Deadline to Test, Obtain NPIs Weeks Away

Healthcare providers must obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI) by May 23, 2008, or risk costly consequences, including delays and possible claim rejections. After this date, providers can no longer use their legacy (old) identifier with their NPI when submitting electronic or paper claims to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). They must use the NPI only. Most other payors also will require NPI-only claims as well. Obtain and test your NPI before the deadline.
 
Both individual providers and organizations must obtain NPIs. The NPI is part of the administrative simplification process mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996. It is a 10-digit, numeric identifier administered by CMS, designed to give healthcare providers a single, unique identifying number that doesn't change or expire. Obtaining an NPI is free. Click here for more details provided by CMS.
 
The original deadline for most healthcare providers to obtain an NPI was May 23, 2007. However, small healthcare providers, as well as large providers involved in “good faith” efforts to achieve compliancy, were granted a one-year extension. The American Medical Association and other physician specialty groups have requested that CMS delay the latest deadline. The Society of Critical Care Medicine will monitor this situation and keep members updated.

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Stand-Alone Emergency Departments Increasing

High-tech, stand-alone emergency rooms are emerging across the United States, but receiving mixed reviews. These centers, most located miles from hospitals, offer convenience to patients and can ease overcrowding in nearby emergency departments. However, they also have spurred questions about their limited services, their ability to decrease the overall burden for area hospitals and their impact on healthcare spending.

According to USA Today, these emergency rooms are owned by hospitals or entrepreneurial doctors; they grew 23% from 2005 to 2006, jumping from 146 to 179 nationwide. In September, a group of Houston doctors opened one in a shopping center next to a popular Mexican restaurant. It boasts posh waiting areas, wireless access and free coffee. Another, owned by Mount Sinai Medical Center in Aventura, Florida, opened in January about a mile from rival Aventura Hospital and Medical Center.

Critics worry that stand-alone emergency rooms may siphon patients with minor ailments away from lower-cost urgent care centers or doctors' offices, increasing costs to insurers and consumers. Patients who arrive on their own — the majority at most emergency rooms — and need surgery or cardiac procedures must be rushed by ambulance to hospitals, a potential delay in treatment that worries some emergency service providers. However, these establishments mark a growing healthcare customer-service movement; they offer 24-hour care and there are examples to show they can ease hospital overcrowding.

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Easy Tips to Celebrate NCCARM This Month

Each year, the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) offers tips on how to celebrate National Critical Care Awareness and Recognition Month (NCCARM). Many institutions use the opportunity to educate staff and unite them in a show of appreciation. Below are a few easy tips on how to celebrate NCCARM throughout the month of May:

• Arrange speaking engagements to address hot topics in critical care such as patient safety, quality improvement and evidence-based critical care. SCCM’s LearnICU.org can be a resource for clinical content.
• Hold a Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) course at your institution to train non-critical care professionals on the basics of caring for critically ill and injured patients during the first 24 hours.
• Display and distribute SCCM's ICU Issues and Answers brochures to help educate patients and families on critical care.
• Wear blue on Friday, May 16, 2008, to show your support of both critical care and the Society. Check out the wide selection of blue apparel for sale.

Click here for more ideas and resources that you and your hospital staff can implement.

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New Resource and Merchandise Catalog is Now Available

Find out what the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) has to offer this year. Access the latest edition of SCCM’s New Resource and Merchandise catalog, designed with the entire multiprofessional critical care team in mind. Find resources that will help you enhance patient care, achieve your clinical and educational goals and improve your knowledge base.

This year’s catalog highlights SCCM’s new and updated publications, its high-quality administrative tools and several new-media releases, such as DVDs and CD-ROMs. Plan your conference agenda with SCCM’s 2008-2009 educational calendar, or order new SCCM apparel to show your support. Don’t forget, members can save up to 25% on items in the catalog!

Access SCCM’s New Resource and Merchandise here.

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Prepare for the Critical Care Subspecialty Exams with SCCM

During the Society of Critical Care Medicine's Adult and Pediatric Multiprofessional Critical Care Review Courses (MCCRC), you will receive the concise core knowledge needed to optimize your critical care board review process. To ensure you’re focusing on content that is relevant to your study needs, each comprehensive session is derived specifically from previous critical care subspecialty exams.

