HM13 Session Analysis: The Business of Medicine

Denice Cora-Bramble, MD, of Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., presented “The Business of Medicine” breakout Friday at HM13.

Key Points

• Whether you are salaried, work for productivity, or have a combination of the two, it is important for hospitalists to understand the business side of medicine.
• Even if you are not a hospitalist group leader, there are several things that you should know about the finances of your hospitalist program. Dr. Cora-Bramble reviewed the basics of financial statements, hospital revenue reports, and expense reports. She also reviewed how the hospitalist division partners with the entire hospital.
• After understanding the basic finances of your program, there are ways to enhance your financial performance. These include noting any lack of payments, billing and patient trends, and looking at program losses.

Key Takeaways

• It is important to understand the general principles of financial statements, budgets and financial decision making.
• There are multiple strategies to improve your division’s financial performance.
• There are financial challenges inherent in leading an academic division.

Dr. Hale is a pediatric hospitalist at the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and a Team Hospitalist member.

Denice Cora-Bramble, MD, of Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., presented “The Business of Medicine” breakout Friday at HM13.

Key Points

• Whether you are salaried, work for productivity, or have a combination of the two, it is important for hospitalists to understand the business side of medicine.
• Even if you are not a hospitalist group leader, there are several things that you should know about the finances of your hospitalist program. Dr. Cora-Bramble reviewed the basics of financial statements, hospital revenue reports, and expense reports. She also reviewed how the hospitalist division partners with the entire hospital.
• After understanding the basic finances of your program, there are ways to enhance your financial performance. These include noting any lack of payments, billing and patient trends, and looking at program losses.

Key Takeaways

• It is important to understand the general principles of financial statements, budgets and financial decision making.
• There are multiple strategies to improve your division’s financial performance.
• There are financial challenges inherent in leading an academic division.

Dr. Hale is a pediatric hospitalist at the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and a Team Hospitalist member.

Denice Cora-Bramble, MD, of Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., presented “The Business of Medicine” breakout Friday at HM13.

Key Points

• Whether you are salaried, work for productivity, or have a combination of the two, it is important for hospitalists to understand the business side of medicine.
• Even if you are not a hospitalist group leader, there are several things that you should know about the finances of your hospitalist program. Dr. Cora-Bramble reviewed the basics of financial statements, hospital revenue reports, and expense reports. She also reviewed how the hospitalist division partners with the entire hospital.
• After understanding the basic finances of your program, there are ways to enhance your financial performance. These include noting any lack of payments, billing and patient trends, and looking at program losses.

Key Takeaways

• It is important to understand the general principles of financial statements, budgets and financial decision making.
• There are multiple strategies to improve your division’s financial performance.
• There are financial challenges inherent in leading an academic division.

Dr. Hale is a pediatric hospitalist at the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and a Team Hospitalist member.