Index of Articles—2003

Abortion

• Teenage abortion: Parents need to know. Mar 21, p. 130

Alternative Medicine

• Alternative medicine ain't disco. Mar 7, p. 90
• A few things I've learned about CAM. Oct 10, p. 89

Assistants

• Let employees know where they stand. Feb 7, p. 38 Practice Pointers
• I don't want "indispensable employees". Feb 21, p. 46
• How do your staff salaries stack up? Apr 11, p. 32
• Staff pay policies that work. July 25, p. 25 Practice Pointers
• Evaluating employees. Aug 22, p. 74 Clip and Copy
• What to ask job candidates. Sept 5, p. 80 Clip and Copy

Billings

• When you ask for payment, do it right! Jan 10, p. 58 Practice Pointers
• Missed the HIPAA deadline? Now what. Feb 7, p. 74
• Better billing, better collections. May 9, p. 73 Practice Pointers
• Outsource billing? Here's how. May 23, p. 30 Practice Pointers
• Monitoring business performance. July 11, p. 94 Clip and Copy
• Sell A/R for quick cash? Don't. Aug 8, p. 41
• Nonbillables: When should patients pay for them? Nov 21, p. 58
• Collect from patients online? Dec 5, p. 23 Computer Consult
• Take the bounce out of rubber checks. Dec 5, p. 74

Cars

• 9 ways to curb car insurance costs. Feb 21, p. 72
• Is your rental car covered? Apr 25, p. 51
• A car-leasing primer. Oct 10, p. 56

Clinical Practice

• Bone scans at the drug store? Jan 10, p. 67
• Have you been vaccinated? Apr 25, p. 57
• Can "phase IV" trials work for you? Jun 6, p. 58
• Coping with clinical uncertainty. Oct 24, p. 53

Coding

• What's the difference between these modifiers? Jan 10, p. 16
• Answers to your questions about. . . repeat treatment for removing a wart · discharging the dead · emergency treatment. Jan 24, p. 17
• Casting and strapping rules. Feb 7, p. 22
• Answers to your questions about. . .reduced price for -52 · IV infusion therapy · the difference between nail avulsion and excision. Feb 21, p. 19
• Getting paid for house calls. Mar 7, p. 24
• Answers to your questions about . . . Holter monitor · same-day discharge · Medicare and ABNs. Mar 21, p. 30
• Ambulatory BP monitoring. Apr 11, p. 20
• Answers to your questions about. . .DRE payment · O₂ administration · coding an admision that goes bad. Apr 25, p. 19
• Calling—and coding—the shots. May 9, p. 24
• Answers to your questions about. . . choosing V-codes · doing sports physicals · fluorescein staining. May 23, p. 19
• Make valve coding an open-and-shut case. Jun 6, p. 22
• Answers to your questions about. . . telephone orders · stool testing · stitch removal. June 20, p. 18
• Don't overlook V codes. July 11, p. 27
• Answers to your questions about. . . nasal swabs · pronouncing death · modifier -QW · nursing home admissions. July 25, p. 20
• When the patient has diabetes. Aug 8, p. 17
• Answers to your questions about. . . cholesterol checks · a new member of the practice · types I and II diabetes. Aug 22, p. 15
• Bone up on fractures. Sept 5, p. 17
• Coding: How to fight bundling. Sept 5, p. 65
• Answers to your questions about. . .unusual lactation · hepatitis B vaccines · residual urine testing. Sept 19, p. 16
• At the heart of cardiac codes. Oct 10, p. 26
• Answers to your questions about. . .tick removal · nail trimming · ECG. Oct 24, p. 15
• Nebulizer coding made easy. Nov 7, p. 22
• Emphysema and PFTs. Dec 5, p. 19
• Is your coding on target? Dec 5, p. 84
• Answers to your questions about. . . unconfirmed diagnoses · consult codes for pre-op visits. Dec 19, p. 17

Colleagues

• Are you liable for a colleague's mistake? June 20, p. 33
• What would you do? If a colleague admits fraud. July 25, p. 42

Compensation

• Where has all the money gone? Jan 10, p. 72
• The HMO lawsuit: Is the end in sight? Jun 6, p. 33
• Physicians' Earnings: Our exclusive survey. Sept 19, p. 71

