Transcript A Day In the Life of an Certified Athletic Trainer…

A Day in the Life of a
Certified Athletic Trainer…
Practice Administrator
Community Based Orthopedic Practice
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
LETTER TO ATHLETIC TRAINERS
Dear certified athletic trainers and students:
Your undergraduate education was just the beginning of your
professional career. The most important skills that you
learned were time management, to be thorough in your
assessments and that your workday is not defined by the time
clock but by getting the job done and mastering clear
communication techniques.
These are core skills that, if mastered, can open up doors
and other career paths that allow you to expand your
professional horizons and, at the same time, continue to
serve the athletic training profession. As you progress in
your professional career, keep your eyes open for
opportunities. Good luck and work hard.
~Bill Hyncik, ATC, LAT
Practice Administrator- Princeton Orthopedic Associates
©©2007
2009National
NationalAthletic
AthleticTrainers’
Trainers’Association
Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
I am an Orthopedic Practice
Administrator
NAME:

William G. Hyncik, Jr.
CREDENTIALS:

ATC, LAT
JOB TITLE:

Practice Administrator
EMPLOYED BY:

Princeton Orthopaedic
Associates
JOB LOCATION:

Princeton, NJ
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
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Orthopedic Practice Administrator
Job Description
DEPARTMENT:
Administration
REPORTS TO:
Board of Directors
JOB SUMMARY:
The administrator is responsible for planning,
directing, coordinating and controlling the operations and
activities of the practice (except those directly involving the
practice of medicine) within the scope of policies established in
the authority delegated by the Board of Directors
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Formal training which will probably be indicated by five years
prior health care managerial experience; B.S. degree in Business
Administration or equivalent education. There are no special
physical requirements for this position
NOTE:
This document is intended to describe the general nature and
level of work performed. It is not intended to serve as an
exhaustive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities required of
personnel so classified
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
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(800)TRY-NATA
Practice Administrator
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and maintain an effective organizational structure to ensure
achievement of the office's objectives
• Ensure the cooperation of the medical and support staffs
• Maintain adequate staffing levels
• Direct the preparation of operating budgets, financial statements, and
other management reports
• Obtain maximum productivity from computer systems and other
equipment and supplies
• Develop, review and evaluate job standards and appraisal systems;
recommend salary and incentive programs
• Approve all purchases
• Assist the Board of Directors in obtaining strategic projections, setting
objectives, and developing effective business plans and operating
policies
• Ensure that operating policies conform to current regulatory
requirements relating to the delivery of health care
• Increase the effectiveness, efficiency and profitability of medical
service departments by evaluating methods, procedures and staffing
patterns and implementing appropriate systems to ensure maximum
service levels at minimal cost
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
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Practice Administrator
Key Responsibilities Continued
• Ensure that facilities in medical service departments are well supplied and
maintained to achieve optimum efficiency
• Conduct special investigations and projects to improve the performance
of medical service departments
• Keep abreast of current developments in the ambulatory health care field,
and instruct subordinates as appropriate
• Take responsibility for all relationships between the management and
stockholders of the corporation
• Communicate to the Board of Directors on all goals and objectives of the
corporation
• Communicate to the Board of Directors regarding the performance of the
corporation, including comparisons with the objectives and goals of the
corporation
• Take responsibility for all relationships between the corporation and its
clients and vendors
• Maintain an adequate return on invested and borrowed capital
• Maintain the quality of communications in the entire corporation
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Practice Administrator
Key Responsibilities Continued
• Establish and maintain throughout the corporation a keenly
developed sense of purpose and responsibility
• Ensure that personal development programs are set up for
individual managers to help them carry out their responsibilities
in an acceptable manner
• Instill in all employees a sense of purpose for individual
growth and capability to increase performance in a position or
to grow into a more responsible position
• Establish, maintain, evaluate and rearrange the organization's
functional management units to secure optimum performance at
minimum cost
• Plan and prepare to effectively cope with current policies and
procedures of government and regulatory agencies
• Prepare reports for and attend meetings with governing body
and allied committees regarding the total activities of the
institution
• Prepare and revise the long-range plan documents
• Collect and analyze information needed for decision-making
• Document and follow-up on practice's progress in meeting
goals and objectives
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Practice Administrator
Key Responsibilities Continued
• Stimulate
and encourage new ideas and projects
