practice management help desk
Guidance for Group Practices

Though the MGMA is a multispecialty organization, it does offer information and guidance tailored to individual specialties, including ophthalmology. Practices that choose to join the MGMA and pay an annual fee of $355 are given full access to the educational information on the organization's Web site, www.mgma.com, This material covers such critical areas of practice management as Financial Management, Human Resources, Information Management, Operations, Risk Management and Planning/Marketing. Members are also given access to a database of archived articles.

Recently, a sampling of the Ophthalmology section of the MGMA Web site indicated that articles were being offered on such topics as starting an ambulatory surgery center, evaluating the performance of a practice administrator, successfully marketing an optical shop and conducting a practice patient safety assessment.

MGMA members can also use the Web site to participate in surveys that provide important benchmarking information. The data derived from these surveys enable practices to compare their own performance in various areas to other practices around the country. By utilizing this information, practices can address areas of weakness and set realistic improvement goals,

Currently, the MGMA Web site is providing a "Physician Impact Chart" based on the changes incorporated in the proposed 2007 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The chart indicates how reimbursement will change for a variety of ophthalmic procedures if Congress does not act to amend the proposed Fee Schedule.

Group practices interested in obtaining information on the overall benefits of MGMA membership should contact the organization by phone at (303) 799-1111 or through the MGMA Web site itself.

If you know of an organization, Web site or other resource that is devoted to healthcare practice improvement, please let us know. Contact Rachel Renshaw at: renshawr@lwwvisioncare.com or (215) 643-8136.