Ed Rabinowitz

The use of virtual reality applications, such as "telepresencing" communication, in healthcare is expected to increase rapidly through 2015, according to a recent report. One of the main reasons is the issue of access -- physician shortages are driving many to use technology to connect physicians with patients remotely.

Among the factors influencing the increase in Medicare billing audits is the Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) audits -- entities that review paid claims for Medicare and Medicaid providers to ensure they meet government regulatory and policy requirements. In fact, experts say the likelihood of a random RAC audit is probably not a matter of if will happen, but when. Are you ready?

A new online service provides consumers with diagnosis and treatment for common medical conditions round the clock. By accessing the service for conditions that are not serious health emergencies, patients can get the care they need when their physician is not available. In turn, doctors can access the online information to work more efficiently and manage a larger patient population.

Medication compliance is an issue that not only impacts patients, but families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals as well. So when a recent study for a mobile phone application designed to improve medication compliance turned up encouraging results, it signaled an important step forward.

A physician's ability to empathize with a patient improves the quality of care he or she provides, according to a recent study. The good news is that physicians tend to have a head start in that area. But even if they don't have that skill, empathy can be taught. Here are some questions to ask to gauge your ability to empathize with your patients.

A lot of physicians think they have electronic referral capability because it comes with their electronic medical records system. But while most EMRs capture referral information, there is no way to transmit it out to the specialist, or for the specialist to transmit diagnosis, treatment or results back to the referring physician. That's a crucial detail that hinders practice productivity.

Physicians are finding that whether they take a phased-in approach, or dive right in to implementing an electronic medical records (EMR) systems in their practices, the key to success is for doctors and nurses to be involved in the process from the start.

If a cardiologist in your state is being paid more than you, wouldn't you like to know that? Or if an internist is being reimbursed by Medicare faster, and being denied claims less frequently? Now a service provides real-time comparative analysis of electronic remittance notices, to give physicians the ability to identify and correct revenue-cycle performance issues.

By now there should be no doubt that the use of smart phones, iPads and other mobile devices have infiltrated the healthcare sector. But the mobility aspect of these devices means that extra steps need to be taken to ensure the protection of the sensitive information within. Note: Hacking is the least of your worries.

Practice-based medical labs -- where blood is drawn and analyzed in-house, as opposed to being sent out for analysis -- can not only improve patient care, they have the potential to increase practice revenue when set up correctly. But before diving in, you need to know your patients.

For physician practices looking for an added revenue stream, sometimes that flowing water can be closer than you think. A new kiosk-type device allows patients to fill out forms and swipe their cards to make co-pays right on the spot. As a result, data is entered more accurately and physicians can put an end to missed co-pays.

When it comes to deciding how much working capital you need to run a medical practice, how do you know when enough is enough? The answer is not always easily attainable. And in this tough economic environment, combined with the uncertainty in the healthcare industry, finding a lender willing to extend credit to provide as much working capital as you need is tougher for physicians.

Conventional wisdom says physicians tend to lag behind when it comes to adoption of new technology -- just not when it comes to the iPad. Surveys show the healthcare industry is one the top adopters of iPad useage on the job. Physicians says the device's mobility, flexibility, ease-of-use and educational attributes are a few of the many reason iPads are showing up in more exam rooms.

A new report predicts hundreds of millions of smartphone owners will be using mobile health applications by 2015. Health apps can not only help patients track their own behaviors in order to improve their health, they can give physicians information that can ultimately help them provide better healthcare.

If you've ever loaned money to a family member, you know how awkward -- even uncomfortable -- it can be. Sometimes the risk outweighs the reward. The same holds true when it comes to leading money to colleagues. If you're considering helping a junior associate out with a loan, here are some ways to protect yourself.

Medical matchmaking? Why not? At a time when physicians are looking to promote themselves and the services of their practice to a wider audience, having a chance to meet with prospective patients in a relaxed environment is an opportunity to forge new relationships. And while it might resemble, at first blush, a night of speed dating, the focus here is on healthcare.

It's easy for doctors to get caught up in the day-to-day regimen of providing the best medical care for their patients. After all, that's your job. What sometimes gets lost in the shuffle, however, is that physicians should also be enabling to their staff -- helping them be as productive and efficient as possible.

Many in the medical community have come to realize that social media is about communication. That's a key factor in building online communities between physicians and their patients. Before you engage in social media, however, you need to understand how to "talk the talk" and determine what kind of communications your patients want from you.

Some are predicting the use of videoconferencing by physicians is about to boom, and experts say acceptance of the technology by physicians and their patients is growing. While physicians who use videoconferencing tools are able to realize significant efficiency and productivity gains, finding a reimbursement model that works can be a challenge.

Migrating to a cloud-computing service can give smaller and mid-sized medical practices access to IT management expertise and advances in technology typically available to much larger organizations. But practice managers need to consider security and regulatory issues before they take to the clouds.

Too often, the focus on the medical practice billing process is whether or not it's efficient. The first question really should be, "Is the process effective?" Taking the time to make these basic observations will help in understanding both effectiveness and efficiency of your billing system.

The risks inherent in inaccurate coding are two-fold: On the financial side, it often means that medical practices are not properly reimbursed. Of greater importance, however, is the growing danger of poor coding resulting in fraud charges.

A multidisciplinary practice -- one that includes both licensed medical doctors and other healthcare professionals, such as chiropractors, acupuncturists and other alternative medicine practitioners. But these non-traditional practices can face a number of challenging considerations.

In the second in a two-part series on how to value your practice, experts offer advice on how to improve the value of your practice if you determine the business is not worth is much as you thought. Some fixes will be relatively easy, and others much more challenging.

Do you know how much your practice is worth to a prospective buyer? Even if you're not planning to sell, or partner with another physician, there are many reasons why it's crucial to know the current value of your practice. In a two-part series, I'll tell you why valuing your practice so important -- and then show you how.

It's been 50 years or so since doctors made house calls on a regular basis. In fact, a physician house call was virtually unheard of just a short time ago. But now a new physician model -- the "residentialists" -- are emerging to care for homebound and access-challenged patients.

More patients are willing to purchase mobile technology -- such as blood pressure or blood glucose meters -- to monitor their health at home, a new study shows. That's a boon for physicians, who say the devices can cut down on unnecessary office visits by as much as 30%.

Every year brings new financial challenges, as well as new ways to address those hurdles. Regardless of the year, there are some sound rules when it comes to managing money that -- albeit with a couple of tweaks -- remain tried and true. Here are five of them.

Physicians looking to expand their patient base and branch out beyond their practices should look no further than their local radio stations. A call-in show, or similar program, can help doctors reach out to new patients while providing a valuable service to the community.

Physicians, in increasing number, are heading back to college in pursuit of a Masters in Business Administration. Many have determined that in the field of healthcare today, a medical degree alone just doesn't cut it.