Billing: Coding Made Easier
It’s confusing, tedious, and time-consuming — and for most practices, it’s the only way to get paid for the work you do. Now the good news: There are tools available to make coding easier. Here’s our rundown.

Coding: Your Top Coding Problems Solved
Tips from our biweekly e-mail newsletter. This issue: Avoiding denials and billing multiple procedures.

In Practice: Keeping Up With the Doses
With hundreds of new drugs entering the market every year, where can you turn for reliable information?

Management: When Reporters Are Calling
It’s bad enough being sued for malpractice. But what if reporters are calling and articles are being written? How should you respond when you’re getting bad press? Better have a plan now.

My Best Idea: Why I Write
Psychiatrist and novelist Charles Atkins on the connection between good writing and good medicine.

Operations: Practices and Pharmacies — Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Between big chain pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, and forgetful patients, practices these days are inundated with prescription paperwork. Rapport with pharmacies may be at an all-time low. Here are some tips for reducing the burden — and improving relations.

Physicians Practice Pearls: Just Say No to Bad Art
How to select appropriate office artwork. (Yes, it matters.)

Publishers Note: Up By His Bootstraps
Elias Sanchez, a 40-something general practitioner, became a doctor the hard way.

Recruiting: How Long Will You Be Staying?
It’s hard enough recruiting new docs these days. Make sure the relationship lasts once they arrive.

Second Opinion: Fixing Medicare — Easy As Pie
Ophthalmologist Anthony P. Johnson on how to fix Medicare for good.

Technology: Should Your EMR Be Certified?
If you feel lost in the tall grass of EMR-shopping, it may be tempting to restrict your search to the new batch of “certified” systems. Is that wise? One year after an independent group began issuing endorsements, we ask: How much should you care?

The Administrator’s Desk: Motivation on the Cheap
Low- and no-cost ways to motivate staff.

The Bigger Picture: Real World Ethics
What are you supposed to do when you’re losing money on procedures and services? Must you simply eat the cost in order to serve the patient’s interest?

The Great Practice Makeover: Radically Simple
A Virginia urology practice is struggling with a monster schedule and high staff turnover. Our expert Laurie Hyland Robertson comes to the rescue.

The Tech Doctor: Never ‘Write’ Another Script
How electronic prescribing will make your life easier and your patients healthier.

The Workplace: All in the Family
It’s common for physicians to be related to — often married to — a member of their office staff. But is it a good idea?