features

25 What's New in Medicare Preventive Benefits (PDF available)

Kent J. Moore

The list of covered services has grown significantly in the last 10 years and includes some additions for 2007.

28 Six Tips for Improving Practice Efficiency and Patient Satisfaction (PDF available)

Beth G. Hodges, MD

When this practice’s initial success began to fade, the physicians and staff had to rethink "business as usual."

33 How to Successfully Navigate Your EHR Implementation (PDF available)

Kenneth G. Adler, MD, MMM

These clues can help you avoid the pitfalls you'll encounter on your EHR journey.

41 Simple Strategies to Avoid Medication Errors (PDF available)

Russell H. Jenkins, MD, and Allen J. Vaida, PharmD

Safe medication use is achievable and affordable if you follow these recommendations.

DEPARTMENTS

8 FRom the editor

Can Family Medicine still Catalyze Social Change?

Robert L. Edsall

'Tis better to disrupt than be disrupted.

13 opinion

Specialization in Family Medicine Education: Abandoning Our Generalist Roots

James Glazer, MD

If family medicine stops being “a specialty in breadth,” is it still family medicine?

16 Letters

The EHR debate rages on

19 news & trends

Quality-based compensation may have limited use • Health care spending still growing but slowing • Insurer suspends its physician rating system • Free e-prescribing program offered • Report examines “better-performing” groups • Aetna sets up personal health records

23 Coding & Documentation

Cindy Hughes, CPC

Documenting modifier -25 services • Venipuncture • Medication refills • Coding for services in a residency program • Hospital discharge • Documentation shortcuts • Diphenhydramine hydrochloride • Multiple nebulizer treatments

48 practice pearls

Share freebies with employees • Manage your perfectionism • Offer criticism with care • Consider clinical trials • Be aware of your impact

49 FPM QUIZ

Earn 3.75 CME credits.

56 the last word

The Dreaded Request for Medical Records

Sanford J. Brown, MD

Sometimes a patient’s reasons for leaving aren’t as bad as we might imagine.

53 Classifieds

54 Contact us