Patients

It is both a science and an art to determine the most effective price for a practice’s concierge program. Here are some observations and guidelines.

There is no evidence PAs and NPs are a large factor in the illegal diversion of narcotics, so a recent recommendation to the FDA on pain control upsets me.

While the president's push is to simply permit physicians to talk with patients about gun safety, my fear is that in the not too distant future, it becomes a mandate.

Online tools and technology get cheaper and more powerful each year. Here’s how physicians can use screencasts to help patients and add value to their medical practice.

Ninety-five percent of my patients take my medical recommendations. It's the other five percent that require more convincing.

It is critical that physicians carefully explore what ACO opportunities may mean to their practice and career, including malpractice, liability and disability insurance.

Your fee schedule is the heart of your medical practice. Now is the time to get your allowable rates updated and published to your staff and billing department.

Writing articles that educate patients doesn’t have to be dull and dreary. Here are four ways to make them fun to write and more helpful for patients.

When it comes to patient communication, the best way is always a face-to-face encounter, especially when it involves bad news.

Providers across the country are questioning what should be done if they believe a patient poses a threat to others. Here’s some guidance.

HIPAA may protect patient information, but it has come at the cost of direct patient care.

With its push for physicians to discuss gun safety, the AMA once again reveals that it does not truly represent the physicians seeing patients every day.

From the emergence of non-physicians to the role of EHRs, it is time for America to take a fresh look at how we care for patients.

The president wants physicians to ask patients about their gun ownership. To me, this is not the best use of our time or the solution to avoid future tragedies.

I have a patient who constantly calls my practice and lingers in my reception area questioning my staff after her visit. I'm running out of solutions …and patience.

With 10,000 new 65-year-old patients each day, it's important that physicians act now to keep them healthy by improving preventative care.

Many medical practices are billing for Medicare's AWV without providing a detailed and personalized plan at the visit. Here's what they should do.

Hone your skills to create positive relationships with your patients and improve care quality.

Thoughts on the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, as a mother, a physician, and a citizen of the larger community.

Successfully communicating with noncompliant patients is one of the most difficult tasks physicians face. Strategic communication can help. Here are some tips.

The blogs that garnered the most attention among our physician readers in 2012, and some of the lessons learned from each.

From paying our practice's no-show fee to requiring a referral, patients get angry at policies we make them well aware of. It's time for some responsibility.

It seems CMS and I differ in our definitions of quality when it comes to the impact of EHRs on patient care.

Do you know what a PHR is? Hint: It's not another term for an EHR. A personal health record is patient-facing and patients are increasingly coming to expect it. Here's what you need to know about how these tools can help you engage patients in their own care.

Telemedicine is rapidly gaining acceptance. Here's how to get paid for using telehealth services and how to determine if it is a good fit for your office.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is an ideal time to talk to your senior patients about preventing adverse drug reactions.

Some patients attempt to use their position or influence to get special treatment or privileges from their doctors.

I appreciate the business my medical practice receives, but my staff and I also need to attend to our personal lives as well and we can't sacrifice that.

Imagine a way to reduce denied claims, have accurate patient information, and speed up the paperwork process. It exists, so why isn't it in your medical practice?

The Internet and a constant TV news cycle have created challenges for physicians in addressing all the information patients now have access to.