Physician Practice Operational Assessment

Our Philosophy:
We are a practice management/healthcare consulting organization that focuses directly upon the operations of the physician practice, working closely with physicians through the utilization of a bottom up approach to identify, develop and reach practice goals and objectives.

Purpose and Use:
The Physician Practice Operational Assessment is primarily requested by physicians, hospital boards and administrators, practice management organizations and hospital management companies. Their primary uses of the product are as follows; 1.) to identify opportunities within the practice, 2.) establish a baseline measurement for the practice performance, 3.) set the stage for the development of a detailed action plan, 4.) establish a basis for setting realistic practice goals and objectives.

The Physician Practice Operational Assessment
The Physician Practice Operational Assessment is a focused review of several fundamental and key components of a physicians practice. This high level, focused review is primarily designed to identify areas of opportunity within the physician's practice.

The Physician Practice Operational Assessment is a five step process;

1. Gathering of Practice Information/Data
Progressive's Associates will request the following information from the physician's practice, in order to begin their focused review and to prepare for the On Site Review and Analysis:

a. Practice Financial Statements

b. Practice Assets (Property and Equipment)

c. Individual Physician Productivity Data

1. Charges and Collections
2. Charges and Collections by Third Party Payor
3. Physician Compensation Package

d. Physician and Employee Employment Agreements

e. Practice Budgets and Forecasts

f. Copies of Practice Policies and Procedures

g. Total Number of Patient Encounters by Physician

h. Latest Accounts Receivable Report

i. List of all third party payor contracts

j. Employee Listing (name, title, salary, status, yrs. of service)

k. Information System Overview (hardware and software)

l. Copies of Last Coding and Compliance Review

2. On Site Review and Analysis
Progressive Associates will review and analyze the data provided by the practice and identify key areas to focus upon during the on site review. During the on site review Progressive Associates will complete the following tasks:

a. Assess front office processes

b. Assess back office processes

c. Assess the linkages between the two processes

d. Assess nursing and exam room processes

e. Assess billing and collection processes

f. Assess the linkages between all of the processes

g. Review of preliminary findings with the physicians and appropriate practice staff

3. Focused Interviews
Progressive Associates will conduct brief and directed interviews of all physicians and staff within the practice. The purpose of these interviews is to validate and test the preliminary findings of the assessment and uncover additional areas in need of review. A sample of the questions asked are as follows:

a. Describe the practice processes?

b. What is you practice collection percentage?

c. What is you impression of the practice?

d. Can you identify any problems within the practice?

e. What is the overall practice morale?

f. What is the overall staff morale?

g. How do you interact with your physicians?

h. How many patients are seen in this practice each day?

4. Discovery of Findings and Opportunities
Once the information is analyzed, the on site review and face to interviews are completed, Progressive Associates will again analyze all of the information gathered.

The next step is the process of defining opportunities and comparing actual practice performance to best practice standards. In addition our associates will prepare a bottom up (or break-even analysis) review of the practice financial reports in order to provide a basis for the recommendations.

Finally, all of the findings/opportunities are reviewed and challenged and additional information is gathered (if necessary) to confirm or support the conclusions.

5. Presentation and Final Report
Progressive Associates will prepare a detailed report and presentation defining the opportunities identified during the assessment and providing tools to assist in the implementation of the recommendations.

Progressive Associates will give an on site presentation of the findings to the physicians, answer questions and discuss methods and options of capitalizing on the opportunities.

For further information regarding this Practice Management Tool, or other Progressive Healthcare, Inc. products and services please contact us at 615-371-9989.