We hope that this month’s edition of the Banding Bulletin finds you well, and that you had a great holiday season! We are happy to start off the new year by providing some new and revised resources that should help you and your practice moving forward. The Clinical Forms section of our website now contains an updated progress note, which better deals with the newer documentation requirements of Medicare and many other providers.
Please let us know what you think about these new resources, and if there are others that might be helpful to you — we are constantly working to improve the support offered to our Partners, and we will be happy to work with you in any way possible! Please also let us know if you would benefit from a training or refresher session, as we have availability in February and beyond.
If you will be at the ACG regional meeting in Las Vegas at the end of the month, come by and see us at our booth.
Clinical Tip of the Month: Anal Fissures
One of the most valuable clinical “tips” that we can give is to make certain that you fully evaluate your patients to look for signs of anal fissures. Our take on this topic is that the diagnosis of an anal fissure should be a clinical one, and the classic pain on defecation with tenderness in the midline (posterior much more frequently than anterior) should immediately clue you in to the probability of a fissure being present. The epithelial layer may superficially heal over and so a fissure may not be clearly visible, with the inflammation deeper in the tissue, and the internal sphincter spasm continues. The feeling of an inflammatory “ridge” or rough tissue surrounded by smooth tissue in the midline should tip you off to the presence of a fissure as well. Remember that these findings are right at the level of the anal sphincter muscles, and so are noted prior to fully inserting your finger for the exam.
Fissures that are not in the midline or which are multiple in nature should raise your suspicion for other disease (Crohns, STD’s, etc.). If you address patients’ fissures and anorectal spastic disorders (we use topicals such as 0.125% NTG ointment) and if you continue treatment for these disorders for 3 months or so, while treating the patients’ hemorrhoids, you will be much happier with your ultimate clinical results.
Do you have a Regional Meeting or “Gut Club” coming up? CRH is Happy to Sponsor It!
Please let us know what events you have coming up. We would be happy to sponsor a Gut Club to help keep you and your colleagues up to speed on advancements with the CRH O’Regan System. Please email Shaun Gerrits your requests with date, location, approximate number of attendees and sponsorship fee.
Upcoming Events
You can find our most up to date schedule of events on our Event Calendar.
Online Ordering of Product and Marketing Materials
Did you know that online ordering, is easy, fast and free? If you haven’t already signed up for a username and password for www.crhmedicalproducts.com please contact Pamela McKinnon (800.660.2153 x1011) – she will have you on your way to increased efficiency immediately!
Know someone who would be interested in the CRH O’Regan System Partnership Program?
Use the “Forward to a colleague” function on the right, or send me an email. We are happy to introduce your colleagues to the benefits of the program.
Training and Support Resources
If you or your practice have any clinical questions/concerns, are ready to expand your practice by having additional doctors trained, or simply want a follow-up training session for yourself, please do not hesitate to contact me. If your practice needs help with any other resources, below is a quick reference to the departments that are here to support you:
Product Ordering: Pamela McKinnon (800.660.2153 x1011)
Practice Support and Marketing: Jennifer Syrnyk (800.660.2153 x1012)
Please let us know how we can help to support you and your practices moving forward – whether it be for training, consultation, operational, billing/coding or marketing support – we are here to help in any way we can!
Best regards,
Mitch
Mitchel Guttenplan, MD, FACS
Medical Director
CRH Medical Corporation
T: 800.660.2153 x1022 | C: 770.363.0125 | F: 770.475.9953