Competition

• FTC to doctors: Price fixing won't fly. May 9, p. 85

• Special Report: The FTC cracks down again. Oct 10, p. 21

Computers

• Five ways to save money on printers. Jan 10, p. 20 Computer Consult
• "What's your e-mail address, Doctor?". Jan 24, p. 66
• Don't play solitaire, and other office computer rules. Feb 7, p. 31 Computer Consult
• Missed the HIPAA deadline? Now what. Feb 7, p. 74
• Practice Management Systems: Here's what to look for. Feb 7, p. TCP1 Special Technology Section
• Are tablets the right computer Rx? Mar 7, p. 28 Computer Consult
• The key to a HIPAA-safe computer system. Apr 11, p. 62
• HIPAA update and other computer news. May 9, p. 30 Computer Consult
• EMRs: What you need to know. May 9, p. TCP1 Special Technology Section
• Build an EMR for next to nothing. Jun 6, p. 29 Computer Consult
• The move to put office orders online. Aug 8, p. 23 Computer Consult
• Firewalls: cheap and easy protection. Sept 5, p. 20 Computer Consult
• Online clinical data: An update. Oct 24, p. TCP4 Special Technology Section
• HIPAA and online transactions. Oct 24, p. TCP12 Special Technology Section
• Backing-up data is forward-thinking. Oct 24, p. TCP15 Special Technology Section
• PDAs: How to choose software. Oct 24, p. TCP17 Special Technology Section

Death & Dying

• The night I almost played God. Jan 24, p. 47
• What do we steal? Mar 7, p. 52 Grand Prize: 2002 Doctors’ Writing Contest
• Last Word: Why I go to patients' funerals. June 20, p. 88
• A peaceful death—side by side. Dec 19, p. 39

Drugs

• Compliance: Focus on the basics. Jan 10, p. 53
• Rx cost control: What's your role? Feb 21, p. 27
• Pain control: Did Dr. Lewis cross the line? Mar 7, p. 106
• 16 Rx safeguards that also safeguard you. Apr 11, p. 99
• Can "phase IV" trials work for you? Jun 6, p. 58
• Hire a pharmacist? June 20, p. 23
• The Way I See It: One-size pain regs won't work. Aug 8, p. 49
• Last Word: Why I welcome drug reps. Oct 24, p. 80
• "I didn't know I was suing you". Nov 7, p. 77
• If patients question your Rx. Nov 7, p. 90 Clip and Copy
• Do these doctors give medicine a black eye? Dec 19, p. 58

Education

• The Way I See It: It's med school, not boot camp. Jan 10, p. 76
• Financial Problem Solved! "My kids' college fund is low." Feb 7, p. 50
• Financial Problem Solved! "College costs are $70,000 a year". May 23, p. 63
• CME: How do you get yours? Aug 22, p. 21
• The IOM targets doctors. Sept 5, p. 43
• I'm a doctor . . . and I played one on TV. Nov 7, p. 73

Employment

• Structuring a buy-in that works. Feb 21, p. 69
• Is the locum lifestyle right for you? Mar 21, p. 78
• For us, workers' comp may not work. May 23, p. 49
• How much is a damaged reputation worth? July 11, p. 52
• A win-win alternative to noncompete clauses. Aug 8, p. 56
• Job offers: Look before you leap. Dec 5, p. 66

Equipment

• Add services without big debt. Apr 11, p. 49
• High-tech phones: Saving way more than a buck or two. Jun 6, p. 84
• Making sure new equipment pays off. Aug 8, p. 86 Clip and Copy

Estate Planning

• Having a baby? Don't forget these financial safety nets. Jan 24, p. 60
• Financial problem solved! "I'll have huge capital gains taxes!" Apr 25, p. 70

Ethics

• The night I almost played God. Jan 24, p. 47
• What would you do? Fraud and hospital privileges. Jun 6, p. 50
• Do these doctors give medicine a black eye? Dec 19, p. 58

Expenses

• How do your staff salaries stack up? Apr 11, p. 32
• Dividing expenses in a group. July 25, p. 70 Clip and Copy
• Exclusive survey: Practice expenses. Nov 7, p. 31

Family

• Major commitment, minor investment. Jan 10, p. 44
• Having a baby? Don't forget these financial safety nets. Jan 24, p. 60
• It's not easy to quit medicine. Jan 24, p. 77
• Go with your gut. Mar 21, p. 86
• How I got my wake-up call. Apr 25, p. 80
• Sick relatives? Get involved! Nov 7, p. 38
• Do you know enough about your parents' finances? Nov 7, p. 64
• Financial Problem Solved: "Do we need separate checkbooks?" Nov 21, p. 38
• D-I-V-O-R-C-E needn't spell financial ruin. Nov 21, p. 45

Fees

• The payoff in house calls. Mar 21, p. 63
• Last Word: Shoplifting? No, reimbursement. May 23, p. 110
• Don't sign that contract! (Yet). Oct 10, p. 49
• Exclusive survey: Fees & reimbursements. Oct 10, p. 96
• Explaining your fees. Oct 10, p. 110 Clip and Copy
• Nonbillables: When should patients pay for them? Nov 21, p. 58

