From Blogging to MIPS to Precision Medicine

We covered a variety of important and timely topics in the past month of #KareoChats (Thursdays at 10 a.m. Pacific). We had opportunities to discuss best blogging tips for small practices, MIPS, precision medicine and the state of data in healthcare. Here's a recap of the discussions and a selection of insightful comments.

On Blogging for Healthcare Practices: Is It Worth Your Time?

Host: Janet Kennedy @GetSocialHealth

Many know that blogging consistently can be a strong marketing strategy for any healthcare practice. But who has the time? If you're unfamiliar with blogging, where do you begin? That’s why we brought in healthcare marketing expert Janet Kennedy to host this #KareoChat on blogging for independent practices. See a couple of key learning moments below. One thing is for sure: All participants agreed that engaging your patients through a blog is a great way to keep them coming back!

Why should a practice blog? There seemed to be consensus among patients: 

A1 Opportunity to attract & grow business. If I like your blog/website/practice, I will share with friends & in support groups. #kareochat

— Melissa VanHouten (@melissarvh) May 25, 2017

What should practices blog about?

Don't just blog about the general "How to live healthy" stuff on your #healthcare blog. Share your unique stories! #KareoChat

— Christoph Trappe (@CTrappe) May 25, 2017

Who at your practice should be the one to blog. Turns out, there's no reason one person needs to carry the weight of creating all the blog posts:

T3: Who should blog? Almost anyone if they have something to say that's relevant. Admins, PAs/NPs, Your Nutritionist... #KareoChat

— Janet M. Kennedy (@GetSocialHealth) May 25, 2017

Above all, remember: 

Don't waste your efforts. Remember 80/20 rule. 20% of time to create blog. 80% of time to promote! Evergreen content Rules! #KareoChat

— Janet M. Kennedy (@GetSocialHealth) May 25, 2017

On the Data Divide: Analytics, Business Intelligence and Information Sharing

Host: Stephanie Crabb @stephaniecrabb

The importance of data-driven services and programs in healthcare has grown significantly in recent years. But as our host put it:

“In this race for data – to create/collect more of it, harness it, put it to work in productive ways – organizations are moving at very different speeds and are equipped in very different ways. Not all industry segments are benefiting from this data movement, leading to what some experts are calling a 'data divide.''

So what does it mean to be “data-driven”?

A1: In simplest terms, it means to deliberately & purposely leverage data to support clinical and operational decision making. #kareochat

— Stephanie Crabb (@stephaniecrabb) June 8, 2017

A1: It means putting meaningful and trustworthy data in the hands of the entire workforce so they can perform their jobs better. #kareochat

— Stephanie Crabb (@stephaniecrabb) June 8, 2017

What contributes to our current data-divide (outside of interoperability, of course)?

A3: In all seriousness, divide between doctor & pt, disregard for patient-generated data. Need to re-center care around patient. #KareoChat

— Carly Holstein, PhD (@carlyholstein) June 8, 2017

A3 Let's be honest the digital divide , IMHO, exist for 2 main reasons, unstructured data & legacy system effects. #KareoChat

— ShereeseM, MS/MBA (@ShereesePubHlth) June 8, 2017

 What could be done to create data equity?

A5: Rightsizing patient/caregiver generated data has to be a priority as well as ownership of data when talking data equity. #kareochat

— Stephanie Crabb (@stephaniecrabb) June 8, 2017

How Do You Really Feel About MIPS?

Host: Physicians Practice @PhsyciansPract

MIPS (Merit-Based Incentive Payment System) went into effect this year and is one of the main programs that will determine Medicare payment adjustments. What will the impact be on physicians, providers and patients? That’s what we wanted to talk about out during this #KareoChat!

Overally, familiarity with both MACRA and MIPS needs to improve in the medical community:

A1 Familiarity w/ #MACRA & #MIPS is still dangerously low. When I was at #HIMSS17, CMS told us their goal was to make it visible #kareochat

— Gabriel Perna (@GabrielSPerna) June 15, 2017

A1: Don't fall for these 5 MACRA misconceptions, we're here to help: https://t.co/E7fQM9fYXY #KareoChat

— Physicians Practice (@PhysiciansPract) June 15, 2017 

A5: The challenge, as we hear it, is MDs just don't find the reporting trustworthy as it relates to their practice. Then what? #kareochat

— Stephanie Crabb (@stephaniecrabb) June 15, 2017

They either take the hit or they're exempted and I'm hearing a lot of that as well #MACRA #kareochat

— Gabriel Perna (@GabrielSPerna) June 15, 2017

Kareo offers a suite of educational resources to get a handle on MIPS for independent practices -- check out the MACRA Quality Payment Program Resource Center.

Let's Talk About Precision Medicine

Host: Dr. Tom @DrTom_Kareo

Precision Medicine, sometimes called personalized medicine, is designed to tailor treatment to an individual’s specific needs and genetic makeup. This certainly sounds like a great thing! But is it? And how will it continue to shape healthcare moving forward?

We of course wanted to first hear how our attendees defined precision medicine:

A1: Customization of healthcare, with medical decisions, practices and products tailored to the individual patient. #kareochat

— Stephanie Crabb (@stephaniecrabb) June 22, 2017

A1: Yes @stephaniecrabb woudl add teh elements of genomics and biomarkers , which are key determinants of risk & response #kareochat

— Dr. Tom Giannulli (@drtom_kareo) June 22, 2017

What tech is available to shape the genome and treat risk?

A4: Some new treatments target the genetic defect directly, thus precision therapeutics as the genetic level #kareochat

— Dr. Tom Giannulli (@drtom_kareo) June 22, 2017

A4 Still relevant tech is DNA Microarrays; https://t.co/RPuPbL6MvZ #KareoChat

— ShereeseM, MS/MBA (@ShereesePubHlth) June 22, 2017

What impact could precision medicine have on healthcare?

A2: I suspect #PrecisionMedicine will make progress "around the fringes" but won't be transformational anytime soon #KareoChat

— Joe Lavelle (@Resultant) June 22, 2017

A2: I also think that #PrecisionMedicine has refocused the collective energy of healthcare back on the patient. Much needed. #kareochat

— Stephanie Crabb (@stephaniecrabb) June 22, 2017

Really? Are we talking next 5 yrs or longer? IMHO, 5yr value 4 outcomes optimal w/ treatment finely adapted 2 Pt's response. #KareoChat

— ShereeseM, MS/MBA (@ShereesePubHlth) June 22, 2017

Which topic stood out to you the most? And which topics would you like us to add into the mix moving forward? Tweet us @GoKareo #KareoChat and join us every Thursday at 10 a.m. (Pacific time) for our weekly forum on healthcare, technology and practice management topics facing independent practices.