Index of Articles—Jan-Jun 2005

Assistants

• Practice Pointers: Employee leaving? Start asking questions. Jan 7, p. 68
• How to do an exit interview. Jan 7, p. 70 Clip and Copy
• Put a $ value on employee benefits. Jan 21, p. 86 Clip and Copy
• Tame your health insurance costs. Feb 4, p. 35
• How technology cuts staff costs. May 6, p. TCP16 Special Technology Section

Billings

• Collecting just got harder. May 20, p. 22
• Prodding insurers? Use patient power. May 20, p. 50
• Enlist employers in claims fights. May 20, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• Practice Pointers: When patients can't pay. June 3, p. 49

Cars

• Cars: Fun or value? These offer both. Mar 4, p. 66

Clinical Practice

• The best treatment? It's at your fingertips. Mar 4, TCP15 Special Technology Section

Coding

• Coding Consult: Nurse visits. Jan 7, p., 14
• CPT codes: What were they thinking? Jan 7, p. 56
• Coding Consult: Answers to your questions about...99291; asthma visits; priority of diagnoses. Jan 21, p. 19
• Coding Consult: New wound care codes. Feb 4, p. 16
• Coding Consult. Answers to your questions about ECG interpretation; after-hours codes; venom injections. Feb 18, p. 14
• Coding Consult: Classifying migraines. Mar 4, p. 29
• Coding Consult: Answers to your questions about...extra infusion time; oximetry coverage; meet-and-greet charges. Mar 18, p. 19
• What are these doctors doing right? Mar 18, p. 50
• Coding Consult: Stress tests. Apr 8, p. 22
• Coding Consult: Answers to your questions about...evaluating burn codes; patient status. Apr 22, p. 23
• How to code for the new Medicare benefit. Apr 22, p. 31
• Claims denials: Don't take No for an answer. May 6, p. 41
• Coding Consult: Fractures. May 6, p. 17
• 6 steps to better coding. May 20, p. 62
• Coding Consult: Infusions. June 3, p. 16
• Coding Consult: Answers to your questions about...cerumen removal; cyst removal; ECG codes. June 17, p. 17

Colleagues

• What would you do: If your colleague's a thief. Apr 22, p. 56
• What would you do: If your colleague's a thief? (follow-up) June 3, p. 32
• Fired for protecting patients? June 17, p. 21

Compensation

• Where's the money? Mar 4, p. 22 Special Report
• What are these doctors doing right? Mar 18, p. 50
• When a salary guarantee expires. Apr 22, p. 46
• Tackling pay for performance. May 6, p. 16 Special Report

Computers

• New Year's resolutions. Jan 7, p. 16 Technology Consult
• Exclusive survey: Doctors and EHRs. Jan 21, p. 72
• EHR questions? We have answers. Feb 4, p. 19 Technology Consult
• How to lighten the Rx renewal load. Feb 4, p. 44
• When the computers crash. Feb 18, p. 24
• More answers to your EHR questions. Mar 4, p. 34 Technology Consult
• How to pay for your EHR. Mar 4, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• EHRs: A way around big start-up costs. Mar 4, p. TCP6 Special Technology Section
• Going online: The need for speed. Mar 4, p. TCP10 Special Technology Section
• IT skills every office manager needs. Apr 8, p. 24 Technology Consult
• Expert help: Hire or outsource? May 6, p. 23 Technology Consult
• Can your hospital help you get an EHR? May 6, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• An EHR role for IPAs. May 6, p. TCP8 Special Technology Section
• How technology cuts staff costs. May 6, p. TCP16 Special Technology Section
• EHRs: Where are we now? May 20, p. 35
• What about the VA's EHR. May 20, p. 40
• Disaster-proofing your EHR. June 3, p. 20 Technology Consult

Death & Dying

• My new view of hospice. Jan 7, p. 53
• The night I lost my faith. Apr 8, p. 41 Grand Prize: 2004 Doctors' Writing Contest
• Second-guessing Terri Schiavo's doctors (and other Capitol Hill outrages). Apr 22, p. 21 Outlook
• A young woman sits alone, dying. June 3, p. 54
• When the news is bad. June 17, p. 34
• Why I deliver bad news myself. June 17, p. 38

Drugs

• We do our best, and then...Karen. Jan 7, p. 46
• We do our best, and then...Suzanne. Jan 7, p. 47
• How to lighten the Rx renewal load. Feb 4, p. 44
• Streamlining Rx renewal requests. Feb 4, p. 50 Clip and Copy
• Where does drug importation stand now? Mar 18, p. 42
• When a drug is withdrawn. May 20, p. 68 Malpractice Consult
• If you prescribe, will they dispense? June 17, p. 16 Outlook

