Proven Keys to Enhancing DSME and MNT Program Sustainability
(It’s Not Just About Reimbursement!)
We all know that diabetes self-management education (DSME) and medical nutrition therapy (MNT) are essential, evidence-based components of diabetes care, as they significantly improve patient outcomes. But yet many of us struggle with getting a steady stream of provider referrals, and also with patients finishing our multi-visit outpatient programs. The result? The programs start running in the red. It’s then just a matter of time before our ‘bean counter’ behind the scenes (aka, CFO or Revenue Cycle Manager) identifies the red ink and gives us the bad news: our program will have to be dissolved or the staff will have to be cut. This does not have to happen…ever! Keep reading!
If you want your outpatient DSME and/or MNT program to thrive…and not just barely limp along (or die on the vine)…then do attend my presentation on April 21, 2016 at the AADE Pennsylvania Coordinating Body Annual Meeting. Over 25 proven, effective strategies for ensuring program success will be reviewed…all practical, doable and relevant…and, most of them cost nothing or are very inexpensive to implement. All of the strategies, which I call your “S.U.S.T.A.I.N.A.B.I.L.I.T.I.E.S. P.L.A.N.”, are found within each of the five components of a well-designed, best practice DSME--MNT program business plan:
- Marketing Plan
- Operations Plan
- Financial Plan
- Quality Management Plan
- Clinical/Patient Education Plan
Here’s an example of a unique but effective marketing strategy: create (on an office computer with my easy template) your own monthly “Diabetes Calendars” to give to provider offices and to your patients.
I will also paint a picture of what a successful ‘best practice’ program looks like to its target markets (providers and patients), to your boss and to your colleagues. Best practice is actually defined by the achievement of 9 key outcomes coming from each of the five components of your business plan. They all start with the letter ‘R’. Here’s just a few of the ‘R’ outcomes to wet your appetite:
- Robust Referrals (from your Marketing Plan)
- Retention of Patients in Program (Clinical/Patient Education Plan)
- Reimbursement Success (Financial Plan)
So do attend this lively, interactive, jammed-packed, two hour presentation. You’ll be so glad you did!
P.S.
I read this quote recently, and want to share it with you: “Work hard in silence, and let success be your noise”.
P.P.S.:
Can anyone reading this blog take a stab at re-wording this quote to convey an opposite message…meaning the opposite way to work, and the opposite result?
You can register for the conference here:
http://www.myaadenetwork.org/p/cm/ld/fid=3132
12921 Sycamore — Palos Heights, IL 60463 — Ph: 708. 359.3864 — Fax: 866.869.6279
hodorowicz@comcast.net — www.maryannhodorowicz.com