Index of Articles—2004

Alternative Medicine

• A field guide to alternative healers. Sept 17, p. 21
• Stephen Barrett on unconventional therapies. Sept 17, p. 27
• Educating patients about alternative therapies. Sept 17, p. 30 Clip and Copy
• Bring a CAM practitioner on board? Nov 19, p. 22

Assistants

• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . .a policies and procedures manual; staff training. Feb 6, p. 33
• Coding credentials for your staff: Why and how. Feb 6, p. 45
• Should you give references? Feb 20, p. 46 Practice Pointers
• Talented, devoted, dependable, and a thief. Mar 5, p. 74
• Staff benefits that won't cost a bundle. Mar 5, p. 96
• Document hiring decisions. Mar 5, p. 132 Clip and Copy
• Give job applicants this test. Mar 19, p. 112 Clip and Copy
• How I reward excellent staffers. May 7, p. 20
• Staff pay: What's the going rate? May 21, p. 36
• How to give and receive employee feedback. May 21, p. 78 Practice Pointers
• Assessing employee satisfaction. May 21, p. 82 Clip and Copy
• Your staff needs CME, too. June 18, p. 52 Practice Pointers
• Starting a practice: 3-4 months out—Hiring staff. July 23, p. 34
• Have job seekers fill this out. July 23, p. 40 Clip and Copy
• My 3-step hiring test. July 23, p. 45
• How to handle conflict. Aug 6, p. 58

Billings

• A $20,000 boost to your bottom line? Feb 6, p. 34
• Make your payment policy clear. Feb 20, p. 84 Clip and Copy
• No coding, no insurers—no kidding. Apr 23, p. 44
• Not getting paid? Blame HIPAA. June 4, p. 29
• This piece of paper can boost your income. Aug 6, p. 18 Practice Pointers
• Keep your billing on target. Aug 20, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• Starting a practice: 1-2 months out—Setting up office systems. Aug 20, p. 18

Cars

• Which cars hold their value? June 18, p. 26
• Should your patient still be driving? July 9, p. 60
• Car accident? File a successful claim. Sept 17, p. 50
• Car insurance basics. Nov 19, p. 39

Clinical Practice

• Web-savvy docs tell us where to go. Jan 23, p. 67
• Malpractice: Clinical guidelines—Sword or shield? June 18, p. 22
• Pain: Helping patients—protecting yourself. June 18, p. 69
• Tailoring practice guidelines for real patients. Aug 6, p. 30

Coding

• Diagnosis coding tips. Jan 9, p. 25 Coding Consult
• How I beat an HMO. Jan 9, p. 88
• Answers to your questions about. . . glucose monitoring; venipuncture codes; joint aspiration . Jan 23, p. 19 Coding Consult
• Coding: What's new in 2004. Jan 23, p. 44
• More 2004 coding changes. Feb 6, p. 23 Coding Consult
• A $20,000 boost to your bottom line? Feb 6, p. 34
• Coding credentials for your staff: Why and how. Feb 6, p. 45
• Answers to your questions about. . . peak flow measurement; "NEC" and "NOS"; two-day admissions; well-woman exam. Feb 20, p. 24 Coding Consult
• Anaphylaxis treatment. Mar 5, p. 27 Coding Consult
• Answers to your questions about. . . code 99080; consultation criteria. Mar 19, p. 33 Coding Consult
• Downcoded, terminated, and mad as hell. Mar 19, p. 83
• Try these claims-appeal strategies. Apr 9, p. 20 Coding Consult
• Answers to your questions about. . . communication difficulties; clean claims. Apr 23, p. 21 Coding Consult
• Trigger point injections. May 7, p. 11 Coding Consult
• Code with care: You're being watched. May 7, p. 26
• Answers to your questions about. . .post-op consults; workers' comp visits. May 21, p. 27
• Burn treatment. June 4, p. 13 Coding Consult
• Coding for NP care in nursing homes. June 4, p. 45
• Answers to your questions about. . . urine cultures; fat pad biopsies; primary E codes. June 18, p. 18 Coding Consult
• Cerumen removal. July 9, p. 24 Coding Consult
• Answers to your questions about . . . allergy testing; ingrown toenails; home visits; carve-out coding. July 23, p. 17 Coding Consult
• When and how to use ABNs. Aug 6, p. 14 Coding Consult
• Answers to your questions about. . . E codes; family counseling. Aug 20, p. 13 Coding Consult
• Keep your billing on target. Aug 20, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• Diabetes care. Sept 3, p. 14 Coding Consult
• Answers to your questions about. . .pre-op exams; smoking counseling; 99313 or 99302? Sept 17, p. 17 Coding Consult
• Controlled asthma. Oct 8, p. 21 Coding Consult
• Answers to your questions about...ABN "delivery"; belly button ring removal; charging for CPR. Oct 22, p. 13 Coding Consult
• Why you need to do chart reviews. Oct 22, p. 33
• Suspicious lesions. Nov 5, p. 20 Coding Consult
• Answers to your questions about...injections; global days; hospice modifiers; CPAP checks. Nov 19, p. 17 Coding Consult
• Reporting related procedures. Dec 3, p. 24 Coding Consult
• Answers to your questions about... -Q5 and -Q6; home and rest home visits; dermoid cyst excision. Dec 17, p. 14 Coding Consult
• Coding: What's new. Dec 17, p. 16

