Curious, do you learn about healthcare business

[IWillChangeHC]

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I'm curious if your institution teaches you about the business side of healthcare.

Out of a 2011 survey, "9% of Medical Residents felt they were able to handle the business side of healthcare.” I find that number staggering.

Wondering what you guys think. Do you have any propensity or desire to learn about this?
If you did have an opportunity to learn, what kind of things would you want to know?

 

[link2swim06]

I'm curious if your institution teaches you about the business side of healthcare.

Out of a 2011 survey, "9% of Medical Residents felt they were able to handle the business side of healthcare.” I find that number staggering.

Wondering what you guys think. Do you have any propensity or desire to learn about this?
If you did have an opportunity to learn, what kind of things would you want to know?

Not in med school because in 6 years the medical business world will likely be different than today (with new legislation, movement to hospital owned groups, etc). Also knowledge only sticks if you use it. Teaching business in med school with no application for 5-6 years is a waste of time.

It should be taught in residency through optional lectures. I would think many residents planning on private practice would be interested.

 

[AlmostAnMD]

Our school (Toledo, OH) gives us four or five lectures on the business parts of medicine. Some interesting information, really. Much of it, I don't think, will change ~too~ much, (ie, basic explanations of what IS medicare vs medicaid, different types of physician payment plans, tort reform, etc).

 

[evilbooyaa]

Yeah we had a course on it 2nd year. It was essentially pass fail and wasn't going to be tested at all on Step 1, so I didn't pay attention to it a whole lot. The material is also not very interesting. Did pick up some basic stuff though, not about billing, but more about general principles of insurance, HMO, etc. etc.

Also, during 3rd year, we have a module in almost every rotation about business of healthcare related to the rotation (for example, kids healthcare in pediatrics, mental health services in psychiatry, etc.)

It sucks and is busy work, but I guess they can say they taught us, even if we just looked up the answers for the online quiz.

 

[IWillChangeHC]

See that's what I figured. Most programs may give a watered-down version that is pass/fail. Would you guys be interested in learning "real" issues facing healthcare contributed by actual professionals in the field facing the business side of healthcare? Not the "busy" work i.e. "What is a CPT code? Is it A....B..., blah blah blah"

 

[evilbooyaa]

See that's what I figured. Most programs may give a watered-down version that is pass/fail. Would you guys be interested in learning "real" issues facing healthcare contributed by actual professionals in the field facing the business side of healthcare? Not the "busy" work i.e. "What is a CPT code? Is it A....B..., blah blah blah"

You mean like billing and running a private practice? Or do you mean what medicare and medicaid are, and how HMOs payment structure differs from that of a PPO? The former I didn't learn, and the latter was what I learned in my business of healthcare course. I don't remember all the details now, but if I went back and reviewed it would probably come back better.

I do think as a Resident, if this doesn't exist already, your last year of residency should teach you how to bill properly, while you're still under attending supervision.

 

[NickNaylor]

We only got a very, very basic intro into what Medicare/Medicaid are and very generally how reimbursements work. Not nearly enough to allow you to understand what actually goes on, though.

 

[Cinclus]

I do via electives.

 

[IWillChangeHC]

So let me ask this then (and I hope more people chime in). Let's say your curriculum had a mandatory course either in Medical School or Residency, doesn't really matter when, but what kind of things would you guys be interested in learning?

 

[evilbooyaa]

Medical school - Basics of HMO vs PPO vs Medicare/Medicaid in terms of general principles without getting a whole lot into co-pays, minimim requirements, etc.

Residency - How to bill, discrepancies between payment structures in the common insurance practices, how to deal with non-payment (possibly with someone in private practice rather than in academia)