Practice Management

Most urologists point to an excellent staff as the key to a successful practice.

Urology has undergone an evolution in both the way clinicians approach surgical and nonsurgical procedures and the settings in which they perform them.

Urologists and other physicians who treat Medicare patients have again escaped a steep reimbursement reduction as President Obama on Dec. 15 signed legislation passed by the lame-duck Congress providing a 12-month reprieve.

While it is tempting to look only at "the bottom line," the contemporary physician manager/owner needs to have a more thorough understanding of the numbers that contribute to that bottom line and how to use that information to quickly discover problems and solutions.

Let's look at the simple things urologists can do to ensure the entire staff focuses on being patient-centered and keeping patients happy.

This article will help you understand the dynamics of selling your practice and explain how to accomplish this once-in-a-lifetime transaction.

When it comes to medical practices, proper investment in the staffing and technology related to day-to-day operations can improve the impression your practice conveys and help insulate the business from economic downturns and other events beyond your control.

Motivating staff members to give their best isn't always easy, but it's definitely worth the effort.

How do you increase the number of new patients you see? One way is to implement a same-day appointment policy in your practice.

Urology Times wanted to learn more about urologists' current use of nonphysician providers and whether these providers' numbers and responsibilities are expanding, especially given growing concerns about a work force shortage in urology.

Peter Bretan, MD, a urologist in private practice in Novato, CA, is the sole urologist for a company specializing in telemedicine-in this case, the use of robots to connect with computers at great distance from the bedside of the patient.

As employers (and individuals) select health insurance plans with higher deductibles that place more financial responsibility on the patient, it's more important than ever that medical practices revamp front office collection procedures and place more responsibility on the front office staff.

With real-time claims adjudication, a patient receives a service in your office and then in real time, while the patient is in the office, she receives an explanation of benefits that details her charges, what the insurance company allows, the amount of the co-pay, and the status of the patient's deductible.

"Lean management" is the latest buzz phrase among savvy medical practices that are trying to reduce costs while improving quality.

The owners of most medical practices feel confident in the service they provide and believe they are both meeting their patients' needs and making a good first impression. But are they? Taking a critical look at the average practice, I'm not so sure.

Urologists share how EMRs, recycling and reducing waste help make their practices reduce their environmental impact.

When an official acting on behalf of a government agency contacts a medical practice, it can be a daunting, even frightening experience-one that requires knowledge of your rights and what you must and should do.

Most urologists' professional conduct is impeccable, but there is an occasional physician whose attitude and behavior make life at work difficult for everyone.

Concerns about regulations and time have changed the way urologists work with drug and device reps.

Health care reform is what it is, and we have to learn to live with it for now and the foreseeable future. Currently, it is the law of the land.

There's lot to think about when it comes to adopting an electronic health record system.

The two biggest issues that come to mind in light of the current economic climate are how well you're communicating within the urology practice and how the economy might affect staff performance.

It may be time to put surgical-style checklists to use in the office. This article, which details one of the author's own experience, explains why.

Although the request to revise the urodynamics codes was initiated by Medicare, the request was to change the CPT code descriptions to reflect the fact that the old 51772 and the old 51795 were billed in conjunction with code 51726 almost all the time.

Supplies in your practice may cost more than you think.

Practices with 20 or fewer physicians may be exempt from the "Red Flags" rule, which requires physicians' practices and other businesses to spot and report identity theft, according to a bill unanimously passed in October by the U.S. House of Representatives.

What should we be doing or looking at in our practice here near the beginning of 2010?

However you decide to market and promote your practice, you will want to measure the impact and results of your efforts.

Medical practices around the country face continued challenges with managing a diverse work force that spans three generations.

Private payer rules differ from Medicare rules. From payment for procedures to globals, bundling, coverage, and modifier usage, private payers are not required to use Medicare rules.