Hey Y’all! As physician educators, we have a tough job. Sometimes it’s like herding cats through a minefield-exhausting, unpredictable, and we sometimes get a few scratches. I mean, you’re speaking to physicians that may be able to diagnose a patient from across the room, but glaze over at the mention of modifier 25. Some physicians are very open to education and some see us as a bother to allowing them to practice medicine and take care of their patients. You can get difficult personalities from the veteran physician who “has been doing it like this for 30 years with no problems” to the new practicing physician that is buried in all the things she/he has to learn that tunes you out mid-session. Physicians are pros at healing, but navigating billing, coding, compliance, and regulations? Not so much. It can feel like a tightrope walk: framing tips as empowering hacks rather than a scolding, sprinkling in relatable stories, and keeping it on track when their eyes start to wander to the clock, their phone, or the coffee machine. But when that lightbulb flickers on and y’all are high-fiving over them nailing incident-to guidelines, it’s the kind of win that make you forget your pre-session pep talk you gave yourself in the mirror beforehand. Physician educators are the steady hands on the compliance wheel.
But, jumping into an education session without prep is like driving down a long country road on four bald tires with no spare; asking for trouble. So, here are 5 practical steps to get your sessions ready to roll.
Step 1: Assess Your Audience—Understand Who You’re Working With
The foundation of any good session starts with knowing your group. You can’t tailor a session if you don’t know the lay of the land. Physicians come with different levels of experience—some have handled countless audits and know the ins and outs of E/M codes, while others are still building that familiarity. Ask questions about the experience level of the individual or group you will be educating. You want to avoid the “we know all that already” moment, which can tank your session and frustrate the physician(s) who feel their time is being wasted. Make sure you tailor your content to fit the individual’s knowledge level. In a group session cover advanced topics for the experienced physicians, but provide clear basics for those who are newer and need them.
