Law & Malpractice

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.

The results of our annual Technology Survey are available this month, and since so many of you have been kind enough to tell us how you’re using technology to do your job, it seems only fair to tell you how we’re using it to do ours.

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

In this podcast, Robert Tennant, senior policy advisor for the Medical Group Management Association, explains the EHR meaningful use draft criteria.

Don’t give the government more of your hard-earned cash than you have to. With tax-filing season upon us, check out our tips for understanding tax laws and avoiding common mistakes.

Could the answer to the malpractice crisis be a whole new kind of court? Federal caps on pain-and-suffering awards aren’t coming soon, so we investigate another possibility.

Social networking is all the rage, but be wary if your staff are posting updates to Facebook. Setting a few ground rules can help avoid damage to your practice.

Want to know how to boost your scores on those seemingly arbitrary online physician-rating sites? The sites aren’t going away, so you’ll need to know how to make the best of them.

The MGMA today raised some concerns about how the EHR incentive program is implemented, and sent a letter of recommendations to Dr. David Blumenthal, National Health IT Coordinator.

Incentivized by the Obama administration’s 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), industry wide adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) is moving from theory to reality.

I've seen this photo posted on a few blogs lately, and I thought it needed to be shared. I understand the original source may be Pat Wise of HIMSS.

I've seen this photo posted on a few blogs lately, and I thought it needed to be shared. I understand the original source may be Pat Wise of HIMSS.

Which states welcome practicing physicians, and which ones fleece them? Check out our simple one-page scorecard for state-based information on Medicare pay, malpractice climate, income tax burdens, and more.

Rumors of stricter enforcement of privacy and security rules have been heard before but this time there’s reason to believe that tougher scrutiny is indeed coming.

Going into business with friends may seem like a great idea. Physicians are often asked to help fund a startup business. But these ventures often disappoint, and when they do, relationships can be ruined.

Evaluating a partnership offer has been complicated by the recession. Is ownership still worth it?

In the market for an EHR? Here’s a step-by-step selection guide by internist and pediatrician Rob Lamberts, who’s been through the process himself.