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By day, Michael Sevilla, MD, is a family physician in the small northeastern Ohio town of Salem, about 20 miles west of the Pennsylvania border. But at night, between visits, and during his lunch break, he's "Dr. Anonymous," posting updates to his blog of the same name, checking his Facebook page and Twitter feed, or recording his latest Web-based radio show.

Getting patients to 'Like' your practice

Regarding your legacy, there's a fine line between ensuring 

 endures for generations and leaving behind a financial burden for your loved ones. Without a solid estate plan, your wealth could be eroded by taxes, administrative fees, or even disputes among heirs. Advanced estate planning systems, driven by technology, are becoming essential tools for safeguarding your wealth in today's unpredictable 

 developments. With fluctuating tax laws and rising interest rates, relying solely on traditional methods for estate planning can leave your assets vulnerable.

Legacy or liability? Creating a plan to protect your wealth

The first step in defending your wealth from unnecessary loss is to design an estate plan prioritizing protection over liability. The general idea of estate planning only revolves around deciding who inherits what. On the contrary, it's about creating a structure that minimizes taxes, avoids probate complications, and ensures your intentions are executed smoothly. This makes relying on outdated methods to lose more than you preserve.

Modern technology enhances wealth protection more efficiently in the following ways:


1. Mobile applications for asset management

One of the most significant advancements in estate planning is the development of mobile applications that track and manage assets. These tools provide an up-to-date overview of your financial portfolio and send reminders for critical estate planning tasks. For example, apps can alert you when it's time to update your will or review beneficiaries, ensuring your estate plan remains current. These applications streamline the estate management process and make staying organized and proactive with your wealth protection efforts easier.


2. Data analytics for optimal asset allocation

Advanced algorithms can analyze your portfolio and suggest strategies that minimize tax burdens while maximizing wealth transfer. These insights can inform decisions about how assets are divided, allocated, and distributed, helping you create a more resilient plan to tax changes and inflation. You can identify your estate plan's potential weaknesses and mitigate risks with data-driven recommendations.


3. Electronic signatures for streamlined execution

In the digital age, executing legal documents should be as straightforward as possible, which is where electronic signatures present their advantages. E-signature technology makes signing estate planning documents like wills, trusts, and power of attorney forms more efficient without compromising legal compliance. Not only does this save time, but it also reduces the chances of delays or errors in executing crucial legal documents. This is especially useful when dealing with time-sensitive situations or when signatories are in different locations.


The digital revolution has also made it possible to create and store wills online securely. Digital wills on online platforms offering legal guidance allow individuals to quickly draft, modify, and access their estate documents. These platforms ensure that your will is verifiable and easily accessible whenever needed. Services offering cloud storage of these documents guarantee that your estate plan can be located and executed efficiently, providing peace of mind that your wealth distribution instructions will be followed accurately.

Accurate asset documentation is the foundation of a smooth transition

If your records are not clear, transferring wealth to heirs can become complicated, often resulting in extended probate processes or legal disputes. Probate can be time-consuming, costly, and emotionally draining for your loved ones, especially if asset ownership is unclear.

Estate planning is crucial and beneficial in many ways as it documents all your assets—from real estate, bank accounts, investments, and business interests to personal items like family heirlooms and even your monthly subscriptions. This comprehensive record ensures a smooth ownership transition, reducing the need for legal intervention and minimizing delays in asset distribution.

Moreover, estate planning allows for better management of financial liabilities, ensuring that debts, taxes, and other obligations are settled fairly and efficiently. Trustees or executors can manage these responsibilities without ambiguity, reducing the risk of legal challenges or financial mismanagement, given you have well-documented records. Preserving family relationships and avoiding costly legal battles become the cherry on this straightforward, intentional process.

Mitigating common estate planning mistakes

To create a foolproof estate plan, avoid these common mistakes that lead to unintended consequences:

Life changes, and so should your will. Whether you're changing marital status, having a new child, or acquiring a new asset, your estate plan should reflect your current situation. Regularly review and update your will to ensure that no one is left out and that your assets are distributed according to your latest intentions.

The individual you select as your executor or trustee is crucial in ensuring your estate plan is carried out. Choosing someone ill-equipped to handle these responsibilities can delay the process, bring about errors, and even attract legal disputes. Ensure your executor is trustworthy and capable of managing the administrative tasks involved.

We live in a digital world where assets aren't limited to physical possessions. Cryptocurrency, online accounts, and intellectual property rights are all part of your digital footprint. Ensure that these assets are included in your estate plan and instructions on accessing them.

I am 100% confident that the primary cause of family disputes is unequal or inadequate asset distribution. To prevent this, ensure that your estate plan clearly outlines how assets, especially sentimental items like family heirlooms, should be distributed. Transparency in your intentions can help mitigate disagreements and ensure your wealth is transferred peacefully.

Estate planning creates a solid foundation for financial security, free from unnecessary complications; it doesn't have to revolve solely around safeguarding wealth for the future. From mobile applications to data analytics and digital wills, estate planning has become way more accessible, and you can take proactive steps to protect your assets anytime, anywhere.

Leverage these technologies to keep a clear and accurate record of your assets, helping you avoid common mistakes in estate planning. This gives you peace of mind that your wealth will be passed on according to your wishes—without the stress of taxes, rising interest rates, or family disputes. Ultimately, a well-thought-out and up-to-date estate plan protects your legacy from potential challenges and ensures your hard-earned wealth is not vulnerable to outside threats or unnecessary complications.