Colleagues

• Evaluating new physicians. Jan 9, p. 98 Clip and Copy
• Why won't they help my patient? Apr 9, p. 51 Young Doctor Award: 2003 Doctors' Writing Contest

Compensation

• Group Practice: The best way to divide income. Apr 9, p. 88
• No coding, no insurers—no kidding. Apr 23, p. 44
• Not getting paid? Blame HIPAA. June 4, p. 29
• Office spirometry: Don't just blow it off. July 9, p. 63
• Improving collections. July 9, p. 70 Clip and Copy
• This piece of paper can boost your income. Aug 6, p. 18 Practice Pointers
• How to cut A/R. Sept 3, p. 22 Practice Pointers
• Exclusive Survey—Earnings: Primary care tries to hang on. Sept 17, p. 52
• How do your fees mesh? Nov 5, p. 26

Competition

• Doctors and the FTC: Advice from an insider. Aug 6, p. 48

Computers

• The AAFP cuts an EMR deal. Jan 9, p. 21 Special Report
• Don't buy home computers for the office. Jan 9, p. 29 Computer Consult
• How to speed up your computer. Feb 6, p. 28 Computer Consult
• Automate—without an EMR. Feb 20, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• Voice recognition moves up a notch. Feb 20, p. TCP11 Special Technology Section
• Keep your hard drive working hard. Mar 5, p. 32 Computer Consult
• Phones driving you crazy? Try clinical messaging. Mar 19, p. 65
• The English patient's EMR. Apr 9, p. 23 Technology Consult
• Banishing dust bunnies, and other maintenance tips. May 7, p. 13 Technology Consult
• Getting an EMR up and running. May 7, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• EMR success: Training is the key. May 7, p. TCP11 Special Technology Section
• Patient histories: How computers help. May 7, p. TCP15 Special Technology Section
• Why not lease your computers? June 4, p. 17 Technology Consult
• The quest for an easy EMR. July 9, p. 26 Technology Consult
• No doctor is a data island. Aug 6, p. 16 Technology Consult
• EHRs: The Feds' big push. Aug 20, p. 26
• How to test-drive medical software. Sept 3, p. 17 Technology Consult
• Expanding clinical connections: Prescriptions. Oct 8, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• Expanding clinical connections: Referrals. Oct 8, p. TCP10 Special Technology Section
• Expanding clinical connections: Labs. Oct 8, p. TCP17 Special Technology Section
• Tips from an EMR pioneer. Oct 8, p. 25 Technology Consult
• EMR or EHR? Nov 5, p. 22 Technology Consult

Corporations

• Group practice: The IRS cracks down on bonuses. Jan 23, p. 60

• S corp, C corp, LLC, LLP—which is best? Mar 5, p. 44

Death & Dying

• What would you do? If you must decide how your patient dies. Jan 23, p. 40
• When did this patient die? Feb 20, p. 65
• What would you do? If you must decide how your patient dies [your responses]. Mar 5, p. 62
• Tying up your parent's affairs. Mar 19, p. 94
• How to discuss end-of-life care. Apr 9, p. 27
• Who's to blame? Apr 23, p. 41
• Thank you, Dad. June 4, p. 59
• Our unspoken promise. June 18, p. 36
• Last Word: The most advanced intervention. June 18, p. 92

Drugs

• Last Word: My stand against DTC ads. Feb 20, p. 104
• Is your sample cabinet a danger zone? May 7, p. 45
• I'm at least as ethical as a contractor. May 7, p. 50
• Lab tests: A shortcoming you need to know about. May 7, p. 65
• Pain: Helping patients—protecting yourself. June 18, p. 69
• When patients want to buy meds online. Sept 3, p. 47
• Steer patients away from these online drugs. Sept 3, p. 50 Clip and Copy
• Expanding clinical connections: Prescriptions. Oct 8, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section

Education

• A new way to measure what residents learn. Mar 5, p. 107
• Are the best and brightest going into medicine? Nov 19, p. 40

Employment

• Should you give references? Feb 20, p. 46 Practice Pointers
• Document hiring decisions. Mar 5, p. 132 Clip and Copy
• Starting a practice: 3-4 months out—Hiring staff. July 23, p. 34
• Have job seekers fill this out. July 23, p. 40 Clip and Copy
• My 3-step hiring test. July 23, p. 45
• Finding a job—Step 1: What do you want? Oct 22, p. 50 New series
• Finding a job—Step 2: Start looking. Nov 5, p. 46
• Finding a Job—Step 3: Selling yourself. Dec 3, p. 30

