Physician Solutions April 2016

PHYSICIAN SOLUTIONS magazine

April 2016

Effectively Using PAs and NPs on Healthcare Delivery Teams

Why Practices Should Consider Hiring PAs/NPs pg. 26

pg. 24

the

s/NPs A P g n i s U ly Effective issue

Travel Nursing in High Demand pg. 30

contents features

24 EFFECTIVELY USING PAs AND NPs ON HEALTHCARE DELIVERY TEAMS 26 WHY PRACTICES SHOULD CONSIDER HIRING PAs/NPs

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30 TRAVEL NURSING IN HIGH DEMAND WHY PRACTICES SHOULD CONSIDER HIRING PAs/NPs

26

DID YOU ACTIVATE YOUR GPS FOR MEDICAL PRACTICE SUCCESS?

practice tips 6

DID YOU ACTIVATE YOUR GPS FOR MEDICAL PRACTICE SUCCESS?

10 WHY PHYSICIANS SHOULD JOIN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 12 COMPASSION AND CARING ARE GIFTS REMEMBERED 14 WHY DOES YOUR HEALTHCARE PRACTICE NEED CONTENT MARKETING?

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Professional Listing In addition to the benefits in the standard listing our Professional Listing affords you access to services provided by our expert legal and marketing team and a Bizscore Practice Valuation. This valuation compares your practice with other practices in your area, provides projections and determines what your practice is worth.

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phone: 919-845-0054 fax: 919-845-1947 www.physiciansolutions.com physiciansolutions@gmail.com

Physician Solutions April 2016 Publisher Creative Director Contributors

Philip Driver Thomas Hibbard Naren Arulrajah Barbara Hales, MD Nick Hernandez, MBA, FACHE Nisha Salim Lisa Shock, MHS, PA-C Denise Price Thomas Vikas Vij

contributors Naren Arulrajah is President and CEO of Ekwa Marketing, a complete Internet marketing company which focuses on SEO, social media, marketing education and the online reputations of Dentists and Physicians. If you have questions about marketing your practice online, call Naren direct at 877-249-9666.

Barbara Hales, M.D. is a skilled expert in promoting your health services. As seen on NBC, CBS,ABC and FOX network affiliates as well as Newsweek, Dr. Hales writes all the content you need to promote your medical services.

Her latest book is on the best seller list and she can do the same for you. Check out her site at www.TheWriteTreatment.com

Nick Hernandez, MBA, FACHE

Physician Solutions is a national monthly magazine committed to providing insights about the health care profession focusing on practical advice for physicians and practices.

We are currently accepting articles to be considered for publication.

For more information on writing for Physician Solutions, please email us at physiciansolutions@gmail.com.

P.O. Box 99488 Raleigh, NC 27624 medmedia9@gmail.com Online 24/7 at medmonthly.com

is the CEO and founder of ABISA, a consultancy specializing in solo and small group practice management. He has consulted with clients in multiple countries and has over 20 years of leadership and operations experience. Visit www.abisallc.com for more information.

Lisa P. Shock, MHS, PA-C is a PA who has practiced in primary care and geriatrics. She enjoys part-time clinical practice and is the President and CEO of Utilization Solutions in Healthcare – a specialty consultant company for physician practices and hospitals, offering services to help implement and improve the utilization of PAs and NPs in the health care system. Contact her with questions at lisa@pushpa.biz

Denise Price Thomas retired in 2009 as a surgical practice administrator where she was employed for 32 years. She is certified in healthcare management through Pfeiffer College. Speaking invitations have taken her from NC to SC, Georgia, Florida, Chicago, Alaska and more. Website: www.denisepricethomas.com PHYSICIAN SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE | 5

practice tips

Did You Activate Your GPS for Medical Practice Success?

By Barbara Hales, M.D. www.thewritetreatment.com

22|| APRIL DECEMBER 6 2016 2013

Your medical practice is still a business and as such, needs a business plan. This is your GPS that you will be following. “Winging it” is a big mistake and can be a costly one!

Consider a business plan as what you envision for your practice, mapped out on paper (or computer screen, more than likely). Start out by letting the ideas out on the screen. Think about it and then come back and refine it. Do this process a few times until it speaks to just what you envision. Going through the process forces you to confront complex issues and helps to formulate an economically sound business.

An effective business plan projects 3-5 years into the future, pinpointing the route the medical practice intends to take and milestones to achieve annually along with revenue projections.

Sound business plans will: • Enable loan acquisitions • Keep you following your goals and guidelines • Provide structure for analytics and business modifications according to analytical results • Improve ROI (return on investments)

Template For Your Medical Business Plan Check out www.sba.gov. It is a wonderful resource and the site provides several business plan models.

Key components are as follows: The Executive Summary The executive summary is the foundation of your practice, delineating your practice as a whole, your goals and practice profile.

Elements to provide in your executive summary include: • Mission Statement - delineates what your practice is all about • Practice information - names of the staff, the physicians, the medical assistants and nurse practitioners as well as who if any will be covering the practice outside the business. Add the number of staff members and the various locations of the practice if there is more than one.

• Financial Information - insurance companies including Medicare and Medicaid that the practice participates in. What fees are not covered?

Must payment be made upfront or can it be billed? Are credit cards accepted?

‘‘

An effective business plan projects 3-5 years into the future, pinpointing the route the medical practice intends to take and milestones to achieve annually along with revenue projections.

Company Description Your company description is a key element for prospective patients searching for your type of practice.

It stipulates the services that the practice provides, the types of patients you serve and the elements that differentiates you from your competitors and colleagues.

Products and Services List what services you provide, both in office and at the hospital (mentioning which hospitals you are affiliated with). Do you provide products, spa services, biofeedback? Everything that you provide should be promoted here.

Promotion Plan Strategies here include: • Television and radio ads • Ads on Facebook and Twitter (if your target market is found here) • Advertorials in newspapers and magazines • Marketing at trade shows • Press releases • Marketing at events and health fairs Market Analysis Your market analysis should include: • Your target market (gender, age, specific medical conditions) • Description and outlook of the industry, growth rate • Needs of the potential patients- demographics or location of the patient catch basin, will telemedicine be available to them?

• Obstacles to the practice (EMR, ICD10 adoption) • Regulatory restrictions and how you will comply continued on page 8

PHYSICIAN SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE

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continued from page 7

Marketing Plan The marketing plan outlines the strategies to grow and expand your medical practice. The effective one will delineate how you will reach your target market and how you can implement loyalty programs to prevent current patients from transferring to your competition.

Under this category, you will shape your USP or unique selling proposition. This is key as it distinguishes your practice from your local competitors.

This should be a statement that strongly resonates with patients who desire reliability, good doctor-patient interactions and engagement as well as short wait time in offices.

Any advertisements or ways in which you will be reaching your target market will also be strategized here.

Marketing Materials The marketing materials are the ways you promote your practice to both current and prospective patients.

They involve your website, brochures, business cards, and newsletters. Also consider a logo and tagline which are both memorable to viewers.

Operating Plan This section of the business plan reveals the nuts and bolts of the practice such as office space, computer programs, inventory, production and who will be responsible for reach aspect of the running of the practice. Simply put, the operating plan follows the practice specifically from the time the doors open until the last patient leaves. It will seek to focus on those parts of the practice that make it successful and outsource the areas that are unproductive or lose money.

Financial Plan Illustrations and Exhibits Additional categories that lend themselves well to a medical practice includes: 1) Marketing Strategy Different strategies to implement include: • Speaking engagements • Newsletters/E zines • Social Media • Blogs • Participation in Health Fairs 22|| APRIL DECEMBER 8 2016 2013

2) Online Marketing Plan Key components here include: • Identification of keywords - 3 or 4 words that identify your practice, what people search for when they look for you and ways your website will be optimized.

