‘The Patient I Wish I’d Never Met’
Plastic surgeon Suzanne Kim Doud Galli on how an ordinary nose job turned into the worst case of her career.

8 Quick Ways to Earn CME Credits
Need to earn some CME credits in a hurry? We hear you. Fortunately, the Web has made it more convenient to get the continuing education you need. Here’s a peek at what’s out there.

Busting Embezzlers
An internal medicine specialist was fleeced badly by the Mother of all Embezzlers. Don’t think it can’t happen to you until you read what happened to her.

Careful What You Wish For
There’s been almost no serious debate on the one health reform proposal that would most profoundly affect Americans: the requirement that individuals purchase insurance. Our editorial director thinks this option carries huge political risks. Do you?

Choosing the Right EHR
In the market for an EHR? Here’s a step-by-step selection guide by internist and pediatrician Rob Lamberts, who’s been through the process himself.

Coding Questions?
Documenting shared visits; further vs. additional workup planned.

Disk Encryption
Laptop and PDAs have become the office-away-from-the-office for many. But physicians, especially, need to be aware of the potential security risk posed by a lost gadget. Protect sensitive data with encryption software — before it goes missing.

From Employee to Partner … and Back
Evaluating a partnership offer has been complicated by the recession. Is ownership still worth it?

Grow Your Income
Our 2009 Physician Compensation Survey reveals general dissatisfaction — and wide divisions between specialists and primary care docs. Get all the details and advice on ways to earn what you deserve, despite the downward trend.

Guarantee Me
President Obama has promised as much as $44,000 to physicians using EHRs as part of the stimulus package he signed this year. Payments start in 2011. But there’s a catch.

HIPAA Crackdown is Likely
Rumors of stricter enforcement of privacy and security rules have been heard before but this time there’s reason to believe that tougher scrutiny is indeed coming.

Hiring Your Replacement
Practice managers who are amicably leaving, be it for retirement or another opportunity, are often tasked with finding and training their own successor. Here’s some advice on this peculiar last act.

Investing With Friends and Family
Going into business with friends may seem like a great idea. Physicians are often asked to help fund a startup business. But these ventures often disappoint, and when they do, relationships can be ruined.

Making Sense of Productivity
The best measure of physician productivity is the “relative value unit,” or RVU. But many new physicians don’t know where to start, or even what an RVU is. Here’s help.

Nickel and Dime Leakage That’s Costing You Big
An unnecessary service charge here, a bloated maintenance contract there — you may be only dimly aware of how these small “nickel and dime” charges add up to big bucks.

The Best States to Practice
Which states welcome practicing physicians, and which ones fleece them? Check out our simple one-page scorecard for state-based information on Medicare pay, malpractice climate, income tax burdens, and more.

Trick Out Your Practice Web Site
Patients want more from your Web site than a photo of you and directions to your office. They’re demanding interactivity and utility: They want to get stuff done online, like setting up appointments and making payments. Here’s how to have the coolest Web site in town.

What’s Your Role in Big Practice Transitions?
Few administrators experience daily upheavals in their practices, but most are presented with a major transition at some point during their career. Are you ready?

When Religion and Medicine Collide
Spirituality and medicine sometimes interact uncomfortably. Here’s how to be sensitive while meeting your religious patients’ clinical needs.