Foreign Health Care

• Practical tips for medical volunteers. Mar 21, p. 57

Fraud & Abuse

• Your rights if the Feds come knocking. Sept 19, p. 59

Government & Politics

• FTC to doctors: Price fixing won't fly. May 9, p. 85
• Special Report: HIPAA's top cop on enforcement. Aug 8, p. 14
• Turning the tables on Congress. Oct 24, p. 48
• Special Report: Dr. President? Nov 7, p. 16
• HIPAA and Homeland Security: Can they coexist? Dec 19, p. 32

Group Practice

• Structuring a buy-in that works. Feb 21, p. 69
• My longest year. Mar 7, p. 59 Young Doctor Award: 2002 Doctors’ Writing Contest
• What's your practice worth? Apr 11, p. 106
• When to add—or subtract—physicians. July 11, p. 61
• Dividing expenses in a group. July 25, p. 70 Clip and Copy
• A win-win alternative to noncompete clauses. Aug 8, p. 56
• Got a beef? Try arbitration. Nov 21, p. 21

Health-care Quality

• Board recertification gets tougher. Nov 21, p. 29

Health Insurance

• What's the fallout if patients pay? Mar 7, p. 32
• We fired our biggest payer. Mar 7, p. 94
• Credentialing made easy. Apr 11, p. 90
• Don't sign that contract! (Yet). Oct 10, p. 49
• HIPAA and online transactions. Oct 24, p. TCP12 Special Technology Section
• Translating insurance-speak for patients. Dec 19, p. 70 Clip and Copy

Health Policy

• Have you been vaccinated? Apr 25, p. 57

Home

• Interest-only mortgage? Think hard. May 9, p. 100
• Financial Problem Solved! "Should I pay off my mortgage?" July 11, p. 69

Hospitals

• Overworked doctors sue for a breather. Apr 25, p. 44
• What would you do? If a colleague admits fraud. July 25, p. 42
• Hospitals feel the malpractice pain. Oct 10, p. 37
• The ED picture today. Dec 5, p. 15 Special Report
• Job offers: Look before you leap. Dec 5, p. 66

Humor

• Last Word: Shoplifting? No, reimbursement. May 23, p. 110
• Turning the tables on Congress. Oct 24, p. 48
• The world according to HIPAA. Nov 7, p. 63

Insurance

• Having a baby? Don't forget these financial safety nets. Jan 24, p. 60
• 9 ways to curb car insurance costs. Feb 21, p. 72
• Malpractice: Is going bare the only option? Mar 21, p. 97
• Financial problem solved! "I need another retirement vehicle". Apr 11, p. 104
• Is your rental car covered? Apr 25, p. 51
• Insurance every practice absolutely must have. Apr 25, p. 73 Practice Pointers
• Could a malpractice mega-verdict wipe you out? May 23, p. 89
• Doctors' worst insurance mistakes. Aug 22, p. 50
• Annuities: When they're right, when they're not. Sept 5, p. 38
• How to save on life insurance. Sept 19, p. 56
• Financial Problem Solved! "Should I cash in my life insurance?". Oct 24, p. 50

Internet

• "What's your e-mail address, Doctor?". Jan 24, p. 66
• Don't play solitaire, and other office computer rules. Feb 7, p. 31 Computer Consult
• Will sex merchants invade your Web site? Apr 11, p. 25
• HIPAA update and other computer news. May 9, p. 30 Computer Consult
• E-risk management. July 11, p. 31 Computer Consult
• CME: How do you get yours? Aug 22, p. 21
• Bookmark these financial Web sites. Aug 22, p. 61
• Online clinical data: An update. Oct 24, p. TCP4 Special Technology Section
• Patient e-mail: A growing trend. Oct 24, p. TCP10 Special Technology Section
• HIPAA and online transactions. Oct 24, p. TCP12 Special Technology Section
• Collect from patients online? Dec 5, p. 23 Computer Consult

