Spring 2008 Newsletter articles
Diagnosing Your Practice with Patient Satisfaction Surveys
Improving the quality of care your practice delivers is about more than just hiring more staff, reducing wait times, or acquiring new equipment.
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Dissatisfaction Runs High Among Physicians
If given the chance to start their careers again, some 60% of primary care physicians would choose a different field, and many feel they are less respected than surgical or diagnostic specialists, according to a survey conducted by Physicians Practice magazine.
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Parents Want Physicians to Offer Interactive Websites
Busy parents want to be able to book appointments and request prescription refills using the office websites of their family’s physicians, but more than half report that their doctors fail to offer these online services, a recent survey conducted by online parenting magazine InteractiveDad.com found.
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Winter 2008 Newsletter articles
Offering Patients a Medical Home
The concept of patient-centered care is hardly new, but primary care physicians often struggle to provide comprehensive, accessible, and coordinated health care services to patients while still covering their own expenses.
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Leadership: Building Stronger Practices
Motivating the people in your practice to perform at top levels is most likely an ongoing objective.
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Improving Productivity with Nonphysician Providers
Adding a nonphysician provider (NP) to your busy practice can lighten your workload, increase patient satisfaction, and boost your bottom line.
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Fall 2007 Newsletter articles
Educating Your Employees about Their 401(k) Plan
A 401(k) plan can offer employees an excellent means to save for retirement. However, workers often pass up the opportunity to participate in their employer-sponsored plans because the information presented may seem confusing or difficult to understand.
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Raising Money to Expand Your Practice
A growing practice is a sign of your success. But, like many physicians, you may lack the capital to pay for an expansion, especially if your plan for growth involves new construction or a substantial upgrade of your current facilities.
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Replacing Downcoding with Correct Coding
Worried about being accused of inappropriate—or even fraudulent—coding, many physicians try to avoid calling attention to themselves by billing payers for less than their services are worth.
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Summer 2007 Newsletter articles
IThe Benefits of Leasing Medical Equipment
Growing your practice while providing high quality care to patients may entail acquiring new—and often very expensive—equipment. Practices that lack the necessary capital to purchase equipment up front may take out a loan or set up a financing plan, but this can be costly and difficult to arrange.
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New Legislation Makes HSAs More Attractive
Legislation creating new incentives for Americans to contribute to health savings accounts (HSAs) was signed into law by President Bush on December 20, 2006.
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Communicating Effectively with Older Patients
The medical needs of elderly patients tend to be complex. Some 80% of older adults suffer from at least one chronic condition, and the average 75 year old has three chronic conditions and takes at least five prescription drugs, according to a 2004 study by the Merck Institute of Aging and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As health problems mount, the ability of older patients to speak with their doctors about symptoms and health concerns can deteriorate.
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Spring 2007 Newsletter articles
Pressure Mounts for the Adoption of Electronic Health Records
Since the Bush administration first launched its campaign to develop and implement a nationwide system for storing patient records in electronic form by 2014, legislators, federal and state regulators, and medical providers have been grappling with the cost, implementation, and privacy issues surrounding health information technology systems.
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Lower Medicare Reimbursements Could Lead to Cost Cutting
The proposed cuts in Medicare reimbursements could force many medical practices to reduce the number of Medicare patients they treat, lay off staff, and trim employee benefits, according to a survey by
the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
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Improving Employee Performance with the Right Incentives
Retaining key employees is central to the success of any practice. Keeping qualified and hardworking staff on board will result in greater patient satisfaction, more efficient administration, and improved profitability.
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