CONFERENCE BROCHURE · for my career as a practice administrator. The sessions taught me the basics...

SEPT. 8-11, 2019HILTON AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX

CONFERENCE BROCHURE

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Introduction

Table of ContentsASCENT 2019 Welcome Letters ...............................................................4

Conference Schedule ................................................................................6

Schedule at a Glance ................................................................................7

ASCENT Educational Schedule .................................................................8

Classes by Topic ......................................................................................26

Tuesday Evening Out Event ....................................................................28

Conference Information ............................................................................29

Registration Information ...........................................................................30

Hotel Information ......................................................................................31

ASCENT Executive Partner Program .......................................................32

ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall ..........................................................33

Boot Camp Sessions ................................................................................34

Dates to RememberAug. 17, 2019Early Bird Registration Deadline

Aug. 17, 2019Discounted Hotel Room Block Deadline*

Sept. 8-11, 2019ASCENT 2019 Annual Educational Conference

*The ASCENT block is NOT guaranteed through the deadline of Aug. 17, 2019. Once the block sells out, rooms will be available on a “space and rate availability basis” and the discounted conference rate will NOT be guaranteed. It is advised that you make your hotel arrangements as soon as possible.

4 ASCENT 2019 Annual Educational Conference | Austin, TX

Valued ASCENT members: It’s time to reach new heights at the ASCENT 2019 Annual Educational Conference! Austin is the live music capital of the world and home to great food, and “keeping Austin Weird” is what will happen at ASCENT2019 at the Hilton Austin Sept. 9-11, 2019. The conference promises to be the premier source of otolaryngology-specific knowledge, professional development, hot topics, and networking for all attendees.

Your fellow practice leaders, the ASCENT Office and COPM/Education Committees have assembled a wealth of seminars, trainings and discussions of current ENT-specific courses. We have also secured some of the best educators and subject matter experts in the fields of finance, marketing, operations and management, human resources, marketing, and coding, as well as panel discussions from your peers with best practices. This year’s motivational keynote speaker will inspire you and change your perspective with new visions to take back to your practice. You don’t want to miss all we have in store for you!

ASCENT 2019 is our most valuable member resource. This is where we, the members of ASCENT, get to take a few days away from the office to network, polish our skills, find out what’s new in ENT, and recharge our batteries – all with our ENT peers. One of the great values of ASCENT is having your own personal network. These are the people you call, text or email when you encounter something new – from an insurance not paying to an HR issue. ASCENT 2019 is where you build that network.

From the keynote, pre-conference and post-conference Boot Camp workshops to the breakout sessions, I guarantee attending this year’s conference will improve your knowledge, introduce you to newest hot topics in the field, raise your leadership and motivational skills, and help you build the most valuable network of peers and friends. You can even learn the value of pursing the Certification in Otolaryngology Practice Management (COPM), our industry-specific certification, directly from fellow certified managers.

Even with so many educational and leadership opportunities, fun is also on the agenda for ASCENT 2019! There will be several uniquely Austin networking events that are where you can share experiences, learn about the host city, meet new people, and have a great time – in Texas style! Don’t miss out on the chance to bring so much value back to your practice: Register today – seating and hotel rooms are going fast!

Stacey Conant, COPM • ASCENT 2019 Program Chair

Welcome Letters


Tricia Long, COPM • ASCENT 2018-19 President

Danielle DeMaio-DeAngelis, MHA, COPM • ASCENT Education Chair

I am so excited to travel to Austin this year for our 2019 annual educational conference. I joined ASCENT in 2009 and attended my first conference nine years ago. I can honestly say that it was the very best thing I have ever done for my career as a practice administrator. The sessions taught me the basics of medical management, and the people I met taught me everything else. I met managers, administrators and CEOs from all over the country that knew so much more than I but were so willing to share their knowledge and past experiences. I learned from their mistakes and made a few of my own over the last decade. I would have made so many more if I did not have the network of friends to reach out to for collaboration, advice and help along the way. I am so grateful to have been the beneficiary of their shared knowledge, and I am even more appreciative of the friendships I have developed along the way. I can honestly say that I would not have been even close to as successful as I have been without ASCENT and its members.

I have been guilty of living to work in the past, and it was an ASCENT session that I attended four years ago that refocused me. I was reminded that I needed to remember why I went to work every day. For my husband, who has supported all I have chosen to do for 27 years, and for my kids. Because of my work, I have been able to give my children educational advantages that I did not have.

We all work hard to accomplish what we do in a day. Sometimes we forget to find the balance and celebrate all that is positive. This meeting is the place to come together, share great ideas and celebrate each other.

My practice has benefited directly from my membership and my attendance to the annual educational conferences. For any of you who hesitate to spend the money to attend, I cannot stress enough that I have never returned from a conference without an idea or information that either made us more money than we spent on my attendance or saved us in risk or cost of goods. Together, we elevate the ability of all ENT practice administrators and drive the success of all ENT practices across the country. I encourage you to make the decision to invest in yourself and your practice and come to Austin this September. Go back home afterward and tell them something good!

Looking forward to seeing those that have taught me and meeting those I have yet to learn from in Austin! See you soon!

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to participate in ASCENT’s 37th Annual Education Conference in Austin, TX.

This year we have a new name and look, and we are proud to offer the only ENT-specific educational conference for practice management personnel.

As practice leaders, we need to show our commitment to lifelong learning and stay current in the ever-changing fields of medicine and practice management. During this conference, you will learn from the best to build on your own practice’s strengths and address your own practice’s opportunities for improvement.

The Education Committee did a remarkable job of pulling together a roster of top-notch speakers as well as ensuring that there will be something for everyone: coding, current healthcare trends, compliance, finance, human resources, leadership, technology, team building and more. There will be abundant takeaways for coders, managers and administrators at all levels from all practice sizes, as well as valuable networking opportunities. Be sure to take time to visit the exhibit hall that is packed with innovative and exciting solutions for your practice.

I am confident your participation at the ASCENT 2019 Annual Educational Conference will result in tremendous learning and demonstrate the value of ASCENT for your practice. Enjoy the conference and be sure to take some time to try out some barbeque!

“People don’t live in Austin to work, they work to live there.”– Robert Rodriguez, filmmaker and screenwriter


Basic

Basic Principals; General Information

Intermediate

Some Experience; General to Specific Content

Advanced

Narrow Focus for the Seasoned Administrator

All Levels

Open to Administrators of All Skill Levels

Conference Schedule

Coding

Finance

Human Resources

Leadership/ProfessionalDevelopment

Marketing

Operations

Technology

Healthcare Today

Key to Levels

Key to Symbols

Practice Builder SessionThese courses are sponsored and presented

by exhibitors on subjects and materials of their choosing.


Schedule at a GlanceSunday, Sept. 8, 2019

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Boot Camp: Leadership – Moving from Manager to Leader

12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Boot Camp: KPIs and Creating Dashboards to Report to Your Physicians

3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Registration Open

3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Keep Austin Weird Welcome Sponsored by Xoran Technologies

5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. First-Time Attendee/New Member Reception

6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. COPM/COPM-C Reception

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019

7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Registration Open

7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. Sunrise Sessions

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Concurrent Sessions

10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Refreshment Break in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall

10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions by Practice Size

11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Networking Lunch

1:15 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Dessert Break in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall

2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Refreshment Break in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall


6:00 p.m. Evening Out Event: The Palm Door Sponsored by Fuel Medical & Oticon

Monday, Sept. 9, 2019


7:45 a.m.-8:45 a.m. Mid-Size Practice Community Breakfast


9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Opening Ceremonies and Patrick Connolly Founding Father Lecture Keynote Address: Extraordinary Visions

11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Refreshment Break in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Lunch


2:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m. Refreshment Break in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall


4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. President’s and Partners Welcome Reception Sponsored by AllMeds, Audigy Medical, Audiology Management Group, Carestream, Elite Hearing Network, Fuel Medical, Oticon, Starkey Hearing Technologies, Stryker, Xoran Technologies

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019


8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Rise & Grind with COPMs



10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Refreshment Break in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall with Prizes

11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Networking Lunch


12:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Lunch and Business Meeting


3:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m. Break


4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Welcome to Portland Closing Reception

8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Boot Camp: Business Intelligence for Payer Contracting

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019


ASCENT 2019Educational Schedule

Sunday, Sept. 8, 20198:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

BOOT CAMP Leadership – Moving from Manager to Leader Rhett Laubach // Lee SilberYou have worked hard to develop expertise in your practice and earn recognition and success within your organization. Now you are moving or have moved up to management, which brings a whole new world of exciting possibilities, but also potential challenges and uncertainty. Many of us are promoted to manager/administrator, but rarely are trained to be one. Mastering the art and science of effective management requires an additional set of skills, which, when learned, can often transform the daunting task of management into something profoundly satisfying. And your organization benefits, too. Join us for a full day of learning leadership skills that will help you succeed. This fast-paced, fun, and highly interactive boot camp is filled with excellent ideas and insights that will prepare you for the next step in your career – that of a leader. Your trainers are both experts in the field – and at making training anything but boring.