Equipment

• Buying a densitometer: FAQs answered. Apr 9, p. 60 Best Practice Solution: 2003 Doctors' Writing Contest
• Starting a practice: 5-6 months out—Office design and supplies. June 18, p. 39
• What to buy for a new practice. June 18, p. 46 Clip and Copy
• Office spirometry: Don't just blow it off. July 9, p. 63

Estate Planning

• Does your estate plan still work? Jan 9, p. 78
• Estate planning: How to safely sidestep probate. July 9, p. 38
• How to pick the right guardian and executor. Aug 20, p. 32
• Estate planning: Think about a Crummey trust. Sept 3, p. 33
• If you're the executor. Nov 5, p. 57

Ethics

• What would you do? If you must decide how your patient dies. Jan 23, p. 40
• When did this patient die? Feb 20, p. 65
• What would you do? If you must decide how your patient dies [your responses]. Mar 5, p. 62
• I'm at least as ethical as a contractor. May 7, p. 50
• What would you do? In this border-town dilemma. May 7, p. 62
• What would you do? In this border-town dilemma [your responses]. June 18, p. 49
• What would you do? "Doc, can you write me a note?" Aug 20, p. 50
• What would you do? "Doc, can you write me a note?" [your responses] Oct 8, p. 44

Expenses

• What's eating your profits? May 7, p. 70

Family

• Financial Problem Solved! "How can my dad qualify for Medicaid?" Feb 6, p. 56
• Marriage and money: Ways to keep the peace. Mar 19, p. 88
• Tying up your parent's affairs. Mar 19, p. 94
• Thank you, Dad. June 4, p. 59
• When a parent can't live at home. Aug 6, p. 38
• Hire your spouse? Tread carefully. Dec 3, p. 64
• The disease does not belong to me. Dec 17, p. 20

Fees

• Access fees: Worth the risk? What to charge? July 23, p. 51
• What about a malpractice surcharge. July 23, p. 54

Fraud & Abuse

• How I beat an HMO. Jan 9, p. 88
• A physician's guide to Stark rules. July 23, p. 23
• A Physician's Guide to antikickback rules. Oct 8, p. 53
• The Feds take aim at kickback schemes. Oct 8, p. 58
• Why you need to do chart reviews. Oct 22, p. 33

Government & Politics

• Election 2004: Where the Dems stand on healthcare. Feb 6, p. 48
• Bush vs Kerry: Where they stand on healthcare. Oct 8, p. 78
• How tort reform fared in the election. Nov 19, p. 14
• Bring a CAM practitioner on board? Nov 19, p. 22
• How to help a new associate succeed. Dec 3, p. 48

Group Practice

• Is your call coverage working? Apr 9, p. 78
• Group Practice: The best way to divide income. Apr 9, p. 88
• How to handle conflict. Aug 6, p. 58
• Group practice: Why big is out. Aug 20, p. 48
• Making "part-time" work for everyone. Sept 3, p. 34

Health-care Quality

• A conversation on quality. Mar 5, p. 117

• Helping patients stay healthy. Dec 3, p. 74 Clip and Copy

Health Insurance

• Access to care: Two doctors answer a crying need. Feb 6, p. 64
• Downcoded, terminated, and mad as hell. Mar 19, p. 83
• How to spot a phony health plan. Apr 23, p. 62
• Think now about long-term care. May 21, p. 45
• Are insurers getting too big? Oct 8, p. 18 Special Report

Health Policy

• Election 2004: Where the Dems stand on healthcare. Feb 6, p. 48
• Bush vs Kerry: Where they stand on healthcare. Oct 8, p. 78

Home

• Go forward on a reverse mortgage? Jan 23, p. 77
• Hard lessons about home contractors. Feb 6, p. 79
• 9 tips for refinancing your mortgage. Mar 5, p. 68
• How to get the best mortgage deal. Apr 9, p. 84
• College housing? We bought our own. May 21, p. 73
• Your home is a tax shelter, too. Nov 5, p. 37

Hospitals

• Extra hospital days can cost YOU plenty. Apr 9, p. 83
• Helping patients manage visitors. Nov 5, p. 78 Clip and Copy
• A Physician's Guide to EMTALA rules. Nov 19, p. 34

Humor

• White coat, red face: Doctors' most embarrassing moments. Feb 20, p. 36

Insurance

• How to choose an insurance agent. Mar 5, p. 103
• Think now about long-term care. May 21, p. 45
• Starting a practice: 7-8 months out: Benefits and insurance. May 21, p. 66
• Malpractice: Can no-fault work? June 4, p. 66
• Malpractice: The scary truth about tail coverage. July 9, p. 49
• Disability coverage: A buyer's primer. Aug 20, p. 38
• Disability coverage: You may have to fight to collect. Aug 20, p. 42
• Car accident? File a successful claim. Sept 17, p. 50
• Malpractice: We settled, I lost. Oct 8, p. 49
• Car insurance basics. Nov 19, p. 39
• Don't write off variable annuities. Dec 17, p. 29