• Conduct feasibility studies for new ideas, projects, and endeavors
to include complete operational and financial plans
• Plan for the future growth of the practice through addition of new
services, providers and offices
• Direct market research, planning and development for marketing
programs, services and business expansion projects
• Develop and maintain an effective patient relations program
involving physicians and staff members
• Conduct staff education programs consistent with marketing and
Quality Assurance goals
•Work closely with other departments to ensure the success of
marketing programs
• Develop strategic implementation plan specific to each new
Project
• Supervise and coordinate personnel and operations within a
project department for a finite period of time to facilitate the
efficient and expedient merger, acquisition or divestiture of two or
more groups or entities affecting the practice
• Maintain, negotiate, revise and update all outside contracts for
ancillary services with other facilities and individuals on an annual
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
basis
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(800)TRY-NATA
Princeton Orthopaedics Associates –
History
• Princeton Orthopaedic Associates, PA, was formed in 1974 by Dr. David M. Smith and Dr.
Dudley Hawks. Dr. Hawks was tragically killed in a plane accident, however the practice
continued to grow with the addition of Dr. Robert N. Dunn and Dr. Richard E. Fleming, Jr.,
who joined the group in 1979
• Together, they constructed what is now the main office of Princeton Orthopaedic
Associates, PA, located at 325 Princeton Avenue, Princeton, NJ
• This is a 25,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility that was opened in 1987
• In 1986, William G. Hyncik, Jr. (CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINER) joined the practice as the
Administrative Director sharing the responsibilities with Robert H. Simpson, Jr. for
management, business operations, and planning for the group
• Later the same year, Steven R. Gecha, MD and Jeffrey S. Abrams, MD joined the group
followed by C. Alexander Moskwa, Jr., MD in 1988
• A facility in Monroe Township/Jamesburg was opened in October of 1991 in conjunction
with Princeton Radiology Associates the Forsgate Medical Building
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
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Princeton Orthopaedics Associates –
History Continued
• In 1992 the six orthopedic surgeons of Orthopaedic Associates of Princeton merged with the
three orthopedic surgeons of Princeton Orthopaedic Group to form a nine-member practice
entitled Princeton Orthopaedic Associates
• The Forsgate facility was expanded and remodeled to include facilities for physician
examination rooms, cast room, and x-ray. This new renovation permitted complete orthopaedic
and physiatry evaluations and care as well as a state-of-the-art physical therapy and aquatic
therapy facility
• The adjoining radiology suite provided MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, bone density scans, and
fluoroscopic ancillary services
• In January of 1995, the group opened its newest office, the Princeton Neck & Back Institute,
located at 727 State Road in Princeton, New Jersey. The facilities at this location include
physical therapy with a large in-ground pool for aquatic therapy services, Strength and
conditioning equipment, and an outpatient surgery suite for arthroscopy, hand surgery, spinal,
non-operative treatment and other procedures
• An internal medicine group is also located in the same building. Since then, several
additional surgeons have joined the group including: Jon W. Ark, MD in 1995, David J. Lamb,
MD in 1998, and his brother Marc J. Lamb, MD in 2000. Dr. Ark and Dr. Marc Lamb provide
subspecialty hand surgery expertise and Dr. David Lamb specializes in spine surgery,
instrumentation, and minimally-invasive spinal techniques
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
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Princeton Orthopaedics Associates
– History Continued
• In August of 2003, the group announced the opening of their state-of-the-art MRI facility
located at the main office on Princeton Avenue. This new state-of-the-art GE 1.5 Tesla shortbore super conducting magnet allows for precise orthopaedic musculoskeletal diagnosis and
treatment to be completely coordinated within our facility
• In February of 2004, Stuart E. Levine, MD joined Princeton Orthopaedic Associates from his
previous affiliation with University Orthopaedic Associated located at Robert Wood Johnson
University Hospital in New Brunswick. Dr. Levine joined Princeton Orthopaedic Associates
with a full practice that would benefit from sophisticated management and operational assets
of the practice. Dr. Levine is a foot and ankle specialist with a wide range of patients
including sports through diabetics
• In August of 2004, Alfred F. Faust, MD, a spine surgeon, joined Princeton Orthopaedic
Associates after completing his Fellowship at John Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore.
In August of 2006, Kyle T. Stier, MD, a physician in physiatry medicine who joined Princeton
Orthopaedic Associates after his Fellowship at the Kessler Institute
• Over the past 4 years, Princeton Orthopaedic Associates has invested heavily in the
infrastructure of its practice. It has installed a new integrated practice management system
along with digital x-ray, a PACS system to integrate the digital x-ray with the MRI, a document
management system, and digital dictation. In conjunction with the initiation of these
systems, the information technology backbone of the practice was upgraded and brought to
a sophisticated level with its servers and inter-communication among its 4 office locations
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Princeton Orthopaedics
– Products & Services