12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

BOOT CAMP KPIs and Creating Dashboards to Report to Your Physicians Mark Benninghoff, COPM // Todd Blum // Hardy ShahFrom sole-practitioner private practices to larger physician groups, there is an ever-increasing focus on developing key performance indicators dashboards. These indicators can serve as a helpful tool for decision-making, visual communication to leadership and staff, compliance, and forecasting future demand. No matter your practice’s organization structure or goals, having effective dashboards can be invaluable tools. Join us for this easy-to-follow boot camp to learn how to make the most of the data at your disposal and turn it into helpful insights that can improve your operations as well as patient experience.

3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Registration Open

3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Keep Austin Weird WelcomeWhen you pick up your ASCENT 2019 registration packet, enjoy a drink infusing the flavors of Austin in this casual social while you reconnect with old friends and meet new acquaintances before the conference begins.Generously sponsored by Xoran Technologies.


6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

COPM/COPM-C ReceptionInterested in becoming certified? Already a COPM or COPM-C? Join us for an informal reception to network with certified practice professionals as well as those interested in becoming certified.

Monday, Sept. 9, 2019

7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Registration Open

7:45 a.m.-8:45 a.m.

Mid-Size Practice Community BreakfastJoin fellow ENT leaders from practices with 5-14 physicians to share ideas over continental breakfast.

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall

5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

First-Time Attendee/New Member ReceptionNew to ASCENT and the conference? No worries! New members and first-time ASCENT Annual Educational Conference attendees are invited to join the ASCENT president, executive director and membership chair to learn about what to expect during the next three days. Meet fellow administrators from across the country and begin making connections before the conference even begins.

9:00 a.m.-9:20 a.m. Opening Ceremonies

Stacey Conant, COPM | ASCENT 2019 Program Chair // Tricia Long, COPM | ASCENT 2018-19 President

9:25 a.m.-9:45 a.m. Special Guest Speaker

The Academy at WorkJames Denneny, MD | EVP/CEO, AAO-HNS


11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Refreshment Break in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall

Patrick Connolly Founding Father Lecture Keynote: “Extraordinary Visions”Dewitt JonesIn his career with National Geographic, Dewitt lived the vision of “celebrating what’s right with the world” and embraced an attitude that took him to new heights, both in business and in life. He found that the creative tools he employed as a photographer had even deeper application when applied directly to his personal and professional growth.Using his own extraordinary photographs as illustrations, Dewitt weaves a visual tapestry of emotion and content, one that allows you to touch your own passion: to balance your head with your heart, and to come away inspired with your own creative potential.Dewitt Jones is one of America’s top professional photographers.Twenty years with National Geographic photographing

stories around the globe has earned him the reputation as a world-class photojournalist. As a motion picture director, he had two documentary films nominated for Academy Awards before he was 30 (Climb - Best Live Action Short Film and John Muir’s High Sierra - Best Short Subject Documentary). Twenty years as a freelance photographer for National Geographic earned him a reputation as a world-class photojournalist. In the business community, Dewitt’s work is also well known. He rose to the forefront of creative marketing by photographing national advertising campaigns for organizations such as Dewar’s Scotch, Canon, and United Airlines. Dewitt has published nine books, including California! and John Muir’s High Sierra. His most recent book, The Nature of Leadership, was created in collaboration with Stephen R. Covey.Speaking to audiences across the country, Dewitt is recognized as a renowned lecturer. His genuine style and ability to communicate with audiences make his inspirational messages truly outstanding.

9:50 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

The Doctor Is InJoin us at the Doctor Is In booth in the ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall for complimentary consulting! Stay tuned for updated topics.


M-1 PANEL: Best Practices in Increasing the Allergy Ancillary Julie Farley, COPM // Craig Kilgore // Tricia Long, COPM // Keith LynnThis session will explore various ways to increase allergy services in your Otolaryngology practice. Many of your patients may be experiencing complications due to allergies, and by implementing some best practices you can increase the number of patients in your allergy ancillary. Colleagues will discuss their best practices in allergy, so you can get the ideas and take them back to your office and implement for a stronger allergy practice.


M-2 Understanding MACRA – Quality Maximus Valorem Adele AllisonAnalytic-based payment is here. In 2019, your data started driving reimbursement under MACRA as well as other value-based payer arrangements. So, how do you maximize performance measurement within a group practice? As a solo practitioner? When bringing new providers into the fold? Join Ms. Allison as we focus on maximizing quality and value measurement under a plethora of new and emerging payment models, including MACRA advanced alternative payment models (A-APMs) and the merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS). Learn how to achieve quality maximus valorem to optimize reimbursement.

M-3 Telemedicine Judd HollanderWith the shift from fee-for-service to value-based healthcare, health systems are struggling to establish an infrastructure for future payment models while still receiving compensation from current payment models. This is particularly evident in telehealth, which seeks to integrate traditional methods of care with new technologies and opportunities. Mr. Hollander will discuss how attendees can grow a telemedicine program than aims to achieve the Triple Aim – delivering high-quality, cost-effective care to patients when and where they want healthcare. His presentation will focus on: defining and describing the anticipated changes in the healthcare payment models; formulating an approach to healthcare delivery taking patient priorities into account; assessing what types of telehealth programs fit best into one’s practice; and developing an approach to providing patients with remote care.

M-4 The Gift of Gab: How Small Talk Makes a Big Difference Lee SilberWhen we combine the ability to be professional in everything we do – and add in being personable as well – we can create a fun environment to work in, connect with others in a more meaningful way, and win people over to our way of thinking when we need to. Many of the skills that make for an all-star otolaryngology administrator are left-brained – time management, organization, and working well under pressure. However, being able to comfortably talk to anyone about anything (or nothing), have difficult conversations with co-workers, and develop deeper relationships with doctors and vendors is more right-brained. The good news is, it’s a learned skill. This session is about teaching introverts how to use gift of gab, even when it isn’t a gift. This is a fun presentation that teaches a skill that, when used right away, can advance your career and help your practice.

PB1 The Future of Hearing Technology Kyle Acker, AuDAdvancements in microelectronic packaging, ultra-low power wireless communication platforms, and sensorics have driven new outcomes both in the hearing and consumer electronics industries. In this session, participants will learn how these recent advancements paint the picture of an amazing future for both hearing impaired and hearing consumers. Sponsored by Starkey Hearing Technologies.


M-11 How to Create and Give a Persuasive Presentation Jim FedioAdministrators face situations on a regular basis where they need to deliver a message and gain acceptance or approval from their audience. This is true if the message is a three-minute conversation or a three-hour presentation. The power of a good persuasive presentation cuts across all areas of managing a practice. From employee counseling, program introduction or physician board presentations, knowing how to construct a winning presentation and then deliver it effectively are must-have skills for the effective administrator. Join us for this how-to session where you will learn a step-by-step method to build your best presentation to achieve your goals more often.