Investments

• How to work with a financial planner. Jan 24, p. 18 Investment Consult
• Financial problem solved! "I need another retirement vehicle". Apr 11, p. 104
• The lessons I've learned. Apr 25, p. 20 Investment Consult
• Dividends look better than ever. May 23, p. 20 Investment Consult
• If you get a cold call from a broker. May 23, p. 40
• Investment scams. Jun 6, p. 73
• Financial Problem Solved! "This investment seems risky". June 20, p. 45
• Is your bank giving you the best deal? July 11, p. 36
• Financial Problem Solved! "Should I pay off my mortgage?" July 11, p. 69
• Smart investment tax moves. Aug 22, p. 16 Investment Consult
• Annuities: When they're right, when they're not. Sept 5, p. 38
• Financial Problem Solved! "Is my cash safe?" Sept 5, p. 61
• How to get back into the market. Oct 10, p. 41
• Financial Problem Solved! "Picking a mutual fund is too hard". Oct 10, p. 92
• The "dead cat bounce" and other financial jargon. Nov 7, p. 43
• Whether a hedge fund is right for you. Nov 21, p. 14 Investment Consult
• Invest in a surgicenter? Dec 5, p. 60

Investments—Bonds

• Making bonds pay off. Mar 21, p. 33 Investment Consult
• Financial Problem Solved! "This bond looks good, but. . . ". July 25, p. 57
• Treasuries: Pros and cons. Dec 5, p. 37

Investments—Mutual Funds

• Financial Problem Solved! "We don't know what funds to keep". Feb 21, p. 76
• Financial Problem Solved! "I'm leery about mutual funds". Mar 7, p. 79
• Know your mutual funds. Mar 21, p. 90
• Picking a mutual fund. Apr 11, p. 59
• Don't buy high-flying funds. June 20, p. 20 Investment Consult
• Fund fees: Do you pay too much? July 11, p. 72
• Investment Insider: Marty Whitman on buying value. Sept 19, p. 33
• Profit from behavioral biases. Sept 19, p. 18 Investment Consult
• Time to look overseas. Dec 19, p. 21 Investment Consult

Investments—Real Estate

• Have real estate prices peaked? Feb 21, p. 23 Investment Consult
• Financial Problem Solved! "Being a landlord sounds good". May 9, p. 83
• Financial Problem Solved! "Should I sell my rental condo?" Dec 19, p. 55

Investments—Stock

• Investments: Sound tips for your situation. Jan 24, p. 25
• Investment Insider: Martin Weiss on the future of Wall Street. Mar 7, p. 43
• Financial Problem Solved! "I'm leery about mutual funds". Mar 7, p. 79
• My do-it-myself mutual fund. Apr 11, p. 83
• Investment Derby: Can three pros pick winners? Apr 25, p. 87
• How to find the truth in an annual report. Jun 6, p. 47
• Investment Derby. July 25, p. 48
• Financial Problem Solved! "Should I hold or fold?". Aug 8, p. 55
• Income in retirement? I look at utilities. Aug 22, p. 30
• Profit from behavioral biases. Sept 19, p. 18 Investment Consult
• Investment Derby Update. Oct 24, p. 40
• Investment Insider: Thyra Zerhusen on finding sleeper stocks. Dec 19, p. 29

Law

• The threat worse than malpractice. Feb 21, p. 38
• Pain control: Did Dr. Lewis cross the line? Mar 7, p. 106
• The target of a "shotgun" suit fires back. Apr 11, p. 43
• HIV: To tell or not to tell. May 9, p. 35
• For us, workers' comp may not work. May 23, p. 49
• Your rights if the Feds come knocking. Sept 19, p. 59
• Do these doctors give medicine a black eye? Dec 19, p. 58

Legislation

• HIPAA and Homeland Security: Can they coexist? Dec 19, p. 32

Location & Distribution

• The changing country doctor. Aug 8, p. 61

Malpractice

• Can your patient's victim sue you? Jan 10, p. 24
• A legal crusader's solution to the malpractice mess. Jan 24, p.42
• You've been sued. There's help. Feb 7, p. 56
• Protect your assets before you're sued. Feb 21, p. 82
• The threat worse than malpractice. Feb 21, p. 38
• Malpractice: Healthy baby—hefty award? Mar 7, p. 83
• "The medical liability system is melting down". Mar 21, p. 49
• Malpractice: Is going bare the only option? Mar 21, p. 97
• The target of a "shotgun" suit fires back. Apr 11, p. 43
• 16 Rx safeguards that also safeguard you. Apr 11, p. 99
• Malpractice: The big secret about confidential settlements. Apr 25, p. 22
• HIV: To tell or not to tell. May 9, p. 35
• My very weird lawsuit. May 9, p. 51
• The Way I See It: Tort reform isn't enough. May 9, p. 101
• Could a malpractice mega-verdict wipe you out? May 23, p. 89
• Alter records, lose the case. Jun 6, p. 40
• The Way I See It: No-fault is the way to go. Jun 6, p. 71
• Are you liable for a colleague's mistake? June 20, p. 33
• Why some doctors get sued more than others. July 11, p. 73
• Malpractice: Do other countries hold the key? July 25, p. 58
• Last Word: The last delivery. Aug 22, p. 88
• Malpractice: Close-up on a crisis. Sept 5, p. 26
• Frivolous suits: These doctors bite back. Sept 19, p. 41
• Hospitals feel the malpractice pain. Oct 10, p. 37
• We don't deserve tort reform. Oct 10, p. 71
• A surgeon's loose talk put me in court. Oct 24, p. 32
• "I didn't know I was suing you". Nov 7, p. 77
• Don't fall into these liability traps. Dec 5, p. 31

