Hi all...
The benchmarking data are currently being analyzed. I am anticipating that we will have a publication of some type ready by the end of the year. We are trying to correlate operational data with financial / production data. That being said...
My personal opinion is that there is not a single "right number" out there, but rather much of what is right for your practice depends upon how your MFMs see patients. I think the place to start is to first start with how much time your providers need to see the patients and complete their work. Additionally, I think you need to consider what other factors go into developing the office schedule (e.g., how many new vs. established patients are typically seen).
For example... our practice has either 50 min new patient appointment blocks or 25 min established patient blocks. Pre-COVID, we also had an internal limit of 4 new patients per doc per day. As such, our capacity was typically somewhere between 14-18 patients per day (on office-only days).
Below are some data from the survey that I am willing to share now with you that could be helpful, to see if your practice falls within the typical time allocation ranges... however there are a lot more data that is eventually coming. Hope this helps.
| 21-30 min: 29% |
|
How much time does your practice allocate for a new office consultation for maternal disease? |
| 31-40 min: 18% |
|
|
| 41-50 min: 11% |
|
|
| 51-60 min: 40% |
|
|
| >60 min: 2% |
|
|
| ≤ 20 min: 40% |
|
How much time does your practice allocate for an established office follow-up visit (e.g., CPT 99212-99214)? |
| 21-30 min: 44% |
|
|
| 31-40 min: 7% |
|
|
| 41-50 min: 7% |
|
|
| >50 min: 2% |
|
|
------------------------------
Thomas Lee, MD MBA
SMFM Practice Management Division - Chairperson
SMFM Clinical Informatics Committee - Ultrasound Subgroup Lead
Northwest Perinatal Center / Women's Healthcare Associates, LLC - Portland, OR
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2021 08:57
From: Kelley Clark
Subject: SMFM Benchmarking Survey Practice Network
Yes! We are trying to "right fit" number of providers and sonographers at our various practice sites. Updated information would be very helpful.
------------------------------
Kelley Clark
Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2021 08:08
From: Danielle Strosnider
Subject: SMFM Benchmarking Survey Practice Network
I would also be interested in this survey! My practice is looking for the same data.
------------------------------
Danielle Strosnider
SVMFM, Manager
Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2021 19:29
From: Donna Kelly
Subject: SMFM Benchmarking Survey Practice Network
Has the benchmark survey in 2019 been completed or published? I am needing to ascertain the average number of patients an MFM is seeing per day. At a previous AMFMM meeting, possibly 2014 or 15, 20 patients per day was given as a reasonable average. After speaking with a number of MFMs in different practices, they feel that number is now on the high side, especially when they are supervising midlevel providers. I need to find something concrete so that I can formulate a justification to hire an additional provider. Any insights you might be able to give from that last survey would be appreciated.
------------------------------
Donna Kelly
Original Message:
Sent: 01-17-2019 15:41
From: Thomas Lee
Subject: SMFM Benchmarking Survey Practice Network
Hello SMFM!
We are just about to launch the SMFM Benchmarking Survey via a Survey Monkey type format! If your practice has already expressed your interest in being a part of the Benchmarking network, be on the look out for this. If your practice has not yet is interested in participating (which involves submitting responses / data), please let me know. Participants in the survey will be able to get access to the data for a substantially reduced cost. Please note that you will be able to see your data and how it compares to the global, otherwise de-identified data set - in case you were worried about divulging all your trade secrets to the rest of the country.
Again, if your practice is interested, please feel free to email me at tlee@whallc.com
Thanks,
Thomas Lee, MD MBA
------------------------------
Thomas Lee
------------------------------