Education

• Smart ways to tackle med school debt. Apr 8, p. 30
• Paying for college. May 20, p. 30

Employment

• Practice Pointers: Employee leaving? Start asking questions. Jan 7, p. 68
• Clip and Copy: How to do an exit interview. Jan 7, p. 70
• Finding a Job—Step 4: Weighing offers. Jan 21, p. 48
• I don't believe in the tooth fairy, either. Jan 21, p. 34
• Finding a Job—Step 5: Settling in. Feb 4, p. 25
• Finding a Job: Returning to practice. Mar 4, p. 74

Ethics

• Last Word: Forced charity isn't charity at all. Feb 18, p. 68
• What would you do: If your colleague's a thief. Apr 22, p. 56
• What would you do: If your colleague's a thief? (follow-up) June 3, p. 32

Expenses

• Expense survey: What to spend, what to cut. Jan 21, p. 58
• Tame your health insurance costs. Feb 4, p. 35

Family

• Paying for college. May 20, p. 30
• He's not my patient, he's my father. June 17, p. 42

Fees

• Tackling pay for performance. May 6, p. 16 Special Report

Government & Politics

• Washington Outlook: Any action on healthcare? Jan 21, p. 36
• Where's the money? Mar 4, p. 22 Special Report
• Where does drug importation stand now? Mar 18, p. 42
• Second-guessing Terri Schiavo's doctors (and other Capitol Hill outrages). Apr 22, p. 21 Outlook
• Washington loves doctors—or at least their money. May 20, p. 19 Outlook

Group Practice

• Pay for performance: A double-edged sword. Jan 21, p. 64
• Adding a doctor? Ask these questions. Mar 18, p. 22
• When a salary guarantee expires. Apr 22, p. 46
• When solo is no longer enough. May 6, p. 26
• Fired for protecting patients? June 17, p. 21

Health Insurance

• Tame your health insurance costs. Feb 4, p. 35
• Almost 65? What you need to know about Medicare. Mar 4, p. 81
• Here comes the NPI. Apr 8, p. 21 Special Report
• Insurers not paying? Fight back. Apr 8, p. 58
• Last Word: There ought to be a law. Apr 22, p. 80
• Prodding insurers? Use patient power. May 20, p. 50
• Enlist employers in claims fights. May 20, p. 60 Clip and Copy

Home

• Is a home practice for you? May 6, p. 60

Hospitals

• Is peer review worth saving? Feb 18, p. 46
• Peer Review: Dr. Ulrich's battle. Feb 18, p. 53
• Can your hospital help you get an EHR? May 6, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• Alonzo brought me back to life. May 20, p. 28
• Hospitals: Portrait of a failure. June 3, p. 26

Humor

• "Oh, my aching back!" Feb 4, p. 41

Insurance

• The right way to report a patient's disability. Feb 4, p. 65
• Going bare—except for a T-shirt. Mar 4, p. 61

Internet

• Going online: The need for speed. Mar 4, p. TCP10 Special Technology Section
• The best treatment? It's at your fingertips. Mar 4, p. TCP15 Special Technology Section

Investments

• Investing: Best bets for 2005. Jan 21, p. 22
• Tactics for surviving business scandals. Feb 18, p. 16 Investment Consult
• Spell out what your broker needs to know. Feb 18, p. 39
• Investing: 8 mistakes you may be making. Mar 4, p. 45
• Beyond taxes: Can a CPA do it all? Mar 18, p. 49
• Pros and cons of separately managed accounts. Apr 22, p. 24 Investment Consult
• The next hot sector? Think large. May 20, p. 20 Investment Consult
• Investing: Discount or full-service broker? June 3, p. 38
• Thinking about real estate? June 17, p. 20 Investment Consult

Investments—Mutual Funds

• Funds of the Month: Growth funds. Jan 7, p. 50
• Investing: Best bets for 2005. Jan 21, p. 22
• Funds of the Month: Financial services. Feb 4, p. 57
• Funds of the Month: Healthcare funds. Mar 4, p. 86
• You still need small-caps. Mar 18, p. 20 Investment Consult
• Picking stocks: Tips from an insider. Mar 18, p. 38
• Buying a load fund? Read this first. Apr 8, p. 50
• Funds of the Month: Lifecycle funds. Apr 8, p. 66
• Index investing: Is it right for you? May 6, p. 36
• Funds of the Month: Small funds. May 6, p. 68
• Funds of the Month: Consistent performers. June 3, p. 53

Investments—Stock

• Investing: Best bets for 2005. Jan 21, p. 22
• You still need small-caps. Mar 18, p. 20 Investment Consult
• Stocks: What to say when you buy and sell. Apr 22, p. 38

