SAMARITAN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
MEC SUMMARY
Mary MacDonald, M.D.
President
March 2010
Doctor’s Day
Electronic Documentation for Physicians
In recognition of the physician’s profession and your
contribution as a healthcare provider in the community, a
breakfast will be served on Doctor’s Day, March 30, from
0630 to 0930 in the Tower Conference Room.
The hospital is currently evaluating a different computer
platform option with Cerner Corporation. A presentation
and demo by Cerner will be made on April 8th and 9th (see
attached schedule). All physicians are encouraged to
attend any or all of these sessions. The next phase for the
complete electronic medical record is physician
documentation and physician order entry (CPOE).
Choosing the right system for these applications is critical
and your insight is needed.
Administrative Update


Financials for the past month are positive overall.
Changes in the Healthcare Reform will be affecting
our short and long term goals.
The hospital building expansion project has begun on
the Center Street side for shell space and the
installation of an additional generator. The
construction for the new OB unit will begin this
summer.
Medical Necessity / Utilization
When completing OP requisitions, remember to match a
diagnosis to each ordered test to reduce the number of
unbilled charges. A list of tests not meeting
documentation for medical necessity will be forwarded to
ordering physicians at least monthly beginning this month
to increase awareness and improve compliance to billing
rules as set by CMS.
Formulary Changes
Formulary Additions
Minocin (minocycline) 100 mg capsules

Nicardipine (Cardene IV) 25mg/10 mL vials

Calcitriol (Rocaltrol) 0.25 mcg capsules

Niaspan (niacin ER) 500 mg tablets

Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 1000 mcg tablets
Formulary Deletions

Cleviprex (clevidipine)

Pregabalin (Lyrica) 150 mg capsules

Propine (dipivefrin) 0.1% ophthalmic drop
Therapeutic Interchanges
Orders for:
Interchange with:
Avelox 400 mg
Levaquin 750 mg (oral or IV)

Reappointment
Reminder that reappointment applications are due on
April 1st. A late charge will be applied after that date.
Medication Reconciliation Process
Nurses on MSP and ICU are now entering the patient’s
Home Medication List in the ClinDoc system for
admissions and observation patients. This creates
efficiencies for the physician who can use the printed
forms from the system at admission and discharge to
check which meds are continued or discontinued without
having to rewrite the list. Changes to the dosages and
frequencies as well as new prescriptions can be added to
the form. Please be sure to add indications to PRN
medications and sign the form since this serves as a
physician order.
New Coding Query Forms
New forms have been created by HIM to ask physicians
for clarification prior to coding the charts. The forms are
disease specific with checkboxes for more concise and
easy communication.
Physician Survey
In keeping with the goal to keep symbiotic relationships
between the hospital and physicians that are open and
transparent, you will be receiving a survey for information
gathering. The focus of the first survey is general surgery
with other services to follow. Your responses may be
anonymous if you choose, and all are confidential.
Website Physician Portal
Instructions on how to access the portal are attached.
Patient information including lab and x-ray results can be
found in the Web Connect application and you can sign
off your dictations in ESA from anywhere through this
portal. Other applications will be available on the menu in
future months.