VISTA Voice

A key challenge associated with the physician shortage throughout the United States is finding qualified professionals to handle primary care. Physicians have limitations on the number of patients they are able to see in a set time frame and may focus on specialized areas of medicine. Nurse practitioners in primary care are expected to grow by roughly 93 percent by 2025, a trend that may help relieve the pressure caused by the shortage.

With the strenuous workload and stress-riddled environment inherent in the medical industry, it can be challenging to maintain a patient-first approach. When organizations focus on delivering a top-notch patient experience, patients are more satisfied with the care they receive and are more willing to seek it when needed, ultimately leading to better individual and population health. Additionally, organizations are more profitable when they achieve a higher rate of patient satisfaction.

Physicians have many tasks and responsibilities vying for their time, including mountains of paperwork, increased patient volume, electronic medical record demands, outdated technologies, and countless interruptions. All of these issues add stress and affect the ability of physicians to focus on their primary purpose for getting into medicine in the first place: caring for their patients. If you are dealing with exceptional levels of stress as a physician, the tips below will help you to increase your productivity and boost your job satisfaction. Better productivity can also improve patient care.

Maintenance of Certification, or MOC, is a process by which physicians maintain certification through the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association. The process of implementing MOC began in 2000, when the ABMS determined that such a system would help to keep physicians up-to-date on the rapidly-evolving information and issues within their respective specialties. This system has been around for some years, but many physicians are still unclear on MOC's requirements and benefits.

Dear Physician Assistant (PA),

In honor of National PA Week, VISTA wishes to extend a sincere and tremendous thank-you to physician assistants everywhere. From October 6-12th, we’re celebrating National PA Week, which recognizes the PA profession and its contributions to the nation’s health. During PA Week, we hope you’ll have the chance to talk to a PA about what it is they do, and why they're proud to do it.

We recognize even if you haven’t been treated by a PA before, there’s a good chance you will in the near future. There are more than 123,000 PAs working across the country—and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession is expected to grow 37 percent between 2016 and 2036.

For busy physicians, podcasts are one of the best ways to stay informed about changes in the industry and keep their skills sharp, even without a lot of free time. Whether driving to and from work or sitting on your lunch break, you can use podcasts to improve your patient interactions and the overall effectiveness of your practice, all while staying up-to-date on trends in your industry and the innovations that affect your work.

Yet because you don’t have a lot of time, you may be wondering which podcasts are worth investing in. Here are some additional top medical podcasts for 2019 that VISTA recommends you add to your playlist today!

The healthcare industry is always evolving. As a result, physicians face increasing challenges as they work to provide quality care to their patients in a changing environment. Some of the most notable challenges facing physicians in today's world are described below.

TED talks are videos made by influential experts. These talks cover a range of subjects, from business advice to scientific breakthroughs. The purpose of these talks is to enlighten the audience, inspire and encourage deep thought. For physicians, TED talks can be powerful and thought-provoking, influencing the way you approach your work on a daily basis. They are beneficial for physicians who may deal with many different issues, including accountability, modern medicine, peer learning and more. Below are five TED talks that are particularly inspiring and valuable to physicians and other medical professionals.

National Locum Tenens Week recognizes the physicians who practice locum tenens in order to meet the needs of patients. This celebration, which was established by the National Association of Locum Tenens Organization (NALTO), is held during the second full week of August each year. During this week, locum tenens physicians and recruiters have an opportunity to share their stories and experiences on a national stage.

By attending continuing medical education (CME) courses, you can stay up-to-date on all the amazing advances in the industry. From pharmaceuticals to legislative rules, these courses cover all the topics that keep the nation’s doctors, nurses, and clinicians ahead of all the changes.