Lifestyle

As a resident or new physician, or a physician considering a change in your current situation, starting a new medical practice brings with it a laundry list of questions in regards to carrying out your mission. Here are the main questions to consider.

Although a large percentage of young patients use Facebook, most still believe that "friending" a patient crosses a professional boundary.

A Wall Street Journal investigation into Medicare costs found that seven Kentucky spine surgeons were among the largest recipients of royalty and other payments from medical-device maker Medtronic.

America's have been hearing a lot about doctor shortages, but a new study found that while there is an abundance of pediatric and family physicians in the U.S., they tend to practice away from areas where demand for their services is most needed.

The healthcare sector, and biotech stocks in particular, surged last week as life-sciences companies embarked on a $6.7 billion shopping spree during the waning days before Christmas.

Several major medical societies are adopting joint principles designed to help prepare physicians for practice in the medical home environment.

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.

Our first "Diagnose the Dow!" stock-picking contest is over! Thanks to the 500 contestants who participated, investing $100,000 in virtual funds in the healthcare stocks of their choice over the course of the 10-week contest. And the winner is ...

Like most growing businesses, mine reached a breaking point -- it was becoming a pain in the neck! I recognized the need to add support, and so a few weeks ago I added an online business manager. Here are the secrets I've learned from reaching this critical juncture in the growth of my entrepreneurial physician business.

Physicians continue to worry about malpractice lawsuits, despite their actual risk of being sued, a new study found. It suggested that recent tort reform legislation aimed at controlling healthcare costs haven't eased doctors concerns about the threat of being sued.

Federal authorities arrested more suspects as part of a growing insider-trading probe involving hedge funds and physician "expert networks" -- research firms that match doctors with hedge funds, financial institutions and other firms seeking medical expertise.

"Wealth management" is a phrase financial advisors use to attract high-earning and/or high-net-worth individuals -- and there is some sense to the concept. Talking a plan through, and then seeing it in writing, can have an impact that is hard to envision otherwise, even if time and circumstances lead to the wholesale revision or even scrapping of elements you once thought essential.

President Obama signed legislation that delays for one year the scheduled 25% reduction in Medicare payments to doctors, and guarantees physicians stable reimbursement through 2011.

President Obama has signed into law a bill that delays the scheduled Medicare cuts for one year, and guarantees physicians stable reimbursement through 2011.

More than two-thirds of Americans commute to work alone every day. While few would call their daily slog to work pleasant, some commuters have it easier than others. Here are the best and worst commutes in the U.S.

A reader who purchased his first home this year is unsure of how much to tip workers who provide services for his family. Here's a guide to tipping at home, and when you're traveling for the holidays.

Congress passed an $858 billion bill to extend the Bush tax cuts for two more years and cut the employee payroll tax, along with a slew of temporary tax incentives. The measure now moves on to President Obama for signature.

There are places across America that do their best to help revive old holiday memories -- or help to create new ones. Here are three U.S. destinations guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit.

In recent weeks, we've talked about the three major areas of financial planning: goal-setting, asset protection and building wealth. This week, we'll cover the fourth: Wealth transfer, the efficient redistribution of your wealth after death and during your life. That's right, I said, "During your life." Wealth transfer involves a whole lot more more than simply creating a will.

Adopting an electronic health record system in a medical practice can cost $120,000 per physician, a new study found. Costs include equipment, software, services, training time and potential lost revenue as practices become familiar with using the new systems.

Since Physician's Money Digest's online relaunch this year, we've covered the gamut of personal finance, financial-planning and practice-management news for physicians. So what were the biggest financial news stories of 2010 among our readers? Take a look.

A study of Swedish twins found evidence that financial risk-taking is hereditary. As we know, the willingness to take on too much risk can be detrimental to your wealth. To find out whether you've inherited a high risk tolerance, or adopted a conservative streak, take this quiz.

The bond market "yield curve" -- the difference between long-term and short-term interest rates -- is steep and climbing, typically a sign of a strengthening economy. What's a bond investor to do? Play it safe.

More than 100 physicians and physicians groups signed a letter asking the federal government to quickly detail how it intends to pay out $200 million set aside in recent legislation for overdue Medicare reimbursements.

The Entrepreneurial MD's December newsletter is out, and in it I tackle the issue of physicians creativity. I address what it means to "let go," because it is only by the inner act of letting go that one can truly engage in the outer act of creating. So here's your challenge for 2011: Figure out what you need to let go ... and then do it.

More than ever, business travelers are relying on Android smartphones to help get them where they're going on time, stay in touch with family and colleagues, and keep track of work-related expenses. Here are six essential Android apps for busy business travelers.

A federal judge has rejected a key provision of the Obama administration's healthcare law as unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson ruled on Monday that the government cannot require individuals to buy health insurance.

It was a lackluster week for biotech stocks, with Celgene dragging on the sector. But a flurry of takeover bids, and rumors of offers to come, boosted stocks elsewhere in the healthcare sector.

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.

Periodically, I like to delve into financial factoids and accumulated crumbs of wisdom. It is with this in mind that I submit today's offerings.