Managed Care

• We fired our biggest payer. Mar 7, p. 94
• Shedding light on the "dark side". Mar 21, p. 74
• Why I wouldn't give in to Rachel. Mar 21, p. 93
• Credentialing made easy. Apr 11, p. 90
• Helping patients appeal insurance denials. May 9, p. 118 Clip and Copy
• When an insurer won't pay. May 9, p. 91
• The HMO lawsuit: Is the end in sight? Jun 6, p. 33
• How IPAs are changing. June 20, p. 52
• Medicare PPOs off to a slow start. Aug 8, p. 36
• Coding: How to fight bundling. Sept 5, p. 65
• Don't sign that contract! (Yet). Oct 10, p. 49

Medical Economics Interview

• Medicare Cuts: Frank words from the top. Jan 10, p. 96
• A legal crusader's solution to the malpractice mess. Jan 24, p. 42
• Investment Insider: Martin Weiss on the future of Wall Street. Mar 7, p. 43
• "The medical liability system is melting down". Mar 21, p. 49
• FTC to doctors: Price fixing won't fly. May 9, p. 85
• Investment Insider: Gary Shilling on the dangers of deflation. June 20, p. 28
• Special Report: HIPAA's top cop on enforcement. Aug 8, p. 14
• The godfather of patient safety sees progress. Aug 8, p. 29
• Investment Insider: Marty Whitman on buying value. Sept 19, p. 33
• Investment Insider: Thyra Zerhusen on finding sleeper stocks. Dec 19, p. 29

Medical Economics Surveys

• Teenage abortion: Parents need to know. Mar 21, p. 130
• Physicians' Earnings: Our exclusive survey. Sept 19, p. 71
• Exclusive survey: Fees & reimbursements. Oct 10, p. 96
• Exclusive survey: Practice expenses. Nov 7, p. 31
• Exclusive Survey: How hard you work. Nov 21, p. 41

Medical Profession

• What an FP's week is really like. Jan 10, p. 36
• The Way I See It: It's med school, not boot camp. Jan 10, p. 76
• It's not easy to quit medicine. Jan 24, p. 77
• Who taught you what medicine is? Feb 7, p. 47
• My longest year. Mar 7, p. 59 Young Doctor Award: 2002 Doctors’ Writing Contest
• Teenage abortion: Parents need to know. Mar 21, p. 130
• "My first inclination was to hit him in the mouth". Apr 11, p. 70 Honorable Mention: 2002 Doctors’ Writing Contest
• Don't quit your day job. Apr 11, p. 89
• Retire early? These docs did—and came back. May 23, p. 43
• Do you care too much? May 23, p. 64
• Stressed out? Try this. May 23, p. 74
• Physicians and the press: Do doctors get a fair shake? July 11, p. 78
• Physicians and the press: What to say, what not to say. July 11, p. 87
• Last Word: We're at the breaking point. Sept 19, p. 102
• Coping with clinical uncertainty. Oct 24, p. 53
• Why I go back to Vietnam. Nov 7, p. 59
• I'm a doctor . . . and I played one on TV. Nov 7, p. 73
• Last Word: The real reason doctors are unhappy. Nov 21, p. 78
• The Way I See It: They won't let us treat the poor. Dec 5, p. 79

Medicare/Medicaid

• Medicare Cuts: Will patients pay the price? Jan 10, p. 81
• Medicare Cuts: Frank words from the top. Jan 10, p. 96
• Medicare audit? You can handle it. Jan 24, p. 53
• Missed the HIPAA deadline? Now what. Feb 7, p. 74
• Rx cost control: What's your role? Feb 21, p. 27
• The payoff in house calls. Mar 21, p. 63
• Thinking of opting out of Medicare? June 20, p. 62
• Letting patients know why you've quit Medicare. June 20, p. 74 Clip and Copy
• Special Report: Does this Medicaid move really help? July 25, p. 19
• What would you do? If a colleague admits fraud. July 25, p. 42
• Medicare PPOs off to a slow start. Aug 8, p. 36
• Is this the best model for Medicare reform? Aug 22, p. 36
• Your rights if the Feds come knocking. Sept 19, p. 59
• The Way I See It: They won't let us treat the poor. Dec 5, p. 79

