Practice Management

In an earlier article, we examined the reasons why an early EMR adopter might need to migrate to an entirely new clinical information system and some of the important issues that need to be addressed in managing that migration. In this article, we show how one practice overcame these challenges.

The controversial concept of medical home calls for a team led by a physician, usually a primary care physician, to be paid extra to handle personalized coordination of a patient's care across the health care system, including acting as liaison with other providers.

With the current physician shortage, if you plan to bring another physician into the practice, you'd better do it right.

The traditional prescribing process can be inefficient. We help you understand the definition of e-prescribing, the case for e-prescribing, and how to get started.

Prostate cancer research deserves the same level of government commitment that other forms of cancer receive, even those that affect young children.

It is important to be aware of the general arrangements (often referred to as "platforms") available for investment management and the alternative methods of compensation for those who are involved in retirement plan accounts.

Although payment is a nice incentive, it is not the main reason to participate in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative.

President Obama's 2010 budget proposal, with its $630 billion down payment on health care reform over the next decade, appears to contain significant good news for urologists, but never has it been more true: the devil is in the details.

For this article, we interviewed Sundie Hallen, a senior trainer at McGrath Communications Group (www.mcgrathcg.com), who provides 10 tips for giving an effective Internet presentation.

Some urology practices have become complacent about managed care contracts, assuming there's not much they can do about them. But if it's costing more money to see a patient than you are getting paid, it's time to renegotiate or consider unloading the payer.

In reviewing the data for multiple urology practices, the PRS Urology Data Initiative has shown that correctly billing for urodynamics has provided an immediate increase in income without adding new patients.

"I don't subscribe to the theory that reps who come to our office have a tremendous impact on what we do anyway."

AUA lobbyists face huge challenges on Capitol Hill involving four issues important to urologists.

While urology program directors are impressed with this year's group of residency interviewees, some flaws and some generational differences are evident.

The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008, which was signed into law at the end of last year, has a dramatic positive impact on those who are subject to minimum distributions from their individual retirement accounts.

Most practicing physicians will have to deal with the medical malpractice industry at least once in their career despite their best efforts to employ standards of care and reasonable risk management.

Medicare will pay for services provided in the postoperative period if the services fall under these rules: "Treatment for postoperative complications that requires a return trip to the operating room (OR)."

I've never used them. I didn't even know they existed.

Inger Saphire-Bernstein has been named manager of regulation at AUA. Her duties will include monitoring, identifying, and analyzing proposed regulations relevant to urology.

In this interview, John B. Forrest, MD, chair of the Practice Guidelines Committee, discusses how the committee has changed over the years, its process for creating guidelines, and future plans.

The timing of retirement has become a major topic of conversation as the recent stock market plunge decimated some retirement plans and individual portfolios.

As the Obama administration and the 111th Congress move forward on health care reform, increased sentiment for finding ways to support primary care physicians appears to be building. Unfortunately, urologists and other specialists could be asked to ante up.

A finely-tuned organization depends on being well-managed, and a urology practice is no exception.

Today, a number of urologists are leaving their clinical practices to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors.

Data, data, data. It's the key discussion point in almost any article about health care reform.

I'm a member of a multi-specialty group, and we have about 18 to 20 days for vacation. I try to use it all because I do feel it's important to take time off.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced three national coverage determinations to establish uniform national policies to prevent Medicare from paying for certain serious, preventable errors in medical care.

The outline of health care reform under the Obama presidency is beginning to take shape. While there will be positive developments for urologists, there are also areas of potential concern.

Federal regulators have judged the first phase of the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program a success, but the controversial plan promises potential headaches for physicians as it moves into its second phase.

New Products & Services