M-12 Datanomics: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities Adele AllisonTechnology is on the forefront of innovation. When you think about the technical changes even in the last 10-15 years – Twitter, Facebook, smartphones, automotive GPS, Fitbits – it becomes hard to imagine where the future will take us in healthcare over the next few decades. Many believe technology stands to create the cost inflection point sought under healthcare reform. Join Adele Allison, industry expert and futurist, as she explores the world of healthcare technologies and advances from third-generation electronic health records to 3D printing to nanomedicine. Investigate predictions about the evolution of provider-oriented technologies. Learn about how the data you produce will drive your future payment through datanomics. Designed to expand your understanding of data in healthcare and stimulate the imagination, this session will provide ideas for use of current technology to help your patients as well as optimize value-payment.

M-13 PANEL: Opening an Office Danielle DeMaio-DeAngelis, COPM // Sharon Marcum, COPM // Carlos Vargas, COPM // Brian WoodheadOpening an additional practice office? Join several practice administrators while they walk you through all the steps you need to take to be successful in your endeavors. Discussion will include lessons learned, best practices and open discussion about the many items involved in opening an office. Bring your questions.

M-14 Scribes Shamvil BilalUtilizing electronic health records (EHRs) and needing for more detailed documentation, there is a growing concern regarding the time used to capture information — electronic or otherwise. The time providers spend during a patient visit capturing and entering data rather than focusing on the patient can be a hindrance to the quality of care. One current solution gaining popularity is the use of scribes. Scribes can provide many benefits to medicine, ultimately impacting the overall quality of healthcare delivery. This session will explore some of the benefits and challenges of scribes within the ENT practice setting.

12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

Lunch


PB2 Ramp Up Your Revenue: New Services & Technologies that Boost Your Bottom Line! Speaker TBDWith tight overhead and even tougher reimbursement levels, posting a positive bottom line can be a real challenge these days. This session will explore new services and technologies that can solve these issues and provide significant improvements for your physicians, your patients, and your bottom line! Attend this session to learn how these solutions and other innovative services are creating new, cost-free revenue streams, improving care outcomes and patient loyalty, and increasing reimbursement-levels and profitability. Sponsored by AllMeds Specialty Practice Services.

2:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.


2:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.

The Doctor Is In: Audigy MedicalBring your practice management-related questions for complimentary consulting from Audigy Medical.

M-21 Laughter in the Workplace Rhett LaubachThis program is designed for professionals interested in giving their best effort at work and at home, as well as for individuals looking for techniques to help others to do the same. Working in the 30% zone includes tips and strategies that are creative, fresh and applicable today. Mr. Laubach’s training style is engaging, interactive, and high-energy.


M-22 Staffing Ratios Mark Benninghoff, COPMStaff salary expense is the largest non-provider expense in an ENT practice. During this presentation you will learn: about how to determine if you have the right number of staff; how to obtain, use and interpret staffing benchmarks and variances; and learn how to develop action plans to ensure your practice its at optimum staffing levels at the right cost. We will also make time for attendees to ask questions and share their experiences on how they were able to optimize staff.



M-23 Improving Board Performance Will LathamThe effectiveness of a medical group’s board is crucial – yet many boards lack effective processes. This program helps group leaders identify common mistakes Boards make and offers specific steps that can be taken to improve board performance.

M-24 Every Practice Has a Story to Tell James Benson // Louise EddyPatients’ perceptions of “quality” drive physician selection, treatment adherence, and decisions to pursue additional care. The truth is, the average patient is seeking quality data and is making decisions on physician selection and evaluating physician quality based on what they learn online and experience in your office. Skeptical? Unimpressed? Consider the following:

• 77% of patients search online for physicians as their first step of physician selection.• 88% of patients trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation.• 48% of patients will pay more and travel farther to see an out-network-physician they believe is of higher quality.

The presentation will reveal the building blocks of patient experience in your practice and provide real-life examples how an experience program has positive impacted the culture and operations of ENT practices. Learn how to measure experience in a way that will benefit your practice through the leveraging of data through relationships with key stakeholders and how internal experience data can be leveraged for reputation management that increases business, decreases risk, and improves the morale of physicians and staff. Finally, receive an outline of tips and tricks to improve experience of patients while outlining a plan to improve reputation.

PB3 Capitalizing on Opportunities...Office flow Efficiencies that Deliver Increased Hearing Aid Revenue

Speaker TBDMany ENT practices suffer from lower-than-desired capture rates of patients that would benefit from amplification. How these potential hearing aid patients are identified and directed through their journey to better hearing in the clinic can be an strategic and effective and patient-centric process. Attendees will learn proven techniques to utilize with intention in their clinic to maximize turning these opportunities into successful consults leading to increased long-term revenue for the practice. Sponsored by AMG Network.

4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

President’s and Partners Welcome ReceptionPrepare to soar to new heights at ASCENT 2019! Kickoff the conference at our President’s and Partners Opening Reception. Generously sponsored by AllMeds, Audigy Medical, Audiology Management Group, Carestream, Elite Hearing Network, Fuel Medical, Oticon, Starkey Hearing Technologies, Stryker, Xoran Technologies



Tuesday, Sept. 10, 20197:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Registration Open

SS1 Your First Year in ENT Barry Hubert, COPMNew to practice management or ENT? Join Mr. Hubert for an overview of what you should focus on in your first year in ENT. We’ll touch on staffing, productivity, financial reports, where to go for help, and how to stay sane in the demanding job of being an ENT practice administrator.


SS2 Have the Rules Changed? Are ENT Transactions (M&A, Hospital Alignment, Group Mergers, etc.) Different from 20-30 Years Ago? Tom Anthony // Max ReiboldtENT transactions have evolved over the years to entail varying models, structures, and affiliations. As we consider changing industry dynamics – including regulatory matters – we can learn from past structures and transaction components. This session will review past, present, and future characteristics, their key tenets, and others of both differentiation and commonality. We will concentrate on characteristics of virtually all healthcare providers plus those unique to ENT. Presenters will outline their experiences of dealing with ENT providers relative to various areas of compliance and transactional legal parameters. How varying areas of healthcare compliance have “morphed” will be considered, changes in the laws and the impact of these changes will be discussed, and valuable and practical insights will be provided for healthcare executives. The presentation will describe new payment models and how ENT physicians can use these to their advantage, and will conclude with a glimpse into the future of healthcare.

SS3 How to Effectively Market Your Sinus Practice Airto ZamoranoTo build a thriving sinus practice, you need a highly focused marketing and branding strategy aimed at anchoring your practice’s name in your community as the premier sinus expert. Not only is this a great revenue opportunity, but it also allows your physicians to build the practice they want while supporting other services through internal referrals. In this session, we will discuss how to evaluate what you are currently doing to promote your sinus practice and what you will need to do to become the premier sinus specialist in your market.

SS4 Managing the “I Work All the Time” Employee Kyle Acker, AuDFeel personally or have an employee that complains they can “never get away,” is “always working,” or “can never disconnect?” These are tell-tale signs of burnout and can lead to significant loss in revenue to your business via flight risk. Burnout is often a manifestation of a lack of control of one’s influence. In this session, Dr. Acker will identify strategies to encourage and motivate you or your employees to raise productivity, increase organization, feel and express gratitude, and, most importantly, have more control over your/their every day! Receive tools to maximize your/their time at work and let go when the day is complete.


T-1 Identifying Prevalent Risks & Developing an Effective Security Risk Assessment Plan Eric ChristensenWhether your organization accesses, creates, modifies, or stores electronic protected health information (ePHI) you must do everything possible to reduce – and eliminate as much as possible – any risks to that information. Any organization that is a covered entity or business associate under HIPAA regulations MUST complete an annual security risk assessment then maintain a supporting risk management plan. Conducting a risk analysis is the first step in identifying and implementing safeguards that comply with and carry out the standards and implementation specifications in the security rule. Mr. Christensen will cover SRA requirements, how to set up an SRA audit tool in your practice, and how to ensure your practice reduces it’s risks and implements effective cybersecurity to avoid ePHI from being compromised.


T-2 Improving Group Culture Will LathamMark Twain said, “Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.” In the same vein, many talk about the need for a healthy group culture, but few talk about how to achieve such a goal. This program focuses on strengthening a positive group culture, improving a poor group culture, and integrating the culture of merged groups.

