January 2nd 2025
Got a patient who's abusing your staff, ignoring your advice, failing to pay his bill? When you realize it just isn't going to work, it's usually best to let the patient go. Here's how to do it correctly.
July 9th 2024
If you let patients know from the start what you expect from them, you’re far more likely to get the money you’re asking for.
February 16th 2023
It takes just one problem or inconvenience to affect the patient’s experience at your practice.
March 18th 2022
Doctors may see more patients, but diagnoses difficult.
October 8th 2021
How to talk with patients about vaccine concerns.
As Parents Age, Health Providers Face Unique Challenges
As a PA, I routinely help families cope with illness and debilitation of a loved one, but it is much harder to be objective with your own parent.
Healthcare Savings: Dumb Luck vs. Progress
BCBS of Massachusetts' quality and cost experiment touts spending reductions that insult physicians' intelligence.
Diffusing Angry Patients: It's as Simple as ABCD
Any patient can become violent or angry at your medical practice. Follow these tips to prevent an intense situation from sidetracking your treatment.
Free Drug Samples to Patients Come with Restrictions
At present, the question of providing free, or reduced costs drugs to patients, is a multifaceted problem which defies easy solutions.
Using Online Reviews to Grow Your Practice: 3 Tips
Patient growth is a priority for many practices and managing online reviews is a key driver.
Why I'm Thankful for My Difficult Patients
In the past, every time I saw these patients on my schedule, I just wanted to run out of my medical practice. Now I am grateful for the challenges they present.
Solutions to 3 Common Accountable Care Tech Challenges
Technology is a must in accountable care coordination, but also presents challenges. Here are three solutions to achieve the goal of quality patient care.
Obamacare's Coming Crisis of Acuity
A pillar of the Affordable Care Act, "personal responsibility," changes the issue from keeping a doctor to affording one for most working families.
New Patient Policies Take Time to Work
In theory, prioritizing patients was great. In practice, however, it ran into three obstacles, namely patients, my staff, and referring physicians.
Balancing Medical Knowledge with Patients' Beliefs
Many of our patients employ treatments that we would never recommend, and others refuse treatments that we do recommend. Here's how we deal at our practice.
Three Ways to Boost Patient Satisfaction
A great patient experience guarantees referrals, leads to great reviews on doctor rating websites, and enhances your medical practice's brand value.
What if Medicaid Expansion Was Upheld by Supreme Court?
Election Day winners promise the Affordable Care Act will fail. But what if it had actually had been given a chance to work?
Dealing with Mistrustful Patients
This physician wonders why her patients so often refuse low-risk, high-benefit treatments because the media or family friends say they are dangerous.
Making an mHealth Connection to Patients
Patients have smartphones. Physicians have information about health and well-being. So logically, using mobile health technology can provide better connections.
Ten Conflict Management Tips for Medical Practices
Dealing with difficult personalities and the resulting conflicts that arise can be an everyday occurrence at many practices. Here's how to address such issues more effectively.
Savings Alone Shouldn't Determine ACO Success
While the initial performance of Medicare ACOs hasn't achieved prescribed cost-savings goals, that doesn't mean they aren't successful, say two practices.
HIPAA Compliance: 3 Changes to Patient Rights
At the MGMA 2014 conference, attendees learned about key elements of HIPAA compliance they may be overlooking. Many have to do with changes to patient rights.
Using Point of Care Registries to Manage High-Risk Patients
In order to get patients the care they need when they need it, consider a risk-stratified care management system tied to point of care registries.
Texas Ebola Case Highlights Larger EHR Failings
As displayed in Dallas, you can't expect EHRs to interoperate when they can't even intra-operate in their current structure.
How Much Should Practices Spend on Marketing?
Experts may recommend allotting a percentage of revenue for marketing efforts. But customizing a marketing plan may be a better fit for most practices.
The Truth about Narrow Networks and Patient Choice
The mainstream press used to relegate ridiculous claims and conclusions to "news of the weird." But, when it comes to patient choice, they are serious debates.
Medical Supply Companies: Help, Don't Harass
Medical supply companies need to stop cold calling patients offering them medical equipment without a physician's order, and trying to trick busy doctors.
Legal Issues: Can Doctors Treat Unaccompanied Minors?
Here's what physicians and medical practices should do if a parent asks if his child can be seen without the parent being present.
Best Free Apps to Recommend to Patients
Here are 10 free apps physicians recommend to their patients to boost their health, fitness, and fun.
Balancing Patient Ages in a Hybrid Concierge Practice
Family physicians like to have a balance of older and younger patients. Hybrid-concierge models can help provide a broader range of patients.
Balancing Patient Need and Safe Prescribing
With insurance changes and the increase in use of controlled substances, it can be hard for physicians to separate the drug seekers from those truly in need.
October Marketing Strategies for Medical Practices
Your practice should plan its marketing campaign several months in advance. Doing so, lends an approachable, authentic vibe.
Five Ways to Use Social Media to Build Patient Loyalty
As patients become increasingly savvy about where they receive medical care, it is more important to proactively build relationships through social media.
Follow Up with Your Patients
Stepping up your customer service can be enlightening and rewarding. Following up with patients is one way to find out how well you are doing.
Population Health Essentials for Physicians
Population health is much more than a buzzword. It is the future of healthcare, but, why?