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Capturing all charges

One surefire way to guarantee that you won't be paid? Don't send the bill.

Eyes on the prize

Family Practice Associates in Delaware got a phone call back in 2007 that most practices never expect to receive.

Common characteristics of better-performing medical practices include comparing individual performance to internal and external peers, employing midlevels, and ensuring efficient patient flow through the practice, according to an MGMA report.

The benefits of sharing

When Bertha H Safford, MD, a family physician in Ferndale, Washington, received a grant 8 years ago to research ways of treating chronic illness, one of the requirements was to conduct shared medical appointments for patients with diabetes.

Gifting savings bonds

Consider gifting tax and income tax when mulling whether to gift savings bonds.

One of the many technological advances in healthcare is the electronic health record. However, paper-based records are still the preferred method of recording, storing and retrieving patient information in many hospitals and doctors' offices.

Expecting the unexpected

Proper planning for a physician's death, retirement or personal crisis protects your practice, and most importantly, the family of the deceased or disabled associate.

As a primary care physician, this author says he has experienced a condescending attitude from physician specialists, and he sometimes feels that they look down their noses at those who are in primary care.

The author offers some tips to keep exam rooms and bank accounts full in light of today's foreclosures, layoffs and lost insurance from patients.

A San Antonio, Texas Accountable Care Organization with a network of Patient-Centered Medical Home clinics but no hospital provides comprehensive, efficient, quality care that improves outcomes, according to results of a case study.

The online directory for physicians who accept Medicare has expanded to distinguish which doctors reported quality data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and will soon indicate which doctors prescribe electronically.

Hospitals with basic electronic health records demonstrated a significantly greater increase in quality of care for patients being treated for heart failure, but similar gains were not found in hospitals that upgraded to advanced electronic health records, according to RAND Corp.

Physicians are unlikely to participate in mediation of medical malpractice lawsuits, which minimizes the chances that discussion of adverse events and medical errors can lead to improved quality of care, according to a new study.

Despite the predictions of many pundits, Congress' "lame duck" session was productive after all: Among other accomplishments, the long-awaited tax cuts are now law, at least through 2012.

Recruiting new physicians

Consider how other groups recruit new physicians when you find your practice in a similar situation.

In this second of two articles, the authors look at the methods used to value medical practices, the impact of antitrust laws on the pricing of doctors' services, how a hospital or managed care company exerts influence over practices in which they invest, and how doctors in independent practices can best evaluate a purchase offer.