For example, a recent presentation by SHM member Dr. Jesse Theisen-Toupal on inpatient management of opioid use disorder was an eye-opener. Learning about harm-reduction strategies for opioid misuse during the presentation was very helpful to us, and we shared the suggestions with our hospitalist team.
Q: What inspired you to start an Arizona chapter in Scottsdale and purchase a group membership for your team?
A: At HM16, I met Debra Beach, manager of membership and outreach programs at SHM, and we discussed how our company can align with SHM and bring our hospitalists on board as members to provide them with a greater network of resources. I was surprised that Arizona did not have a dedicated SHM chapter. Phoenix, one of the U.S.’s largest metropolitan areas, has many large hospital systems employing and contracting thousands of hospitalists. I saw an opening for a great opportunity to take the lead on developing an SHM chapter in Arizona with the support of my 4C colleagues. After discussing this opportunity with other hospitalist groups in Arizona, we came to the conclusion that it would benefit not only our team at 4C but hospitalists statewide.
I am confident that the Arizona chapter of SHM will not only be successful but soon will be contributing nationally to the hospitalist movement. Moreover, SHM will help keep our members educated and informed about the upcoming changes as we transition to a pay-for-performance model of reimbursement and any other healthcare system changes still to come.
I believe in the famous Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” We have taken the first step in our hospitalist group, and without a doubt, SHM’s journey in the state of Arizona shall be a success story. All our members are excited with this new beginning.
Q: How do you see hospital medicine evolving over the next 20 years?
A: 2016 has already been designated as the “Year of the Hospitalist.” I will take it a step further and predict that the next decade will be a decade of hospital medicine. Inpatient care is transforming at a rapid pace, and we need a dedicated and well-trained stream of doctors who are specialists in managing hospitalized patients. Care of hospitalized patients was once fragmented and costly; now with hospitalists as captains of the ship, care can be delivered in more comprehensive, cost-effective ways with better quality and increased performance. The introduction of a separate specialist billing code for hospitalists by the CMS is a step in the right direction.
In the next few years, I would enjoy seeing a separate board for hospitalists with hospital medicine’s own specialty certification. The potential for hospital medicine’s continued growth is tremendous, and I look forward to being a part of its future. TH
Brett Radler is SHM’s communications specialist.