Physicians Practice Pearls®

Most physicians are aware that ethically they should not pay those in a position to refer to their practice, nor should they accept gifts from providers to whom they refer patients. However, physicians may not realize that giving and receiving gifts may actually be illegal under numerous laws.

The HITECH Act significantly strengthened aspects of the HIPAA Security Rule. If you are a 'Covered Entity' or 'Business Associate' it's time to get serious!

In medicine, there is an important distinction between clinical quality and perceived clinical quality. They are rarely one and the same, and understanding this distinction is critical for both clinicians and practice administrators.

As medical reimbursements continue to dwindle, the value proposition for participating in insurance plans becomes increasingly weak. Why not break with tradition and contract directly with employers? Here's how to get started.

Learn when and what CPT codes to use with prolonged services codes 99354 and 99355 at your medical practice.

Use technology to free your staff and patients from non-urgent phone calls

The feds have aggressively stepped up their fraud and abuse efforts. Your practice may play by the rules, but that doesn't guarantee it will escape federal scrutiny.

Are you frustrated and overwhelmed by the need to employ a large staff dedicated to processing and submitting insurance claims? Maybe you should consider the direct pay model of care.

E-prescribing has not only improved the efficiency of this practice, it has improved quality at the same time.

A pleasant office décor is easier to achieve than you think.

Don't allow your staff meetings to become mired in the muck, stay positive

Looking for the proper way to use modifier -25 at your medical practice? Here is some expert medical coding advice.

It happens every day in a busy medical practice - the things that need doing often get done by whomever can do it at the time. But that can be a costly mistake.

The one thing that can never be replaced by sophisticated equipment is the level of courtesy that is extended to patients, colleagues, and staff.

When I demonstrate that I care about the people I work with, they work harder for my patients.

Involving your support staff is essential to achieving meaningful use of a certified EHR. Do you have a plan?

ACOs will come in many shapes and sizes; until the final rules are announced, here are eleven things you should know.

Whatever area of your practice needs improvement, consider lean thinking as a way to get the most out of your time - your patients, staff, and practice will be glad you did.

When an employee calls in sick, the pressure's on. Here are some ways to avoid chaos and keep patients happy when you are short-staffed.

There's nothing more disruptive than hiring someone who doesn't work out. Here are some tried-and-true tips to head off disaster.

It isn't easy for practices to become accredited as a patient centered medical home. To help you assess your readiness and make the transition, here are a few guidelines to get you started.

The Office of Inspector General included "identical notes" as an area of interest in its 2011 Work Plan. Make sure your patient notes reflect each unique encounter.

You might feel more justified than most in taking out your frustration on others, but be careful - the emotional hangovers you might create can often have a long-lasting effect on your practice.

Many physicians believe that they open themselves up to potential liability risks by engaging in social media. In practice, it is always prudent to be concerned with malpractice risk. That said, the key to effectively utilizing social media is twofold.

What yardstick should you use to measure your practice against those of your colleagues?

Electronic records require regular upgrades. Don't be fooled into thinking you can get by on the cheap.

Inflation can be both good and bad for a practice. Therefore, understanding the nature of inflation can save your practice money.

Corporations know exactly what their costs are and how much they need to charge to make a profit. Do you?