Each specialty comes with a distinctive set of challenges and, as a result, requires different software capabilities. So PYP granted special attention to certain specialties by publishing a series of articles that zeroed in on the current state of each specialty and the functionality they demand from PM systems and EHRs.
In the final edition of our specialty snapshot series, we take a look at the field of general surgery.
The State of General Surgery
General surgeons primarily focus on diagnosing, managing, and performing operations for conditions located in the gastrointestinal tract, abdomen, endocrine system, breasts, blood vessels, skin, and soft tissue.
They handle traumas and are essential in the care of critically ill patients with underlying surgical conditions in ER, ICU, and trauma units. Half of their time is spent seeing patients in the office and the other half performing surgeries in hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers (ASC).
On average, 42% of general surgeons suffer from physician burnout — the 7th highest percentage among physician specialties. The primary reasons cited include excessive bureaucratic tasks, lengthy work hours, and the oncoming impacts of the Affordable Care Act.
General surgery is the 9th lowest paid specialty, so medical students are increasingly moving toward other specialties in hopes of better pay. This has led to a decline in the number of general surgeons over the past decade.
Like other procedure-heavy specialists, general surgeons do not welcome the increasing government scrutiny over their reimbursements associated with the shift to pay-for-performance models. However, on a positive note, the ACA enactment allowed for Medicare incentive payments for all major surgeries performed by general surgeons in the Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
What Type of Functionality Do General Surgeons Need
Due to the wide range of care they provide, general surgeons have a unique set of needs when it comes to the software they use to treat patients and manage their services.
For example, because general surgeons tend to split their time between different locations, the portability of patient info is extremely important. Cloud-based EHRs come in handy in this regard as they can be accessed via any computer with an Internet connection.
The ability to read and send lab results is also critical to general surgeons. Their EHR needs to be able to easily access results for pre-surgery blood tests, Partial Thromboplastin Time, and complete blood counts (CBCs).
When considering practice management software, general surgeons need solutions with real-time patient flow capabilities. Because they are constantly making hospital rounds, they need to know where their patients are at all times.
The breadth of specialty means a large volume of new codes to learn under ICD-10, so general surgeons require a PM system equipped to handle the arrival of an estimated 60,000 new medical codes. In fact, general surgeons should consider outsourcing medical billing to an external agency to alleviate the burden of ICD-10.
Since general surgeons receive the bulk of their patients from referrals, they should look for a system adept at communicating with PCPs and other specialists.
If general surgeons keep these features in mind when shopping for health IT software, they should be able to acquire a system that facilitates their daily workflow and improves the level of care they provide.
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