• Social Media Strategy - implementation of guest blogs, forums, chat rooms and other websites • Search Engine Optimization Plan - document ways that your keywords will play a role on your website It is imperative to remember that a successful medical practice is one that has been carefully thought out and executed according to plan. Long gone are the days that you can just open your doors and patients would flock to see you. Involving your self with the business side of medicine may be distasteful to you, but crucial for your survival.

If you need help with your business plan or would like to discuss it further, I would be happy to sit down with you and analyze your needs with a free consultation. Call: 561-325-9664. 

The Write Treatment

Ezines and NewslettersCost Effective Powerful Tools • Drive traffic to your business website • Build relationships between yourself and patients • Get new patients • Announce a new service or product • Give great impact Have you got a newsletter yet or want to spread a message?

Contact Barbara Hales, M.D. for a free consultation.

Barbara@TheWriteTreatment.com 516-647-3002

practice tips

Why Physicians Should Join Professional Organizations

By Nick Hernandez CEO & Founder ABISA

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There are plenty of healthcare professional organizations, but are the yearly dues worth it to join?

As budgets get squeezed, many physicians and practice managers have been cutting back on the number of professional associations they belong to. Although there is often a lack of perceived benefit, membership in professional associations yields a number of benefits.

1. Education Perhaps the most important benefit is education. (A plea here to physicians is to remember this applies to your practice managers. If you want a successful practice, run by a talented practice manager, you must be willing to support his or her professional continuing education.) Most associations provide an enormous amount of access to resource information such as: case studies, articles, white papers and books written by experts in your field or area of interest. Providers and managers can keep up with the newest developments (clinical and operational) through their association membership benefits, including conferences. Take advantage of all the information your associations provide and remember that most of it is online and free.

2. Networking Another important benefit is networking. There is no better way to connect with peers and industry experts than through professional association membership. There is often a variety of possible venues to network at (e.g. listservs, membership connections and groups, national conferences, regional seminars, etc.), providing you are willing to get engaged with other members. Networking with professionals outside your place of employment can give you a broader perspective on the market and healthcare in general.

3. Industry Standards Webinars are frequent these days as a means to deliver information on hot topics such as best practices, new statistics, etc. No matter what your specialty is, staying on top of all of these issues is important.

4. Policy Updates All of us in healthcare know how much one piece of legislation can impact our profession. Professional associations not only update members about these types of changes but also often play an advocacy role on behalf of the membership. I have been involved in this with professional associations and it can often be a tiring effort to work with legislators at the state and national level. However, associations involved in this are able to inform members how to prepare for any upcoming change.

5. Jobs Most people already know that they can often search for jobs on association job boards as members. Keep in mind that your practice may want to utilize these job boards to post positions for your practice. Recruiters will often post on the job boards as well, so if you are working with a recruiter, be sure to let them know about your preferred associations.

6. Intrinsic Value In addition to money, associations need support to survive. Associations are always in need of new blood to help organize their annual meetings, workshops, CME courses, and legislative committees. This means taking an active role in leadership positions or committees can not only help the association, but also help you personally (from leadership development to networking, to potential job searches). As the saying goes, “You get out of it what you put into it.” Undoubtedly the members who get the most out of an association are the ones who get involved and are more interactive. 

PHYSICIAN SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE

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practice tips

Compassion and Caring Are Gifts Remembered

By Denise Price Thomas

H

e had me at “Hello� and I remember it still today! The minute I walked into the room, his sparkling blue eyes met mine and I could see and feel just how much he truly cared. In that instant it was as if our hearts were connected. It was as if he could read my mind. It was truly a magical moment!

His arms reached toward me as he pulled the chair out for me....a wheelchair that is. I had just entered the big and scary Emergency Department of a large hospital organization. The young man recognized just how much pain I was in and that I needed prompt attention.

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While assisting me with the necessary paperwork, he offered an ice pack for my pain, reaching toward the desk drawer, never leaving my side. He escorted me to a very quiet spot where we waited just long enough for a young lady to appear with a sincere greeting and smile, taking me back to the next station.

She escorted my daughter and me to a clean and quiet exam room where she dimmed the lights. She seemed immediately aware of my pain, helping me move onto the stretcher while using her calm, quiet voice, “It is fine, don’t feel rushed, just take your time.”

She began asking many necessary questions, listening carefully as my daughter answered each one.

I could tell that she was determined to fit the pieces together with a desire to discover the problem.

The nurse informed me that she would be starting an IV and that I would feel a stick. Her patience and gentle hands, along with her great eyesight were very much appreciated.

The physician arrived, introduced himself to me and to my daughter, pulled up a chair right beside me and said, “I am so sorry that you feel so bad, tell me what is going on.” As he sat right by my side, he listened and asked more questions. We could tell that he was genuinely concerned.

He wanted me to know that he would be consulting the specialist at the main hospital and ordering the necessary tests to rule out a stroke or cerebral hemorrhage. He kept us informed.

We never had to ask what was going on, we were told.

We never had to find someone to answer our questions, they came to us, we were thankful.

When eye contact was made with health care professionals they never turned away, we were appreciative.

When they explained why I needed to be transferred by ambulance to the main hospital, we felt confident.

I knew that we were in a caring place with caring people from the first moment. There was never a need for anyone to apologize for anything. Each and every member of this health care team had been alert, attentive, professional and caring beyond measure.

“They” had me at hello.

In my profession, I address the good, the bad and the “oh my goodness!” as an “Undercover Patient” however this time it was for real. I was not an “Undercover Patient” ~ that’s right…..the covers were

OFF! I was a real patient.

What I did not hear, see or miss was: • Personal conversations • Food & drinks • A complaining staff • Lack of accountability

What I did hear, see, appreciate and will always remember: • Concerned, caring and professional conversations • Clean and professional environment • A supportive team of health care professionals • 100% accountability

These are gifts that cost you nothing. These are free gifts to your patients that will be appreciated and remembered, bringing you more return business and also bringing you new patients by word-of-mouth.

By the way, my final diagnosis was Cranial Shingle.

It was “all in my head,” however our hearts truly were connected through compassion. 

“Training Wheels in Heels” Denise Price Thomas Trainer for Health Care Professionals Focusing on Exceptional Customer Service, Effective Communication & Exemplary Compassion 34+ year career in health care and certified in health care management Undercover Patient Providing Insight to Your Practice Through the “Eyes of a Patient” Conference Speaker Presenting also as “Gladys Friday”, Health Care Comedienne

Home Grown/Nationally Known www.denisepricethomas.com denisepricethomas@gmail.com 704-747-8699 PHYSICIAN SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE

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practice tips

Why Does Your Healthcare Practice Need Content Marketing?

By Nisha Salim Freelance Writer NishaSalim.com

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Healthcare is the largest private sector industry in the US and it accounts for 13% of the nation’s workforce.

However, when it comes to content marketing, the industry does not keep pace with others, as research from MedCity Media and MarketingProfs reveals. Content marketing aims to attract and retain customers by creating and publishing relevant and valuable content, and takes a more subtle approach than the traditional push marketing.

On an average, healthcare marketers spend 23% of their budget on content marketing, compared to 31% for all marketers. And while 43% of healthcare marketers plan to increase their content marketing spend over the next year, it is still much less the then the 54% marketers in other industries who plan to increase their outreach.

Only 26% of all hospitals participate in social media, and out of that only 12% blog.

Now consider the social media and Internet usage pattern of an average individual. 85% of adults in the US use the Internet and 72% of them look online for health information. 77% of these information seekers begin their session at a search engine like Google, Yahoo, or Bing. 36% of US adults provide care for a loved one, and 8% have a child with a medical condition. These caregivers are heavy technology users and are more likely than others to search for health-related information online.

Do you see the pattern here? There is tremendous potential for organic search results to drive traffic to your practice’s website, if you could only just be there to provide the information that your customers so eagerly seek.

