Practice Management

With heavy patient loads and uncertainty surrounding health reform, it’s not surprising that many physicians occasionally feel overwhelmed or burnout. But for those looking to make a radical career change away from primary care, Physician Executive Coach Ashley Wendel, MA, CMC, PDC, says they should first consider their options.

More than 70% of primary care visits are related to psychosocial issues, including anxiety and depression. Although few primary care physicians currently have the resources to help patients address those issues, a new program may show that investing in those services is worthwhile both for the provider and the patient.

Primary care medical practices are being urged to adopt "patient-centric" practice models, which in turn requires a team-based, proactive approach to delivering patient care.

A reader tells fellow physicians they must learn to adapt to the new healthcare delivery environment.

A reader writes that defensive medicine now is included in the training doctors receive and is considered the standard of practice, making it difficult to eliminate from the culture of medicine.

A reader writes that the American Board of Medical Specialties is anti-competitive and wields too much power over the medical profession.

Should you offer financing of your medical services to your patients? Keep in mind that medical bills are reportedly the number one reason for personal bankruptcies in the United States.

Many of our patients seem to be gaining weight, and we are seeing more cases of obesity. Our physician is already spending time discussing risk factors with patients. Is there reimbursement specifically for weight management counseling?

Fees aren’t going up, but many of your medical practice expenses are. Look to greater efficiencies to eke out more from reimbursements.

Experts identify the top factors physicians should consider when negotiating a practice sale or merger.

Many organizations are seeking solutions to the impending primary care physician shortage, but should nurse practitioners fill the void?

Last year’s flu season brought chills to some providers; experts say planning, education are even more critical now

A look at how an electronic health records (EHR) system made e-prescribing, charting, and reading a doctor’s handwriting easier for a family practice in Columbus, Ohio.

PDC Healthcare announces a new line of identification wristbands.

InTouch Healthcare announces a new app making it easier for physicians to provide real-time, acute telemedicine consults with patients.

Spellex Corporation announces an enhancement for voice recognition software.

A recent study in the journal Nature that showed that playing a relatively simple car-racing video game helped seniors improve their memory, focus and multi-tasking skills is being hailed by some as a gamechanger. But does this mean that physicians should begin instructing elderly patients to play video games?

Although significant gains have been made in closing the wage gap between men and women, a recent study suggests that female physicians still earn significantly less than their male counterparts.

A new study of obesity rates in the U.S. and eight other countries predicts that rates will continue to grow over the next decade.

After they're implemented, health insurance exchanges will have the option to adopt policies that could reshape the financing and delivery of healthcare for years to come. Here's how.

Primary care physicians remain the most sought after doctors, according to a new survey by Merritt Hawkins, a national physician recruitment firm.

An executive with the Commonwealth Fund believes that moving the U.S. healthcare system beyond fee-for-service payments requires three essential elements: the carrot, the stick and the muscle.

Primary care physicians may see slightly higher increases to their salaries than specialists next year, according to a recent report by the Hay Group.

A recently launched website aims to act as a "central clearinghouse" of content that helps physician residents learn about quality improvement and patient safety issues that are common to teaching hospitals.

The Whole Child Center in Oradell, New Jersey, is considered one of the first green pediatric practices in the country.

Physicians want to provide high-quality care to their patients, and most want to get away from the pressures of compensation being determined by volume. But shifting to pay based on quality metrics can be scary.

A letter writer comments on the important role played by advanced practice clinicians in delivering primary care.

Deciding whether to prescribe potentially addictive medications to treat chronic pain poses difficult ethical choices for physicians

Progress on repealing the sustainable growth rate formula has stalled in Congress due to disagreement over how to pay for it.

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned negotiator, payer contracts can be complicated and difficult to interpret, even with an attorney or consultant by your side.