Practice Management

PCPs like the House's health-care reform bill

By Traci Dantoni July 24, 2009

The final version dumps the SGR and gives primary-care physicians more. When the House will vote remains uncertain. And then there's the Senate.

Medicare fees to change--good news for primary care?

By Traci Dantoni July 09, 2009

New rules would shift funds from specialty to primary care, modify how the sustainable growth rate is calculated, and reward physicians who meet quality and technological goals.

Malpractice policy pitfalls

Abby Jacobson, MS, PA-C June 09, 2009

Does your current liability coverage make you vulnerable to a claim filed by a patient you treated years ago? The answer depends on what type of policy you have.

MPR drug database available to mobile devices

June 08, 2009

The popular service adds handhelds to its desktop and laptop offerings, including Blackberry and Palm.

Too many alerts mar e-prescriptions

March 20, 2009

Does prescribing software give you too much of a good thing with its constant drug warnings? Alert fatigue could waste time and, worse, harm patients.

The recession and charity care

March 06, 2009

Even in good times, primary-care physicians dedicate a certain percentage of their practice to caring for patients unable to pay their bills. What will happen to such care as the recession broadens and deepens? Our current poll question has generated some interesting commentary.

ICD-10 delayed

February 02, 2009

The Department of Health and Human Services has extended the implementation date for the ICD-10 coding system to Oct. 1, 2013.

Electronic records tied to fewer malpractice payouts

By Myra Dembrow December 19, 2008

Electronic health records (EHRs) appear to reduce the number of malpractice payouts, Harvard researchers reported. Their study showed only 6.1% of physicians who used EHRs had a malpractice settlement history, compared with 10.8% of physicians who relied on paper.

Physician shortage could be much worse--soon

By Delicia Yard November 21, 2008

Nearly half of 11,950 U.S. physicians surveyed plan to see fewer patients or stop practicing completely over the next three years, according to results of a national survey.

Patient responsibility in getting test results

Asked by Sandra Sabb, MD, Farmington Hills, Mich., and answered by John Y. Davenport, MD, JD June 02, 2008

Where does our liability end and the responsibility to follow up on abnormal test results (including Pap smears and mammograms) reside with our patients? For example, do we need to send certified letters to patients who don't follow up or to those who never get the recommended tests done in the first place?