Family Practice Management

March 1999 Table of Contents

Articles

28 Clinical policies aren't brought down from Mount Sinai; they're written by panels or committees of fallible people.

40 "People who think they have the option of paper versus computerized charts -- they don't understand. This is not an option anymore."

45 The question to ask is this: If the patient came to you today in the office with these signs and symptoms, would you admit him or her?

23	23	QUALITY CARE Quality Improvement: First Steps QI can bring about substantial, lasting, positive change in your practice. It all begins with identifying the opportunities. Mary Thoesen Coleman, MD, PhD, and Scott Endsley, MD, MSc
23	45	COST-EFFECTIVE CARE Tips for Making Inpatient Care More Efficient You may be surprised at what you can do to improve the quality and reduce the cost of hospital care -- and strengthen your own position. Spencer H. McCleave, MD, MBA

45	28	EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE How to Evaluate and Implement Clinical Policies Here are step-by-step methodologies to help you select the right clinical policies and actually change practice with them. Thomas T. Gilbert, MD, MPH, and Julie Scott Taylor, MD
	37	MAXIMIZING REIMBURSEMENT Take Charge of Coding: Don't Lose Income to Neglect The time you spend will be well rewarded -- both financially and in improved service to your patients. William Jackson Epperson, MD, Karl S. Hubach, MD, Karen E. Menn, DO, and Sharon Oates, FNP
	40	FAMILY PRACTICE SPECTRUM Practicing Without Paper Using information technology, this Texas practice is working smarter and serving patients better. John Spicer

Featured Departments

15 When you outsource your billing, you're putting the financial stability of your practice in someone else's hands.

53 "Oh," she said, "I didn't see Dr. Gude. I went to an acupuncturist, who said I had a floating rib and sent me to a chiropractor, who put it back in."

66 If you're waiting for blocks of time to do something you want to do, you're waiting for a bus that's not coming.

	15	GETTING PAID What to Consider When Choosing a Billing Service The key is to remember that the best indicator of a company's performance is its track record with practices like yours. Judy Capko
	18	CODING AND DOCUMENTATION Answers to Your Questions Kent J. Moore and John Spicer
	21	MONITOR Y2K Update: HCFA says it'll be ready, but will you? • HMO, POS enrollment slows; overall health plan costs rise • Boomers will demand greater accountability • The future of family practice: A glass half full? • Medicare overpayments continue to fall • New York HMO complaints double • Groups collaborate on performance measures
	53	PRACTICE DIARY Excerpts From a Family Physician's Journal Sanford J. Brown, MD
	54	ASK FPM Discounting self-pay patients • Balance billing HMO patients • Practicing in a strip mall • Waiving a co-payment
	57	IMPROVING PATIENT CARE Beginning With a Vision Any efforts to improve patient care must be guided by a clear vision that you, your staff and your colleagues share. Stacey Eubanks
	59	COMPUTERS Our Featured Web Site: Three Sites for Patient Health Information David C. Kibbe, MD, MBA
	66	BALANCING ACT Tips for Life Balance and Time Management From quick fixes to major changes, here are a dozen ways you can get organized and find time you didn't know you had. Pamela J. Vaccaro, MA
		Other Departments
	8	EDITOR'S PAGE
	11	LETTERS
	61	FPM QUIZ (EARN 3 HOURS OF CME CREDIT)
	65	AUTHORS GUIDE

Copyright © 1999 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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