Opinion

Introducing new tools for the practice should also include addressing ways to maintain productivity.

Medical care in America is fragmented. Independent private practice means that every physician does his or her part in the care of patients. Other healthcare providers, such as physical therapists, do their part. All have their own medical records. All charge their fees. Somehow patients navigate their care among various providers.

Doctors are lazy. That’s a brazen, derogatory, declaration that contradicts the usual lofty public image of physicians.

It seems only yesterday that word of mouth was the primary means for the public to hear opinions about physicians. But today, patients and potential patients are more likely to obtain such information online.

The American Board of Internal Medicine is an organization tasked with protecting the public from dangerous internists. That is a noble goal, however, their methods are of dubious value.

In an effort to cut costs and improve care, some provider organizations are exploring a new twist on an old idea.

We already told you the top 10 highest and lowest paying states for primary care physicians, but what about internal medicine?

Although a late flu shot is better than none, a new study out of Mexico reveals that healthcare workers who received early flu shots lost less time at work.

Find out how you can help your patients get the protection they need from domestic vaccine-preventable diseases or diseases that pose an international threat.

Social media is more powerful than you think. It has become increasingly common for patients to find their physicians online. Creating a positive online presence can be one of the easiest ways to market your practice and make a lasting impression on patients.

It’s frustrating when patients don’t follow recommendations. These tips may get them on track.

Doctors put a great deal of thought and effort into developing treatment plans for patients, but typically have no way of knowing-beyond results at follow-up appointments-whether the patient is actually following it. But advances in technology are giving physicians and their staff new tools for improving and tracking patient adherence.

For practices that do not routinely offer vaccinations or are struggling to maintain a successful program, we would like to offer a basic outline of the process our practice used.

In today’s healthcare environment, using data analysis to improve your bottom line is an issue of survival.

Dialogue and trust are keys to helping patients stick to treatment plans.

Candidates are ignoring issues important to physicians.

Unmarried couples are facing new pressures to tie the knot now that same-sex unions have been federally legalized and some companies are planning to repeal benefits unless couples are legally married. And yet, many singles seem to be resisting marriage.

One of the office managers in our complex told me that there are some things that doctors just shouldn’t write in a note-certain words or phrases will make payers down-code or deny claims. Is that true?

Doctors must confront the clinical, legal, and ethical implications as more states permit the use of marijuana.

It’s typically best not to expect too much legislative activity in the last two years of a president’s term. But Congress can surprise, as it did in the flurry of legislation enacted before lawmakers went home for the holidays in 2015.

Within many physicians practices, there is a relatively untapped resource for optimizing revenue-business operations data. There has never been a better time to dive into this type of data-it can show both areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ single-payer healthcare plan is winning favor and drawing skepticism from U.S. physicians.

A new study finds that novel direct-acting antiviral therapies might reduce the prevalence of hepatitis C virus and, with enhanced screening and treatment, potentially end infections altogether.

No surprise here-patients say they are usually less satisfied with their doctor’s care when computers were used during appointments, according to a recent JAMA Internal Medicine study.