Interprofessional Headache Consults
Fax: 231-935-2438 | Direct Trust: erica.austin@meg.eclinicaldirectplus.com

Erica Austin, DO, neurologist with Munson Healthcare Neurology, is now offering neuro interprofessional headache consults.

This new consult model will allow patients to receive neurology-guided headache care through a primary care provider (PCP); eliminating the need to be referred to the neurology office for a consult. The interprofessional consult involves a records review by neurology with a subsequent written and optional verbal discussion for the referring provider. 

“I am excited about this opportunity to improve access to specialty expertise and to help referring providers manage their patients with headaches so they can stay close to home.”

How does it work?

1. PCP identifies a patient needs a headache interprofessional consult with neuro
2. PCP office obtains and records verbal consent for interprofessional consult and billing 
3. PCP completes referral for neuro interprofessional consult. Please include:
   • Office note containing relevant history, exam, and medical decision making
   • Reports for any relevant imaging
   • Questionnaire in eCW, print a copy (available in Cerner soon)
   • Make sure to identify the referral is for an inter-professional headache consult
4. MA/Office faxes or direct trust medical records to Dr. Austin
   Fax: 231-935-2438 | Direct Trust: erica.austin@meg.eclinicaldirectplus.com
   
5. Neuro reviews and responds within two weeks
   Verbal consult will be coordinated if requested and available from 12:40 - 4:20 pm on Thursdays; consultant may not have a face-to-face visit within 14-days
6. Neuro office sends interprofessional consult notes to PCP
7. PCP follows up with patient

What the patient needs to know: 

• The interprofessional consult with a neurologist is a billable service that may result in a copay.
• The patient counseled should understand this does not establish a doctor-patient relationship with the neurologist. 

GETTING TO KNOW

Shruti Sevak, MD, Colon & Rectal Surgery
Munson Healthcare Traverse General Surgery and Trauma Care

Dr. Shruti Sevak is a fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon on medical staff at Munson Medical Center. Dr. Sevak has a special interest in comprehensive colon, rectal and anal cancer care and pelvic floor disorders. 

LEARN MORE about Dr. Sevak's special interests and favorite part of practicing medicine. 

COVID/FLU CORNER

Northern Michigan Flu Activity Update

CLICK HERE to view our weekly Flu Activity webpage. 

Reporting Period: Week of Oct. 30 

Flu Testing: Not Recommended
National: The Northern and Midwest states remain low to minimal activity.  The Southern and Eastern states range from moderate to very high activity.
Michigan: Minimal activity overall.
Regional: Minimal activity overall
          Total Tested = 670
          Total Positive = 18 (3%)
           Inpatients = 1

COMMUNITY HEALTH

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Great American Smokeout - November 17, 2022
Held the third Thursday of November, The Great American Smokeout challenges smokers to give up smoking for 24 hours as a first step toward quitting forever. Encourage your patients to stop smoking and start the road to a healthier life. 

Freedom From Smoking Program | Print Flyer
This 8-week online course is designed to help patients finally quit smoking, vaping, and chewing tobacco for good. Cost of the program is $25 for printed materials. Some scholarships are available.
For more information: Email or call 231-392-8487

Munson Healthcare Tobacco Treatment Specialists
For those who prefer one-on-one support to quit smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco, our Tobacco Treatment Specialists offers individual counseling.
Learn More

Principals of Motivational Interviewing Series: Develop Discrepancy

There are four principals of motivational interviewing used to speak to parents and children about vaccine hesitancy - Express Empathy, Develop Discrepancy, Roll with Resistance, Support Self-efficacy.  This month, we will take a deeper dive into Develop Discrepancy.

Principal 2: Develop Discrepancy
Developing discrepancy is when the clinician helps the patient see the difference between what they say they want and their current behaviors. This can be done by asking open ended questions that explore the patient's values. As with express empathy, the clinician should be listening and guiding while the patient explores their reasons for change. The clinician should listen carefully for change talk and acknowledge and affirm when they hear it. Change talk may include statements such as: 
"I really what to _________"
"I need to __________"
"It is important for my health to __________"

REMINDERS

Holiday Hours

Radiology Scheduling Hours
Thu., Nov. 24: Closed
Fri., Nov. 25: Cadillac, Grayling, Munson Medical Center, Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital, and Kalkaska Memorial Health Center will be closing early at 3 pm. Normal business hours will resume on Monday. 

