features

37 Escaping the Tyranny of the Urgent by Delivering Planned Care
(PDF available)

L. Gordon Moore, MD

These four components can help you provide care that is more proactive, organized and satisfying.

45 How to Bill for Services Performed by Nonphysician Practitioners
(PDF available)

Betsy Nicoletti

Learning payers' rules will help you assess the value of hiring an NPP.

51 Developing a Solo Practice Exit Strategy (PDF available)

Vasilios J. Kalogredis, JD, CHBC, CFP

It's never too soon to start planning a smooth transition from solo practice to retirement.

57 An Introduction to Personal Health Records (PDF available)

Scott Endsley, MD, MSc, David C. Kibbe, MD, MBA, Anthony Linares, MD, and Karen Colorafi, RN

Here's what you need to know about this growing trend to give patients access to a portable health record.

65 Retail Health Clinics Are Rolling Your Way (PDF available)

Drew Sullivan

Your patients will soon be able to choose between your office and the big-box retailer around the corner when they're feeling sick. Will this trend bring increased competition or cooperation?

75 An Update on Tobacco Cessation Reimbursement (PDF available)

Mary Theobald, MBA, and Carlos Roberto Jaén, MD, PhD

Slowly but surely, it's getting easier to help your patients kick the habit.

DEPARTMENTS

14 from the editor

Planned Care: Some Assembly Required

Robert L. Edsall

(But each piece is useful in itself.)

19 editorial

What Do Retail Clinics Mean for Family Medicine?

John Bachman, MD

These clinics may be clearing a permanent space for themselves in the health care landscape.

25 letters

Enabling the disabled? • On parenthood • Going cash-only

26 news & Trends

Medicare drug plan enrollment ends, appeals begin • TransforMED selects 36 practices to test new model of care • AAFP defends use of high-level E/M codes

32 Coding & Documentation

Cindy Hughes, CPC

Coding an injection with an office visit • E/M services for unrelated problems on the same day • ED services and admission on the same day • Debridement services • Mini-mental status exams

81 practice pearls

Model healthy behavior for your patients • Reduce returned mail • Create a simple drug reference for patients • Use a date stamp • Code detailed history with 4,3,2,1 • Let your staff do their jobs • Remember prescription preferences

82 FPM QUIZ

Earn 3.5 CME credits.

86 the last word

How to Defuse an Exploding Physician

David Schumer, MD

These six steps can help physicians deal with the stress of their profession before it leads to burnout.

4 Contact us

84 Classifieds

85 authors guide