Princeton Orthopaedic
Associates is an integrated
musculoskeletal communitybased practice

Princeton Orthopaedic
Associates provides orthopaedic
surgeons, physiatrists, podiatry,
physical therapy and MRI
services in an effort to provide a
complete musculoskeletal
program
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Princeton Orthopaedic’s Staff

TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:
–
There are a total of 120 full-time employees and
16 part-time employees

EMPLOYEE BREAKDOWN
–
45 of the employees are revenue-generating
employees

–
Employees consist of: x-ray techs, MRI techs,
physical therapists, physical therapy
assistants, physician assistants, orthopaedic
surgeons, physiatrists and podiatrists and
athletic trainers
–
We also employ a number of registered nurses,
medical assistants, billing and coding
specialists and many other support staff that
are integral to the day-to-day operations of the
practice
TOTAL # OF CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINERS
EMPLOYED
–
There are two athletic trainers. One athletic
trainer is in charge of the durable medical
groups and I am the other
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
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Princeton Orthopaedics – Patients

AVERAGE AGE RANGE OF PATIENTS:
5 years old - 95 years old

PATIENT POPULATION:
We have a mix of patients that visit our
facilities that include:
–
Athletes of all ages including recreation
athletes, middle-aged active population
and senior citizens
–

Many are looking for treatment of
age-related orthopaedic problems such
as total knee, total hips, and spine
treatment, workers’ compensation
patients, motor vehicle accident patients
as well as the general public, which is
why we are considered a communitybased practice
MOST COMMON INJURIES TREATED:
The only injuries that we do not treat are
severe trauma and pediatric/congenital
orthopaedic problems
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Suggested Experience
LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR YOUR JOB:
• Organizations such as mine hire individuals with
medically related experience. A job in athletic training,
such as Head Athletic Trainer, would provide solid
experience
• 5 years of related experience. It is more important to
focus on the related skills so that you are a good
administrator
• I would recommend formal education in business
management so that you understand accounting
principals, human resource skills and management
concepts
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Getting a Job Like Mine:
SPECIAL SKILLS NEEDED FOR THIS JOB:

–
–
HOW TO GET STARTED
“The most efficient way to work into
a position as the administrator of a
large orthopaedic group with a
number of ancillary services is to
begin when the group is small and
grow with the group and be the one
instrumental in adding the new
employees and ancillary services as
the practice grows .”
–
–
–
–
Good organizational skills
Good interpersonal skills
Good time management skills
Appreciation of the team approach
Willingness to continue to learn and research the
unknown
Ability to negotiate with payers (insurance
companies)
THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IS ON-THE-JOB TRAINING:

–
–
–
–
Flexibility with your ideas and expectations
Learning as you go
Willingness to evaluate things from a number of
different perspectives
Being able to listen to your support staff and
management team
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
A Day in the Life of a
Practice Administrator
TYPICAL SCHEDULE FOR MY JOB:
• HOURS PER WEEK :
55 - 60 hours
• DAYS OF THE WEEK :
5-6
• TYPICAL SCHEDULE:
6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
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(800)TRY-NATA
Educational Background
MY ATHLETIC TRAINING PREPARATION:
• Bachelors of Science Degree,
University of Delaware in 1977
• Masters of Science Degree from Long
Island University in 1979
• Licensed Athletic Trainer, State of NJ
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
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(800)TRY-NATA
Practice Administrator
Salary & Benefits