Malpractice

• A Medical Economics special investigation: Behind the med-mal crisis. Jan 7, p. 20
• Disclosing contingency fees. Jan 21, p. 88 Malpractice Consult
• The risk of 5-minute appointments. Feb 4, p. 90 Malpractice Consult
• Extend your practice—not your liability. Feb 18, p. 41
• When a patient won't pay. Feb 18, p. 56 Malpractice Consult
• Going bare—except for a T-shirt. Mar 4, p. 61
• Malpractice: Will a jury think money clouds your judgment? Mar 4, p. 86
• When patients complain. Mar 18, p. 62 Malpractice Consult
• Last Word: Why I'm a plaintiffs' expert. Mar 18, p. 76
• Malpractice: How fear changes practice. Apr 8, p. 80
• The right way to correct a record. Apr 8, p. 85 Malpractice Consult
• If an attorney wants a "friendly chat". Apr 22, p. 68 Malpractice Consult
• My patient lived—so she sued me. May 6, p. 31
• Talking about our mistakes. May 6, p. 64
• Treating by phone? Be careful. May 6, p. 83 Malpractice Consult
• When a drug is withdrawn. May 20, p. 68 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice: How to survive a deposition. June 3, p. 45
• Are you liable for a resident's mistake? June 3, p. 62 Malpractice Consult
• Malpractice: Another way to get sued. June 17, p. 30
• Liability for house calls. June 17, p. 60 Malpractice Consult

Managed Care

• The HMO lawsuit: Get your share of settlement spoils. Jan 7, p. 61
• Pay for performance: A double-edged sword. Jan 21, p. 64
• Dr. Davids beat HMO Goliath. Feb 4, p. 52
• Malpractice: Will a jury think money clouds your judgment? Mar 4, p. 86
• A jury holds an HMO accountable. Apr 8, p. 55
• Insurers not paying? Fight back. Apr 8, p. 58
• An EHR role for IPAs. May 6, p. TCP8 Special Technology Section

Marketing

• Practice Pointers: How to market your practice. Mar 4, p. 53

Medical Economics Surveys

• Exclusive survey: Doctors and EHRs. Jan 21, p. 72
• Financial Survey: Is your net worth keeping pace? June 17, p. 50

Medical Profession

• Last Word: Forced charity isn't charity at all. Feb 18, p. 68
• It's fun to go to work again. Apr 22, p. 49
• Burnout: Are you at risk? May 6, p. 78
• Last Word: We don't have it so bad. June 17, p. 72
• Taking stock. June 17, p. 40

Medicare/Medicaid

• My new view of hospice. Jan 7, p. 53
• Almost 65? What you need to know about Medicare. Mar 4, p. 81
• Here comes the NPI. Apr 8, p. 21 Special Report
• How to code for the new Medicare benefit. Apr 22, p. 31
• Tackling pay for performance. May 6, p. 16 Special Report
• Last Word: How I'd fix Medicare. May 20, p. 80
• Medicare fees: Will they ever fix the formula? June 3, p. 58

Midlevel Providers

• Extend your practice—not your liability. Feb 18, p. 41

Office

• How I connect with patients. Mar 18, p. 36
• The art of medicine. Apr 8, p. 70
• Is a home practice for you? May 6, p. 60

Patients

• We do our best, and then...Karen. Jan 7, p. 46
• We do our best, and then...Suzanne. Jan 7, p. 47
• My patient gave me a second chance. Jan 21, p. 56
• Cultural Competence: Caring for your black patients. Feb 4, p. 58
• My patient did it her way. Feb 18, p. 34
• My rouges' gallery of patients. Mar 4, p. 70
• Shedding light on shedding pounds. Mar 4, p. 37
• Who sent me Mrs. Mottira? Mar 18, p. 29
• How I connect with patients. Mar 18, p. 36
• Updating patient information. Mar 18, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• "There's a bug in my ear" and other unforgettable house calls. Apr 8, p. 68
• Practice Pointers: How to handle no-shows. Apr 22, p. 62
• A no-show showdown letter. Apr 22, p. 66 Clip and Copy
• My patient lived—so she sued me. May 6, p. 31
• Cultural Competence: Caring for your Muslim patients. May 6, p. 46
• "It's like baking a cake." May 6, p. 58
• Talking about our mistakes. May 6, p. 64
• On the other side of the stethoscope. May 6, p. 76 Young Doctor Award: 2004 Doctors' Writing Contest
• Are you getting through? May 20, p. 44
• Prodding insurers? Use patient power. May 20, p. 50
• Enlist employers in claims fights. May 20, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• Practice Pointers: When patients can't pay. June 3, p. 49
• A young woman sits alone, dying. June 3, p. 54
• When the news is bad. June 17, p. 34
• Why I deliver bad news myself. June 17, p. 38