Why Are Healthcare Practices Hesitant to Embrace Online Marketing and Social Media?

If content marketing is so important, why the hesitation? Well, healthcare practices have certain concerns that are unique to their industry: • Challenge of producing large amounts of factually accurate content which will enhance the positive image and reputation of the brand.

• Fear of compromising patient privacy.

• Difficulty in creating a secure system that prevents abuse of social media and potential malpractice charges.

• Concerns about violating HIPAA guidelines.

• Limited budgets and staff, and enormous customer base.

These are all legitimate concerns, but the benefits of content marketing far outweigh the risks and difficulties.

Healthcare practices typically rely on patient referrals to attract more customers, and online marketing is an obvious way to facilitate and generate word-of-mouth referrals, especially considering the huge number of patients who rely on the Internet to provide them with healthcare information that they can use. The fear of getting it wrong can weigh you down, but there are several healthcare practices that have got it right, so why can’t you?

Some Examples of Those Who Have Got It Right Inova Health System, the leading not-for-profit healthcare provider in Northern Virginia, is a good example of great content marketing. Serving more than 1 million people each year, Inova has established an active presence on social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, and more. They publish patient recovery videos on YouTube to build trust, and to showcase the care they provide. They focus on understanding patient personas and write content that suits different types of users who might be looking for information in their patient and visitor section.

Also consider Cleveland Clinic, Boston Children’s Hospital, and American Heart Association, who are some of the most highly engaged healthcare practices in social media. Take a look at how Boston Children’s Hospital uses Youtube to talk about the health issue of a child and how they reassure parents of other children who are possibly in similar situations. Also check out Dr. Briffa’s blog that offers healthcare and wellness tips. If you are continued on page 16

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continued from page 15

a reader of Dr. Briffa, who would you rather consult for diabetes? The good doctor who cares enough to provide so much reliable information for free, or an unknown entity?

People want to deal with brands that care about them, especially when it comes to something as important as healthcare.

So How Would You Get on Board With Content Marketing?

Consumers are increasingly distrustful of the traditional push method of marketing. By educating rather than advertising, healthcare service providers can position themselves as a natural and obvious choice when someone needs healthcare.

Your content must answer questions and aim to help rather than just talk about your brand. Of course your marketing efforts can directly link back to your brand or briefly mention how you provide a particular solution, but always keep the content focused around what the customer needs.

Start with your website. This is the first stop that a potential customer makes. Think about it as your online practice. It must exude the same qualities that your actual practice does - competence, friendliness, and ease of using services. Your website is the first opportunity to build trust with the potential patient.

Provide them with plenty of information that they can go through. Patients who are worried about a particular health condition are motivated to research and understand more about what they might be suffering from. You have the unique opportunity to position yourself as a trustworthy and comprehensive resource, and possibly the only one that they need to rely on to get all the information that they need.

Along with articles that discuss medical conditions in simple, easy to understand language, you can also provide them with more in-depth content in the form of ebooks, guides, or newsletters. Consider building a resource library on your website.

Direct traffic to your website by optimizing content for search engines. Build authority in your domain by contributing articles to online newspapers or other popular websites. Invest time in understanding your customer personas. Superior knowledge of your target demographic is the key factor that will help you produce successful content. Are you a plastic surgeon?

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Talk about the popular plastic surgery procedures, what patients can expect, recovery time, and success stories. Are you a practice that caters to the local market? Write about the community and become the go-to source of information on the health and wellness of your locality.

Know What Your Goals Are For 81% of healthcare marketers, brand awareness is the primary objective in content marketing.

Develop a content plan that directly addresses your marketing goals and ties to your strategic goals and objectives. Put in place a mechanism to quantify the ROI of your content marketing efforts. You may want to measure your website traffic, social media followers, number of positive reviews, and a number of new patients.

The Future of Content Marketing in Healthcare As healthcare providers become increasingly attuned to the specific needs of their potential customers, more practices are bound to start using content marketing to connect with their patients. If you choose to bow out, you run the risk of leaving the field open for your competitors. If your brand needs to reach out and connect with more consumers, content marketing is something that you just cannot afford to ignore.

Start serving people with content that provides value for them, and show that you care. After all isn’t that what healthcare service is all about - caring for your patients? 

Nisha Salim is a freelance writer who specializes in writing factually accurate, research-backed healthcare articles.

General science, education, social media and content marketing are her other areas of interest. Take a look at her website, NishaSalim.com, to learn more about her.

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Family Primary Care Practice

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Family Practice/Primary Care

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Med Spa

Location: Coastal North Carolina List Price: $550,000 Gross Yearly Income: $1,600,000.00 Year Established: 2005 Average Patients Per Day: 25 to 30 Total Exam Rooms: 4 Building Owned/Leased: Leased Contact: Philip at 919-848-4202

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What’s your practice worth?

When most doctors are asked what their practice is worth, the answer is usually, “I don’t know.”

Doctors can tell you what their practices made or lost last year, but few actually know what it’s worth.

In today’s world, expenses are rising and profits are being squeezed. A BizScore Performance Review will provide details regarding liquidity, profits & profit margins, sales, borrowing and assets.

Our three signature sections include:  Performance review  Valuation  Projections

Scan this QR code with your smart phone to learn more.

919.846.4747 bizscorevaluation.com

U.S. OPTICAL BOARDS Alaska P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811 (907)465-5470 http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/ cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/DispensingOpticians.aspx Arizona 1400 W. Washington, Rm. 230 Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602)542-3095 http://www.do.az.gov Arkansas P.O. Box 627 Helena, AR 72342 (870)572-2847 California 2005 Evergreen St., Ste. 1200 Sacramento, CA 95815 (916)263-2382 http://www.optometry.ca.gov/ Colorado 1560 Broadway St. #1310 Denver, CO 80202 (303)894-7750 http://www.dora.state.co.us/optometry/ Connecticut 410 Capitol Ave., MS #12APP P.O. Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134 (860)509-7603 ext. 4 http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view. asp?a=3121&q=427586 Florida 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C08 Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850)245-4474 http://www.pof.org/opticianry-board/ Georgia 237 Coliseum Dr. Macon, GA 31217 (478)207-1671 http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/ plb/20 Hawaii P.O. Box 3469 Honolulu, HI 96801 (808)586-2704 http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/programs/ dispensingoptician/

Idaho 450 W. State St., 10th Floor Boise , ID 83720 (208)334-5500 http://www.ironforidaho.net/

Oregon 3218 Pringle Rd. SE Ste. 270 Salem, OR 97302 (503)373-7721 http://www.oregonobo.org/optque.htm

Kentucky P.O. Box 1360 Frankfurt, KY 40602 (502)564-3296 http://www.opticiantraining.org/optician-training-kentucky/

Rhode Island 3 Capitol Hill, Rm 104 Providence, RI 02908 (401)222-7883 http://sos.ri.gov/govdirectory/index.php? page=DetailDeptAgency&eid=260

Massachusetts 239 Causeway St. Boston, MA 02114 (617)727-5339 http://1.usa.gov/zbJVt7

South Carolina P.O. Box 11329 Columbia, SC 29211 (803)896-4665 www.llr.state.sc.us

Nevada P.O. Box 70503 Reno, NV 89570 (775)853-1421 http://nvbdo.state.nv.us/

Tennessee Heritage Place Metro Center 227 French Landing, Ste. 300 Nashville, TN 37243 (615)253-6061 http://tn.gov/health

New Hampshire 129 Pleasant St. Concord, NH 03301 (603)271-5590 www.state.nh.us New Jersey P.O. Box 45011 Newark, NJ 07101 (973)504-6435 http://www.njsop.org/aws/NJSOP/pt/sp/ home_page New York 89 Washington Ave., 2nd Floor W. Albany, NY 12234 (518)402-5944 http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/od/ North Carolina P.O. Box 25336 Raleigh, NC 27611 (919)733-9321 http://www.ncoptometry.org/ Ohio 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43266 (614)466-9707 http://optical.ohio.gov/