SALARY RANGE:
–
$65,000 – $250,000
–
Incentive bonuses & performance bonuses

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
The benefits associated with my job after 21
years of service, include:
–
4 weeks paid vacation
–
Participation in the 401K
–
Profit-sharing retirement plan
–
Family health insurance
–
Long-term disability insurance
–
Ability to attend professional conferences
and conventions and being reimbursed for
those expenses
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
My Career Path

WHEN YOU WERE AN ATHLETIC TRAINING STUDENT, WHAT
WERE YOUR ASPIRATIONS?
My career aspiration as an athletic training student was to be the
head athletic trainer at a major college program with all the
major sports. My long term goal was to become an Athletic
Director

BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER PATH AND HOW YOU
CAME TO WORK IN THE EMERGING SETTINGS:
–
Started working as a student athletic trainer at the
University of Delaware
–
Worked as a summer intern with the Philadelphia Eagles
–
Combined three years of athletic training experience at the
United States Military Academy at West Point with active
military duty
–
Military duty was followed by an 18-month stint at the
University of Michigan working as the Assistant Athletic
Trainer
–
Worked five years in the pharmaceutical industry as a
clinical research associate which gave me corporate
business experience and managerial experience which led
to a position as an orthopaedic practice administrator in a
group of three orthopaedic surgeons
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
How Athletic Training
Prepared Me
–“Athletic
training gave me a
core knowledge of medicine
and musculoskeletal injuries
and illness, that helped me
step into the role of Practice
Administrator.

The non- medical related skills acquired in the
Athletic Training profession have helped me to
transfer into my role as Practice Administrator

Specifically, athletic training taught me:
–
A sense of responsibility
–
Accomplishment
–
Service
–
Hard work
“The skills learned as an athletic trainer are all
transferable skills to other professional
management opportunities”
Athletic training helped me
to understand the corporate
culture associated with
private practice of
orthopaedic surgery.”
–
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Daily Duties
The following is a list of duties and
responsibilities that occur throughout
the day and can occur on any given day:

Review previous days’ list of
incomplete tasks such as:
–
–
–
–
Complete performance reviews on
managers
Review of accounts payable list
Review monthly and yearly budgets
Review statistical reports on
utilization of PT, MRI, patient visits,
surgeries and payer data

Make sure the managers have ample
staffing to support the physician and
other providers

Review e-mails and voice mails
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Daily Duties Continued

Staff meeting with the management
team

Meet with physicians to discuss
practice management issues

Prepare the agenda for monthly Board
of Directors meeting to include
ongoing tasks and issues

Respond to patient issues

Communicate with hospital
administration regarding related
operational issues

Review patient survey responses from
our surgery center and MRI patients

Review invoices for accounts payable
processing
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Daily Duties Continued

Communicate with vendors

Respond to physicians’
inquiries for jobs

Respond to problems brought
forth by the managers

Review regulatory information
pertaining to health care
matters on the state level

Follow political and legislative
matters pertaining to health
care and business in general

Review budgeting parameters
on a quarterly basis
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Daily Duties Continued

Evaluate capital purchase requests and
recommendations

Evaluate corporate benefit options and malpractice
considerations

Interface with corporate accountants and legal
counsel

Interface with bank personnel and manage the
financial relationship of the business

Participate in community service organizations such
as the Rotary Club

Provide service to the community by serving on the
School Board for 15 years and as Fire Commissioner
for three years

Participating in community programs such as the
Boy Scouts
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Other Duties As Assigned

Active member in the local Rotary Club

Active member of the Township Fire Commissioners

Organizer and sponsor of an annual charity run

Provide in-service programs and presentations to local
fitness facilities

Making health-care related presentations in the local
school system

Chairman of the NJ State Board of Medical Examiners,
Athletic Training Committee

Member of the Montgomery Township Traffic Advisory
Committee

Past President of American Association of Orthopedic
Executives (AAOE)

Served 15 years as the VP of the Montgomery
Township Board of Education
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Additional Helpful
Credentialing / Knowledge:
IS IT HELPFUL TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL
CREDENTIALING FOR YOUR POSITION?
• Practice management credentials can be obtained
through the Medical Group Medical Association
• One of the most important aspects of this position is
the ability to network with Practice Administrators in
your area and around the country. Networking gives
you an idea of what similar sized practice are
experiencing and what issues and challenges they
face
• American Association of Orthopedic Executives
(AAOE) is a key organization for practice
administrators. AAOE is made up solely of group
practice administrators ranging in experience from 1
year or less of experience through 25-30 years of
experience
• The AAOE annual conferences is an excellent way to
meet colleagues, develop relationships and create
avenues for communication through e-mail and
telephone calls
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Learning Curve