T-3 Know Your Nose Coding Kim PollockThis session will take a deep dive into rhinology procedure coding. The nose and related anatomy, as well as rhinologic disorders, will be discussed as they relate to CPT coding. The combination of the speaker’s many years as an otolaryngology nurse and national recognition as an ENT coding expert will provide you with an in-depth understanding of coding for rhinology procedures. We will discuss an extensive number of procedures, from the simple in-office to complex operating room, including nasal endoscopy, control of epistaxis, turbinate procedure, endoscopic sinus surgery and balloon dilation, repair of nasal vestibular stenosis, rhinoplasty, new technology for nasal procedures and endonasal endoscopic skull base surgery.

T-4 Contract Negotiation Todd Blum // Drew FranklinHealth plan contract reimbursement and negotiating with payers is not getting any easier manage. Medical practices can no longer afford to accept whatever the insurance companies offer. To remain successful, they must ensure that their contracts reflect the realities of doing business, including the cost of acquiring advanced technology, high staffing costs arising from the trend toward sub-specialization, the need to remain profitable to continue serving patients, and the flexibility to participate in new business partnerships and ventures. Getting the right terms in your contract requires facts and skillful negotiation. It also requires knowing in advance what constitutes a reasonable offer, and what you should refuse.

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.



PB4 Creating a Communication Plan for Your Practice Jesse TervoorenIt’s likely no surprise that communication is one of the most common and consistent challenges that medical practices face. You have a million things on your plate and it often feels like something is on a verge of falling off. When we become busy, communication breakdowns, even with the best intentions. Learn how to combat communication breakdowns by creating a plan for mapping out how and when information is disseminated. Having a plan in place creates structure and allows you to focus on the more pressing challenges without fear or forgetting something. In this course we’ll compare, contrast and map out town hall meetings, staff meetings, department meetings, huddles, one on one meetings and even tackle some tips and tricks around email. You’ll leave with a plan of how to create structure and stability with limited effort. Sponsored by Audigy Medical.


APC1 Academic Practice Forum Join fellow attendees from academic insitutions for an open discussion.

SPC1 Small Practice Community Sharon Marcum, COPMJoin fellow attendees from practices with 1 to 5 physicians for an open discussion.

MPC1 Mid-Size Practice Community Camille White, COPMJoin fellow attendees from practices with 5 to 15 physicians for an open discussion.

LGPC1 Large Group Practice Community Pat Moser, COPMJoin fellow attendees from practices with 15 or more physicians for an open discussion.

APC2 Academic Practice Community Hardy ShahJoin fellow attendees from academic institutions for an open discussion.

10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions by Practice Size

10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

The Doctor Is In: Finance, Accounting and Benchmarking with Somerset CPAsBring your questions about finance, accounting and benchmarking for complimentary consulting from Jeff Boomershine and Kaitlyn Mundell at Somerset CPAs.

10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions by Community

10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.


PB5 You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression! Renee ErnoIn today’s competitive market, first impressions matter. While internet research continues to grow, a majority of consumers continue to call practices for appointments. How these phone calls are handled, matters for a practice reputation and has the ability to impact its revenue. This presentation will examine how the conversion rate of phone calls to appointments impacts the practice revenue. Strategies for training of key staff members as well as techniques for tracking conversion rates will be discussed. Sponsored by Oticon.



11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

Networking LunchContinue the conversations you started in the Concurrent Sessions by Practice Size over lunch! This buffet-style is an excellent opportunity to build connections.

1:15 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

Dessert Break in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall

T-11 Private Equity Buyouts: What Do You Need to Know? Jeff Boomershine // Kaitlyn MundellPrivate equity firms are essentially investment firms that take capital and invest that money into a practice. Join us while we discuss the role in health care and what is in it for them. In the recent past, private equity has taken an increased interest in investing in physician practices. Learn about the model, what’s in it for the physician, and the types of practices they look for. We will also discuss typical transaction structures.


T-12 Front Office Staff: Maximum Patient Care with Most Efficient Time Management Michael Page, AuD // Airto ZamoranoFront office and support staff are the face of every practice. Demeanor, behavior, attitude, and interaction with patients and co-workers determine the stability, efficiency and operations of any practice. Furthermore, front office staff is the front line for patient questions, concerns, and inquiries. The efficient use of questions and application of decisions can significantly impact the interface between providers and patients. Well-trained support staff can improve clinical operations by the appropriate triage of decision making, appropriate gate-keeping, and by allowing clinical providers to focus face-to-face time upon patients currently scheduled in the office.

T-13 Million Dollar Physician Max ReiboldtWhile we will take a walk down memory lane relative to some of the past successes and failures of ENT practices’ financial performance, we will focus mostly on the future. We will describe and discuss (with thorough explanation) the reasons why some otolaryngologists are truly “million-dollar” providers. Through an interactive Q&A the audience will recognize the value of the session by both a review of the things that are done properly, but more so, consideration of cutting-edge opportunities for the future.

1:15 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

The Doctor Is In: Audigy MedicalBring your practice management-related questions for complimentary consulting from Audigy Medical.


3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.


3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

The Doctor Is InJoin us at the Doctor Is In booth in the ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall for complimentary consulting! Stay tuned for updated topics.

T-21 Non-Physician Practitioner (NPP) Utilization and Billing Kim PollockThis session will cover the various models, seen in KZA client practices, for utilization of non-physician practitioners (NPPs). The utilization of NPPs varies from being location in the outpatient vs. inpatient setting to being physician specific or group oriented. Additionally, we will discuss the various methods of payer reimbursement – direct billing vs. incident to vs. split/shared and Medicare’s criteria. At the end of the session you should be able to unravel these baffling guidelines to bolster compliance.


T-22 PANEL: Starting the Hearing Aid Ancillary Gray Fleming // Jason Luchterhand // Ken Marvel // Shawn Parker

Moderator: Brian WoodheadThinking about adding a hearing aid department or ancillary or looking to expand the department? The hearing aid ancillary can help grow your overall practice. Learn best practices on setting up department, the best type of business formation, start up costs and all the other items associated with a start up. Have a hearing aid department and want to increase your practice? Marketing both in the office and outside of the office will be discussed. Come to ask your questions and walk away with some great ideas on how to build your hearing aid department.

T-14 Compliance Risk 1 Sean WeissThis session will focus healthcare professionals on the criticality of creating a culture of compliance to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. Focusing on a “compliance” only approach leaves healthcare organizations exposed to areas of liability. Mr. Weiss, Partner and Chief Compliance Officer of DoctorsManagement, LLC, will walk you through compliance from a “risk-based” perspective and focus on areas often ignored, thus leaving your compliance program and organization exposed to the threats of government agencies, and their investigators. Regardless of the size of your organization, this session is a must to ensure you are covering your assets!

PB6 Three Trending Issues Your Practice Needs to Address Rose DuLude, PhD // Stuart Lyon // Shawn ParkerThe only thing that is constant is change. No one knows this better than the administrator of an ENT practice. Join Fuel Medical for this session to investigate three topics subject to the current winds of change. We will review the newest disruptor in hearing aid sales – hearing aid leasing programs – including reviewing the model, implementation, and pros and cons of the practice. We will then review the case for using provider extenders such as oto and aud techs in the practice. Finally, we will review case study data of practices that have implemented hearing aid unbundling strategies to help you answer the question of, “is it right for me.” Sponsored by Fuel Medical.



T-23 Three Keys to Successful Cash Flow: Denial Management, Daily Dashboard and Reporting Michelle Mesley-NetoskieTired of the cash flow rollercoaster? Overwhelmed with reports and data? Frustrated with a lack of data? Learn how to effectively use the diagnostic tools of reporting and dashboarding to analyze and manage denials to improve cash flow. Denial management, a daily dashboard and reporting are the keys to successful cash flow in any medical setting. A majority of denials can be prevented by looking at the office workflow. New technology such, as real-time eligibility and electronic pre-visit paperwork, can dramatically cut down on the number of eligibility denials. Daily dashboarding is imperative to identify trends in denials, coding or payer adjudication errors. Dashboarding is an effective way to direct staff to the priority of the day.

