Physicians Practice Pearls®

Fifteen months into a direct-pay practice, this physician recommends building a financial reserve first for any physician considering a similar path.

If you participate in quality care programs be sure you have a good understanding of your data. Otherwise you could lose out on potential revenue from payers.

Physicians may feel they praise staff members, but, in reality many come up short. Here are guidelines for giving effective praise.

Sometimes patients show up for preventive care and an urgent problem. Should you eat the cost for one service? Or bill for both?

You're skilled with a scalpel, but do you ever wonder how to handle a knife and fork at a formal meal? Don't worry we've got you covered.

Administrators and physicians are both leaders. While each role is important and unique, in order to be most effective, they need to work together.

Does your practice have an ICD-10 transition plan? Don't forget about prior authorizations.

While text messaging can be a fast and simplified form of healthcare communication, it is fundamentally flawed in terms of HIPAA compliance.

Physicians can often be pulled in too many directions. Developing strategies to better manage time is one solution.

With the advent of cloud computing, practices are now able to have better access to their data; using any platform, any device, and at anytime.

As a physician, the decision to participate in new healthcare exchange plans may not be up to you. Make sure you understand all the nuances.

Technology is an important factor in improving the way you care for your patients. Unfortunately too many practices fail to use it to communicate with them.

While the decision to change to a direct-pay practice can be the most difficult one a physician can make, there is a second decision that is nearly as difficult: What to charge for services.

The ICD-10 transition will require a significant change in mindset for practice administrators and staff alike. The time for excuses is past.

Keeping A/R within healthy limits will become more difficult as health reform rolls out. Here are nine steps your practice can take to collect all that it is due.

Applying lean thinking is becoming more prevalent as declining reimbursements and health reform pressures drive practices to operate more efficiently and at lower cost.

Without everyone's cooperation in your practice, change results can be compromised. Here are a few steps you can take to avoid sabotage.

Do you ever wonder if you come across as caring and compassionate or curmudgeonly? This quiz will help you ascertain how you are perceived by others.

I am now nearly a year out from opening a direct-pay practice. I have not gone bankrupt or crazy. Here are some important things I've learned.

Primary-care physicians can and should position themselves to strategically align their practices with both specialists and health systems.

You work hard to earn the respect of your patients and colleagues. Don't let errant virtual communications tarnish your image.

Here are 10 time-saving apps and technology tips that can make your personal and professional life easier.

Docs are not limited to selling their practice to stay afloat. Banding together with other practices to share resources may strengthen your business.

When you are sick, dealing with a difficult organization is the last thing you want to do. Here are some easy ways to endear your practice to its patients.

Work responsibilities, family time, and community activities can make it challenging to maintain a realistic schedule. Here are six steps to success.

The key to providing perks is to understand what is meaningful to employees. Obtain their input and design perks that reward hard work and dedication.

While "quality" has been an important buzz-word for practices, it is not the same as "value." Here's how to tell the difference.

Pay-for-performance programs are beginning to shift to emphasize outcomes. Here's what your practice needs to know about new initiatives.