The learning curve is constant

You are always learning new
things and learning new ways to
manage different tasks

For instance, if you are in the
process of developing an
ambulatory surgery center, the
learning curve is very steep
and you must rely on networking
with colleagues and association
with professionals in those areas
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Major Issues Facing Me :

Reimbursement for services

Contract negotiations with insurance carriers and the
ever-decreasing revenues
Regulatory and legislative challenges such as:

–
–
–
Medicare reimbursement
Compliance with stark regulations
State limits on the practice of medicine

Development of ancillary sources of revenue

Information technology challenges for electronic
medical records/document management systems

Hiring qualified and dedicated support staff

Maintaining competitive employee benefit programs
such as health insurance and retirement savings plans
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Quality of Life/ Cost of Living Issues

I can go home each night to be with the
family and not be traveling.

Even though the position does
constitute long hours, I do have control
of my schedule to a certain degree so
that in the event that there is a daytime
program at the school for my kids. I can
get away from the office for an hour or
so to attend to those activities.

I am fortunate that I am able to afford to
live in very close proximity to the main
office of the facility so that I have a
flexible work schedule.

Some of the cost-of-living issues
associated with the job is that with
healthcare-related revenue decreasing
on the physician side it is difficult for the
physicians to continue to pay more
when in many practices the physicians
are making less every year. This does
encourage the practice administrator
practice to develop ancillary services to
increase revenue.
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
MESSAGE FOR THE
ATHLETIC TRAINING EDUCATORS

I encourage athletic trainers to take
elective courses in business
development, accounting and other
basic business-related courses. This will
allow athletic trainers to become more
marketable.

Marketing and promotion experience is
important to help grow a practice.
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Key Resources to Learn More!
• AMERCIAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHOPEDIC
EXECUTIVES (AAOE) MEMBERSHIP
AAOE has a very active Web site and directory of colleagues
around the country. Through this association, the networking
opportunities with colleagues is enormous and unending.
• LOCAL RESOURCES DAILY
The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal help me to
keep up with national trends regarding health care and the
health care delivery system.
• CONFERENCES & SYMPOSIUMS RELATED TO MY JOB
I attend for employment laws and regulations in the State of
New Jersey. Those I find helpful are The Athletic Trainers
Society of New Jersey, BONES Society annual conference and
workshops on regulatory issues on the State and national level.
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Key Resources Continued!
• NJ BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
This association puts out a monthly publication as well
as weekly newsletter and various e-mails regarding
regulatory and legislative issues throughout the State
that affect all businesses including health care.
• FEDERATED AMBULATORY SUGERY ASSOCIATION
• I stay current with trends regarding reimbursement with
facility fees, operational issues, the latest vendors and
the latest equipment on the market.
• ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIPS IS THE
LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
•This organization also puts out a monthly magazine
reports on local area trends and other related economic
issues.
© 2009 National Athletic Trainers’ Association
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
Learn more at www.nata.org
Visit Career Development Resources on
NATA Web site and find:
- Videos
- Brochures
- PowerPoint Presentations
- Studies
- Marketing Materials
- Advisors to assist with your specific questions
*NATA members only section
Visit Career Development Resources TODAY
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© 2008© National
Athletic
Trainers’
Association
2009 National
Athletic
Trainers’
Association
www.nata.org
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
(800)TRY-NATA
Still need more information about
Athletic Trainers as Practice Administrators?

Contact the NATA National Office Staff:
Kathryn Ayres, PR and Marketing Coordinator
[email protected] | 800-879-6282 ext. 138

Write to Bill Hyncik: [email protected]
Looking for a JOB?
Want to hire an athletic trainer?
www.nata.org/careercenter
Visit the NATA Career Center today and find resources to help you find a job or
hire an athletic trainer.
© 2008 ©
National
Athletic
Trainers’
Association
2009 National
Athletic
Trainers’
Association
www.nata.org
www.nata.org
(800)TRY-NATA
(800)TRY-NATA