The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the new health care reform law, takes some "paltry steps" toward improving the quality of medical care, but it ignores the most fundamental problem that still begs for a solution-how to fairly compensate physicians who treat Medicare patients.
If the trends currently in motion continue, you will see the beginning of accountable care organizations in 2012, with increasing numbers of them year by year, unless there is a repeal of the shared savings portion of the Affordable Care Act or the final rule restricts the potential savings that can be obtained by any ACO.
There is no set fee that you are required to charge, and the patient's contract with his or her insurance company may vary as to how much the insurance company pays.
As physicians, hospitals, insurance companies, and other organizations grapple with this new entity, it appears there are more questions than answers.
Urologists say spending time with family helps them deal with the stress of practicing medicine.
Taking a brief patient service quiz can help you determine what you're doing right and what areas could use improvement.
In urology, NPPs are taking on more defined responsibilities.
Opinions are mixed on the future of practicing urology in a private setting.
The role of nurse practitioners in pediatric urology is growing. With the increasing work force shortage in pediatric urology and urology in general-it has to.
Physicians don't have the luxury of making bad decisions about purchasing new equipment.
Urologists are expected to spend more money on building a solid infrastructure and expanding technology at a time when many are concerned about practice economics. Fortunately, there are some actions you can take to improve practice finances.
Urologists say they average around 10 to 15 minutes with each patient.
The issues surrounding running a urology practice are much more complicated today, and having business/administrative knowledge as well as a medical degree may be one option that can help us through the labyrinth of medical practice.
Marketing to men can be particularly challenging for a medical practice, since the traits that men often aspire to embody-independence, virility, strength, control-can be the very things that keep them from seeing a doctor.
Simultaneously giving patients added contact with their physician while also allowing them to talk about their condition with others, group shared appointments are applicable to a number of urologic conditions.
It can make sense to add a midlevel provider to a practice, but midlevels aren't for everyone.
Most urologists point to an excellent staff as the key to a successful practice.
Urology has undergone an evolution in both the way clinicians approach surgical and nonsurgical procedures and the settings in which they perform them.
Urologists and other physicians who treat Medicare patients have again escaped a steep reimbursement reduction as President Obama on Dec. 15 signed legislation passed by the lame-duck Congress providing a 12-month reprieve.
While it is tempting to look only at "the bottom line," the contemporary physician manager/owner needs to have a more thorough understanding of the numbers that contribute to that bottom line and how to use that information to quickly discover problems and solutions.
Let's look at the simple things urologists can do to ensure the entire staff focuses on being patient-centered and keeping patients happy.
This article will help you understand the dynamics of selling your practice and explain how to accomplish this once-in-a-lifetime transaction.
When it comes to medical practices, proper investment in the staffing and technology related to day-to-day operations can improve the impression your practice conveys and help insulate the business from economic downturns and other events beyond your control.
Motivating staff members to give their best isn't always easy, but it's definitely worth the effort.
How do you increase the number of new patients you see? One way is to implement a same-day appointment policy in your practice.
