Melissa Young, MD

With its push for physicians to discuss gun safety, the AMA once again reveals that it does not truly represent the physicians seeing patients every day.

I have a patient who constantly calls my practice and lingers in my reception area questioning my staff after her visit. I'm running out of solutions …and patience.

Whether it is employees at the hospital where I round or people at the mall, patients constantly approach me with care-based questions outside of the office.

The key to better patient compliance can be found in one simple question, I've found: "So why are you here?"

I often write about when things go wrong at my medical practice, but it's time to focus on the positives for a change.

From paying our practice's no-show fee to requiring a referral, patients get angry at policies we make them well aware of. It's time for some responsibility.

How did doctors’ offices become the scapegoat when a prescription is not refilled or otherwise there when the patient shows up to the pharmacy?

Hurricane Sandy shut down my medical practice for days, but luckily everyone is OK and business is returning to normal.

With payer reimbursement often an uncertainty and the bigger picture financial landscape in flux, independent physicians will need partnerships to gain some leverage.

Some don't understand why practices don't let patients switch their physicians, but to me, there's no real benefit to patients and detriment to doctors.

On top of tending to patient concerns, staff issues, and the daily ins and outs of medical practice, I'm now tasked with property management. Sigh.

Patients can become very confused when one doctor tells them to do one thing, and another tells them to do something else when treating the same issue.

Physicians leave practices all the time and most do so with the appropriate amount of notice …but sometimes, that's not the case.

I appreciate the business my medical practice receives, but my staff and I also need to attend to our personal lives as well and we can't sacrifice that.

I understand that to each individual patient there is no one more important, no one more urgent. But I am one physician and can only see one person at a time.

Due to the current healthcare climate a colleague of mine is moving to the corporate world and it saddens me that the system is forcing out excellent physicians.

When we have limited healthcare resources - both time and money - we, as a society, have to say: That’s enough. No more tests. No more wild goose chase.

I know I can't help every patient, but I try. But sometimes, some patients push me to the brink of frustration when they won't let me help.

A colleague came to me seeking a change as a solo private practitioner, but my office isn't ready for the change she needs.

Taking a look at my practice finances, there was definitely an impact from my associate being out for a while this quarter.

I know there will be good that comes out of the Affordable Care Act, but I am concerned that there will be repercussions that we are not prepared for.

What's worse than getting an audit notice in the mail? Getting two of them. Here's how I'm preparing for my practice's review.

We need patients to understand that while physicians don't always agree with the rules, we can't just skirt around them.

In the wake of learning of another practice's staffing level, I'm re-examining what it takes to make my medical office run efficiently.

With my associate out, we've had to do some patient shuffling and not every patient has been accepting about our situation.

Physicians have very stressful lives, so there's the need for other outlets for our energy, whether it is at a shooting range, playing hockey, or learning to play guitar.

The absence of a vital employee can have a huge impact on any business, but in medicine, there is not only the drop in practice income, there is the health and safety of patients at stake.

When it comes to patients taking your advice, sometimes it is easy, sometimes it is frustrating, and sometimes, it just won't happen.

If a medical office is closed, and therefore, not generating income, should staff members be paid?

Choosing the right health plan for my staff means balancing business expense and employee satisfaction.