Ensuring wealth endures for generations requires a robust estate plan to prevent financial burdens on heirs. Advanced estate planning systems, driven by technology, are essential in today's volatile financial landscape. Modern tools like mobile applications, data analytics, and electronic signatures enhance wealth protection by streamlining asset management, optimizing tax strategies, and facilitating legal document execution. Comprehensive asset documentation and avoiding common estate planning mistakes, such as failing to update wills or ignoring digital assets, are crucial. Leveraging technology ensures a smooth wealth transition and protects against potential challenges.

Relying solely on traditional methods for estate planning can leave your assets vulnerable.

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Estate planning is your first line of defense against wealth loss—Here’s what you should know

This is your chance to tell us about staffing and salaries in your office as the 

Your answers will inform Physicians Practice stories going forward.

The 2024 Physicians Practice Staff Salary survey is now available, offering an opportunity to provide insights on staffing and salaries within medical offices. Participation in the survey will contribute valuable data that will shape future stories and analyses by Physicians Practice. This initiative aims to gather comprehensive information on current compensation trends and staffing dynamics, which are crucial for understanding the evolving landscape of medical practice management. The collected data will be instrumental in informing industry professionals about prevailing salary benchmarks and staffing practices.

Don't miss your chance to see how your practice measures up.

Take the Staff Salary Survey now!

GLP-1 RA antiobesity medications: Lifestyle changes are needed too

. He has made a career as a researcher and author about overweight, obesity and nutrition. He’s also a doctor who has treated patients for years through Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine’s Center for Lifestyle Medicine. His next book, “Patient Centered Weight Management: The Six Factor Professional Program & Toolkit,” written for medical and health care professionals, is due out in 2025, with his wife and co-author, Nancy Kushner, MSN, RN. It is the follow-up to his volume, “Six Factors to Fit: Weight Loss That Works for You!”

Lifestyle modifications are crucial when patients start using GLP-1 RA antiobesity drugs, according to Dr. Robert Kushner, a seasoned researcher and clinician in obesity and nutrition. Dr. Kushner emphasizes the integration of lifestyle changes with pharmacotherapy for effective weight management. His upcoming book, "Patient Centered Weight Management: The Six Factor Professional Program & Toolkit," aims to provide healthcare professionals with comprehensive strategies for patient-centered weight management. This work builds on his previous publication, "Six Factors to Fit: Weight Loss That Works for You!"

A physician researcher and author discusses the latest information on GLP-1 RA antiobesity medications.

Weight Management

GLP-1 RA antiobesity medications: Lifestyle changes needed too

GLP-1 RA antiobesity medications: Talking about cost

 are effective – and expensive. How should physicians talk about this with 

, discusses the financial factors that affect patient treatment for obesity. He has made a career as a researcher and author about overweight, obesity and nutrition. He’s also a doctor who has treated patients for years through Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine’s Center for Lifestyle Medicine.

The introduction of GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) has shown significant efficacy in obesity treatment, but their high cost presents a challenge for patient access. Physicians must navigate these financial barriers when discussing treatment options with patients. Dr. Robert Kushner, an expert in obesity and nutrition, emphasizes the importance of transparent communication regarding the financial implications of these medications. His extensive experience in both research and clinical practice at Northwestern University underscores the need for balancing effective treatment with patient affordability and accessibility.

All of Trump's health care picks

President-elect Donald Trump has officially made several announcements regarding his nominations for major health care openings in his new administration. His picks include Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Jim O'Neill as deputy secretary of HHS, Mehmet Oz, MD, MBA, as the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Dave Weldon, MD, as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Marty Makary, MD, MPH, FACS, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Janette Nesheiwat, MD, as surgeon general and Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Donald Trump has announced his nominations for key healthcare positions in his administration. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services, while Mehmet Oz is chosen to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Dave Weldon is selected as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Marty Makary is nominated as the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Janette Nesheiwat is appointed as the Surgeon General. These selections reflect a diverse range of expertise and backgrounds in healthcare leadership.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominations for major positions of leadership in health care in his new administration—including HHS, CMS, CDC, FDA, NIH and surgeon general.  

The leaders of health care in the new Trump administration

This eBook will walk readers through what AI is and highlight how AI is transforming healthcare, especially in patient scheduling. AI solutions like Veradigm's Predictive Scheduler can optimize schedules by using machine learning to predict patient needs, reducing wait times and easing staff burdens. 

Traditional scheduling methods can be inefficient, leading to prolonged wait times and adding stress to already limited staff. By automating scheduling and prioritizing patients, AI addresses staffing shortages, lowers no-shows, and boosts productivity. 

The eBook will also present a case study on how an AI-optimized scheduling system uncovered potential revenue by up to $1.8 million.

Fill out the form below for more information. 

AI is revolutionizing healthcare, particularly in patient scheduling, by employing machine learning to predict patient needs and optimize schedules. Solutions like Veradigm's Predictive Scheduler help reduce wait times and alleviate staff burdens. Traditional scheduling methods often lead to inefficiencies, prolonged wait times, and increased stress on limited staff. AI-driven automation addresses these issues by prioritizing patients, reducing no-shows, and enhancing productivity. A case study demonstrates how an AI-optimized scheduling system can potentially uncover significant revenue, exemplified by an increase of up to $1.8 million.

This eBook will walk readers through what AI is and highlight how AI is transforming healthcare, especially in patient scheduling. Integrating AI, like Veradigm’s Predictive Scheduler, can optimize schedules by using machine learning to predict patient needs, reducing wait times and easing staff burdens. 

Traditional scheduling methods can be inefficient, leading to prolonged wait times and adding stress to already limited staff. By automating scheduling and prioritizing patients, AI addresses staffing shortages, lowers no-shows, and boosts productivity. The eBook will also present a case study on how an AI-optimized scheduling system uncovered potential revenue by up to $1.8 million.

Morgan Lewis Jr.

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