Internet

• Web-savvy docs tell us where to go. Jan 23, p. 67

• Phones driving you crazy? Try clinical messaging. Mar 19, p. 65
• Helping patients use the Web wisely. May 7, p. 78 Clip and Copy
• My patients' best e-resource? Me. Aug 6, p. 40
• Doctors and "blogs". Aug 20, p. 33
• When patients want to buy meds online. Sept 3, p. 47
• Steer patients away from these online drugs. Sept 3, p. 50 Clip and Copy
• E-mail "visits" can save you time. Sept 17, p. 37
• Expanding clinical connections: Prescriptions. Oct 8, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• Expanding clinical connections: Referrals. Oct 8, p. TCP10 Special Technology Section
• Expanding clinical connections: Labs. Oct 8, p. TCP17 Special Technology Section

Investments

• Investment Roundtable: Where to put your money now. Jan 9, p. 48
• What about annuities? Jan 23, p. 21 Investment Consult
• Your real risk tolerance? Take this quiz. Mar 5, p. 84
• Think small, think foreign. Mar 19, p. 34 Investment Consult
• More top tips from top financial advisers. Mar 19, p. 57
• Sell tech stocks now. Apr 23, p. 22 Investment Consult
• Japan: Land of the rising stocks? May 21, p. 28 Investment Consult
• Bet on an IPO? Be careful. June 18, p. 20 Investment Consult
• The ABCs of financial data. June 18, p. 66
• 10 simple rules for successful investing. July 9, p. 66
• Don't let a windfall blow away. July 23, p. 21 Investment Consult
• Time to rethink small-caps. Aug 20, p. 14 Investment Consult
• 10 "truths" that aren't. Sept 17, p. 18 Investment Consult
• More investment scams. Oct 8, p. 40
• Put your portfolio on cruise control. Oct 8, p. 63
• Looking for new investments? Think Old World. Oct 22, p. 14 Investment Consult
• Don't write off variable annuities. Dec 17, p. 29

Investments—Bonds

• Buying bonds? Avoid these 5 traps. Feb 20, p. 69
• Smart bond moves when rates rise. Sept 3, p. 52

Investments—Mutual Funds

• Don't abandon mutual funds. Feb 20, p. 27 Investment Consult
• Funds of the Month: Consistent performers. Mar 5, p. 95
• Funds of the Month: Mid-cap stalwarts. Apr 9, p. 41
• Investment Insider: Jean-Marie Eveillard on global investing. Apr 9, p. 42
• Is it time to rebalance your portfolio? May 7, p. 54
• Funds of the Month: Natural resources. May 7, p. 68
• Funds of the Month: Aggressive-growth. June 4, p. 56
• Funds of the Month: Low-risk stock funds. July 9, p. 48
• Funds of the Month: Small-cap value. Aug 6, p. 54
• Funds of the Month: Asset allocation funds. Sept 3, p. 42
• Smart bond moves when rates rise. Sept 3, p. 52
• The building blocks of diversified investing. Sept 17, p. 32
• Funds of the Month: Emerging-market funds. Oct 8, p. 48
• Funds of the Month: Large-cap stocks. Nov 5, p. 52
• Funds of the Month: Real estate funds. Dec 3, p. 59
• Mutual funds: Don't risk performance to save on taxes. Dec 17, p. 36

Investments—Stock

• Investment Derby Update. Jan 23, p. 52
• Investment Derby Update. Apr 23, p. 52
• Is it time to rebalance your portfolio? May 7, p. 54
• Why you should steer clear of hot stock tips. June 4, p. 26
• Investment Derby Update. July 23, p. 30
• Bargain healthcare stocks worth buying. Aug 6, p. 25
• Beware the "advisory board" scam. Aug 6, p. 33
• The building blocks of diversified investing. Sept 17, p. 32
• How to choose stocks. Oct 22, p. 48
• 7 stocks to hold (nearly) forever. Dec 3, p. 44

Law

• Your latest legal threat: Consumer fraud. Jan 23, p. 30
• Why you need lawyers—plural. Mar 5, p. 110
• Subpoena? You don't always have to comply. May 21, p. 33
• My big mouth landed me in jail. May 21, p. 53 Honorable Mention : 2003 Doctors' Writing Contest
• A Physician's Guide to EMTALA rules. Nov 19, p. 34

