The Frustratingly High Cost of Medication
One doctor commiserates on the fact that drugs can be incredibly expensive, forcing her patients to choose between medications and paying rent.
Being Called to Court as a Solo Practitioner
What happens when you are subpoenaed as a witness when you are a solo practice? A lost day is tough to swallow.
Does Your Medical Practice Have a Contingency Plan?
Given that a majority of practices use digital health records, a simple power outage can have grave consequences.
Longing for a Simpler Time in Medicine
This MD misses the day when the decisions in care were made by her - the doctor - and the patients. Today, the insurance company has a say.
The Stress of the Holidays for Physicians
Everyone is at least a little stressed during the holidays. Physicians are no exception to the rule.
Going Solo: One Physician’s Success Story
One doctor is finding success in a seemingly rare place in healthcare: As someone who became a solo doc. She explains how in this blog.
When No One Else Sees the Patient’s Problem
This doctor’s patient has all but lost her short-term memory. Unfortunately, the doctor seems to be the only one who sees it.
Determining Time Off for Medical Practice Staff
What is the right amount of time off to give medical practice staff? Is there such a thing as being too generous?
Striving for Balance as a Working Mom and Physician
Being a working parent means that, unfortunately, my kids and I both have to miss things that would enrich us both. How do others do it?
Balancing Patient Sympathy and Practice Policies
We continue to strive to provide good patient care, but there are only so many hours in a day, and patient tears won't make those hours multiply.
When the Physician Becomes the Patient
A series of symptoms has left me, a physician, experiencing a series of frustrations as a patient.
The Numerous Reasons Physician Partnerships Fail
Physicians with different personalities; who are too similar; and with varying workloads are just three reasons partnerships don't work out.
Patient Care Comes Before Physician Friendships
Would I like to be friendly with all the referring docs? Sure. But I won't compromise patient care for the sake of camaraderie.
When Families Secretly Intervene in Patient Care
It's hard treating individual patients, complicated treating families, and extremely difficult when families want to be "anonymously" involved.
Figuring Out the Health Plan Puzzle
With payer complexities so burdensome, I can see why some physicians forgo health plans altogether.
New Patient Policies Take Time to Work
In theory, prioritizing patients was great. In practice, however, it ran into three obstacles, namely patients, my staff, and referring physicians.
Medical Supply Companies: Help, Don't Harass
Medical supply companies need to stop cold calling patients offering them medical equipment without a physician's order, and trying to trick busy doctors.
Eight Things I've Learned as a Private Practice Physician
It is my medical practice's fifth anniversary. Here are eight things I've learned about myself and running a business.
Prioritizing Patients a Must for a Busy Practice, Physician
In order to help patients with diabetes who need my services most, I've implemented some pre-screening efforts to help prioritize our patient panel.
The Tricky Economics of Running a Medical Practice
Unless a member of the medical practice team is intimately involved in the cash flow process, they probably don't know what is affordable for the practice.
When Medical Professionals Get Involved with a Family Member's Care
There is a fine line between being an educated patient advocate, and being a know-it-all family member who is in the medical field.
When Medical Practice Staff Unexpectedly Resign
Usually, an employee leaving is bittersweet. But one recent departure was just bitter given the employee's behavior leading up to and following her resignation.
The Patient-Physician Relationship: When Does it Start?
Someone tell me when a physician's relationship with a patient starts and how far does the physician's responsibility go until the patient receives care.
Affordable Care Act Making Patients Savvy Consumers
While the effect of the reform law isn't big for me, I'm seeing patients more aware - and not necessarily happy - about the cost associated with their care.
Cutting Federal Healthcare Spending Requires Physician Input
If we hope to reduce Medicare spending, how about we ask physicians for important strategies vs. just ensuring expensive equipment is used properly.
Patients: Hospital Privileges Don't Mean Overruling Care Decisions
Getting patients to understand hospital privileges - and what I can do for them when admitted - is often a difficult discussion.
When Health Plans Come between Patients and Physicians
Sometimes insurance companies get between patients and their physicians; especially this time of year when health plans make changes.
Professional Courtesy to Physicians Has Its Limits
Pulling strings, asking for professional courtesy, whatever you want to call it, it can put physicians in a very awkward position.
Patient Care Often Extends to a Physician's Personal Time
As a physician practicing where I live, I often interact with patients outside the office. Shouldn't I, and others, get compensated for that time?
When a Patient's Family Member Hinders Physician Care
A recent interaction involving a patient's mother makes me wonder why we can't dismiss family members and if there's a lawsuit on my horizon.