The Physician Advocacy Program is a member benefit service offered through the Medical Society of Delaware. This program helps to meet the needs of physician practices in response to the rapidly changing health care industry. Assistance is provided statewide directly to physicians and the office staff through the following services at little or no cost to members:
AFFINITY RELATIONSHIPS…The Physician Advocacy staff works with premier partners to offer value-added services to physician members and their staff. Partners/programs include Blood Bank of Delmarva, Telecom Advantage Program, and Verizon Wireless.
COMPLIANCE… ACE, the Audit & Compliance Evaluation Program offers programs to meet the regulatory compliance needs of physicians’ offices, focusing primarily on coding and reimbursement evaluations and education.
CONSULTING SERVICES FOR NEW PRACTICES…The Physician Practice Advocate offers custom-tailored consulting services at reasonable rates to new Delaware physicians to assist them in setting up their offices when they obtain MSD membership.
HEALTH CARE ISSUES…Physicians Advocacy stays abreast of current issues, including insurance carrier concerns that affect Delaware’s physicians, to ensure that MSD will be able to respond proactively through discussions and/or meetings between key players. Physicians Advocacy communicates to MSD members through fax and e-mail broadcasts as well as articles in our newsletters.
HELP DESK AND INFORMATION REQUESTS…This service provides research and resources to assist offices needing information on a variety of subjects, including practice management issues ranging from the length of time to keep medical records to insurance carrier issues.
**NEW**INFECTION CONTROL TRAINING... This one hour training program entitled Infection Control for Ambulatory Care can be conducted in your office. The session was created to remind health care workers of how infections are spread, and how to break the chain of transmission. This is a significant compliment to our Bloodborne Pathogen training as it addresses diseases such as Tuberculosis, MRSA, Influenza, etc. An eighteen minute video focuses on Standard and Transmission based precautions, as well as immunizations, personal protective equipment, work restrictions, and what to do in the event of exposure. Each participant receives an instructional booklet and attendance certificate, and each practice receives an informational packet and certificate of participation. For more information, or to schedule Infection Control training for your office call or email our Professional Service Representative at 302-366-1023 or 800-348-6800, Ext. 226.
IN-OFFICE CODING…Coding education for you and your staff is conveniently presented in-office with instruction on documentation techniques and correct coding methods.
OFFICE STAFF EDUCATION…Office staff education and workshops are presented throughout the year on a variety of pertinent medical administrative topics.
OSHA TRAINING…Society members receive a generous discount on instruction on OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen standards. A registered nurse on the MSD staff will come to your office at a convenient time of your choosing to teach you and your staff these standards on Bloodborne Pathogens, safe work practices, engineered sharps protection, hazard communication, emergency preparedness, and current CDC guidelines for infection control. Our program is also designed to meet federal requirements for annual training, as well as to help your staff reduce the risk of contracting bloodborne diseases. Information on other relevant OSHA standards is also provided along with office tools and help aids offered at discount to MSD members.
PHYSICIAN ADVOCACY PROGRAM CONFERENCES…Physicians Advocacy holds an annual conference for physicians which targets front-line issues important to today’s medical practices. Additional conferences and workshops for office staff are offered throughout the year on a variety of pertinent topics.
PUBLICATIONS…The Physicians Advocacy Program offers various publications, including a medical records handbook, a guide to closing your medical practice and others, to assist your medical office at little or no cost to members.
For additional information, contact the Physician Advocacy Office at the Medical Society of Delaware (302) 224-5186 or (800) 348-6800, or e-mail to PhysicianAdvocacy@medsocedel.org