Practice Management

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

Contemporary financial challenges call for creative thinking on the part of the physician-cum-small business operator. One idea that is gaining popularity is in-office dispensing of medications.

Physicians and managers are accustomed to dealing with staff members who aren't happy at work and can't seem to get along, but what do you do when it's the physicians and management who are at odds?

There is no code for a radical cystectomy. You will have to use the code for a "total" cystectomy.

"I am optimistic about urology, regardless of what the president does."

Declining reimbursement remains urologists' number one concern, ahead of increasing overhead, increasing government regulations, and other issues, according to the 2008 Urology Times State of the Specialty Survey

Here are some smart steps physicians and managers can take to make performance reviews easier to conduct and more effective, ultimately paving the way for higher productivity.

The 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule was recently published, containing many important changes in reimbursement for urologists.

All successful physicians listen to their patients. Do you?

This article shows you how to make the most of referral sources that often get little attention: friends, family, and community connections.

We review a sampling of software and hardware for the office-based practice that can improve the way you practice, increase your efficiency, and enhance your communication with patients.

Being denied payment for PSA tests.

Procedural coding: How to make the process work

Here are a few strategies to help urologists and staff members reduce the potential for patients to become outrageous.

What are the differences between the various types of charitable trusts?

Maintaining balance between personal and professional lives presents a challenge for many physicians.

Thepractice of physicians generating revenue from imaging services to which they refer their patients has come under federal scrutiny.

If you determine that the life insurance you bought years ago is no longer needed to provide for a surviving family, it can be canceled or given to your favorite charitable not-for-profit entity.

Here are steps and suggestions for getting your book idea to a publisher and seeing your work in print and on the bookshelves.

You can update a past medical, family, and social history (PFS) and ROS without having to rewrite it each time.