T-24 Sexting, Security and Social Media: Digital Dilemmas and Solutions for Your Workplace Cherie SilbermanThis session will address the various issues that arise as a result of digital technology in the workplace. From texting and driving to employees posting gripes and patient information on social media, the dangers that exist seem endless. Attendees will have an opportunity to see real life examples of the many pitfalls that exist in the digital age, including data breaches and electronic harassment or sexting. We will also discuss practical solutions to mitigate these risks.

PB7 Best Practices for Patient Scheduling to Maximize Productivity Tracy Carpenter // Anna Hale // Barry Hubert, COPMKeeping physician schedules full is the name of the game in private physician practices. With the shift in medical insurance to higher patient out of pocket, practices need to take a more proactive approach in marketing and ensuring their patient volumes continue to grow. This session will speak to improving financial and business operations through best practices in patient scheduling.

Sponsored by Modernizing Medicine.

6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Tuesday Evening Out Event: The Palm DoorJoin fellow ASCENT 2019 attendees for an evening of Austin fun! Included in your full-conference registration, the Tuesday Evening Out Event is an annual outing designed to allow attendees the opportunity to connect with one another while experiencing the sights, sounds and tastes of the host city.

This year’s Tuesday Evening Out Event at The Palm Door will feature food trucks, an Austin-based band, local activities, and more! This is one event you do NOT want to miss.

Generously sponsored by Fuel Medical and Oticon.



Wednesday, Sept. 11, 20197:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Registration Open

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.

Rise & Grind with COPMSInterested in becoming certified? Join us for an informal discussion about the certification program and connect with certified practice professionals while having a cup of coffee.

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.


W-1 Workplace Violence: Preparing for the Unthinkable Owen DahlWe see workplace violence in the news almost daily in today’s world. It can happen anywhere including your practice. Join us while we discuss various scenarios, how to get prepared, assessing threats and steps to take to be prepared should the unthinkable happen.


W-2 E/M EHR Documentation Shannon DeCondaIn this presentation, DoctorsManagement Partner and NAMAS President Shannon DeConda will address the future of physician documentation with changes outlined by both CMS and AMA. Ms. DeConda will also review the fundamentals of medical necessity and its importance in documentation. Lastly, Ms. DeConda will review the areas of electronic documentation that create compliance risks for your organization, such as addendums, corrections, cloning and templates, copy/paste and plagiarism and how you can take action to stay compliant in your practice.

W-3 Managing for Extraordinary Service Thomas JeffreyIn this presentation, Mr. Jeffrey will discuss: rationale for superlative service; employee rights – “What’s expected of me?” and “How am I doing?”; the value of customer service protocols/scripts – review of the C.L.E.A.R. protocols/scripts, how to introduce protocols/scripts to staff members, and how to use them daily/monthly; employee training modules – C.L.E.A.R. and H.E.A.R.T.; S.M.A.R.T. Model; action planning; current database key drivers; best practices for improvement; monitoring progress; celebrating your successes; creating a walk-about checklist.

W-4 OIG Regulatory Guidance Sean WeissThis session will focus on payor and governmental focus on Health Care Fraud. The shift away from the False Claims Act (FCA) has made it easier for prosecutors to level charges and achieve successful prosecutions/settlement agreements due to low bar requirements to prove Fraud. However, not so fast… significant changes in 2018 within the Justice Manual (Formerly USAM), and the release of the Sessions, Brand and Granston Memos level playing field for defense teams and their ability to successfully represent clients in difficult cases. Don’t miss this session as Sean M. Weiss, Partner and Vice President of Compliance breaks down these important changes and shares with you how to structure your OIG Compliance Plan to meet and exceed published guidance.


10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Refreshment Breakfast in ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall

W-11 Creating a Culture of Compliance Sean WeissThis session will focus healthcare professionals on the criticality of creating a culture of compliance to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. Focusing on a “Compliance” only approach leaves healthcare organizations exposed to areas of liability. Mr. Weiss will walk you through compliance from a “Risk-Based” perspective and focus on areas often ignored, thus leaving your compliance program and organization exposed to the threats of government agencies, and their investigators. Regardless of the size of your organization, this session is a must to ensure you are covering your assets!


W-12 I Have to Accommodate That? Cherie SilbermanThis interactive presentation will explain the Americans With Disabilities Act and how employers must comply by giving employees workplace accommodations. The discussion will include interesting, complex, and actual examples of challenging issues that arise when applicants and employees request an accommodation. Employee requests such as working from home, taking an extended leave of absence, bringing an emotional support animal, or purchasing special furniture will all be discussed so participants can return home with some practical advice and solutions for responding to such requests.

W-13 Scripting a Successful Payment Assurance Program Joe ClarkIncreased patient financial responsibility has created cash shortfalls for medical practices. It’s time to change medical practice culture, and act more like the rest of the business world. Through the use of your practices EMR portal, and maintenance of patient credit cards, we will define a way to improve these problems once and for all. High deductible plans require practices to either gamble on back end collections, or gain the security of the multiple credit sources patients already have in their wallets when scheduling an appointment. The program will focus on scripting for staff, and the mechanics of implementing this process in your practice.

10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

The Doctor Is In: Your Nerdy Best Friend with Beth Z.Bring your questions about tech tools to Your Nerdy Best Friend Beth Z. for complimentary consulting on the best apps, programs and softwares to improve your efficiency and your practice.

PB8 Attracting and Retaining a Multi-Generational Workforce Michelle Fridgen KrebsDo you have intentional business strategies to attract and retain talent in a competitive employment market? Today’s workforce has four generations with different values, work styles, and challenges. To attract new talent and keep high performing individuals, you need to ensure each employee feels valued, appreciated, and understood. At the end of this session, you’ll walk away with tips and tricks to implement in your clinic to overcome challenges and thrive in a multi-generational workforce. Sponsored by Elite Hearing Network.



W-14 29 Tech Tools to Create Cool Content for Social Media and Marketing Beth Z.The most popular posts on social media are pictures and videos, and with a few easy (and free!) tech tools, you can transform your messages into share-worthy graphics that will put your organization out in front. This action-packed session will give you dozens of sites and apps that will help you elevate the quality of your social media posts and other material.

W-15 The Latest Advances in AI and Health Annette MazevskiNeither the hearing care professional nor the patient is isolated anymore. Rapid advances in connected health care in general are now entering the realm of hearing care. Although potentially complicated or even threatening, these changes in the hearing health care environment can also bring great advantages in both patient care and practice growth. In this presentation, Ms. Mazevski will walk through some of the new horizons and terminology that is now becoming part of our field and provide a perspective on the opportunities.

W-21 Nerds Unite! Tech Tool and Apps Exchange Beth Z.Your peers are the smartest nerds around! Many professionals have their favorite time-saving, productivity-increasing, rear-kicking technology secrets. This lively, interactive session gives you and your peers the opportunity to share and discover the best technology tools. Great for both tech newbies and experienced experts!


W-22 Managing Change Debra PhairasNobody likes change except a baby! Physicians and managers often find any change difficult and stressful. The healthcare landscape is changing rapidly. Managers must be proactive, nimble and able to manage change effectively within their organizations. Topics Include: assessing the landscape of the market of the practice; developing strategies to grow, merge or be acquired with the pros and cons of each; employing successful sales techniques to create the desire for change; involving the team with process improvement techniques and creative brainstorming; why holding a strategic planning session each year is important; planning the change in an organized, thoughtful manner; and rewarding the team at completion.

W-23 The Cost of Doing Business Owen DahlValue-based payments (VBP), accountable care organizations (ACO), and other acronyms challenge well beyond basic revenue cycle management. There is an increasing need to understand the cost of doing business - internally as well as the external management of the overall patient cost of care. We will discuss all with some practice suggestions on how best to manage the overall cost picture.

12:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

Lunch and ASCENT Business Meeting with Prizes



W-31 Productivity Brain Breaks: A Facilitated White Space Beth Z.A jam-packed conference like this one can lead to learning overload... time to take a Brain Break! Join your peers for a mini-lesson on a proven productivity technique, then put the technique into action during this facilitated white space. It’s the session you need to absorb what you’ve learned in the past couple of days.


W-32 What Every Manager Should Know about Delegation Skills Susan SchoenfeldWithout appropriate delegation, your team will become inefficient and demoralized. It’s one of the most important management skills you can establish, but most managers don’t delegate well. Learning to delegate effectively saves you time, develops your people, grooms a successor and motivates your team. This highly interactive training combines lecture and hands-on exercises. In this workshop you will learn when it is appropriate to delegate, what to delegate, to whom to delegate and how to delegate. We will discuss common problems when delegating, how to give positive and negative feedback and how to manage work once it has been delegated.

W-33 From Negotiation to Collaboration – How to Educate and Collect Susan ChildsThe rise of consumerism and high deductibles make it necessary to blend patient engagement and financial strategies within the patient experience. Communication and how we approach can greatly affect your patient’s understanding and happily paying their bill! We will look at strategies such how continually update patient financial policies. Considering both the practices’ and patient’s point of view, we exchange ideas for team-based strategies and procedures that best maintain your relationship with actively involved patients the most collaborative manner. This is a very interactive session where we discuss how you may assess your specific policies and what can be addressed as soon as returning to the office.

3:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m.

Break

W-24 5 Stages of Grief – and Life Lessons Learned from Real-World Audit Experiences Eric ChristensenLearn how CMS’ Meaningful Use Audit process works in the real world. Resources and examples will be presented on real MU audits and the reaction steps necessary in hundreds of cases. Educate yourself on what does and doesn’t work with auditors. MU Audit checklists and actions plans will be shared with participants. Eric has experienced several audits first-hand and helped hundreds of medical practices go through the Meaningful Use Audit process. Participants will learn how the Meaningful Use Audit process works and how to develop an action plan for Meaningful Use documentation and audit response. Participants will learn how to put aside the “grief” cycle and come out a winner. Surviving an EHR meaningful use audit doesn’t have to be a painstaking process. Participants can learn how to stay ahead of other offices when it comes to Meaningful Use.

W-25 Pump It Up: A Prescription for Practice Productivity Katie MoyerYou’ve heard the old saying, “work smarter, not harder.” It sure sounds good, but where should you start? The first step to ensure that every day is a productive day is to make sure you’re tackling the right tasks, at the right time, with the right staff. Join us as we share productivity hacks, like how to prevent bottlenecks in your schedule, maximize staff performance potential, and create a clear and consistent communications protocol. Head home with the tools you need to move from identifying problems to implementing solutions. Because as you know, a productive practice helps boost staff morale, reduce turnover and burnout, increase profitability, and elevate the overall experience for your patients.



W-34 Quality Patient Care and Appropriate Coding Reporting for Point-of-Care CT Micah WalkerIn this session, we will discuss the CMS Appropriate Use Criteria Program for CT, including CPT code modifier QQ. Attendees will receive the most up-to-date timeline on rollout of this program, as well as the requirements that are involved for practices operating a CT. The latest details will be provided with time allotted for clarification questions and interaction. Along with these updates, we will interactively explore qualifying your practice as a candidate for in-office CT and optimal pathway for integration and implementation of this valuable tool.

W-35 Mastering Patient Flow to Improve Physician Productivity Larry BrooksThe key to maximizing your providers’ productivity is mastering the concept of input-throughput-output. With the providers being the Output, your practice must know what their potential patient volume could be, then organize all the Throughput(staffing, flow systems), and Input (appointment template and check-in) to eliminate logjams and always have a ready patient for the provider to see.

4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Closing Reception: Adios Austin, Hello Portland!Join us as we say “adios” to Austin and hello to Portland! Use this last chance to network at ASCENT 2019 to connect with fellow practice leaders while celebrating the culture and “weirdness” that will lead us to our next annual educational conference in Portland, OR.


8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

BOOT CAMP Business Intelligence for Payer Contracting Nate MooreThere are plenty of revenue-enhancing opportunities for proactive practices that analyze payer contracts. The challenge is that payers do not make it easy to prepare your contracting data in a way to quickly analyze which payers to approach on specific codes. Attend this session to master the fundamentals of preparing contracting data for analysis. A key focus of this session will be Microsoft Excel’s VLOOKUP feature. Watch a live demonstration using VLOOKUP to combine data from contracts spanning multiple spreadsheets into one summary page for analysis. We will discuss ways to incorporate the volume of procedures and weight averages to better compare different contracts. We will also discuss ideas on which procedures to negotiate or carve out. By the end of the session, you will be well equipped to analyze your data and apply the tools described during the workshop.

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019


Classes by Topic

Finance

Human Resources

OperationsM-1 PANEL: Best Practices in Increasing the Allergy AncillaryJulie Farley, COPM // Craig Kilgore // Tricia Long, COPM // Keith Lynn

M-13 PANEL: Opening an OfficeDanielle DeMaio-DeAngelis, COPM // Sharon Marcum, COPM // Carlos Vargas, COPM // Brian Woodhead

M-4 ScribesShamvil Bilal

M-22 Staffing RatiosMark Benninghoff, COPM

SS1 Your First Year in ENTBarry Hubert, COPM

APC1 Academic Practice Forum

SPC1 Small Practice CommunitySharon Marcum, COPM

MPC1 Mid-Size Practice CommunityCamille White, COPM

LGPC1 Large Group Practice CommunityPat Moser, COPM

APC2 Academic Practice CommunityHardy Shah

T-14 Compliance Risk 1Sean Weiss

T-22 PANEL: Starting the Hearing Aid AncillaryShadi Chakoutahi // Jason Luchterhand // Ken Marvel // Shawn ParkerModerator: Brian Woodhead

W-1 Workplace Violence: Preparing for the UnthinkableOwen Dahl

W-4 OIG Regulatory GuidanceSean Weiss

W-11 Creating a Culture of ComplianceSean Weiss

W-12 I Have to Accommodate That?Cherie Silberman

W-24 5 Stages of Grief – and Life Lessons Learned from Real-World Audit ExperiencesEric Christensen

W-34 Mastering Patient Flow to Improve Physician ProductivityLarry Brooks

BOOT CAMP KPIs and Creating Dashboards to Report to Your PhysiciansMark Benninghoff, COPM // Todd Blum // Hardy Shah

T-4 Contract NegotiationTodd Blum // Drew Franklin

T-11 Private Equity Buyouts: What Do You Need to Know?Jeff Boomershine // Kaitlyn Mundell

T-23 Three Keys to Successful Cash Flow: Denial Management, Daily Dashboarding and ReportingMichelle Mesley-Netoskie

W-13 Scripting a Successful Payment Assurance ProgramJoe Clark

W-23 The Cost of Doing BusinessOwen Dahl

W-33 From Negotiation to Collaboration – How to Educate and CollectSusan Childs

M-4 The Gift of GabLee Silber

M-11 How to Create and Give a Persuasive PresentationJim Fedio

M-21 Laughter in the WorkplaceRhett Laubach

M-23 Improving Board PerformanceWill Latham

SS4 Managing the “I Work All the Time” EmployeeKyle Acker, AuD

T-2 Improving Group CultureWill Latham

T-12 Front Office Staff: Maximum Patient Care with Most Efficient Time ManagementMichael Page, AuD // Airto Zamorano

W-3 Managing for Extraordinary ServiceThomas Jeffrey

W-25 Pump It Up: A Prescription for Practice ProductivityKatie Moyer

W-32 What Every Manager Should Know about Delegation SkillsSusan Schoenfeld


Coding

Leadership/Professional Development

Marketing

Technology

Healthcare Today

Practice Builders

BOOT CAMP Leadership – Moving from Manager to LeaderRhett Laubach // Lee Silber

M-24 Every Practice Has a Story to TellJames Benson // Louise Eddy

SS3 How to Effectively Market Your Sinus PracticeAirto Zamorano

W-22 Managing ChangeDebra Phairas

T-24 Sexting, Security and Social Media: Digital Dilemmas and Solutions for Your WorkplaceCherie Silberman

W-14 29 Tech Tools to Create Cool Content for Social Media and MarketingBeth Z.