Legislation

• NJ reforms fall short of MD hopes. July 9, p. 21 Special Report

Location & Distribution

• Last Word: My practice in paradise. Apr 23, p. 88

Malpractice

• Malpractice rates: How high now? Jan 9, p. 57
• Conflict of interest? Jan 9, p. 100 Malpractice Consult
• If the computer ate your charts. Jan 23, p. 98 Malpractice Consult
• Last Word: Let's be realistic about countersuits. Jan 23, p. 118
• If your tail isn't covered. Feb 6, p. 114 Malpractice Consult
• My malpractice carrier broke my heart. Feb 20, p. 42
• Malpractice: How to neutralize the sympathy factor. Feb 20, p. 80
• If you consult for a medical spa. Feb 20, p. 86 Malpractice Consult
• What makes plaintiff's attorneys angry. Mar 5, p. 128
• How far does informed consent go? Mar 5, p. 136 Malpractice Consult
• Tort reform turned ugly. Mar 19, p. 51
• Disarming a hired gun. Mar 19, p. 114 Malpractice Consult
• The separate worlds of the physician-defendant. Apr 9, p. 68 Honorable Mention: 2003 Doctors' Writing Contest
• Answers to your questions about. . . dismissals with prejudice; umbrella polices. Apr 9, p. 96 Malpractice Consult
• The risks of being a "patient advocate". Apr 23, p. 72 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice: Protect yourself when you refer. May 7, p. 17
• Malpractice: Our system lives on personal attacks. May 7, p. 41
• Informed Consent: When a treatment isn't covered. May 7, p. 57
• Follow-up on the uninsured. May 7, p. 82 Malpractice Consult
• Subpoena? You don't always have to comply. May 21, p. 33
• When to report a settlement. May 21, p. 88 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice: I knew she was trouble. June 4, p. 39
• Malpractice: Can no-fault work? June 4, p. 66
• Your liability for an NP's care. June 4, p. 76 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice: Clinical guidelines—Sword or shield? June 18, p. 22
• Your liability for a locum. June 18, p. 78 Malpractice Consult
• NJ reforms fall short of MD hopes. July 9, p. 21 Special Report
• Malpractice mess: Is this the way out? July 9, p. 30
• Malpractice: The scary truth about tail coverage. July 9, p. 49
• What shouldn't go in your policy manual. July 9, p. 72 Malpractice Consult
• What about a malpractice surcharge. July 23, p. 54
• What not to document. July 23, p. 58 Malpractice Consult
• Last Word: My modest malpractice proposal. July 23, p. 76
• Liability for nursing home care. Aug 6, p. 68 Malpractice Consult
• How I pick the doctors I'll sue. Aug 20, p. 54
• The risk of on-call prescribing. Aug 20, p. 62 Malpractice Consult
• Can you be forced to testify against a colleague? Sept 3, p. 28
• If you drop hospital care. Sept 3, p. 73 Malpractice Consult
• Delivering test results. Sept 17, p. 62 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice: We settled, I lost. Oct 8, p. 49
• When to hire your own lawyer. Oct 8, p. 88 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice: Who should judge the experts? Oct 22, p. 21
• Can your staff handle emergencies? Oct 22, p. 62 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice: How to stay out of harm's way. Nov 5, p. 70
• If a patient refuses to be fired. Nov 5, p. 80 Malpractice Consult
• How tort reform fared in the election. Nov 19, p. 14
• Your liability for noncompliant patients. Nov 19, p. 62 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice: How I foiled a frivolous claim. Dec 3, p. 38
• How long can a patient still sue? Dec 3, p. 77 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice—Publishing physician profiles: What's fair? Dec 17, p. 16
• If you lose a chart. Dec 17, p. 44 Malpractice Consult

Managed Care

• How I beat an HMO. Jan 9, p. 88
• Downcoded, terminated, and mad as hell. Mar 19, p. 83
• Boom times for Medicare plans. Apr 9, p. 17 Special Report
• Extra hospital days can cost YOU plenty. Apr 9, p. 83
• Keeping tabs on insurance plans. Apr 9, p. 94 Clip and Copy
• How to spot a phony health plan. Apr 23, p. 62
• Patient relations: Managing anger in a managed care age. May 7, p. 23
• What to watch for in health plan contracts. June 4, p. 72 Clip and Copy
• The Supreme Court lets HMOs off the hook. July 23, p. 14 Special Report
• Keeping track of preauthorizations. Aug 6, p. 66 Clip and Copy
• What "tiered networks" will mean to you. Sept 17, p.45
• Are insurers getting too big? Oct 8, p. 18 Special Report

Marketing

• Your latest legal threat: Consumer fraud. Jan 23, p. 30

• Our search for marketing magic. Feb 20, p. 77

• Starting a practice: The final steps. Sept 3, p. 58

• Marketing: It's a do-it-yourself job. Dec 17, p. 34

Medical Economics Interview

• A conversation on quality. Mar 5, p. 117
• Investment Insider: Jean-Marie Eveillard on global investing. Apr 9, p. 42
• Doctors and the FTC: Advice from an insider. Aug 6, p. 48
• EHRs: The Feds' big push. Aug 20, p. 26
• How I pick the doctors I'll sue. Aug 20, p. 54
• What primary care needs now. Oct 8, p. 36

Medical Economics Surveys

• What would you do? If you must decide how your patient dies [your responses]. Mar 5, p. 62
• What would you do? In this border-town dilemma [your responses]. June 18, p. 49
• Exclusive Survey—Earnings: Primary care tries to hang on. Sept 17, p. 52
• Exclusive Survey: How hard are you working? Oct 8, p. 30
• How do your fees mesh? Nov 5, p. 26
• Are the best and brightest going into medicine? Nov 19, p. 40