Office

• Get the best deal on an office lease. May 9, p. 62
• Adding a lab: Is it right for you? Jun 6, p. 90
• Getting patients to grade your office. Oct 24, p. 62 Clip and Copy
• Your waiting room: Create a first-rate impression. Nov 7, p. 47 Practice Pointers

Organized Medicine

• "The medical liability system is melting down". Mar 21, p. 49

Patients

• "What's your e-mail address, Doctor?". Jan 24, p. 66
• Last Word: When all else fails... Jan 24, p. 112
• Extra! Extra! A practice newsletter. Feb 7, p. 61
• What do we steal? Mar 7, p. 52 Grand Prize: 2002 Doctors’ Writing Contest
• Alternative medicine ain't disco. Mar 7, p. 90
• The payoff in house calls. Mar 21, p. 63
• Why I wouldn't give in to Rachel. Mar 21, p. 93
• Want more young patients? Apr 25, p. 30
• Look behind a patient's words. Apr 25, p. 52
• Last Word: Experience or evidence? Apr 25, p. 112
• When the snowbirds return. May 9, p. 105
• My Wednesday off. May 23, p. 77
• When the doctor is in(accessible). June 20, p. 47
• Last Word: Why I go to patients' funerals. June 20, p. 88
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . .bill payments · accounting rules · accidental disclosures · disclosure to a spouse · treatment for STDs · document shredding. July 25, p. 23
• Judge to patient: "Stay away". July 25, p. 56
• Last Word: Patient vs family: We have to play a role. July 25, p. 88
• The godfather of patient safety sees progress. Aug 8, p. 29
• Should you offer group visits? Aug 8, p. 70
• If you're losing patients to specialists. . . Sept 19, p. 27
• Enlist patients in error prevention. Sept 19, p. 80 Clip and Copy
• Explaining your fees. Oct 10, p. 110 Clip and Copy
• Patient e-mail: A growing trend. Oct 24, p. TCP10 Special Technology Section
• If patients question your Rx. Nov 7, p. 90 Clip and Copy
• What was wrong with my patient? Nov 21, p. 55
• Don't let a soft economy slow your practice. Dec 5, p. 49
• How to "fire" a patient. Dec 5, p. 94 Clip and Copy
• Last Word: Never underestimate a patient. Dec 19, p. 92

Peer Review

• What would you do? Fraud and hospital privileges. Jun 6, p. 50

Personal Finances

• Major commitment, minor investment. Jan 10, p. 44
• Financial Problem Solved! "My daughter wants a loan." Jan 10, p. 57
• Got cash for emergencies? Jan 10, p. 65
• Investments: Sound tips for your situation. Jan 24, p. 25
• Finanical Problem Solved! "I'm too deep in debt." Jan 24, p. 51
• Financial Problem Solved! "My kids' college fund is low." Feb 7, p. 50
• Personal records: What to keep, what to toss. Feb 7, p. 73
• Call your financial adviser—asap. Feb 21, p. 58
• Financial Problem Solved! "We don't know what funds to keep". Feb 21, p. 76
• Protect your assets before you're sued. Feb 21, p. 82
• Financial Problem Solved! "I'm leery about mutual funds". Mar 7, p. 79
• What to keep in a safe deposit box. Mar 7, p. 96
• My do-it-myself mutual fund. Apr 11, p. 83
• Financial problem solved! "I need another retirement vehicle". Apr 11, p. 104
• Top tips from top financial advisers. Apr 25, p. 39
• Financial problem solved! "I'll have huge capital gains taxes!" Apr 25, p. 70
• Will you outlive your nest egg? May 9, p. 41
• Tax "tips" that can land you in jail. May 9, p. 69
• Financial Problem Solved! "Being a landlord sounds good". May 9, p. 83
• Interest-only mortgage? Think hard. May 9, p. 100
• Financial Problem Solved! "College costs are $70,000 a year". May 23, p. 63
• Grading your financial adviser. Jun 6, p. 57
• Financial Problem Solved! "I need to choose a pension plan". Jun 6, p. 89
• Investment Insider: Gary Shilling on the dangers of deflation. June 20, p. 28
• A guide to advisers' credentials. June 20, p. 61
• Is your bank giving you the best deal? July 11, p. 36
• Financial Problem Solved! "Should I pay off my mortgage?" July 11, p. 69
• Keep credit cards to a minimum. July 25, p. 32
• Savvy credit card strategies. Aug 8, p. 69
• Bookmark these financial Web sites. Aug 22, p. 61
• When a custodial account makes sense. Sept 5, p. 52
• Financial Problem Solved! "Is my cash safe?" Sept 5, p. 61
• Financial Problem Solved! "I've got this 401(k) loan. . ." Sept 19, p. 68
• Do you know enough about your parents' finances? Nov 7, p. 64
• Financial Problem Solved: "Do we need separate checkbooks?" Nov 21, p. 38
• D-I-V-O-R-C-E needn't spell financial ruin. Nov 21, p. 45

