Applying the Four Season analogy to your personal life.
I would like to share with you my “Four Season Analogy.”
It is a scenario we all run into whether we realize it or not. As we are all familiar with The Four Seasons, in the analogy, winter is the intuitive season. It can be cold and usually not much physically gets accomplished then, but it is a time of thinking and planning. Take the farmer who is getting ready for their next planting. They may get the seeds and the fertilizer ready and plan where the crops will go. In our winter season we also do our planning getting our thoughts in order, maybe set some goals, and make some decisions.
Spring is the get started season. This is where we are out of the gate with great enthusiasm and energy. The farmer prepares the soil, plants the seeds, makes the rows straight, fertilizes and waters the early crop. Great amounts of energy are being expended with excitement while initial challenges are handled with relative ease.
Summer is the meet-your-wall season. This is the season where the challenges start to happen and may even increase. We don’t see a lot of results yet and begin to wonder if what we are doing is really working. The farmer may see a drought or too much rain. The crop may be poor or may be overtaken by pests and animals. Your own summer may find you ultra-busy, struggling with financial strain. The farmer doesn’t give up the crop. Should you give up on what you are trying to achieve? Unfortunately, this is commonly the reason, the season where most people quit. They let the weeds of their lives overtake the harvest that is just around the corner. They don’t have the drive or reserve or confidence to dig deep down, to continue plodding along to get to the fall season, the harvest. Those who quit never know how close they were to their harvest.
Yes, fall is the harvest season, and this is when, if you’ve made it through summer, you begin to reap the rewards. For the farmer, the crop comes in and it goes to market and makes a nice sum of money. For you, your goals are reached. You have successfully weathered some of the toughest challenges and are beginning to be where you want to be. This is not the end though.
Unfortunately, you cannot stay here: you will either go forward or slide backward because the four seasons start again. What will you do when you meet your wall?
Programming note: Listen to Dr. John Zelem every Tuesday on Talk Ten Tuesdays with Dr. Erica Remer and Chuck Buck, 10 Eastern.
The educational content and schedule for the upcoming Open Door Forum Webcast series produced by RACmonitor and ICD10monitor have been unveiled. The announcement was made
Amid a crowded galaxy of well-known regulatory and process subject-matter experts, five extraordinary respected and renowned healthcare professionals are poised to lead a new series
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Stop revenue leakage and boost hospital performance by mastering risk adjustment and HCCs. This essential webcast with expert Cheryl Ericson, RN, MS, CCDS, CDIP, will reveal how inaccurate patient acuity documentation leads to lost reimbursements through penalties from poor quality scores. Learn the critical differences between HCCs and traditional CCs/MCCs, adapt your CDI workflows, and ensure accurate payments in Medicare Advantage and value-based care models. Perfect for HIM leaders, coders, and CDI professionals. Don’t miss this chance to protect your hospital’s revenue and reputation!
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Uncover critical guidance. HIM coding expert, Kay Piper, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, provides an interactive review on important information in each of the AHA’s 2025 ICD-10-CM/PCS Quarterly Coding Clinics in easy-to-access on-demand webcasts, available shortly after each official publication.
Uncover critical guidance. Kay Piper provides an interactive review on coding guidelines and more in the AHA’s fourth quarter 2025 ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding Clinic in an easy to access on-demand webcast.
RACmonitor is proud to welcome back Dr. Ronald Hirsch, one of his most requested webcasts. In this highly anticipated session, Dr. Hirsch will break down the complex Two Midnight Rule Medicare regulations, translating them into clear, actionable guidance. He’ll walk you through the basics of the rule, offer expert interpretation, and apply the rule to real-world clinical scenarios—so you leave with greater clarity, confidence, and the tools to ensure compliance.
Bring your questions and join the conversation during this open forum series, live every Wednesday at 10 a.m. EST from June 11–July 30. Hosted by Chuck Buck, these fast-paced 30-minute sessions connect you directly with top healthcare experts tackling today’s most urgent compliance and policy issues.
Fraud convictions don’t just punish a few bad claims; they can wipe out years of reimbursements. Don’t wait for an audit to learn the rules. Join Frank Cohen, MPA, for a live Q&A on spotting red flags, avoiding liability, and protecting your practice. Register now and bring your questions!
Substance abuse is everywhere. It’s a complicated diagnosis with wide-ranging implications well beyond acute care. The face of addiction continues to change so it’s important to remember not just the addict but the spectrum of extended victims and the other social determinants and legal ramifications. Join John K. Hall, MD, JD, MBA, FCLM, FRCPC, for a critical Q&A on navigating substance abuse in 2025. Register today and be a part of the conversation!
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