Participants will gain a comprehensive review as distinguished critical care experts provide extensive coverage of core concepts in cardiology, endocrinology, gastrointestinal disorders, infectious diseases, monitoring, neurology, nutrition, respiratory care, sepsis, and more. Small group problem-based learning discussions also will strengthen your knowledge base, as will the sponsored symposium luncheon, “Clinical Management Strategies for Patients with DVT and PE.”

Register by Thursday, June 12, 2008, to take advantage of early bird registration fees. Critical Care Academy will be held August 3 to 9, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Enrich your experience by registering for the pre-course American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Critical Care Self-Evaluation Process (SEP) Module Review, to be held August 3 and 4, 2008. 

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Help Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in the ICU

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) represents the most common nosocomial infection seen in the intensive care unit (ICU). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus account for nearly 30% of all cases of VAP. Increasing rates of resistance are now common for both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. In the ICU, approximately 70% of Staphylococcus aureus are methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Clinicians therefore must manage infections aggressively while practicing appropriate steps to prevent future cases.

At SCCM’s new conference, Mechanical Ventilation: Trends in Adult and Pediatric Practice, you will obtain the latest quantitative and qualitative data to maximize patient outcomes. Through evidence-based presentations, you will gain practice-enhancing information on the following topics:

• Strategies for preventing VAP
• Risks and benefits of invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation
• Goals and ventilatory strategies in common disease conditions
• And more!

Register today to attend this conference June 19 to 21, 2008, in Seattle, Washington, USA. Housing for this conference is filling up quickly, so it is important to make your hotel reservations at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel as soon as possible. Reservations made after Thursday, May 22, 2008, may not receive the discounted rate. 

Register for the Mechanical Ventilation conference online using your customer ID, or contact SCCM Customer Service at +1 847 827-6888. Click here for additional information or to download the brochure.

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Don’t Miss Your Chance to Join the Creative Community

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) is still accepting applications to join its Creative Community in Critical Care. Serving on a task force or committee is one of the most important contributions you can make to your professional society, and SCCM offers plenty in return. Establish new professional and personal contacts, increase your networking and educational opportunities, and be satisfied knowing you are taking an active part in molding SCCM’s mission and vision.

Apply by May 15, 2008, to become part of this volunteer community. Everyone who submits an application will be placed on a committee or task force, so don’t miss this opportunity to become involved.

Please note that reappointment to a committee is not automatic. If you are already a committee or task force member and your term is about to expire, you will need to reapply and be reappointed to the committee or task force.

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It’s Time to Recognize Excellence and Dedication in Critical Care

Do you know a Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) member whose dedication and commitment to multiprofessional critical care deserves to be recognized? Are you seen as an example of teaching excellence at your institution? Has your ICU recently been redesigned or adopted a new family-centered policy? If so, now is the time to apply for or nominate colleagues for one SCCM’s many awards.

Apply by August 15, 2008!
ICU Design Citation Award – Intensive care units designed with attention to functional and humanitarian issues may be eligible for this award.

Apply by September 1, 2008!
Dr. Joseph and Rae Brown Award – This award recognizes an SCCM member who has advanced multiprofessional quality care at the regional or local level through exceptional leadership contributions that have furthered the vision and mission of chapters and/or affiliates.

Grenvik Family Award for Ethics – Recognize an SCCM member who has made significant contributions toward addressing ethical problems in critical care.

Norma J. Shoemaker Award for Critical Care Nursing Excellence –Recognize an SCCM nurse member who demonstrates excellence in clinical practice, education and/or administration in the field of critical care.

Family-Centered Care Award – Nominate an ICU team that has made an extra effort to improve the care of patients and their families. This award recognizes efforts to move family-centered care forward and raise standards.

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Featured Forum: Nurse Staffing for the "What-ifs"

Your colleagues are posing questions and engaging in informative conversations in the Critical Care Forums. All SCCM members and customers have access to the Critical Care Forums through MySCCM.org.

Featured Forum: Nurse Staffing for the "What-ifs"

I would like to know how other ICUs plan for influxes in patient volume. Do you have a "PRN" nurse, do you have mandatory on-call or overtime, or do have a different plan? Do you offer special incentives for on-call or overtime? What is your nurse-to-patient ratio? Lastly, how many beds do you have in your ICU and facility? Thank you for any assistance you can provide. 

Join this discussion in the Adult Critical Care Forum.

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