Cures Act: Electronic Health Information to Include Billing Records

On Thursday, October 6, 2022, the Cures Act Information Blocking Rule requires billing records in addition to health records and other information in the Designated Record Set that healthcare providers must release upon request. 

Those with a valid, legal right to request electronic health information include, but are not limited to, the patient, payer, provider, and insurance carrier. Read more in the 21st Century Cures Act information sheet on the MHC’s 21st Century Cures Act internet site for providers. 

E-prescribing Required by Jan. 1, 2023
State and federal law will require prescribers to electronically transmit ALL prescriptions, not just controlled substances, beginning Jan. 1, 2023.

• When:  Although the mandate goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023, affected providers are asked to not delay enrolling in ePrescribe and/or ePCS
• What:  ePrescribe is required to electronically transmit prescription directly to the pharmacy. ePCS is required to electronically transmit controlled substance prescriptions.
• Who: All prescribers who are either employed by MHC or who are privileged to practice medicine at a Munson Healthcare hospital.
• Where:  All Munson Healthcare ambulatory, inpatient, emergency department, and urgent care locations
• Action Requested: The provider should call the MHC Help Desk now (231-935-6053) to request enrollment in ePrescribe and/or ePCS. They will be contacted to schedule the required in-person meeting.
  • Providers are asked to bring their driver’s license and smartphone to get set up.
  • Meeting in-person is required again if a smart phone is replaced or if the providers has legally changed their name. 

RESOURCES

Provider Moves

The Provider Moves webpage that lists provider moves across the Munson Healthcare system has been updated for October, including new providers, location changes, retirees, providers no longer on staff (or practicing), and other updates (e.g., name changes, practice moves, new phone and fax numbers).

Informed Consent Best Practice
One way MHC is enhancing the safety of our patients is by promoting best practices with our Informed Consent process.

The informed consent process includes one or more conversations between the provider and the patient, interactive discussion, educational materials, obtaining written consent, and appropriate chart documentation.

Recent recommendations from consultants we hired and a previous citation from TJC presented us with the opportunity to review our entire informed consent process. By improving our informed consent compliance, we have the potential to increase staff efficiency, ensure accurate documentation, enhance physician-patient communication, and improve overall patient safety and satisfaction.

LEARN MORE about this initiative. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Online Scheduling Available for Primary Care Clinics

As part of our Digital Health team’s Consumer Access Solutions project — making it easier for patients to access MHC services — patients are now able to self-schedule appointments online via MHC’s new Find a Doctor website for Cerner Primary Care Providers. 

Beginning Nov. 15, patients will also be able to schedule an appointment online through the Cerner MyHealthInfo portal. Additional specialties will be added to online self-scheduling in the future.

EDUCATION / EVENTS

BLS Renewal Process Change

The process for Basic Life Support (BLS) renewals at MHC has changed in response to software issues some learners were experiencing. If BLS is required as part of your job, and MHC has your card on file, you will receive a notification approximately 6 weeks before the expiration date with 2 components that must be completed for BLS renewal.

Process/FAQ Flyer | 2023 Heartcode Schedule

Questions?
Munson Medical Center/Traverse City: Lauren Holland, BSN, RN 
East Region: Rachel Fajardo, MSN, RN
South Region: Angela Harvey, MSN, RN

Provider Symposium | Jan. 13-14, 2023

This dynamic provider event offers two days of varied in-person CME sessions tailored to the educational needs of Munson Healthcare providers, keynote sessions with renowned medical experts, and a provider reception Friday evening to develop a stronger network of colleagues.

Participants access virtual live-streamed CME sessions that count toward Michigan licensure requirements (pain and symptom management, medical ethics, implicit bias).

Registration Required -  Save $50 and Register before Nov. 15!

PRINT FLYER

You're Invited! Fixed PET Scanner Open House
Enjoy small plates and beverages at the Cowell Family Cancer Center’s Fixed PET Scanner Open House.
Thursday, November 17 | 4 – 7 pm
Cowell Family Cancer Center | 217 S. Madison Ave., Traverse City
Having a Fixed PET Scanner provides patients with:

• Improved access, increased slots/ days and days/week
• Improved patient experience, comfort, transfer assistance
• Future launch of Theranostics:  Radiopharmaceutical infusion therapies in January (one of only four in the state) 

To read past issues of Practice Pro, visit our website.