Medical Profession

• I was dead wrong. Feb 6, p. 59
• Access to care: Two doctors answer a crying need. Feb 6, p. 64
• Who's to blame? Apr 23, p. 41
• What am I doing here? May 7, p. 36 Honorable Mention: 2003 Doctors' Writing Contest
• Yearn for a desk job? Read this first. May 21, p. 43
• Last Word: Doctor-couples will change medicine. May 21, p. 104
• Our unspoken promise. June 18, p. 36
• Medical errors: Lessons from aviation. June 18, p. 60
• Big shoes to fill. July 9, p. 36
• Last Word: Quit complaining. Aug 20, p. 76
• It sounded good at the time. Sept 3, p. 38
• Last Word: The country can't afford boutique medicine. Sept 17, p. 76
• Last Word: Lawyers: To treat or not to treat. Oct 22, p. 72
• Are the best and brightest going into medicine? Nov 19, p. 40
• Last Word: What med schools should really teach. Nov 19, p. 72
• Listen up: It's a practice builder. Dec 3, p. 54
• Malpractice—Publishing physician profiles: What's fair? Dec 17, p. 16
• Last Word: Solo practice saved me. Dec 17, p. 60

Medicare/Medicaid

• The new Medicare law: Doctors cheer. Jan 9, p. 37
• A $20,000 boost to your bottom line? Feb 6, p. 34
• Financial Problem Solved! "How can my dad qualify for Medicaid?" Feb 6, p. 56
• The translator mandate gets easier. Feb 6, p. 72
• Boom times for Medicare plans. Apr 9, p. 17 Special Report
• Code with care: You're being watched. May 7, p. 26
• All this for $108? July 9, p. 42
• A physician's guide to Stark rules. July 23, p. 23
• A Physician's Guide to antikickback rules. Oct 8, p. 53
• The Feds take aim at kickback schemes. Oct 8, p. 58
• Why Oregon's rationing plan is gasping for air. Oct 8, p. 73
• Why you need to do chart reviews. Oct 22, p. 33

Midlevel Providers

• An odd practice booster—my nurse quit. Jan 23, p. 8

• Coding for NP care in nursing homes. June 4, p. 45

• Your staff needs CME, too. June 18, p. 52 Practice Pointers

• Revenue up, expenses down: Our NP is paying off. Oct 8, p. 70

Office

• Don't buy home computers for the office. Jan 9, p. 29 Computer Consult
• Is your office up to snuff? Feb 6, p. 108 Clip and Copy
• A physician's guide to OSHA regulations. Mar 5, p. 90
• Starting a Practice: 9-10 months out: Loans, leases, and credentialing. Apr 23, p. 27
• Starting a practice: 5-6 months out—Office design and supplies. June 18, p. 39
• What to buy for a new practice. June 18, p. 46 Clip and Copy
• What shouldn't go in your policy manual. July 9, p. 72 Malpractice Consult

Organized Medicine

• Tort reform turned ugly. Mar 19, p. 51

Patients

• A rush to diagnosis. Jan 9, p. 65
• "Doc, we need to pray". Jan 9, p. 83
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . .The Family and Medical Leave Act. Jan 23, p. 29
• Toward better senior healthcare. Jan 23, p. 96 Clip and Copy
• The translator mandate gets easier. Feb 6, p. 72
• Make your payment policy clear. Feb 20, p. 84 Clip and Copy
• Why won't they help my patient? Apr 9, p. 51 Young Doctor Award: 2003 Doctors' Writing Contest
• Why make time for behavioral counseling? Apr 9, p. 73
• Cultural Competence: Caring for Latino patients. Apr 23, p. 34
• What would you do? In this border-town dilemma. May 7, p. 62
• Lab tests: A shortcoming you need to know about. May 7, p. 65
• Helping patients use the Web wisely. May 7, p. 78 Clip and Copy
• Patient histories: How computers help. May 7, p. TCP15
• "He doesn't have age!" June 4, p. 52
• 9 things you should never say to a patient. June 4, p. 57
• I cut incoming calls 40 percent. June 18, p. 33
• Cultural Competence: Caring for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean patients. July 9, p. 54
• Should your patient still be driving? July 9, p. 60
• It's never "just a test". July 23, p. 32
• Tailoring practice guidelines for real patients. Aug 6, p. 30
• My patients' best e-resource? Me. Aug 6, p. 40
• It's not just what we say. Aug 6, p. 56
• What would you do? "Doc, can you write me a note?" Aug 20, p. 50
• What would you do? "Doc, can you write me a note?" [your responses] Oct 8, p. 44
• Cultural Competence: Caring for your Filipino, Southeast Asian, and Indian patients. Oct 22, p. 38
• Reactivating inactive patients—the EMR version. Oct 22, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• Dumb things I've said to patients. Nov 5, p. 41
• Don't be afraid of same-day scheduling. Nov 5, p. 64
• Helping patients manage visitors. Nov 5, p. 78
• If a patient refuses to be fired. Nov 5, p. 80 Malpractice Consult
• 4 steps to better patient compliance. Nov 19, p. 30
• Smooth the way for new patients. Nov 19, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• Your liability for noncompliant patients. Nov 19, p. 62 Malpractice Consult
• I'll settle for small steps. Dec 3, p. 52
• Listen up: It's a practice builder. Dec 3, p. 54
• Is your patient faking? Dec 3, p. 60
• Who decides: You or your patient? Dec 3, p. 68
• Helping patients stay healthy. Dec 3, p. 74 Clip and Copy
• The disease does not belong to me. Dec 17, p. 20

