Articles
You Can't Always Get What You Want … But Sometimes You Can
If you've ever signed a bad contract or paid sticker price for a new car, these negotiation principles may save you from another rotten deal.
Using Standardized Admit Orders to Improve Inpatient Care
At 2 a.m., would you know the correct dose of acetylcysteine for an acetaminophen overdose?
What Does Walt Disney Know About Patient Satisfaction?
Retaining patients and attracting new ones can be a walk in the park if you concentrate on the two areas patients say matter most: your front-office staff and your office environment.
Disintegration: How Employed Doctors Are Landing on Their Feet
As integrated organizations come apart, family physicians are finding a variety of ways to bail out.
From the Editor
Smaller Is Looking Better
While HMOs may not be on the ropes, the House passage of the Norwood- Dingell bill has at least rung their chimes with a punishing left to the jaw. The fact that the House-Senate Conference Committee probably won't have a crushing right to follow it up with doesn't affect the…
Letters
Getting Paid
When to Bill for a Consultation
These tips will help you understand Medicare's rules for reimbursement, allowing you to better influence your income.
Identifying Patterns of Over- and Undercoding
Recent research shows the common situations under which family physicians tend to code too high and too low.
Coding & Documentation
Coding and Documentation
Diagnostic tests and an office visit | Peak flow and an office visit | Coding multiple simultaneous determinations | Diagnosis code for ADD | Global surgical service exclusions | Chronic conditions and prevention in one exam
Monitor
Monitor
HCFA delays making ICD-9 changes | E/M documentation guidelines still on HCFA's back burner | Physicians working harder to maintain income levels | Y2K Update: Medicare contractors, providers still generally unprepared | AMA union won't support strikes | Teens seeking STD…
Improving Patient Care
Building a Patient Registry From the Ground Up
By identifying your patients by condition, you can be more proactive in getting them the care they need.
Practice Diary
Practice Diary
Patient compliance | A picture is worth … | The doctor-patient relationship
Computers
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Selecting an EMR System
Sure the demo version is wonderful, but how can you tell what the program is really like?
Ask FPM
Ask FPM
Compensation plans, the IRS and Stark laws | The physician-patient relationship | Transcribing encounter notes
Salaried FP
A Team Approach to Reducing a Financial Deficit
Leaders in this multispecialty group enlisted physicians to help find solutions to their institution's financial problems.
Balancing Act
Do the Holidays Leave You Feeling Snowed Under?
We've got seven tips that will help you take some stress out of the season.