features

29 An EHR User-Satisfaction Survey: Advice From 408 Family Physicians (PDF available)

Robert L. Edsall and Kenneth G. Adler, MD, MMM

Contemplating the purchase of an EHR? Results of our informal survey may help.

40 Get Better Results With Staff Performance Standards (PDF available)

Judy Capko

By involving all of your employees, you can set more realistic job expectations and make your practice better.

47 Don't Get Burned Coding Common Skin Procedures (PDF available)

Keith Millette, MD

This encounter form can help you to prevent minor operations from becoming major billing headaches.

54 A Must-Do List for the Departing Physician (PDF available)

James D. Wall, Esq.

From tail coverage to giving notice, here's how to prepare yourself, your partners and your patients for your departure.

59 Reliability Science: Reducing the Error Rate in Your Practice (PDF available)

Stephen Elgert, MD

These seven principles can help ensure that your patients receive the right care at the right time every time.

DEPARTMENTS

10 from the editor

Get the Most Out of FPM by Putting Our Tools to Work

Robert L. Edsall

Teach a man to fish, and he'll starve ... until he can get his hands on a fish hook and line.

12 letters

High earning in the practice of family medicine • Homogenized lemmings

16 Coding & Documentation

Cindy Hughes, CPC

99000 for transferring labs • Change of status • Counseling and vaccinations for travelers • Laser treatment of rosacea

23 News & trends

Aetna goes public with physicians' payment rates • P4P programs should offer true bonuses, says panel • Are you giving patients more care than they want? • Committee addresses hassles of verifying patients' insurance • Small practices may profit from EHRs • Concerns over inappropriate screening tests spark ethical guidelines • Primary care sees larger pay jump than other specialties • New resource offers Rx help for needy patients

64 practice pearls

Give your waiting area a makeover • Discounts for self-pay patients • Eight tips for physician buy-in • Make conflict productive • Secrets to effective physician-administrator partnerships • Liability and administrative surcharges • Stay on top of third-party payers

75 FPM QUIZ

Earn 4.5 CME credits.

82 the last word

Coding Nonsense, NOS

Bobby J. Newbell, MD

The absurdity of diagnostic coding can be a source of frustration - and amusement.

1 Contact us

78 Classifieds

Cover illustration by Laurent Ciffullo