Physicians Practice Pearls®

Coding for observation services can be confounding. Currently, CPT and CMS disagree on which code to report on the second day of observation. In 2011, that is changing.

Consultant Greg Mertz feels there is a robust future for private practice, even though practice models will have to change.

The cost of staffing can consume as much as 30 percent of operating expenses for a medical practice. However, don't be tempted to cut staff. Instead, invest in your staff so you get and keep highly motivated, productive people on your team.

Medical practices face two significant deadlines that require planning and testing in 2011. The first is the new 5010 electronic claims transmission standard, the second ICD-10.

What can you do if your payer won't reimburse your practice for cleanly submitted claims?

Taking the time to develop accurate and current job descriptions, schedule annual performance reviews, and make yourself available to employees, will reap rewards for both you as a manager and your practice.

Expert Greg Mertz offers tips on how to navigate the process of EHR implementation through needs analysis, vendor selection, and training.

Seasoned practice owners and administrators know the importance of setting practice goals, both short and long term.

Maintaining a Web site is an important part of marketing your practice. Be assured that patients will judge your practice, in part, by the quality of your Web site. Don't be caught lacking.

With a growing shortage of primary-care physicians, NPs are fast becoming the resource of choice

The phones never seem to stop ringing in a medical practice. How does your practice manage incoming calls?

One of the thorniest coding questions is: Can a physician bill for family meetings when the patient is not present? If so, who gets the bill ?

Effectively controlling costs in a medical practice essentially means controlling personnel costs.

Today doctors are competing for patients in a radically changed marketplace. One of the most important emerging technologies in that space is Internet-based social networking.

EHR adoption doesn’t end when your system is installed; you have to continue to improve your use of the product.

Sometimes in the quest to get the job done, physicians can fail to see the visit from the patient’s point of view.

When declining reimbursements seem out of control, many physicians focus on the more manageable side of the business equation: costs.

It is important to take the time to review the rules with your staff, so that everyone understands exactly what incident-to billing requires.

The benefit of having your own in-house billing department is that they are well-versed in billing procedures for your practice and speciality.

The road to electronic health records is filled with good intentions. However, every EHR vendor claims they have a certified product. Here are some steps that you can take to protect your EHR investment.

Wondering if you are overstaffed? Make sure to evaluate your work flow and practice operations first before cutting staff.

EHR implementation in a private practice setting can be difficult. However, careful planning will set you firmly on the right path. First off, be wary of these common mistakes.

It is easy to fall prey to the pressure to update your own office building. But before you do, there are a few things you should consider.

When a new employee doesn't work out it is usually for one of two reasons: Either you hired the wrong person or you didn't provide the right training.

In the midst of Medicare cuts, consult-code farewells, healthcare reform bills, and all our other challenges, we need to prepare for new HIPAA Privacy and Security mandates.

Where do your patient referrals come from? Do you know?

Does your medical practice have a Web site? If so, you are on your way to building a patient portal.

2010 starts the second year of the CMS Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program.