features

27 Electronic Health Records: The 2007 FPM User-Satisfaction Survey (PDF available)

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

If you already use an electronic health record system, here's your chance to help your colleagues who haven't yet made the leap.

32 Strategies for Developing a Knowledge-Driven Culture in Your Practice (PDF available)

A. John Orzano, MD, MPH, Alfred F. Tallia, MD, MPH, Claire R. McInerney, PhD, Reuben R. McDaniel Jr., EdD, and Benjamin F. Crabtree, PhD

Your practice's success may depend on getting those who work for you to share what they know. Here's how to do it.

39 How to Analyze Your E/M Coding Profile (PDF available)

Betsy Nicoletti

Your peers have been coding more 99214s. Is it time to review your coding habits?

44 Panel Size: How Many Patients Can One Doctor Manage? (PDF available)

Mark Murray, MD, MPA, Mike Davies, MD, and Barbara Boushon, RN

There are limits to the number of patients you can effectively care for. Here's how to determine that number, improve patient access and better manage your workload.

DEPARTMENTS

10 from the editor

The Right Number: Optimizing Panel Size

Robert L. Edsall

How many patients should you have, and how many do you have? Two simple questions, right?

13 opinion

Are Your Payers' Fee Schedules Fair?

Thomas A. Felger, MD

If they use multiple conversion factors when determining what they'll pay, you may be at an even greater disadvantage than you realized.

16 letters

EHRs don't fix everything • Welcome to Medicare visit and AAA screening • Semiformal attire and a smile

20 news & trends

2007 Match results: Family medicine stays flat • New CMS-1500 claim form delayed by formatting error • Conn. bill seeks to limit claim denials • So many topics, so little time during office visits

24 Coding & Documentation

Cindy Hughes, CPC

Anticoagulation management • New patients for a new physician? • Billing for wet mounts and KOH preps • Using documentation from MAs

52 practice pearls

Providing services as a professional courtesy • Be ready to accommodate caregivers • Ask patients for feedback

54 FPM QUIZ

Earn 3 CME credits.

58 the last word

Health Care's Giant Hairball

Jack Valancy, MBA

When faced with organizational bureaucracy, physicians can either give in, get out or learn how to orbit.

2 CONTACT US

56 CLASSIFIEDS