Multi specialty group practice

A multi specialty group practice is a term for teams of healthcare professionals in varying specialty areas which can include therapists and psychologists as well as other professionals. The collaboration amongst all of these health professionals in a multi specialty practice to provide healthcare services is referred to as integrated healthcare. 

The overall goal in multi specialty group practices is to improve the effectiveness, continuity and quality of healthcare services or treatment.

A few key components of a successful multi specialty group practices include:

• Client-centered care: Multi specialty services are focused and tailored to the unique needs of each individual and involve clients in care decisions

• Integration of technology: Integrating technology specifically electronic health records (EHRs) and exchanging of health information systems allows for streamlining communication with providers and clients. Allows for the delivery process to be easier and more efficient for both clients and practice staff

• Improvement in quality: A key pillar in most successful and efficient medical practices is a commitment to continuous improvements that may include ongoing assessments of client outcomes, feedback via surveys, or ongoing healthcare provider training.

Watch Your Free On-Demand Webinar: 9 Admin Tasks to Automate In Your Private Practice

Benefits for clients and therapists

Clients:

• Accessibility
• Convenience
• Comprehensive care
• Collaborative care
• Integrated EHRs
• Holistic treatment

Therapists:

• Increase in networking
• Professional development/Learning opportunities
• Collaboration of clients
• Interdisciplinary or peer collaboration
• Coordinated care plans

Structural components of multi specialty group practices

Multidisciplinary group practices consist of many components and are usually more layered than a solo practice.

They include:

• Leadership: May include a board of directors, practice managers, and/or team lead, who are responsible for making decisions and overseeing management and structure of the practice as well as subsets of teams

• Different specialty providers: May include a variety of therapists or other healthcare specialties with different areas of expertise

• Infrastructure: Physical locations that are conducive to specialties and treatment areas and may also include administrative staff

• Technology and health information: Use of technology to streamline client information and efficient and effective client services among providers

• Financials: Management of billing, insurance claims, or medical billing and coding

Client-centered care in multi specialty practices

Client-centered care in a multi specialty practice involves prioritizing the client's needs and values.

Some key points in client-centered care include:

• Client-centered communication/shared communication: Tenants of client-centered communication includes giving clients, their families, and caretakers a say in decisions and giving them time to research before making those decisions and sharing all observations and data as well as the latest relevant condition and treatment research.

• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Collaboration amongst other health professionals and therapists is key to providing comprehensive care.

• Accessibility: Greater access to specialists, scheduling appointments, and technology.

Operational considerations for therapists in multi specialty groups

Therapists who work in multi specialty groups have operational considerations to ensure effective healthcare services: 

• Foster collaboration: Facilitate interdisciplinary communication and consultations.

• Technology/integrated health records: Use of technology to deliver and provide therapy services and stay informed about digital tools and platforms. Use technology to implement appointments and schedules, client education, and remote client monitoring.

• Set communication protocols in place: Communication between other therapists and clients should be established for efficient services. 

• Value professional development: Engage and value continuous professional development to stay up to date in the latest research, policies, and treatment procedures.

• Quality improvement: Encourage feedback from clients to improve the quality of services.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) for multi specialty practices

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are electronic records of health-related information on a client that can be created, gathered, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff within one health care organization.

To implement EHRs a few steps should be followed:

• Select an EHR system that aligns with your goals and needs

• Work closely with the EHR vendor to customize settings and figures that work within your specialty

• Train staff and consider on-going training with updates

For more tips, check out this blog.

Privacy and security

Privacy and security in electronic records are essentials for EHRs. The government also created the HIPAA Security Rule requiring specific protections to safeguard electronic health information.

A few possible measures that can be built into EHR systems may include:

• Access control tools like passwords and PIN numbers, to help limit access to your information to authorized individuals.

• Encrypting stored information. That means your health information cannot be read or understood except by those using a system that can “decrypt” it with a “key.” 

•  An “audit trail” feature, which records who accessed your information, what changes were made and when.”