Physicians Practice Pearls®

Practice administrators should consider more than just the top-line revenue. It's all about effectively managing your resources.

Patient access is getting increased attention through reform initiatives. Here are five steps you can take to make sure patients get appropriate access to care in your office.

Failing to adopt widely available billing and collections technology can cost medical practices big. Here's how to do it right.

The best defense is a good offense. Arm yourself with knowledge on what new federal healthcare fraud and abuse measures mean for your practice.

ICD-10 diagnosis codes are effective Oct. 1, 2014. Set an implementation budget and timeline. Identify ICD-9/ICD-10 differences. Say goodbye to nonspecific codes.

A patient portal can reduce the time your staff spends on administrative tasks and remind patients that you care enough to provide prompt service.

Providing healthcare insurance for your employees can sometimes seem impossible. But don't despair. There are new options to help your practice afford coverage.

Across-the-board salary increases for staff send the message that stellar efforts will go unrewarded. Let employees know you value and expect excellence.

Despite being an early and enthusiastic pioneer in EHR adoption, this physician decided that he couldn't continue business as usual.

Time is limited and money is tight. How can your practice morph into a new practice model and still ensure that it is paid adequately for patient services?

Many physicians appear invisible when someone does an Internet search - unless they want to be lost in the fray, it is up to them to make sure they have an accurate listing.

Optimizing the skills of nonphysician providers can help your practice increase patient access, boost productivity, and generate new revenue.

Penalties for mismanaging medical records are steep. Make sure you understand your practice's legal obligations as medical records custodian.

Medical practices are concentrating on critical changes as part of the ACA but it is important not to lose focus on the basics of coding.

What does a successful EHR implementation look like? Consultant Rosemarie Nelson spells it out in four easy steps.

More than likely you have a smartphone. But, are you using it to the fullest extent of its capabilities? There are literally millions of apps available, with thousands of them being dedicated to health. Here are a few of our favorites.

Blogging, in whatever form you choose, often sets you up as the expert on a particular subject or specialty - making you the "go-to" person for patients looking for information on the subject.

Being a skilled medical professional doesn't necessarily mean that you're comfortable speaking in public, yet, effective verbal communication is essential for personal and professional success.

Excellent customer service should be a benchmark for your office, to ensure the happiness of both your patients and employees.

Marketing is a powerful tool that physicians can use to build up their practices and foster improved professional relationships.

Much has been written about "social media" and while it seems like a great way to promote a retail business, is it a good tool for your practice?

Make sure you give your patients your full attention and resist the temptation to multitask on your smartphone. Forcing them to compete for your presence tells patients they come in last on your list.

Achieve meaningful use, increase profitability, and improve quality care with your patient portal.

While many practices have a compliance plan, most sit on a shelf gathering dust. Take it down, dust it off, and read it. Unenforced, it could be your worst enemy.

There are many misconceptions about what it takes to be effective in marketing a medical practice. The best approach is to have a plan - a comprehensive, written marketing plan.

Exit interviews tell you why good people are leaving – after they've left. Stay interviews help understand an employee's concerns while she is still on the job.

By now you have likely encountered the term "Patient-Centered Medical Home" or PCMH. If you do not yet know what a "medical home" is, think of it this way - these are practices that use care teams to put the patient at the center of the healthcare delivery system.