MDNews - Mid Hudson

REHABILITATION THE POWER OF The Promise of Hope Our interdisciplinary teams of nurses, therapists, assistive technologists and others provide extraordinary care, harnessing the POWER of rehab technology and treatments … so patients with stroke, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, and those with neurological, cardiopulmonary and orthopedic disorders can rebuild their lives. Along with our magnificent Hudson River views ... all compelling reasons to choose Helen Hayes Hospital for rehabilitation care. Owned and operated by the New York State Department of Health − Member NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Hospital Network. Route 9W, West Haverstraw, NY 10993 helenhayeshospital.org 1-888-70-REHAB Founded in 1900 as one of the country's very first physical rehabilitation facilities, we have a singular focus: restoring mobility while offering patients and families HOPE. A STUDY IN THE JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE FOUND THAT A HANDSHAKE "NOT ONLY INCRE A SES THE POSITIVE EFFECT TOWARD A FAVOR ABLE INTER ACTION, BUT IT ALSO DIMINISHES THE IMPACT OF A NEGATIVE IMPRESSION." IN AN IDE AL WORLD, PATIENTS WOULD SHOW UP ON TIME FOR APPOINTMENTS OR GIVE AMPLE NOTICE THAT THE Y CANNOT ARRIVE A S SCHEDULED. IN THE RE AL WORLD, WELL ... ACCORDING TO THE researchers, shaking hands prior to social interactions often can mitigate pos- sible misunderstandings. Physicians and patients benefi t from the com- mu n icat ion a h a nd sh a ke fos t er s , say s Ma rk Fourre, MD, an emergency physician with Maine- based LincolnHealth. "With the right connection, it is much easier to gain the information, both verbal and nonverbal, that leads to the right diagnosis and e™ ective treatment," Dr. Fourre writes in the Boothbay Register. "Without it, nothing goes smoothly." To prevent the spread of infection from shaking hands, he follows this routine: "I use foam or gel to disinfect my hands ... . Then, while rubbing my hands together in plain view, I introduce myself and shake hands while my hands are nearly dry, again confi rming that they have been disinfected. This ritual helps me establish a therapeutic relation- ship by showing my patient and their family members that I am concerned for their safety. It also helps establish a more human connection through a form of touch that is not only culturally understood in positive ways, but has even been shown to help build trust and cooperation on a neurological level." ■ Building a Stronger Practice on a Handshake BY STEVE BARRETT Working around No-shows BY STEVE BARRETT WHILE THERE IS no perfect solution to patient no-shows, clinicians from around the country recently told Medscape about some practices that have mitigated the problem. "When you get a text, you're much more likely to act on it," says David Kaelber, MD, Medical Informatics Ož cer at Cleveland-based MetroHealth. If necessary, patients can easily cancel upon receiving texted appointment reminders, he says. Some practices have used this strategy to help decrease no-shows by as much as 20 percent. Other physicians are incorporating software that reviews a patient's records and overbooks during the patient's appoint- ment time if he or she has a propensity for not showing up. A $50 fee for a missed appointment — a long w it h termination from the practice after a minimum of three missed visits — is an e™ ective method for one ophthalmolo- gist who reached out to Medscape. However, the provider waives the fee if the patient consequently makes and keeps another appointment. Recognizing new patients as frequent no-shows, a pain management specialist recommends charging new patients prior to their fi rst appointment. An OB/GYN had a similar idea: "Like hotels, the best solution by far is a $50 credit deposit, which is lost if a patient cancels less than 24 hours before an appointment." ■ M D N E W S .C O M /// M D N E W S M I D H U D S O N ■ 2 017 P R A C T I C E M A N A G E M E N T 0 5

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