Personal Life

• Practical tips for medical volunteers. Mar 21, p. 57
• Carpe diem, my new mantra. Apr 11, p. 94
• How I got my wake-up call. Apr 25, p. 80
• For us, workers' comp may not work. May 23, p. 49
• Do you care too much? May 23, p. 64
• Stressed out? Try this. May 23, p. 74
• Send in the clown—me! Aug 22, p. 56
• Why I carry a gun. Dec 5, p. 43
• Are you a workaholic? Dec 19, p. 25
• San Diego's burning. Dec 19, p. 40

Practice Management

• Point/Counterpoint: Do you really need an office manager? Jan 24, p. 88
• Extra! Extra! A practice newsletter. Feb 7, p. 61
• Practice Management Systems: Here's what to look for. Feb 7, p. TCP1 Special Technology Section
• Don't have time? Read this. Mar 7, p. 72
• We fired our biggest payer. Mar 7, p. 94
• Outsourcing is in. Mar 21, p. 38 Practice Pointers
• Credentialing made easy. Apr 11, p. 90
• Better billing, better collections. May 9, p. 73 Practice Pointers
• Helping patients appeal insurance denials. May 9, p. 118 Clip and Copy
• Faster, cheaper transcription. May 23, p. 54 Honorable Mention: 2002 Doctors’ Writing Contest
• Medical record evaluation form. May 23, p. 92 Clip and Copy
• We've always been HIPAA-compliant. Jun 6, p. 80
• High-tech phones: Saving way more than a buck or two. Jun 6, p. 84
• Adding a lab: Is it right for you? Jun 6, p. 90
• Keeping tabs on practice finances. Jun 6, p. 104 Clip and Copy
• When the doctor is in(accessible). June 20, p. 47
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . discussions in public · appointment reminders · picking up prescriptions · using a fax machine · sign-in sheets · where to put charts. July 11, p. 35
• Monitoring business performance. July 11, p. 94 Clip and Copy
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . .bill payments · accounting rules · accidental disclosures ·disclosure to a spouse · treatment for STDs · document shredding. July 25, p. 23
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . .another doctor's record · consults and charts · the "minimum necessary" rule. Aug 8, p. 27
• Should you offer group visits? Aug 8, p. 70
• Making sure new equipment pays off. Aug 8, p. 86 Clip and Copy
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . submitting noncompliant claims online · transactions and vendors · improving efficiency · readying for the deadline. Aug 22, p. 19
• How to set up a concierge practice. Aug 22, p. 64
• Evaluating employees. Aug 22, p. 74 Clip and Copy
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . business associate contracts. Sept 5, p. 25
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . releasing a young adult's records · sending records to the government · charging for copying. Sept 19, p. 24
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . .request for information · mail order pharmacies · postcard reminders · release of records. Oct 10, p. 33
• Practice Pointers: How to cut patient wait time. Oct 10, p. 75
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . .transaction compliance · other payers' policies · non-HIPAA-compliant upgrades · documenting compliance plans. Oct 24, p. 19
• Getting patients to grade your office. Oct 24, p. 62 Clip and Copy
• PDAs: How to choose software. Oct 24, p. TCP17 Special Technology Section
• Exclusive Survey: How hard you work. Nov 21, p. 41
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . .documenting conversations · HIV · child abuse. Dec 5, p. 26
• Don't let a soft economy slow your practice. Dec 5, p. 49
• Take the bounce out of rubber checks. Dec 5, p. 74
• Want a better deal? Ask. Dec 19, p. 49
• Translating insurance-speak for patients. Dec 19, p. 70 Clip and Copy

Practice, Special Types

• Is the locum lifestyle right for you? Mar 21, p. 78
• How to set up a concierge practice. Aug 22, p. 64
• Career moves: Think twice about academia. Sept 5, p. 55

Primary Care

• What an FP's week is really like. Jan 10, p. 36
• Board recertification gets tougher. Nov 21, p. 29

