Patient Engagement & Communications

Neil Baum, MD, a Professor of Clinical Urology at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. Dr. Baum is the author of several books, including the best-selling book, 

Marketing Your Medical Practice-Ethically, Effectively, and Economically,

 which has sold over 225,000 copies and has been translated into Spanish. He contributes a weekly video for 

 on practical ideas to enhance productivity and efficiency in medical practices.  His 5–7-minute videos and short articles provide practical ideas that can be easily implemented and incorporated into any medical practice. Dr. Baum can be reached at 

Articles

Tips on what to do when you must part ways with a difficult patient.

Suggestions for managing difficult patients

Ericka L. Adler, JD, LLM has practiced in the area of regulatory and transactional healthcare law for more than 20 years. She represents physicians and other healthcare providers across the country in their day-to-day legal needs, including contract negotiations, sale transactions, and complex joint ventures. She also works with providers on a wide variety of compliance issues such as Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, and HIPAA. Ericka has been writing for Physicians Practice since 2011.

When patient discharges are necessary, here are some considerations on how to release patients with compassion and care.

Procedures for patient discharges

Slideshows

Whether your patient is angry or manipulative, there are certain ways to deal with them. Here are eight strategies to employ.

8 Ways to Deal with Difficult Patients 

All patients bleed red and will likely pay in green, but physicians have to make sure to watch out for themselves. 

Dealing with All Kinds of Problem Patients

Every doctor wants to see the best in their patients, but the truth is some will cause you trouble. Here are tips to deal with problem patients. 

10 Tips on Dealing with Problem Patients at Your Practice

Enough is enough, you are ready to dismiss a patient. What are the right reasons to do so and what actions can you take? 

The Why and How of Dismissing a Patient

Should you apologize for becoming frustrated with a patient? The Civility CEO weighs in on this and more. 

When a Patient Gets On Your Nerves

While there may be a benefit to pharmaceutical companies advertising to consumers directly, this doctor sees too many problems with it.

The Problems with Direct-to-Consumer Pharma Advertising 

After a 15-month fight with Long COVID, author Lucien W. Roberts, III, MHA, FACMPE, retired in February 2022 on the advice of his primary care doctor and his wife…perhaps not in that order.In retirement, he spends a few hours a week at a freestanding infusion center he co-owns, writes the occasional article, and tries not to drive his wife too crazy.He may be reached at 

Discharging a patient from your practice can be a difficult decision. However, if done the right way, your practice will be better for it. 

Discharging Problem Patients the Right Way

What should you do when a patient becomes difficult during an office visit? Trust your instincts on the safety of patients and staff, and have a plan.

Patient Dismissal