Texas P.O. Box 149347 Austin, TX 78714 (512)834-6661 http://www.tob.state.tx.us/ Vermont National Life Bldg N FL. 2 Montpelier, VT 05620 (802)828-2191 http://vtprofessionals.org/opr1/ opticians/ Virginia 3600 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23230 (804)367-8500 http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/ HAS-Opticians/ Washington 300 SE Quince P.O. Box 47870 Olympia, WA 98504 (360)236-4947 http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/MedicalCommission. aspx

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U.S. DENTAL BOARDS Alabama Alabama Board of Dental Examiners 5346 Stadium Trace Pkwy., Ste. 112 Hoover, AL 35244 (205) 985-7267 http://www.dentalboard.org/ Alaska P.O. Box 110806 Juneau, AK 99811-0806 (907)465-2542 https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/ cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofDentalExaminers.aspx Arizona 4205 N. 7th Ave. Suite 300 Phoenix, AZ 85103 (602)242-1492 http://azdentalboard.us/ Arkansas 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 111 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501)682-2085 http://www.asbde.org/ California 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1550Â Sacramento, CA 95815 877-729-7789 http://www.dbc.ca.gov/ Colorado 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350 Denver, CO 80202 (303)894-7800 http://www.dora.state.co.us/dental/ Connecticut 410 Capitol Ave. Hartford, CT 06134 (860)509-8000 http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view. asp?a=3143&q=388884 Delaware Cannon Building, Suite 203 861 Solver Lake Blvd.

Dover, DE 19904 (302)744-4500 http://1.usa.gov/t0mbWZ Florida 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-08 Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850)245-4474 http://floridasdentistry.gov/ 20

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Georgia 237 Coliseum Drive Macon, GA 31217 (478)207-2440 https://gbd.georgia.gov/ Hawaii DCCA-PVL Att: Dental P.O. Box 3469 Honolulu, HI 96801 (808)586-3000 http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/dentist/ Idaho P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720 (208)334-2369 http://isbd.idaho.gov/ Illinois 320 W. Washington St. Springfield, IL 62786 (217)785-0820 http://www.isds.org/LawsLegislation/ boardOfDentistry.asp Indiana 402 W. Washington St., Room W072 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317)232-2980 http://www.in.gov/pla/dental.htm Iowa 400 SW 8th St. Suite D Des Moines, IA 50309 (515)281-5157 http://www.state.ia.us/dentalboard/ Kansas 900 SW Jackson Room 564-S Topeka, KS 66612 (785)296-6400 http://www.dental.ks.gov/ Kentucky 312 Whittington Parkway, Suite 101 Louisville, KY 40222 (502)429-7280 http://dentistry.ky.gov/ Louisiana 365 Canal St., Suite 2680 New Orleans, LA 70130 (504)568-8574 http://dentistry.ky.gov/

Maine 143 State House Station 161 Capitol St. Augusta, ME 04333 (207)287-3333 http://www.mainedental.org/ Maryland 55 Wade Ave. Catonsville, Maryland 21228 (410)402-8500 http://dhmh.state.md.us/dental/ Massachusetts 1000 Washington St., Suite 710 Boston, MA 02118 (617)727-1944 http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/hcq/dhpl/ dentist/about/ Michigan P.O. Box 30664 Lansing, MI 48909 (517)241-2650 http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7154-72600_72603_27529_27533---,00. html Minnesota 2829 University Ave., SE. Suite 450 Minneapolis, MN 55414 (612)617-2250 http://www.dentalboard.state.mn.us/ Mississippi 600 E. Amite St., Suite 100 Jackson, MS 39201 (601)944-9622 http://bit.ly/uuXKxl Missouri 3605 Missouri Blvd.

P.O. Box 1367 Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573)751-0040 http://pr.mo.gov/dental.asp Montana P.O. Box 200113 Helena, MT 59620 (406)444-2511 http://bsd.dli.mt.gov/license/bsd_ boards/den_board/board_page.asp

Nebraska 301 Centennial Mall South Lincoln, NE 68509 (402)471-3121 http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/ crl_medical_dent_hygiene_board.aspx

Ohio Riffe Center 77 S. High St.,17th Floor Columbus, OH 43215 (614)466-2580 http://www.dental.ohio.gov/

Nevada 6010 S. Rainbow Blvd. Suite A-1 Las Vegas, NV 89118 (702)486-7044 http://www.nvdentalboard.nv.gov/

Oklahoma 201 N.E. 38th Terr., #2 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 (405)524-9037 http://www.ok.gov/dentistry/

New Hampshire 2 Industrial Park Dr. Concord, NH 03301 (603)271-4561 http://www.nh.gov/dental/

Oregon 1600 SW 4th Ave. Suite 770 Portland, OR 97201 (971)673-3200 http://www.oregon.gov/Dentistry/

New Jersey P.O Box 45005 Newark, NJ 07101 (973)504-6405 http://njpublicsafety.com/ca/dentistry/

Pennsylvania P.O. Box 2649 Harrisburg, PA 17105 (717)783-7162 http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Dentistry/ Pages/default.aspx#.VbkfjPlPVYU

New Mexico Toney Anaya Building 2550 Cerrillos Rd. Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505)476-4680 http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Dental_Health_Care.aspx New York 89 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12234 (518)474-3817 http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/dent/ North Carolina 507 Airport Blvd., Suite 105 Morrisville, NC 27560 (919)678-8223 http://www.ncdentalboard.org/ North Dakota P.O. Box 7246 Bismark, ND 58507 (701)258-8600 http://www.nddentalboard.org/

Rhode Island Dept. of Health Three Capitol Hill, Room 104 Providence, RI 02908 (401)222-2828 http://1.usa.gov/u66MaB South Carolina P.O. Box 11329 Columbia, SC 29211 (803)896-4599 http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Dentistry/ South Dakota P.O. Box 1079 105. S. Euclid Ave. Suite C Pierre, SC 57501 (605)224-1282 https://www.sdboardofdentistry.com/ Tennessee 227 French Landing, Suite 300 Nashville, TN 37243 (615)532-3202 http://tn.gov/health

Texas 333 Guadeloupe St. Suite 3-800 Austin, TX 78701 (512)463-6400 http://www.tsbde.state.tx.us/ Utah 160 E. 300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801)530-6628 http://1.usa.gov/xMVXWm Vermont National Life Building North FL2 Montpelier, VT 05620 (802)828-1505 http://governor.vermont.gov/boards_ and_commissions/dental_examiners Virginia Perimeter Center 9960 Maryland Dr., Suite 300 Henrico, VA 23233 (804)367-4538 http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/dentistry Washington 310 Israel Rd. SE P.O. Box 47865 Olympia, WA 98504 (360)236-4700 http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/Dentist.aspx West Virginia 1319 Robert C. Byrd Dr. P.O. Box 1447 Crab Orchard, WV 25827 1-877-914-8266 http://www.wvdentalboard.org/ Wisconsin P.O. Box 8935 Madison, WI 53708 1(877)617-1565 http://dsps.wi.gov/Default. aspx?Page=90c5523f-bab0-4a45-ab943d9f699d4eb5 Wyoming 1800 Carey Ave., 4th Floor Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307)777-6529 http://plboards.state.wy.us/dental/index.asp

PHYSICIAN SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE

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U.S. MEDICAL BOARDS Alabama P.O. Box 946 Montgomery, AL 36101 (334)242-4116 http://www.albme.org/ Alaska 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1500 Anchorage, AK 99501 (907)269-8163 http://www.medlicense.com/alaskamedical-license.html Arizona 9545 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85258 (480)551-2700 http://www.azmd.gov Arkansas 1401 West Capitol Ave., Suite 340 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501)296-1802 http://www.armedicalboard.org/ California 2005 Evergreen St., Suite 1200 Sacramento, CA 95815 (916)263-2382 http://www.mbc.ca.gov/ Colorado 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350 Denver, CO 80202 (303)894-7690 http://www.dora.state.co.us/medical/ Connecticut 401 Capitol Ave. Hartford, CT 06134 (860)509-8000 http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view. asp?a=3143&q=388902 Delaware Division of Professional Regulation Cannon Building 861 Silver Lake Blvd., Suite 203 Dover, DE 19904 (302)744-4500 http://dpr.delaware.gov/ District of Columbia 899 North Capitol St., NE Washington, DC 20002 (202)442-5955 http://doh.dc.gov/bomed 22 | APRIL 2016

Florida 2585 Merchants Row Blvd.

Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850)245-4444 http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/ DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=115

Louisiana LSBME P.O. Box 30250 New Orleans, LA 70190 (504)568-6820 http://www.lsbme.la.gov/

Georgia 2 Peachtree Street NW, 36th Floor Atlanta, GA 30303 (404)656-3913 http://bit.ly/vPJQyG

Maine 161 Capitol Street 137 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 (207)287-3601 http://bit.ly/hnrzp

Hawaii DCCA-PVL P.O. Box 3469 Honolulu, HI 96801 (808)587-3295 http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/boards/medical/

Maryland 4201 Patterson Ave. Baltimore, MD 21215 (410)764-4777 http://www.mbp.state.md.us/

Idaho Idaho Board of Medicine P.O. Box 83720 Boise, Idaho 83720 (208)327-7000 http://bit.ly/orPmFU

Massachusetts 200 Harvard Mill Sq., Suite 330 Wakefield, MA 01880 (781)876-8200 http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/borim/

Illinois 320 West Washington St. Springfield, IL 62786 (217)785 -0820 http://www.idfpr.com/

Michigan Bureau of Health Professions P.O. Box 30670 Lansing, MI 48909 (517)335-0918 http://michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-15472600_72603_27529_27541-58914--,00. html

Indiana 402 W. Washington St. #W072 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317)233-0800 http://www.in.gov/pla/ Iowa 400 SW 8th St., Suite C Des Moines, IA 50309 (515)281-6641 http://medicalboard.iowa.gov/ Kansas 800 SW Jackson, Lower Level, Suite A Topeka, KS 66612 (785)296-7413 http://www.ksbha.org/ Kentucky 310 Whittington Pkwy., Suite 1B Louisville, KY 40222 (502)429-7150 http://kbml.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Minnesota University Park Plaza 2829 University Ave. SE, Suite 500 Minneapolis, MN 55414 (612)617-2130 http://bit.ly/pAFXGq Mississippi 1867 Crane Ridge Drive, Suite 200-B Jackson, MS 39216 (601)987-3079 http://www.msbml.state.ms.us/ Missouri Missouri Division of Professional Registration 3605 Missouri Blvd.

P.O. Box 1335 Jefferson City, MO 65102 (573)751-0293 http://pr.mo.gov/healingarts.asp

Montana 301 S. Park Ave. #430 Helena, MT 59601 (406)841-2300 http://bsd.dli.mt.gov/license/bsd_ boards/med_board/board_page.asp Nebraska Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services P.O. Box 95026 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402)471-3121 https://www.nebraska.gov/LISSearch/ search.cgi Nevada Board of Medical Examiners P.O. Box 7238 Reno, NV 89510 (775)688-2559 http://www.medboard.nv.gov/ New Hampshire New Hampshire State Board of Medicine 2 Industrial Park Dr. #8 Concord, NH 03301 (603)271-1203 http://www.nh.gov/medicine/ New Jersey P. O. Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625 (609)292-7837 http://www.medlicense.com/new-jerseymedical-license.html New Mexico 2055 S. Pacheco St. Building 400 Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505)476-7220 http://www.nmmb.state.nm.us/ New York Office of the Professions State Education Building, 2nd Floor Albany, NY 12234 (518)474-3817 http://www.op.nysed.gov/ North Carolina P.O. Box 20007 Raleigh, NC 27619 (919)326-1100 http://www.ncmedboard.org/

North Dakota 418 E. Broadway Ave., Suite 12 Bismarck, ND 58501 (701)328-6500 http://www.ndbomex.com/

Texas P.O. Box 2018 Austin, TX 78768 (512)305-7010 http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/

Ohio 30 E. Broad St., 3rd Floor Columbus, OH 43215 (614)466-3934 http://med.ohio.gov/

Utah P.O. Box 146741 Salt Lake City, UT 84114 (801)530-6628 http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/physician_surgeon.html

Oklahoma P.O. Box 18256 Oklahoma City, OK 73154 (405)962-1400 http://www.okmedicalboard.org/ Oregon 1500 SW 1st Ave., Suite 620 Portland, OR 97201 (971)673-2700 http://www.oregon.gov/OMB/ Pennsylvania P.O. Box 2649 Harrisburg, PA 17105 (717)787-8503 http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Medicine/ Pages/default.aspx#.Vbkgf_lPVYU Rhode Island 3 Capitol Hill Providence, RI 02908 (401)222-5960 http://1.usa.gov/xgocXV South Carolina P.O. Box 11289 Columbia, SC 29211 (803)896-4500 http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/medical/ South Dakota 101 N. Main Ave. Suite 301 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (605)367-7781 http://www.sdbmoe.gov/ Tennessee 425 5th Ave. North Cordell Hull Bldg. 3rd Floor Nashville, TN 37243 (615)741-3111 http://tn.gov/health

Vermont P.O. Box 70 Burlington, VT 05402 (802)657-4220 http://1.usa.gov/wMdnxh Virginia Virginia Dept. of Health Professions Perimeter Center 9960 Maryland Dr., Suite 300 Henrico, VA 23233 (804)367-4400 http://1.usa.gov/xjfJXK Washington Public Health Systems Development Washington State Department of Health 101 Israel Rd. SE, MS 47890 Tumwater, WA 98501 (360)236-4085 http://www.medlicense.com/washingtonmedicallicense.html West Virginia 101 Dee Dr., Suite 103 Charleston, WV 25311 (304)558-2921 http://www.wvbom.wv.gov/ Wisconsin P.O. Box 8935 Madison, WI 53708 (877)617-1565 http://dsps.wi.gov/Boards-Councils/ Board-Pages/Medical-Examining-BoardMain-Page/ Wyoming 320 W. 25th St., Suite 200 Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307)778-7053 http://wyomedboard.state.wy.us/

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features

Effectively Using PAs and NPs on Healthcare Delivery Teams

By Lisa P. Shock, MHS, PA-C President/CEO Utilization Solutions in Healthcare, Inc Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are skilled medical professionals who play an integral part in health care delivery. Especially in primary care, PAs and NPs attract and manage a significant following of patients. Redesigning teams to include increased numbers of primary care providers, not just physicians but also Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs), is a significant part of the solution to alleviate the well-known shortage in primary care. Now with even greater added financial incentives for quality care delivery, improved utilization of Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) will be an integral part of the primary care delivery solution.

Medicare now pays Physicians, Physician Assistants (PAs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) for care management services as part of in person, face-to-face visits.

Last year, CMS finalized a separate payment, outside of a face-to-face visit, for managing the care of Medicare patients with two or more chronic conditions.

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The Chronic Condition Management (CCM) payment rate is $41.92, billed no more frequently than once per month per qualified patient. This could amount to more than $200,000 per year per provider in added revenue assuming a 20% Medicare population with at least 700 unique Medicare patients per year who have 2 or more chronic conditions. Chronic care management (CCM) services include development and revision of a plan of care and communication with other health professionals. Payment for CCM is only one part of a multi-faceted CMS initiative to improve Medicare beneficiaries’ access to primary care.

