Healthcare
Showing 385–400 of 450 results
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Patient complaints — Turning negatives into positives
Fall 2009
Newsletter: Vital Signs
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 825
Abstract: With the advent of online doctor reviews, patients can anonymously spread the word about the good, bad and ugly of their experiences with a particular office. And the impact of a negative online review to a practice could be significant, without the doctor having any control or say. But there are ways to prevent a patient’s negative opinion or turn it into a positive one. It involves various methods of listening to the patient. And, if he or she does request to transfer records to another practice, an exit interview may be able to resolve the problem — and help physicians understand where their practice might need improvement.
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Practice builders – Building a brand image
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 499
Abstract: Building a positive brand image starts with deciding which types of patients your practice wants to entice and then learning about their needs and expectations. You’ll need to size up your target market, and then decide what image you wish to convey to the wider world.
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Vital Stats – HIPAA expands under HITECH
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 374
Abstract: The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) applies to certain “covered entities,” including physician practices and their “business associates” that do work for any entity that involves “protected health information,” or PHI. This short article describes the details, including significant monetary penalties for noncompliance.
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More complicated than you think – Valuing a medical practice
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 679
Abstract: A new wave of purchases of physician practices, mostly by hospitals, is taking place around the country. Because of their numbers, size and purchasing power, hospitals are currently defining the standards for valuing the practices they buy. A practice’s sale price is typically based on the value assigned to it by a professional appraiser when there’s a strategic buyer. The value is made up of the practice’s tangible assets, cash, accounts receivable and goodwill.
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Following the rules for CMS enrollment
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 621
Abstract: The procedure for physicians needing to enroll in Medicare has become both easier and tougher. It’s easier because the process now can be completed almost entirely online. At the same time, CMS is monitoring physician enrollment data more closely to cut back on the potential for fraud and abuse. Practices must file more frequently, but Medicare’s “PECOS” system makes the process easier. This article discusses the procedures involved.
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Don’t take it sitting down – Fight back in troubled economic times
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 826
Abstract: The economic downturn is affecting the financial fortunes of many physician practices. A practice can cut expenses, but to improve its long-term financial position it must improve efficiency. This includes improvements in scheduling, better handling of no-shows, cross training, and more efficient management of physician time and office space. A sidebar offers additional tips.
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The $65,000 question — Will your practice get all it can from Medicare/Medicaid incentives?
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Vital Signs
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1252
Abstract: The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) has significantly increased the potential return physicians may receive from either Medicare or Medicaid, depending on their payor mix. But to get the most from this opportunity, practice leaders will need to stay on top of the details. This article discusses participation criteria, along with details concerning Medicare incentives, HIPAA privacy rules, and penalties on physicians who don’t meet the “meaningful user” criteria. Medicare and Medicaid payment schedules for the coming years are provided.
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8 key elements to an effective EHR system action plan
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Vital Signs
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1039
Abstract: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also known as the stimulus bill) includes a section known as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) that devotes $17 billion to the implementation of electronic health records (EHR). The good news is that funding for implementation is finally available to physicians and health systems. The bad news is that the funding is the easy part — the hard part is the implementation of an EHR system. An outline of eight key elements points the way.
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Marketing your practice in a difficult economy
Summer 2009
Newsletter: Vital Signs
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 769
Abstract: No matter what changes come to the medical profession, a basic reality is that all medical practices will need patients to exist. Great opportunities exist in this time of change. Marketing your practice is a crucial way of keeping up your patient base. It doesn’t always have to cost money, but it does require energy and focus. This article offers tips involving networking, getting your name into the marketplace, and maintaining high standards of service.
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Practice builders – A brave new world: Finding your way
Spring 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 573
Abstract: Consumer-driven health care is here to stay. So it’s critical that your practice understand how the various health plans work and the impact they’ll have on your patients — and your practice. This article delves into the issues surrounding high-deductible health plans, Health Savings Accounts and your billing process.
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Vital Signs – Pay-for-performance can help improve productivity
Spring 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 164
Abstract: This issue’s “Vital Stats” offers information from the MGMA Physician Compensation and Production Survey, 2008 Report Based on 2007 Data indicating that appropriately aligned compensation can make a difference in productivity.
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Good staff are hard to find – Tips for recruiting and retaining the best
Spring 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 710
Abstract: Physician practices are in competition with other practices, hospitals, and even third-party payors — not just for patients but also for staff. High-performing practices work hard to recruit the best staff candidates and then work even harder to retain them once they’re hired. This article explores the secrets of finding and keeping good staff members.
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Maximizing income while controlling costs
Spring 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 802
Abstract: It’s becoming harder to make money practicing medicine. Payors are trying to push physician reimbursements down; operating expenses are moving relentlessly upward. You don’t need an MBA to understand the basic arithmetic of profits in a medical practice: They’re the net result of costs subtracted from income. So profits can be increased by either raising income or reducing costs. This article discusses how to achieve both.
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How to assert more clout with health plans and hospitals
Spring 2009
Newsletter: Rx for Practice Management / Practice Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1094
Abstract: Over the last two decades, the health care industry has undergone steady consolidation toward a few very large institutions and, perhaps as a result of that trend, the medical profession has lost a lot of clout. Some physicians have surrendered to this trend and become employees of hospitals and managed care organizations. If you prefer to remain in private practice, there may be another option for you. But it requires achieving more “bulk” in the marketplace. This article explains how to get the clout you need. A sidebar offers tips on gaining even more bargaining power.
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Another “red flag” on the regulatory front — New FACTA rules seek to curb medical identity theft
Spring 2009
Newsletter: Vital Signs
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 1042
Abstract: In November 2007, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued regulations known as “Red Flag Rules” as part of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA). The purpose of the Red Flag Rules is to address the growing incidence of identity theft, including financial and medical identity theft. This article discusses the new rules and how practices can integrate the revised regs into their operations.
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Understanding the nuances of PQRI
Spring 2009
Newsletter: Vital Signs
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 538
Abstract: The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) is a program designed to improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries. In general, the quality measures consist of “a unique denominator (eligible case) and numerator (clinical action) that permit the calculation of the percentage of a defined population that receive a particular process of care or achieve a particular outcome,” according to the CMS 2009 PQRI Implementation Guide. This article explains the nuances of this important Medicare-related program.