Professions, Other

• Bone scans at the drug store? Jan 10, p. 67
• Onion root mitosis, fetal pigs, and me. Mar 21, p. 68
• Shedding light on the "dark side". Mar 21, p. 74
• If you get a cold call from a broker. May 23, p. 40
• Retire early? These docs did—and came back. May 23, p. 43
• Grading your financial adviser. Jun 6, p. 57
• Hire a pharmacist? June 20, p. 23
• A guide to advisers' credentials. June 20, p. 6
• Send in the clown—me! Aug 22, p. 561
• Last Word: Why I welcome drug reps. Oct 24, p. 80
• Got a beef? Try arbitration. Nov 21, p. 21
• Want a better deal? Ask. Dec 19, p. 49

Records

• Personal records: What to keep, what to toss. Feb 7, p. 73
• The key to a HIPAA-safe computer system. Apr 11, p. 62
• HIPAA update and other computer news. May 9, p. 30 Computer Consult
• EMRs: What you need to know. May 9, p. TCP1 Special Technology Section
• Faster, cheaper transcription. May 23, p. 54 Honorable Mention: 2002 Doctors’ Writing Contest
• Medical record evaluation form. May 23, p. 92 Clip and Copy
• Build an EMR for next to nothing. Jun 6, p. 29 Computer Consult
• Alter records, lose the case. Jun 6, p. 40
• We've always been HIPAA-compliant. Jun 6, p. 80
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . discussions in public · appointment reminders · picking up prescriptions · using a fax machine · sign-in sheets · where to put charts. July 11, p. 35
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . .bill payments · accounting rules · accidental disclosures · disclosure to a spouse · treatment for STDs · document shredding. July 25, p. 23
• The move to put office orders online. Aug 8, p. 23 Computer Consult
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . .another doctor's record · consults and charts · the "minimum necessary" rule. Aug 8, p. 27
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . releasing a young adult's records · sending records to the government · charging for copying. Sept 19, p. 24
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . .request for information · mail order pharmacies · postcard reminders · release of records. Oct 10, p. 33
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . amending patient records. Nov 7, p. 28
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . patients' right to restrict access · unlimited access · partial record release · summaries vs whole records. Nov 21, p. 18
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . .documenting conversations · HIV · child abuse. Dec 5, p. 26
• HIPAA and Homeland Security: Can they coexist? Dec 19, p. 32

Retirement

• Financial Problem Solved! "I'll never be able to retire!" Mar 21, p. 73
• Will you outlive your nest egg? May 9, p. 41
• Make the most of pension law changes. May 23, p. 24
• Retire early? These docs did—and came back. May 23, p. 43
• Financial Problem Solved! "I need to choose a pension plan". Jun 6, p. 89
• Income in retirement? I look at utilities. Aug 22, p. 30
• Annuities: When they're right, when they're not. Sept 5, p. 38
• Financial Problem Solved! "I've got this 401(k) loan. . ." Sept 19, p. 68

Solo Practice

• Last Word: Whatever happened to service? Feb 21, p. 100
• Going solo: How four doctors are making it work. May 9, p. 106
• Going solo: Start-up basics. May 9, p. 114
• "I read your article and . . .". July 11, p. 45

Specialty Practice

• Overworked doctors sue for a breather. Apr 25, p. 44
• Last Word: The last delivery. Aug 22, p. 88
• If you're losing patients to specialists. . . Sept 19, p. 27

Taxes

• Answers to your tax questions . . . about family affairs. Jan 10, p. 32
• Answers to your tax questions . . . about itemized deductions. Jan 24, p. 82
• Your 2002 taxes: Find all the breaks you can. Feb 7, p. 78
• Your 2002 taxes: Getting organized pays off. Feb 7, p. 99
• Your 2002 taxes: Moves you shouldn't make. Feb 7, p. 102
• Answers to your tax questions . . . about business income and expenses. Feb 7, p. 109
• Answers to your tax questions. . . about investment income and losses. Feb 21, p. 35
• Answers to your tax questions. . . about education and retirement. Mar 7, p. 65
• Answers to your tax questions. . . about special situations. Mar 21, p. 53
• Financial problem solved! "I'll have huge capital gains taxes!" Apr 25, p. 70
• Tax "tips" that can land you in jail. May 9, p. 69
• Smart investment tax moves. Aug 22, p. 16 Investment Consult
• New tax law, new tax savings. Sept 5, p. 74
• Tax deductions: Keep track of the small stuff. Oct 10, p. 85
• 17 ways to slash your tax bill. Oct 24, p. 21

Travel

• Traveling safely in an unsafe world. Apr 11, p. 77

Annual Index of Articles--2003.

Medical Economics