W-21 Nerds Unite! Tech Tool and Apps ExchangeBeth Z.

W-31 Productivity Brain Breaks: A Facilitated White SpaceBeth Z.

T-3 Know Your Nose CodingKim Pollock

T-21 Non-Physician Provider (NPP) Utilization and BillingKim Pollock

W-2 E/M EHR DocumentationShannon DeConda

W-34 Quality Patient Care and Appropriate Coding Reporting for Point-of-Care CTMicah Walker

M-2 Understanding MACRA – Quality Maximus ValoremAdele Allison

M-3 TelemedicineJudd Hollander

M-12 Datanomics: Trends, Challenges and OpportunitiesAdele Allison

SS2 Have the Rules Changed? Are ENT Transactions (M&A, Hospital Alignment, Group Mergers,etc.) Different from 20-30 Years Ago?Tom Anthony // Max Reiboldt

M-12 Datanomics: Trends, Challenges and OpportunitiesAdele Allison

T-13 Million Dollar PhysicianMax Reiboldt

W-15 The Latest Advances in AI and HealthAnnette Mazevski

PB1 The Future of Hearing TechnologyKyle Acker, AuD

PB2 Ramp Up Your Revenue: New Services & Technologies that Boost Your Bottom Line!Speaker TBD

PB3 Capitalizing on Opportunities...Office flow Efficiencies that Deliver Increased Hearing Aid RevenueSpeaker TBD

PB4 Creating a Communication Plan for Your PracticeJesse Tervooren

PB5 You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression!Renee Erno

PB6 Three Trending Issues Your Practice Needs to AddressRose DuLude, PhD // Stuart Lyon // Shawn Parker

PB7 Best Practice for Patient Scheduling to Maximize ProductivityTracy Carpenter // Anna Hale // Barry Hubert, COPM

PB8 Attracting and Retaining a Multi-Generational WorkforceMichelle Fridgen Krebs


Evening Out Event:The Palm Door

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 | 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

This year’s night out will be a uniquely Austin experience: From great music to food trucks, we’ll have it all!This year’s Evening Out Event will be held at Palm Door on Sixth Street, just one block from the hotel. Do a little boot scootin’ boogie to the live Austin band the Union Jacks, or network in the Austinite lounge and enjoy the uniquely Austin sights and sounds. Laugh and win prizes playing the famous classic Austin game Chicken Sh*t Bingo or in our Cowboy/Cowgirl Boot Contest! Try your luck on the ASCENT game deck, and enjoy amazing local cuisine in the ASCENT Food Truck Park.

Again this year, admission to the Tuesday Evening Out Event is included when you choose it in your conference registration. Bringing a guest? You can add on guest tickets when you register for the conference. The Guest/Spouse conference registration type includes an Evening Out Event ticket.

RSVP when you register to let us know you’ll join in on all of the Austin-themed fun!

Generously Sponsored by

M E D I C A L


Conference Information

About the ASCENT 2019 Annual Educational Conference

ASCENT strives to bring you the premiere annual educational conference for otolaryngology practice management professionals! In just three days, you will gain specialty-specific information to implement new ideas and plan for the year ahead. This program is designed to satisfy a wide array of knowledge levels, and it includes topics that are critical for today’s ENT practices and our changing healthcare arena.

Who Should Attend?

Administrators, physicians, coders, managers and anyone who is interested in otolaryngology practice management should plan to attend.

Continuing Education Credits

This program has been submitted to AAPC for continuing education hours. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by AAPC of the program content or the program sponsor.

This program is approved for up to 26.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through ASCENT. A certificate of attendance will be emailed to you if you complete the final evaluation online.

Elections

Prior to 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Sept. 10, please visit the registration desk to cast your vote if you have not previously voted online.

2019 Conference Highlights

Travel GrantsOftentimes, ASCENT members are unable to attend the Annual Educational Conference due to budget restraints. This year, ASCENT is offering five opportunities to receive a Travel Grant to attend ASCENT 2019! Generously supported by our Executive Partners, these grants allow those who have never attended an annual educational conference the opportunity to do so. Congratulations to our 2019 recipients!

Evening Out Ticket Included in PricingAgain this year, all full-conference attendees and Guest/Spouse registrations will receive a ticket to the Tuesday Evening Out Event at no extra cost! You can purchase additional tickets for guests who are not attending ASCENT 2019, but all attendees who RSVP for the event in the registration will receive one included in their registration at no charge.

Tuesday Morning Classes by Practice TypeSessions on Tuesday morning will be broken out by practice type (small, medium, large and academic) to allow you the time to connect directly with your peers from across the country. The Networking Luncheon immediately proceeding will provide the perfect opportunity to keep the conversations going over lunch!

Kimberlee Hancox ACENT | Anchorage, AK

Cher Hill Palmetto ENT Consultants | Columbia, SC

Amy Rogers Tuscaloosa ENT Center | Tuscaloosa, AL

Kelly Schwartz Lancaster Otolaryngology | Lancaster, PA

Jeanna Sevy Midwest ENT HNS of Owensboro | Owensboro, KY


Registration Information

Conference Pricing Early Bird Pricing1

Before Aug. 17Regular Pricing2

After Aug. 17Member Full-Conference Registration $725 $825Non-Member Full-Conference Registration $1,105 $1,205Member First-Time Attendee Registration $600 $650Staff of ASCENT Member Registration3 $725 $825

Coder Registration4 $600 $600Guest/Spouse Registration5 $400 $400Thursday Evening Out Event Guest Ticket6 $75 $80Boot Camp: Business Intelligence for Payer Contracting $50 $50Boot Camp: KPIs and Creating Dashboards to Report to Your Physicians $50 $50Boot Camp: Leadership: Moving from Manager to Leader $100 $100

Registration Cancellation Policy

All registration cancellations and refund requests must be made in writing by Aug. 17, 2019. A refund of the full conference fee, minus a $75 administrative fee, will be given for cancellations received by that date. No refunds will be granted for requests postmarked on or after Aug. 17, 2019. Submit all requests to Lisa Oddo ([email protected]) at the ASCENT Office. ASCENT regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows. Refunds will not be processed until after the conference.

Substitutions

You may substitute registrants (from the same office/practice) prior to the conference. Please contact the ASCENT Office at 412-243-5156 for assistance. The ASCENT does not accept responsibility for no-shows at the conference.

Emergency Illness/Death of Registrant or Immediate Family Member

Registrants who are unable to attend the ASCENT 2019 Annual Educational Conference because of a serious illness or death may receive a partial refund (amount paid minus the $55 processing fee) or full credit for a future meeting (as applicable) in the following instances:

• Personal illness or death of the attendee; or

• Illness or death in the immediate family of the attendee. Immediate family refers to a person’s parents, spouse, children, and siblings and will also include the parent’s spouse.

Requesters must submit the request in writing to Lisa Oddo ([email protected]) at the ASCENT Office along with written documentation from a doctor. The Executive Director and ASCENT President will review the request to ensure it is in accordance with written policy.

Group Discount

Register two (2) attendees from the same practice and receive $150 off each ADDITIONAL registration. Use discount code 3ORMORE upon registration and list the names of the first two attendees in the designated box.

Registration Notes

1 Registration and fees must be submitted before Aug. 17, 2019, in order to receive the Early Bird rates.2 Registration and fees submitted after Aug. 17, 2019, and any on-site registrations will be charged the Regular Registration rate. 3 Staff of ASCENT members can attend the full conference for the member rate! Select this registration and be sure to list your ASCENT member’s name in the appropriate box in the registration to receive the discounted price.4 Coder members can attend the full conference for just $600.5 Guest/Spouse registration includes entrance to all meals and social events ONLY. Educational sessions are NOT included in this registration.6 All full-conference attendees and Guest/Spouse registrations receive a Thursday Evening Out Event ticket. This option is for guests of conference attendees ONLY.

