Eye complaints, particularly vision complaints, can seem daunting to a provider in an urgent care or emergency department setting. The eye is a complex structure. The anatomy and the neurology behind vision is intricate. Often, you may be practicing in an environment without the ability to consult an ophthalmologist. An understanding of urgent and emergent eye and visual problems is crucial. This post will deal with painless vision loss.
In our last edition, we discussed some ways of altering practice models or properly documenting patient care so that we stay within the current MIPS guidelines while continuing to provide the highest quality care. In this edition, we will discuss some of the MIPS guidelines as they pertain to Radiographic studies that are commonly ordered in ER/Urgent Care settings. As always, appropriate documentation as to why, or why not, a test was ordered is crucial not only for MIPS, but from a legal standpoint as well. So, let’s get into it!
My first job as a nurse practitioner was ideal. I knew all the physicians. I knew all the nurses. I knew all the administrators. Yet, I was scared beyond belief. First and for most I did not want to hurt my patients. Second, I wanted the staff that I worked with to accept me as a competent nurse practitioner. I remember clearly two conversations from those first few days; “John, don’t hurt anyone” and two, “John, one of the most important things is know what you don’t know”.
How many times have you heard this mentioned in casual conversation amongst healthcare providers?Perhaps during a heated exchange on television, or when talking about doing things we aren’t comfortable doing to our patients. Perhaps you have even mentioned it yourself.
The fact is, it takes a lot – A LOT – to lose a medical license or license to practice. Yes, bumps along the road in our career can happen, but realistically speaking, what licensing board would have a vested interest in removing providers from an already strained healthcare system?
The short answer is Time! The long answer highlights all of the actual work involved to go from the concept of a good clinical topic to a polished presentation. Excellent original content takes a deep commitment to create, and identifying the literature, research, and data behind a clinical topic can be very time consuming. Once found, tying the clinical pieces and information together into a cohesive and interesting presentation begins.