Additional codes that PAs and NPs may bill for are the transition of care codes (TOC). Introduced in 2013, these codes are used to report physician or qualifying non-physician practitioner care management services for a patient following a discharge from a hospital, skilled nursing facility (SNF), community mental health center (CMHC), outpatient observation, or partial hospitalization. These codes allow for

reimbursement of the non-face-to-face care provided when patients transition from an acute care setting back into the community. Services often include providing assessment and support for treatment adherence and medication management, identification of available community and health resources, and assistance in scheduling follow-up with other health services, including specialty care.

Today’s patients have many complex health issues.

Nationwide, hospitals and health systems are moving toward using more PAs and NPs, and there is a much greater emphasis on team-based care. Increasing capacity of the health system to meet the growing numbers of patients seeking care is critical and necessary, as is proving the return on investment (ROI) from expanding care teams. Engaging all members of the team and aligning incentives serves the mission of value based care, to provide high quality at affordable cost. Achieving revenue benefit by capturing incentives with CCM or TOC codes as illustrated allows physician practices to bridge the transition from fee for service to pay for value in a more cost effective manner. 

References: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/Downloads/ChronicCareManagement.pdf https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicare-fee-for-service-payment/physicianfeesched/downloads/faq-tcms. pdf https://www.acponline.org/practice-resources/businessresources/coding/general-coding-resources/what-practices-need-to-know-about-transition-care-managementcodes About the Author: Lisa P. Shock, MHS, PA-C, is a seasoned PA who has worked with clients to expand care teams in both large and small settings. She enjoys part time clinical practice and is the President and CEO of Utilization Solutions in Healthcare – a specialty consultant company for physician practices and hospitals, offering a wide range of services to help implement and improve upon the utilization of PAs and NPs in the health care system.

Contact her at lisa@pushpa.biz

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features

Why Practices Should Consider Hiring PAs/NPs

By Naren Arulrajah with Vikas Vij Ekwa Marketing

Increasing productivity, maxi-

mizing reimbursements and enhancing patient experience and satisfaction are big challenges that individual practices constantly face.

While healthcare access and delivery across communities and populations are improving, physicians are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the swelling patient volumes without compromising consistency and level of quality in healthcare delivery. This specific challenge can be met by hiring physician assistants and/or nurse practitioners. Most healthcare practices in fact can effectively improve on the level of care provided and efficiently address the challenges of increasing patient volume without diluting practice success rate by adding a nurse practitioner or phy26

| APRIL 2016

sician assistant to their practice.

Non-physician practitioners (NPPs) such as nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) can prove to be great assets to a practice. Not only can they carry out majority of the tasks that physicians perform, but they can also ensure that the quality of care is consistent. Furthermore, NPPs are usually hired at considerably lower salaries compared to a physician, which means they are costeffective additions to any practice.

The Role of PAs and NPs in the Healthcare Delivery System There are two specific reasons why PAs and NPs will make an impact in the healthcare system. First-

ly, they have the necessary training to efficiently undertake a number of tasks associated with diagnosing and treating illness. Secondly, while physicians need around eight years of education and training, NPs and PAs can enter the healthcare system after undergoing two to three years of advanced training.

Trained and experienced NPs and PAs can carry out important physician responsibilities that include conducting physical examinations, diagnosing and treating conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, writing of prescriptions and ordering diagnostic tests, as well as educating patients on health and lifestyle choices.

According to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), by 2020 the U.S. will face

a shortage of over 90,000 physicians and by 2025 this figure is expected to rise well over 130,000. Physician shortages will impact both primary and specialty care. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) predicts that shortage of dentists is going to double in the next 10 years and 15,600 full-time equivalent dentists will be required to meet the demand for oral care.

Also, as the number of insured Americans under the Affordable Care Act increases, patient volumes will continue to expand. There is also a crucial need for greater healthcare delivery in rural and underserved communities. The inclusion of PAs and NPs in the system can therefore help increase healthcare access among the more vulnerable and needy sections of the population.

Are PAs and NPs on par with physicians? Definitely not. However, given the above scenario, the integration of NPs and PAs in the healthcare sector will prove to be an important move as a way of alleviating the looming physician shortage crisis at least to a certain extent.

Benefits of Hiring PAs and NPs for a Practice The training that PAs undergo is modeled to be similar to the kind of training that physicians undergo.

The approach to healthcare is from the perspective of studying of disease and administering treatment. NPs on the other-hand train under a model that takes on a more holistic view of treatment and here the primary focus is on health-promotion. The level of engagement between a patient and NP is more comprehensive as the NP engages continued on page 28

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continued from page 27

with a patient both on a medical and social level. For a healthcare practice the benefits of hiring a PA or an NP are numerous. Here are top four considerations.

Lower salary expenses of PAs and NPs – compared to that of a physician is perhaps one of the most basic and important benefits to a practice.

Lower overhead costs – associated with PAs as compared to a physician is another area where individual practices can benefit.

The cost for support staff, medical resources, rent as well as phone coverage among other variable costs are considerably lower for a PA compared to that of a physician.

Addressing increase in patient volume – is a big challenge for most individual practices. By hiring

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a PA or adding an NP, practices can effectively meet the increase in patient volume which in turn can have a positive impact on the practice’s bottom line.

Insurance and liability costs – are much lower for PAs and NPs when compared to that of a physician. Lowered liability risk cost and malpractice claims as well as lower costs per claim associated with PAs and NPs are a big benefit for individual practices that otherwise cannot afford to get tangled in high risk, high cost liability and malpractice claims.

Conclusion The healthcare system today is moving towards a patient-centric model of care. And patient satisfaction is becoming a crucial determinant in the success quotient of a practice. In such a scenario, PAs

and NPs can prove to be valuable resources for individual practices that want to improve patient care and their bottom line. Trained and experienced to perform almost all tasks as physicians, PAs and NPs can easily add to the level of patient care and help optimize and expand the practice.  About the Author: Naren Arulrajah is President and CEO of Ekwa Marketing, a complete Internet marketing company which focuses on SEO, social media, marketing education and the online reputations of Dentists and Physicians.

With a team of 130+ full time marketers, www.ekwa.com helps doctors who know where they want to go, get there by dominating their market and growing their business significantly year after year. If you have questions about marketing your practice online, call Naren direct at 877-249-9666.

Physician Solutions, Inc. Medical & Dental Staffing

The fastest way to be $200K in debt is to open your own practice The fastest way to make $100K is to choose

Physician Solutions

THE DECISION IS YOURS Physician Solutions, Inc. P.O. Box 98313 Raleigh, NC 27624 Scan this QR code with your smartphone to learn more.

phone: 919-845-0054 fax: 919-845-1947 www.physiciansolutions.com physiciansolutions@gmail.com

features

Travel Nursing in High Demand

By Thomas Hibbard Creative Director Physician Solutions

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| APRIL 2016

Modern day technology is providing career opportunities for registered nurses that couldn’t be imagined in earlier times in the form of travel nursing. Thanks to wireless technology, which allows a nurse to receive calls on a consistent phone number while working as a travel nurse, and internet technology, which enables the nurse to do their banking and pay their bills from virtually anywhere in the world, the opportunity to become a travel nurse has never been more appealing.

A Brief History According to Healthcare Traveler magazine, the birth of the travel nursing industry occurred in 1978, when the city of New Orleans experienced a short-term population burst during Mardi Gras, and a contract nurse arrived at a hospital to help with the surge of partygoers. This set a precedent, which became a viable solution when a serious countrywide nursing shortage occurred in the 1980s. Hiring highly skilled and competent nurses for short-term assignments was a convenient and cost-efficient way for health care facilities to handle their short-terms needs. Hence, the travel nursing industry was born.1 Since then, travel nurses have been used throughout the country on an ongoing basis to help ease staff shortages, adjust staff levels for specific times of year, or fill positions when nurses are on maternity leave or undergoing training. Because there are more nursing positions than there are nurses, the demand for travel nurses nationwide has continued to grow.

