr. Erika Werner Appointed Interim President of Tufts MC PO |
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Last night, the Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization (Tufts MC PO) Board of Trustees appointed Erika Werner, MD, MS, as Interim President of the Tufts MC PO, in addition to her current roles — Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts Medical Center and Louis E. Phaneuf Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Werner joined Tufts Medicine in 2021 and immediately made a positive impact as a respected and insightful leader and an exceptional teacher and clinician. As Chair, she has built excellent relationships across the system and developed and enhanced partnerships with clinicians across the region. As Interim President for the Tufts MC PO, she will work closely with Tufts MC Chairs and many executive, clinical and administrative leaders across the system. Please join us in congratulating and supporting Dr. Werner, as she takes on this new role.
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Coming Soon: Epic Survey for TMIN Private Practices |
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A Message for all TMIN Private Practice Epic Users
In mid-May, we will be launching an Epic Survey to get feedback from TMIN private practice Epic users to gauge their experience using the Epic electronic health record platform. Please stay tuned for direct communication about the survey.
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Submitted by Frank Osborn, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Tufts Medicine Integrated Network
- We continue to work on optimizing our Labcorp partnership
- We are addressing feedback and events
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Please enter events and issues into SafetyNet or email them to Christina Kazazian
I am a practicing PCP, and understand the challenges we've all faced with our Labcorp partnership. Please know that I want to optimize this process in order to make all our lives easier. As part of this effort, I am serving on governance and quality groups to address the issues we are seeing.
Given all of the recent changes that impact our work - the Epic implementation, Labcorp transition and many others - I realize it can sometimes feel like your voices are not being heard. I assure you this is not the case. We will continue to make improvements and keep you informed throughout this process.
In the meantime, please continue to give feedback. This will ensure we have the information we need to continue providing the safe and hiqh-quality care we are known for throughout TMIN. You can do this through SafetyNet (see image below for instructions and examples). If you are unfamiliar with SafetyNet, you may also email Christina Kazazian, Patient Safety Program Manager, who has graciously agreed to add your feedback to the program.
Please also feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns. Thank you all for everything you do.
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Medicare Annual Wellness Education Materials Now Available |
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To ensure clinicians have everything they need to conduct Medicare annual wellness visits, we have created a number of resources to guide you through what an annual wellness visit is and what it entails. Please click the following links if you need more information on this topic, and reach out to your Practice Optimization Manager to arrange either in-person or virtual training if needed.
You may also find these resources in the Webinars section of the Tufts Medicine website under Elevate Population Health.
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Reminder: April Physician and APC Profile Photo Days |
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All physicians and advanced practice clinicians who see patients and are affiliated with Tufts Medicine through TMIN are eligible to have a searchable profile on tuftsmedicine.org. Don't miss your chance to have a free professional profile photo taken at one of our remaining sessions in April and May.
Lowell General Hospital
Tufts Medical Center
TMCCC Framingham, Primary Care
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Reminder: Enhanced Documentation Workflow for GAD |
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Coming in mid-April 2024, an enhanced documentation workflow for Generalized Anxiety Disorder screening using the GAD-7 will Go Live in Epic. The upcoming workflow will flag rooming staff and clinicians (PCPs, Behavioral Health, and Pediatrics) when anxiety screening is due via the Visit Checklist and Best Practice Advisories (BPA). BPAs will trigger for clinicians with GAD-7 results that will include intervention recommendations. Information about this new workflow will be available through the Epic Home Learning Dashboard (F1).
How will this new workflow for required documentation affect your day-to-day? The GAD-7 screening tool should be collected, at a minimum, annually for patients without an active diagnosis of anxiety for primary care, pediatrics, and behavioral health in the Ambulatory setting. The GAD-7 tool is available for all specialties if needed.
Why is screening for anxiety important and our responsibility in healthcare? Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be disabling and lead to other physical health conditions. The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual screening for anxiety, and some contractual payor obligations require it. Early detection and intervention can reduce the impact of anxiety symptoms.
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Inhaled Corticosteroids Coverage
Authorized generic fluticasone HFA remains available. However, coverage is variable depending upon patients’ insurance. See this handout for details about ICS coverage for adults and pediatrics as of April 1, 2024. Please note: coverage is very fluid and payors may change coverage criteria at any point during the year. In addition, patient specific plans may vary from what is outlined.
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for an archive of previously recorded webinars.
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About Tufts Medicine Integrated Network
The Tufts Medicine Integrated Network is a distinctively different population health enterprise, including 2,300 primary care and specialist physicians and advanced practice clinicians. Working as Tufts Medicine employees or in private practice, we deliver exceptional coordinated care in community and hospital settings with a sharp focus on value-based care and health equity. Our purpose is to build healthier communities and create healthy, rewarding experiences for our patients and care teams.
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