features

19 Preparing for a Medicare Fee Cut

Kent J. Moore

Doctors have several options to cope with the impending July 1 payment reduction. (PDF available)

23 What the Military Taught Me About Practice Management

Jennifer E. Frank, MD, FAAFP

These nine characteristics of military life have a place in medical practices. (PDF available)

26 Is Your Practice Merger Doomed to Fail?

Peter Valenzuela, MD, MBA, FAAFP

Before you partner with another practice, make sure you've addressed these four questions. (PDF available)

31 The Art and Science of Clinical Decision Making

Donald (Raj) R. Woolever, MD

Thinking about how you make clinical decisions is the first step toward making better ones. (PDF available)

following page 16

This section is included in copies mailed to AAFP membersand FPM paid subscribers. For more information, see http://www.aafp.org/fpm/bonuscontent.

A1 CME Quiz

Earn 4 CME credits.

A3 Making a Case for Online Physician-Patient Communication

Kenneth G. Adler, MD, MMM

It can improve communications, practice efficiency and maybe even the bottom line. Just don't expect all your patients to join you online ... yet. (PDF available)

A7 'Would You Like to See a Doctor Today?'

Michael Fine, MD, and Steven Busselen, MD

If you offer same-day appointments, this simple question can save your staff - and your patients - hours of time. (PDF available)

DEPARTMENTS

6 from the editor

Being All Things to All Patients

Robert L. Edsall

You can do it all, or do some of it better.

7 opinion

'Just-in-Time' Business Education for Family Physicians

Dennis F. Saver, MD

Why try to teach residents practice management when they don't care about it?

9 opinion

Medicare's (Un)sustainable Growth Rate

Steven Wilk, MD, and Robert L. Phillips Jr., MD, MSPH

Even paying physicians too little may be too much for Medicare.

11 letters

e-Nirvana: We're not there yet

14 News & trends

Former senators tackle health system reform • Physician wins suit, bills PBM for time spent on paperwork • Characteristics of high-performing groups • Congress considers more funds for residency programs

38 Coding & Documentation

Cindy Hughes, CPC

Stress tests • Reviewing old records • Skin tag removal • Sports physicals • Diagnosis coding for anticoagulation therapy • ICD-9 coding for palliative care

41 practice pearls

Understanding private, fee-for-service Medicare plans • Strengthen your patient relationships • Use screen savers to convey information to patients

46 the last word

A Night at the Nursing Home

Richard E. Waltman, MD

Sometimes, our patients give us gifts far greater than anything we've given them.

2 CONTACT US

42 CLASSIFIEDS