Making the Most Travel Nursing The most successful people see opportunity where and when it arises, and they’ll seize those moments to ensure a bright future.

Nursing is the nation’s top profession in terms of projected growth. However, there aren’t enough nurses to provide service to the population. The nursing shortage in the U.S. could reach 500,000 by 2025 and, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by the end of 2016.2 In addition, enrollment in nursing schools isn’t growing quickly enough to meet projected demand over the next 10 years. And it doesn’t matter much because a faculty shortage at nursing schools is restricting program growth. The average age of RNs

is climbing and, as they retire, there won’t be enough young nurses to fill the available positions. When baby boomers retire en masse, and the need for health care professionals will become even more urgent. Thus, the need for travel nurses to fill these evident vacancies will continue to grow as the shortage increases.

What is a Travel Nurse?

A travel nurse is a nurse who is hired to work in a specific location for a limited amount of time. Travel nurses typically work 13 week periods in one area, and move around the country depending on where they are needed. Because the demand for nurses is so high, there are often shortages in certain areas, and a traveling nursing will be hired to come in and work in a specific position for a short amount of time.

Travel nursing assignments typically range from 8 to 26 weeks in length and include a variety of different specialties. Travel Nurses are able to choose between several jobs in a variety of areas lasting for different lengths of time. This allows traveling nurses the freedom to choose where and when they work.

The freedom to choose where and when you work is a great benefit that allows travel nurses the ability to take time off when they want and not be stuck at the same job day after day.3

Why Choose to Become a Travel Nurse?

Travel nursing offers career-building opportunities, lucrative salaries, exciting destinations and new adventures and challenges. These are just some of the reasons that lead nurses to embark on a travel nurse career. Here are some opportunities available to a healthcare traveling nurse: continued on page 32

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continued from page 31

• Choose your workplace: Travel nurses can choose to work at a fast-paced urban center, a renowned medical institution or a small community-based facility, depending on their preference. They choose what’s right for them, based on their career and lifestyle goals.

• Take control of your career: The travel nurse is in control. They decide when and where they want to work. A nurse can decide to take off a month between assignments or to spend the summer in New England and the winter in California.

• Enjoy free, quality accommodations: Most assignments offer free, quality accommodations

close to the medical facility. Housing amenities often include gyms, swimming pools, spas and clubhouses. Furniture and utilities are arranged by a travel company in advance so that everything is ready for the nurse when they arrive at their new destination.

• Travel throughout the United States: Whether a nurse is attracted to the tropical islands of Hawaii, the snowy slopes of Colorado or Vermont, the sweeping desert vistas of Arizona or the golden beaches of California, travel nursing can place a nurse in the heart of their favorite destination in any of the nation’s 50 states.

• Enjoy top-notch travel nurse salaries: Due to the high demand for RNs, travel nurses enjoy generous pay rates, ranging from $22 to $40 per hour. Rates vary depending on their nursing specialty, the assignment facility and the region.

• Try out a new location before making a permanent move: Travel nursing gives one the chance to check out practically any city in the United States before making a permanent move to the area.

• Boost your résumé: Travel nurses have the opportunity to work alongside seasoned professionals at some of the best facilities in the world. Nurses have the chance to learn new techniques and expand their clinical skills and competencies.

• Meet new people and make new friends: Travel nursing is a great way to strike up new friendships with coworkers, medical professionals, and fellow travelers while living in a new region.4 The field of travel nursing is one that will offer expanding opportunities during the next half century.

By becoming a travel nurse, one can take advantage of all the possibilities that the field has to offer.  References: 1 http://healthcaretraveler.modernmedicine.com/ healthcare-traveler/news/future-travel 2 http://www.onwardhealthcare.com/travel-nursingjobs/about-travel-nursing/ 3 http://www.travelnursing.org/what-is-travel-nursing. php 4 http://www.travelnursing.com/about-travel-nursing/ why-travel

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| APRIL 2016

MD STAFFING AGENCY FOR SALE IN NORTH CAROLINA The perfect opportunity for anyone who wants to purchase an established business.

Primary Care Practice For Sale Wilmington, NC Established primary care on the coast of North Carolina’s beautiful beaches.

Fully staffed with MD’s and PA’s to treat both appointment and walk-in patients.

Excellent exam room layout, equipment and visibility.

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of the oldest Locums companies l Large client list l Dozens of MDs under contract l Executive office setting l Modern computers and equipment l Revenue over a million per year l Retiring owner

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PHYSICIANS NEEDED: Mental health facility in Eastern North Carolina seeks: PA/FT ongoing, start immediately Physician Assistant needed to work with physicians to provide primary care for resident patients. FT ongoing 8a-5p. Limited inpatient call is required. The position is responsible for performing history and physicals of patients on admission, annual physicals, dictate discharge summaries, sick call on unit assigned, suture minor lacerations, prescribe medications and order lab work. Works 8 hour shifts Monday through Friday with some extended work on rotating basis required. It is a 24 hour in-patient facility that serves adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.

FT ongoing Medical Director, start immediately The Director of Medical Services is responsible for ensuring all patients receive quality medical care. The director supervises medical physicians and physician extenders. The Director of Medical Services also provides guidance to the following service areas: Dental Clinic, X-Ray Department, Laboratory Services, Infection Control, Speech/Language Services, Employee Health,

Pharmacy Department, Physical Therapy and Telemedicine. The Medical Director reports directly to the Clinical Director. The position will manage and participate in direct patient care as required; maintain and participate in an on-call schedule ensuring that a physician is always available to hospitalized patients; and maintain privileges of medical staff.

Permanent Psychiatrist needed FT, start immediately An accredited State Psychiatric Hospital serving the eastern region of North Carolina, is recruiting for permanent full-time Psychiatrist. The 24 hour in-patient facility serves adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. The psychiatrist will serve as a team leader for multi-disciplinary team to ensure quality patient care/treatment. Responsibilities include:

evaluation of patient on admission and development of a comprehensive treatment plan, serve on medical staff committees, complete court papers, documentation of patient progress in medical record, education of patients/families, provision of educational groups for patients.

Send copies of your CV, NC medical license, DEA certificate and NPI certificate with number to Physician Solutions for immediate consideration. Physician Solutions, P.O. Box 98313, Raleigh, NC 27624 PH: (919) 845-0054 | email: physiciansolutions@gmail.com 34 | APRIL 2016

Primary Care Specializing in Women’s Health

Located on NC’s Beautiful Coast, Morehead City

Practice established in 2005, averaging over $540,000 the past 3 years. Free standing practice building for sale or lease. This practice has 5 well equipped exam rooms and is offered for $20,000.

919.848.4202 medlisting@gmail.com medicalpracticelistings.com

Internal Medicine Practice for Sale Located in the heart of the medical community in Cary, North Carolina, this Internal Medicine practice is accepting most private and government insurance payments.

The average patients per day is 20-25+, and the gross yearly income is $555,000.

Listing Price: $430,000

Call 919-848-4202 or email medlistings@gmail.com www.medicalpracticelistings.com

Practice for Sale in Raleigh, NC Primary care practice specializing in women’s care Raleigh, North Carolina The owning physician is willing to continue with the practice for a reasonable time to assist with smooth ownership transfer. The patient load is 35 to 40 patients per day, however, that could double with a second provider. Exceptional cash flow and profit will surprise even the most optimistic practice seeker. This is a remarkable opportunity to purchase a well-established woman’s practice. Spacious practice with several well-appointed exam rooms and beautifully decorated throughout. New computers and medical management software add to this modern front desk environment.