Peer Review

• Is peer review worth saving? Feb 18, p. 46

• Peer Review: Dr. Ulrich's battle. Feb 18, p. 53

Personal Finances

• Investment Consult: Stay clear of media hype. Jan 21, p. 20
• Is that extended warranty worth it? Jan 21, p. 63
• Smart ways to tackle med school debt. Apr 8, p. 30
• Paying for college. May 20, p. 30
• Financial Survey: Is your net worth keeping pace? June 17, p. 50

Personal Life

• "Oh, my aching back!" Feb 4, p. 41
• Baghdad, bombs, and a kid with asthma. Mar 4, p. 50
• On the other side of the stethoscope. May 6, p. 76 Young Doctor Award: 2004 Doctors' Writing Contest
• Burnout: Are you at risk? May 6, p. 78
• Alonzo brought me back to life. May 20, p. 28
• Taking stock. June 17, p. 40
• He's not my patient, he's my father. June 17, p. 42

Practice Management

• Last Word: Overseas transcription: I say No! Jan 21, p. 100
• Streamlining Rx renewal requests. Feb 4, p. 50 Clip and Copy
• A Physician's Guide to CLIA rules. Feb 18, p. 25
• Practice Pointers: How to market your practice. Mar 4, p. 53
• What are these doctors doing right? Mar 18, p. 50
• Updating patient information. Mar 18, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• 1 doctor, 0 staff. Apr 22, p. 58
• Practice Pointers: How to handle no-shows. Apr 22, p. 62
• A no-show showdown letter. Apr 22, p. 66 Clip and Copy
• How we prod low producers. May 6, p. 74
• How technology cuts staff costs. May 6, p. TCP16 Special Technology Section
• Collecting just got harder. May 20, p. 22
• 10 more ways to work smarter. June 17, p. 26

Practice, Special Types

• It's fun to go to work again. Apr 22, p. 49

• Should you see nursing home patients? May 6, p. 69

Primary Care

• Where do med-peds fit? Apr 8, p. 34

Professions, Other

• Spell out what your broker needs to know. Feb 18, p. 39
• Beyond taxes: Can a CPA do it all? Mar 18, p. 49

Records

• Technology Consult: New Year's resolutions. Jan 7, p. 16
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about...subpoenas for records and interviews; home-based employees. Jan 7, p. 18
• Exclusive survey: Doctors and EHRs. Jan 21, p. 72
• Last Word: Overseas transcription: I say No! Jan 21, p. 100
• EHR questions? We have answers. Feb 4, p. 19 Technology Consult
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about...clearinghouses; transcription services; janitorial services. Feb 4, p. 25
• More answers to your EHR questions. Mar 4, p. 34 Technology Consult
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about...paper record disposal; deceased patients; surviving spouse rights. Mar 4, p. 36
• How to pay for your EHR. Mar 4, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• EHRs: A way around big start-up costs. Mar 4, p. TCP6 Special Technology Section
• Updating patient information. Mar 18, p. 60 Clip and Copy
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about...exemption from HIPAA; using an Internet-based messaging service pagers; compliance officer obligations. Apr 8, p. 26
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . .invalid authorizations; computer security; e-prescribing. May 6, p. 25
• Can your hospital help you get an EHR? May 6, p. TCP3 Special Technology Section
• An EHR role for IPAs. May 6, p. TCP8 Special Technology Section
• EHRs: Where are we now? May 20, p. 35
• What about the VA's EHR. May 20, p. 40
• Disaster-proofing your EHR. June 3, p. 20 Technology Consult
• HIPAA Consult: Answers to your questions about . . .privacy vs security; internal security threats; small-practice requirements. June 3, p. 22

Retirement

• Painting a rosy retirement. Feb 18, p. 18
• Almost 65? What you need to know about Medicare. Mar 4, p. 81

Salaried Practice

• When a salary guarantee expires. Apr 22, p. 46

Social Security

• Social Security: What Bush wants. June 3, p. 34

Solo Practice

• I don't believe in the tooth fairy, either. Jan 21, p. 34
• 1 doctor, 0 staff. Apr 22, p. 58

Specialty Practice

• Where do med-peds fit? Apr 8, p. 34

Taxes

• Answers to your tax questions about personal exemptions and deductions. Jan 7, p. 44
• Answers to your tax questions about business expenses. Jan 21, p. 42
• Tax strategies: Winning 1040 moves. Feb 4, p. 70
• Tax strategies: Have you asked these 7 questions? Feb 4, p. 77
• Tax strategies: Secrets of savvy doctors. Feb 4, p. 85
• Answers to your tax questions about dividend and interest income. Feb 4, p. 88
• Answers to your tax questions about asset sales. Feb 18, p. 44
• Answers to your tax questions about retirement funds. Mar 4, p. 57
• Answers to your tax questions: About special situations. Mar 18, p. 25