Personal Finances

• Go forward on a reverse mortgage? Jan 23, p. 77
• How this young doctor keeps debt at bay. Mar 5, p. 54
• More top tips from top financial advisers. Mar 19, p. 57
• Marriage and money: Ways to keep the peace. Mar 19, p. 88
• College housing? We bought our own. May 21, p. 73
• Beware the "advisory board" scam. Aug 6, p. 33
• Put your portfolio on cruise control. Oct 8, p. 63
• Good research makes a good fund. Nov 19, p. 21 Investment Consult
• 150 best financial advisers for doctors—Our exclusive list. Nov 19, p. 46

Personal Life

• I thought I understood breast cancer. Apr 9, p. 47 Grand Prize: 2003 Doctors' Writing Contest
• My big mouth landed me in jail. May 21, p. 53 Honorable Mention : 2003 Doctors' Writing Contest
• Six months to live? I'll start a business. May 21, p. 61
• My close call, your wake-up call. June 4, p. 42
• It's never "just a test". July 23, p. 32
• When a parent can't live at home. Aug 6, p. 38
• And tomorrow is Friday. Oct 22, p. 29
• One FP's moment in the surgical sun. Nov 5, p. 32

Practice Management

• How to close a practice. Jan 9, p. 69
• Evaluating new physicians. Jan 9, p. 98 Clip and Copy
• An odd practice booster—my nurse quit. Jan 23, p. 81
• Are you taking HIPAA too far? Jan 23, p. 86
• Two shifts work great for this office. Feb 6, p. 85
• Is your office up to snuff? Feb 6, p. 108 Clip and Copy
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . patient signatures; sale of a practice; sharing information; confirming appointments; access to insurer data. Feb 20, p. 35
• Talented, devoted, dependable, and a thief. Mar 5, p. 74
• How to win the paper (chart) chase. Mar 19, p. 40 Practice Pointers
• Starting a practice: The first steps, one year out. Mar 19, p. 100 New series
• Is your call coverage working? Apr 9, p. 78
• Keeping tabs on insurance plans. Apr 9, p. 94 Clip and Copy
• Starting a Practice: 9-10 months out: Loans, leases, and credentialing. Apr 23, p. 27
• How to traffic phone calls. Apr 23, p. 70 Clip and Copy
• Is your sample cabinet a danger zone? May 7, p. 45
• What's eating your profits? May 7, p. 70
• Starting a practice: 7-8 months out: Benefits and insurance. May 21, p. 66
• How to give and receive employee feedback. May 21, p. 78 Practice Pointers
• Assessing employee satisfaction. May 21, p. 82 Clip and Copy
• Painless practice Rx: An extra patient, B.I.D. June 4, p. 22
• Not getting paid? Blame HIPAA. June 4, p. 29
• 9 things you should never say to a patient. June 4, p. 57
• I cut incoming calls 40 percent. June 18, p. 33
• Improving collections. July 9, p. 70 Clip and Copy
• Starting a practice: 3-4 months out—Hiring staff. July 23, p. 34
• This piece of paper can boost your income. Aug 6, p. 18 Practice Pointers
• Managing petty cash is no petty matter. Aug 6, p. 45
• Keeping track of preauthorizations. Aug 6, p. 66 Clip and Copy
• Starting a practice: 1-2 months out—Setting up office systems. Aug 20, p. 18
• Keep your billing on target. Aug 20, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• Starting a practice: The final steps. Sept 3, p. 58
• Starting a practice—My first year: Tough, but I made it. Sept 3, p. 68
• Exclusive Survey: How hard are you working? Oct 8, p. 30
• How to reactivate inactive patients. Oct 8, p. 86 Clip and Copy
• Reactivating inactive patients—the EMR version. Oct 22, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• Gen X vs Boomer: A call schedule solution. Nov 5, p. 53
• 8 great tips to make your practice more productive. Nov 5, p. 61
• Don't be afraid of same-day scheduling. Nov 5, p. 64
• Helping patients manage visitors. Nov 5, p. 78 Clip and Copy
• 10 ways to work smarter. Nov 19, p. 36
• Smooth the way for new patients. Nov 19, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• Hire your spouse? Tread carefully. Dec 3, p. 64
• Big practice problems: What our experts would do. Dec 17, p. 38