List price: $435,000

Call Medical Practice Listings at (919) 848-4202 for details and to view our other listings visit www.medicalpracticelistings.com

PHYSICIAN SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE

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Eastern North Carolina Family Practice Available Well-appointed Eastern North Carolina Family Practice established in 2000 is for sale in Williamston, NC. This organized practice boasts a wide array of diagnostic equipment including a GE DEXA scanner with a new tube, GE case 8000 stress testing treadmill and controller and back up treadmill, Autoclave and full set of operating equipment, EKG-Ez EKG and much more. The average number of patients seen daily is between 12 to 22. The building is owned by MD and can be purchased or leased.

The owning physician is relocating and will assist as needed during the transition period. The gross receipts for the past three years average $650,000 and the list price was just reduced to $185,000. If you are looking to purchase a well equipped primary care practice, please contact us today.

919-848-4202 medlisting@gmail.com medicalpracticelistings.com

Women’s Health Practice in Morehead City, NC

Newly listed Primary Care specializing in Women’s care located in the beautiful coastal city of Morehead City. This spacious practice has 5 exam rooms with one electronic tilting exam table and 4 other Ritter exam tables. Excellent visibility and parking make this an ideal location to market and expand. This practice is fully equipped and is ready for a new owner that is ready to hit the ground running. The owning MD is retiring and will be accommodating during the transition period. This medical building is owned and is offered for sale, lease or lease to own. The gross receipts for the past 3 years exceed $540,000 per year. If you are looking to purchase an excellent practice located in a picturesque setting, please contact us today.

PEDIATRICIAN

or family medicine doctor needed in

FAYETTEVILLE, NC

Comfortable seeing children. Needed immediately.

Medical Practice Listings Buying and selling made easy

Call 919-848-4202 or email medlistings@gmail.com www.medicalpracticelistings.com 36 | APRIL 2016

Call 919- 845-0054 or email: physiciansolutions@gmail.com www.physiciansolutions.com

Pediatrics Practice Wanted Pediatrics practice wanted in NC Considering your options regarding your pediatric practice? We can help.

Medical Practice Listings has a well qualified buyer for a pediatric practice anywhere in central North Carolina.

Contact us today to discuss your options confidentially.

Medical Practice Listings Call 919-848-4202 or e-mail medlistings@gmail.com www.medicalpracticelistings.com

NC MedSpa For Sale MedSpa Located in North Carolina We have recently listed a MedSpa in NC This established practice has staff MDs, PAs and nurses to assist patients. Some of the procedures performed include: Botox, Dysport, Restylane, Perian, Juvederm, Radiesse, IPL Photoreju Venation, fractional laser resurfacing as well as customized facials. There are too many procedures to mention in this very upscale practice. The qualified buyer will be impressed with the $900,000 gross revenue. This is a new listing, and we are in the valuation process.

Contact Medical Practice Listings today to discuss the practice details.

For more information call Medical Practice Listings at 919-848-4202 or e-mail medlistings@gmail.com

www.medicalpracticelistings.com

PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE East of Raleigh, North Carolina We are offering a well established primary care practice only minutes east of Raleigh North Carolina. The retiring physician maintains a 5 day work week and has a solid base of patients that can easily be expanded. There are 6 fully equipped exam rooms, a large private doctor’s office, spacious business office, and patient friendly check in and out while the patient waiting room is generous overlooking manicured flowered grounds. This family practice is open Monday through Friday and treats 8 to a dozen patients per day.

Currently operating on paper charts, there is no EMR in place. The Gross revenue is about $235,000 yearly.

We are offering this practice for $50,000 which includes all the medical equipment and furniture. The building is free standing and can be leased or purchased.

Contact Philip at 919-848-4202 to receive details and reasonable offers will be presented to the selling physician.

Medical Practice Listings Selling and buying made easy

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Modern Med Spa Available

Located in beautiful coastal North Carolina Modern, well-appointed med spa is available in the eastern part of the state. This Spa specializes in BOTOX, facial therapy and treatments, laser hair removal, eye lash extensions and body waxing as well as a menu of anti-aging options. This impressive practice is perfect as-is and can accommodate additional services like; primary health or dermatology.

The Gross revenue is over $1,500.000 during 2012 with consistent high revenue numbers for the past several years. The average number of patients seen daily is between 26 and 32 with room for improvement. You will find this Med Spa to be in a highly visible location with upscale amenities. The building is leased and the lease can be assigned or restructured. Highly profitable and organized, this spa POISED FOR SUCCESS. 919.848.4202 medlisting@gmail.com medicalpracticelistings.com

Adult & pediAtric integrAtive medicine prActice for sAle This Adult and Pediatric Integrative Medicine practice, located in Cary, NC, incorporates the latest conventional and natural therapies for the treatment and prevention of health problems not requiring surgical intervention. It currently provides the following therapeutic modalities: • • • • •

Conventional Medicine Natural and Holistic Medicine Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy Functional Medicine Nutritional Therapy

• • • • • •

NC Opportunities DENTISTS AND HYGIENISTS

Mind-Body Medicine Detoxification Supplements Optimal Weigh Program Preventive Care Wellness Program Diagnostic Testing

There is a Compounding Pharmacy located in the same suites with a consulting pharmacist working with this Integrative practice. Average Patients per Day: 12-20 Gross Yearly Income: $335,000+ | List Price: $125,000

Call 919-848-4202 or email medlistings@gmail.com www.medicalpracticelistings.com 38 | APRIL 2016

Physician Solutions has immediate opportunities for dentists and hygienists throughout NC. Top wages, professional liability insurance and accommodations provided.

Call us today if you are available for a few days a month, on-going or for permanent placement. Please contact Physican Solutions at 919-845-0054 or physiciansolutions@gmail.com

Med Spa in the Raleigh-Durham, NC Area

Urgent Care Practices Wanted We have several qualified MDs seeking established Urgent Care Practices in North Carolina.

Beautiful Med Spa located in the Raleigh-Durham is among our newest listings.

This very upscale facility is established and boosts consistent gross revenues of a million plus. Some of the procedures performed are: Botox, Dermal Fillers, Minimal light based treatments, laser hair removal, cool sculpting (external cooling treatment that freezes the hair and the body metabolizes the fat). This practice is ideal for the Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist.

Established: 2010 l Annual Revenue: $1,000,000 Average Patients per Day: 15 to 25

If you have an urgent care practice and would like to explore your selling options, please contact us. Your call will be handled confidentially and we always put together win-win solutions for the seller and buyer.

Call 919-848-4202 or email medlistings@gmail.com www.medicalpracticelistings.com

Call Medical Practice Listings today and ask for Philip Driver 919-848-4202.

PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE - Hickory, North Carolina This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire one of the most organized and profitable primary care practices in the area. Grossing a million and a half yearly, the principal physician enjoys ordinary practice income of over $300,000 annually.

Hickory is located in the foot-hills of North Carolina and is surrounded by picturesque mountains, lakes, upscale shopping malls and the school systems are excellent. If you are looking for an established practice that runs like a well oiled machine, request more information.

The free standing building that houses this practice is available to purchase or rent with an option. There are 4 exam rooms with a well appointed procedure room. The owning physician works 4 to 5 days per week and there is a full time physician assistant staffed as well.

For the well qualified purchasing physician, the owner may consider some owner-financing. Call us today.

List price: $425,000 | Year Established: 2007 | Gross Yearly Income: $1,500,000

Medical Practice Listings Selling and buying made easy

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is now hiring primary care MD’s and PA’s, DDS’s, dental hygienists, and registered dental assistants in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina

Ongoing and intermittent shifts are available for physicians, mid-levels, DDS, dental hygienists, and registered dental assistants as well as permanent placement. Find out why providers choose Physician Solutions.

P.O. Box 98313, Raleigh, NC 27624 Scan this QR code with your smartphone to learn more.

phone: 919.845.0054 fax: 919.845.1947 e-mail: physiciansolutions@gmail.com www.physiciansolutions.com