Law & Malpractice

We know EHRs can improve practice efficiency, but can they improve patient care? The evidence is suggesting they can. From disease management tools to automated reminders, EHRs are offering welcome improvements in patient outcomes.

Voice recognition software has gotten more sophisticated and easier to use. Still, is it good enough yet to be worth the time and money it will cost you to use it?

Plastic surgeon Eugene J. Strasser runs into trouble when an angry patient insists he bill Medicare for an elective procedure and he rightly refuses.

Here's a primer to assist your medical practice maintain its patient records and avoid any legal troubles.

When a drug that you prescribe often is recalled, you’re going to get swamped with calls and questions. Better to have a recall response plan in place before trouble strikes.

Coding is hard. It’s tedious. Yet it is how you get paid for the services you perform. So we asked the experts where things go wrong most of the time - and how to fix them.

Electronic prescribing is well on its way to becoming mainstream, and new DEA regulations allowing electronic prescriptions of controlled substances should accelerate that movement.

EHR adoption is still very low in the United States, especially among smaller practices. Therefore, to facilitate the adoption and the achievement of meaningful use of these EHRs among small practices, the Office of National Coordination for Health Information Technology (ONC) has now designated some 60 Regional Extension Centers (REC).

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.

Thinking of leaving your practice? Plan ahead to avoid problems with malpractice insurance, non-compete clauses, and other issues.

Many practices use midlevel providers to care for patients with routine complaints. But it’s important to understand their legal scope of practice and necessary level of supervision.

Do you know what’s in your partnership contract? Poorly designed or nonexistent contracts can spell disaster for you and your practice. Here’s how to make sure you’re protected.

Interoperability is the buzz word right now in health IT, but how close are we to exchanging information across wildly fragmented data systems? We investigate the progress and trends.

In previous posts, I wrote about my journey towards finding an EMR. I did lots of research. I read multiple articles online and in print. I looked at the surveys. I asked the experts. I had demos, online and live. I did site visits. And eventually, I made my choice.

The results of recent surveys suggest that a majority of physicians intend to buy electronic health record systems within the next few years. But software vendors interviewed at a recent annual meeting of health IT professionals aren’t yet seeing any stampede of doctors to acquire EHRs. And the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) has expressed reservations about the ability of physician groups to meet the “meaningful use” criteria for government financial incentives. That casts some doubt on the eagerness of doctors to adopt EHRs.

Small physician practices are less likely than big groups to have electronic medical records-and there’s a reason that goes beyond cost. They lack the resources and the technical knowledge to implement these complex systems. The support and training that vendors offer is frequently inadequate, especially for physicians who aren’t especially computer-savvy. And the vendors freely admit that they don’t have sufficient staff to cope with the expected influx of new EHR buyers who want to show meaningful use by 2011, when the government incentives start flowing.

You thought your retirement plan was secure. Your portfolio was on track. Then Wall Street tanked. Take heart, there are lots of options for physicians who are close to retirement. Read our un-retirement primer.

Should you keep your Rx data away from drug companies? Is that even possible? Here’s what you can and can’t do to protect your prescribing privacy.

Here’s how practice administrators can help prepare your practice’s defense against a liability claim.

Concerned about Medicare’s new Recovery Audit Contractors snooping around? Though your practice may not be affected by RACs for at least a year, the time to ready your defenses is now. Here’s how.

Saying “I’m sorry” is a concept that continues to elude most hospitals and physicians. Fortunately that attitude is starting to change, albeit slowly. Read what editorial director Bob Keaveney has to say on the subject.

Do you feel helpless against the threat of lawsuits? Many docs do. Yet there are ways to reduce your risk of being sued. Arm yourself with best practices, to keep malpractice lawyers at bay.

I’ve spent the past few weeks attending a number of healthcare information technology meetings focused on achieving interoperability in healthcare - so-called eHealth.

Quite a few groups have criticized the draft meaningful use requirements as being too complex and nearly impossible to comply with. Now, the Health IT Policy Committee has called for relaxation of the standards that providers must meet to receive EHR incentive funding.

Most practices waste scads of money - then wonder why they need a microscope to see their bottom line. To keep you on the right road, we’ve posted the signs to a more efficient and productive practice.

You may be unwittingly violating your patients’ confidentiality - and trust - on your blog or social media site. Check out these guidelines for staying legal and ethical online.

Confused about meaningful use and EHR certification? We’ve got the information you need to go confidently into the EHR marketplace. Here’s your guide.

Read editorial director Bob Keaveney’s thoughts on the recent upheaval in the U.S. Senate, and the now cloudy future of healthcare reform.

Forget herbal tea and bubble baths - a physician’s stress requires a more aggressive treatment. Here’s how to dissect the causes of your stress and utilize effective strategies for finding solutions.