Practice, Special Types

• Haircut, manicure, and a little medicine. Oct 8, p. 67

• Bring a CAM practitioner on board? Nov 19, p. 22

Primary Care

• Last Word: I can't believe I did all that! Mar 19, p. 128
• What is an FP? Apr 9, p. 33
• Jobs 2004: Primary care outlook. May 21, p. 84
• What primary care needs now. Oct 8, p. 36
• One FP's moment in the surgical sun. Nov 5, p. 32

Professions, Other

• Hard lessons about home contractors. Feb 6, p. 79
• How to choose an insurance agent. Mar 5, p. 103
• Why you need lawyers—plural. Mar 5, p. 110
• How to pick an accountant. Apr 23, p. 61
• Last Word: Lawyers: To treat or not to treat. Oct 22, p. 72
• 150 best financial advisers for doctors—Our exclusive list. Nov 19, p. 46

Records

• The AAFP cuts an EMR deal. Jan 9, p. 21 Special Report
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . the "minimum necessary" rule. Jan 9, p. 32
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . .the Medical and Family Leave Act. Jan 23, p. 29
• Are you taking HIPAA too far? Jan 23, p. 86
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . a policies and procedures manual; staff training. Feb 6, p. 33
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . patient signatures; sale of a practice; sharing information; confirming appointments; access to insurer data. Feb 20, p. 35
• Automate—without an EMR. Feb 20, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• Voice recognition moves up a notch. Feb 20, p. TCP11 Special Technology Section
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . disclosure accounting; modifying potential privacy risks. Mar 5, p. 43
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . privacy and teaching; MD-to-MD communications; record theft Mar 19, p. 39
• How to win the paper (chart) chase. Mar 19, p. 40 Practice Pointers
• The English patient's EMR. Apr 9, p. 23 Technology Consult
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . spousal abuse; subpoenas; attorney discussions; police warrants. Apr 9, p. 25
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . suspicious injuries; medical board disclosures. Apr 23, p. 25
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . faxing lab results; taking records home. May 7, p. 16
• Getting an EMR up and running. May 7, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• EMR success: Training is the key. May 7, p. TCP11 Special Technology Section
• Patient histories: How computers help. May 7, p. TCP15 Special Technology Section
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . funeral directors; rape; mailings. May 21, p. 31
• Subpoena? You don't always have to comply. May 21, p. 33
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . copying patient records; amending records; state pre-emption. June 4, p. 21
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . obtaining lab reports; conducting research; bypassing authorizations. June 18, p. 21
• Overseas transcription: Is it safe? June 18, p. 16 Special Report
• The quest for an easy EMR. July 9, p. 26 Technology Consult
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . participating in a study; working with "noncovered entities"; contacting study participants; patient access to research data. July 9, p. 29
• No doctor is a data island. Aug 6, p. 16 Technology Consult
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about. . . privacy vs security; faxing information; appointing a security officer; security risk analysis. Aug 6, p. 17
• EHRs: The Feds' big push. Aug 20, p. 26
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . .disclosing information to employers; retaining original patient records; services for the hearing impaired; credit card payments. Sept 3, p. 21
• Tips from an EMR pioneer. Oct 8, p. 25 Technology Consult
• How to reactivate inactive patients. Oct 8, p. 86 Clip and Copy
• Reactivating inactive patients—the EMR version. Oct 22, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . outside researchers; record removal; business associates; covered entities. Nov 5, p. 25
• EMR or EHR? Nov 5, p.22 Technology Consult
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . . copying sensitive chart entries; sharing data with noncovered entities. Dec 3, p. 29

Retirement

• How to close a practice. Jan 9, p. 69
• Financial Problem Solved! "Should I convert to a Roth IRA?". Jan 9, p. 87
• How secure is your Social Security blanket? Apr 23, p. 32
• Retirement: Plan for emotional changes, too. May 21, p. 60
• Yes, you can retire early. Oct 22, p. 18

Social Security

• How secure is your Social Security blanket? Apr 23, p. 32

Solo Practice

• Two shifts work great for this office. Feb 6, p. 85
• Last Word: My practice in paradise. Apr 23, p. 88
• Starting a practice—My first year: Tough, but I made it. Sept 3, p. 68

Taxes

• Answers to your tax questions about adjusting gross income. Jan 9, p. 60
• Answers to your tax questions about personal deductions. Jan 23, p. 34
• Group practice: The IRS cracks down on bonuses. Jan 23, p. 60
• Your Taxes: Get the MOST from this year's TAX BREAKS. Feb 6, p. 92
• Your Taxes: Watch out for the AMT. Feb 6, p. 99
• Your Taxes: Don't miss these hidden deductions. Feb 6, p. 103
• Your Taxes: Answers to your tax questions about business expenses. Feb 6, p. 104
• Answers to your tax questions about investment income and loss. Feb 20, p. 59
• Answers to your tax questions: About retirement plans. Mar 5, p. 115
• Answers to your tax questions: About credits, exemptions, and filing. Mar 19, p. 77
• How to shelter income safely. June 4, p. 48
• Your home is a tax shelter, too. Nov 5, p. 37