Patient Relations

Why smart policies must reward smart care by physicians.

Effective patient visit scheduling is obviously not as easy as it seems. Here's how to ensure your practice makes smart scheduling decisions.

A Physicians Practice reader recently shared a dilemma he is facing in practice. Weigh in to help him best deal with this issue.

Your reputation is one of the most important aspects of your medical career, and taking steps to improve it will have a much larger impact than you may realize.

Corporate customer service techniques tailored for use in physicians' offices can increase your patient base, revenue stream, and good reputation.

Physicians need to realize the benefits of Medicare Annual Wellness Visits and put a plan for the service in place to benefit their patients and their practice.

Simple ways your medical practice staff can increase the likelihood patients will pay when presenting for appointments.

How does the potential for drug diversion and addiction influence the way you care for patients with chronic pain?

Practices are feverishly working to control the rising costs of healthcare - effective care coordination can help.

Treating chronic pain patients in primary-care practices can involve some extra work, but done wisely, the benefit to the majority of patients far outweighs the potential for abuse.

Noteworthy items from Physicians Practice.

What’s the best course of action when a patient threatens to sue you for malpractice?

As nonphysician providers push for more responsibilities, physician organizations push back.

Take a peek inside the diary of a medical biller to see what really happens each day at her desk. Chances are, the same thing is happening at your practice.

Patients who feel disrespected or poorly treated are more likely to sue if there is a bad outcome. Here's how to encourage a more respectful office environment.

In the competition with hospitals, independent must use their limited advertising budgets wisely

When you find your medical practice constantly behind, unorganized, and frazzled at the end of every day, maybe it's time to take a look at your work flow.

How do patients see your clinic? You may be surprised!

Patient access is getting increased attention through reform initiatives. Here are five steps you can take to make sure patients get appropriate access to care in your office.

Starting a physician blog can provide your medical practice with marketing benefits, but it's important to do it right.

What is "big data" and how is it being deployed in American medical practices and health systems to improve the quality of care? This short video explains how physicians are already using data in their management of patients, and what health IT experts believe is likely to happen next.

A virtual nurse with remote diagnostic tools promises to save physicians time and money, while improving care.

Primary-care and annual wellness visits are essential to the future of healthcare quality and decreased costs, and third-party providers shouldn't disrupt that.

The physicians' oath not only predicts major federal statutes, but also reminds that a respectful team approach to healthcare is vital.

How does your practice handle it when a parent refuses to vaccinate his child in accordance with recommended medical guidelines?

Google+ is a new social media tool that's worth trying, along with Facebook and Twitter.

Patients are in a panic over shifts in their insurance plans and looking to you for deciphering. Here's how to provide great customer service to assist them.

If legal barriers were eliminated in your state, would you recommend medical marijuana to patients?

Your practice may want to consider purchasing insurance to cover the costs of a potential HIPAA breach.

If your practice is getting overwhelmed with patients, you may need a new doctor. But proceed with caution,