Again this year, all full conference registrations and Guest/Spouse registrations come with a ticket to the Tuesday Evening Out Event! The event includes dinner as well as entertainment and networking. You must pre-register to receive the included ticket.

Suitcasing PolicySuitcasing is strictly prohibited at the ASCENT Annual Educational Conference. Please note that while all conference attendees are invited to the exhibit hall, any attendee who is observed to be soliciting business in the aisles, another vendor booth, classrooms or other public spaces will be asked to either purchase an exhibit space for $3,250 or leave the conference immediately. Additional penalties may apply.Employees or representatives from non-exhibiting vendor companies are allowed to register to attend the ASCENT Annual Educational Conference if the vendor company sponsors at LEAST $4,000. Non-exhibiting sponsors may register two company representatives for every $4,000 sponsored.


Hotel Information

Hilton Austin

Hilton Austin is situated adjacent to the Convention Center in downtown Austin, TX. It’s a quick walk from exclusive shopping, amazing restaurants and fun live music venues on 6th Street and the surrounding area. Guests of the recently renovated hotel also enjoy fantastic views of the Capitol of Texas and Lady Bird Lake from 31 stories up. Hotel dining, a full-service spa, VIP perks - we’ve got you covered for a great stay in Austin.

About the Hilton Austin

500 E 6th St • Austin, TX 78701

ASCENT is able to offer you reduced rates at $259 per night Sept. 4-18. Take advantage now before the ASCENT block is sold out!*

*The ASCENT block is NOT guaranteed through the deadline of Aug. 17, 2019. Once the block sells out, rooms will be available on a “space and rate availability basis” and the discounted conference rate will NOT be guaranteed. It is advised that you make your hotel arrangements as soon as possible.

Parking at the Hilton Austin is $32 plus tax per night for self-park and $41 plus tax per night for valet.

Parking

Housing Booking Alert

The ASCENT Annual Educational Conference is NOT affiliated with a housing company. Please be careful if approached by any company or service claiming to be an official housing provider for ASCENT 2019. ASCENT offers the guaranteed lowest rate available. In the past, ASCENT has been made aware of travel companies that are entirely fraudulent, misleading exhibitors and attendees with false information. Please note that you can ONLY book a room in the ASCENT 2019 Annual Educational Conference block by using the booking information on this page or at www.askASCENT.org/ASCENT2019. If you are contacted by a housing company trying to sell hotel rooms for this conference, please contact ASCENT conference management at 412-243-5156 x 104.

Hilton Honors – Join Today!

Make sure that you are a member of Hilton's Honors to start earning points on your first visit. Honors is free to enroll and comes with a host of perks, including complimentary Standard Internet, late check out (when requested and when available), and more. Learn and book today on the ASCENT 2019 website, and be sure to use your Honors code when booking your room at the Hilton Austin.


The ASCENT Executive and Corporate Partner program is an exclusive partnership to elevate ASCENT members’ accessibility and resources from our partnering companies. With the help of our 10 Executive Partners, ASCENT is able to provide members with enhanced access to the partnering companies as well as unique education and resources, including this year's ASCENT 2019 travel grant program. Make sure to stop by our Partners’ booths in the ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall this September to extend your thanks for providing for our association!

ASCENT Executive Partner Program

M E D I C A L


Take advantage of an outstanding ASCENT Marketplace full of business solution providers who can help you solve your toughest challenges – and ultimately make YOUR life easier. The ASCENT Marketplace is where you will get first-hand experience on all of the new products, technology and innovative tools available for managing today’s ENT practice. Exhibitors and sponsors confirmed as of June 13, 2019.

ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall

Sponsors

ExhibitorsAdTel International Inc.Advantage MarketingALK-Abelló, Inc.American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Amplified Resource GroupAuDConnexAuDStandard, LLCThe Coding Network, LLCCompulink Healthcare SolutionsConsult YHN (formerly AHAA)

eClinicalWorksENT CloudFirst Federal Credit Control Inc.First Healthcare Compliance ProsGreenway Health, LLCHollisterStier AllergyInsight Marketing GroupInteracousticsIntersect ENT, Inc.JEDMEDModernizing MedicineNational Scope

Numana MedicalOfficiteOne Source Hearing, LLCOptim LLCThe Payroll CompanyPhonakReliance Medical ProductsRendiaSimple InteractSivantos, IncSomerset CPAsSpectrum AudiologySullivanLuallin Group


Boot Camp Sessions

BOOT CAMP Leadership – Moving from Manager to Leader – Rhett Laubach // Lee Slber

BOOT CAMP KPIs and Creating Dashboards to Report to Your Physicians– Mark Benninghoff, COPM // Todd Blum // Hardy Shah

Sunday, Sept. 8 • 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | Cost: $100You have worked hard to develop expertise in your practice and earn recognition and success within your organization. Now you are moving or have moved up to management, which brings a whole new world of exciting possibilities, but also potential challenges and uncertainty. Many of us are promoted to manager/administrator, but rarely are trained to be one. Mastering the art and science of effective management requires an additional set of skills, which, when learned, can often transform the daunting task of management into something profoundly satisfying. And your organization benefits, too. Join us for a full day of learning leadership skills that will help you succeed. This fast-paced, fun, and highly interactive boot camp is filled with excellent ideas and insights that will prepare you for the next step in your career – that of a leader. Your trainers are both experts in the field – and at making training anything but boring.

Sunday, Sept. 8 • 12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. | Cost: $50From sole-practitioner private practices to larger physician groups, there is an ever-increasing focus on developing key performance indicators dashboards. These indicators can serve as a helpful tool for decision-making, visual communication to leadership and staff, compliance, and forecasting future demand. No matter your practice’s organization structure or goals, having effective dashboards can be invaluable tools. Join us for this easy-to-follow boot camp to learn how to make the most of the data at your disposal and turn it into helpful insights that can improve your operations as well as patient experience.

BOOT CAMP Business Intelligence for Payer Contracting – Nate Moore

Thursday, Sept. 12 • 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Cost: $50There are plenty of revenue-enhancing opportunities for proactive practices that analyze payer contracts. The challenge is that payers do not make it easy to prepare your contracting data in a way to quickly analyze which payers to approach on specific codes. Attend this session to master the fundamentals of preparing contracting data for analysis. A key focus of this session will be Microsoft Excel’s VLOOKUP feature. Watch a live demonstration using VLOOKUP to combine data from contracts spanning multiple spreadsheets into one summary page for analysis. We will discuss ways to incorporate the volume of procedures and weight averages to better compare different contracts. We will also discuss ideas on which procedures to negotiate or carve out. By the end of the session, you will be well equipped to analyze your data and apply the tools described during the conference.

Practice Analysis

Custom ENT Portal

Equipment Solutions

Marketing

Insurance & Billing

Financial Reporting

Buying Group Pricing

Recruiting

Our Services

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ASC

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2019

Reg

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� Register to attend at askASCENT.org/ASCENT2019. Register by Aug. 17 to secure the lowest registration rates.

� Aug. 17 Deadline: Secure your hotel room at the Hilton Austin. Book yours at askASCENT.org/ASCENT2019.

� Sign up for the Hilton Honors loyalty program (see information on page 28).

� Encourage your colleagues to attend. Register two individuals from your practice and receive $150 off each ADDITIONAL registration with promo code 3ORMORE.

� Make plans to meet fellow otolaryngology professionals.

� Check your email and the website frequently for updates and new program information.

� Map out your plans to visit vendors in the ASCENT Marketplace Exhibit Hall. Visit askASCENT.org/ASCENT2019 for a list of exhibiting companies.

� Review the schedule and plan which sessions to attend.

� Bring your business cards to exchange with fellow attendees and vendors.

� Use #ASCENT2019 now and through the conference to connect on social media and share your excitement!

Print this list and keep it by your desk to cross items off your ASCENT 2019 to-do list as you complete them!

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CONFERENCE BROCHURE · for my career as a practice administrator. The sessions taught me the basics...

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Transcript of CONFERENCE BROCHURE · for my career as a practice administrator. The sessions taught me the basics...