Frequently asked coding questions

Mary LeGrand, RN, MA, CCS-P, CPC

Report codes properly to ensure payment Attendees at the AAOS coding workshops frequently have questions about various aspects of coding. This month’s column covers several questions that apply to many practices. Conscious sedation Q: Is conscious sedation reportable by the physician who administers this at the time of a closed reduction? A: Yes.

Integrating PAs into your practice

Charles E. Rhoades, MD

Physician extenders benefit you and your patients Many orthopaedic surgeons are using physician extenders, such as physician assistants (PAs) or nurse practitioners, in their offices. These relationships can be very beneficial to patients, physicians, and the general public in responding to the ever-increasing number of people who need orthopaedic care.

How to use physician extenders

Charles E. Rhoades, MD

Four ways to integrate PAs into your practice Integrating a physician extender into your office isn’t a matter of “one-size-fits-all.”

Take advantage of practice management primers

Steven E. Fisher, MBA

Has your practice made the switch to electronic medical records (EMR) yet? Are you investigating picture archiving and communication systems (PACS)? Before you make any decisions, check out the free online primers, prepared by the AAOS Practice Management Committee. EMR Primer The EMR Primer debuted at the 2007 Annual Meeting.

Pearls and pitfalls: Fractures of the distal radius

Edward H. Holliger IV, MD

Dealing successfully with difficult fractures Radius fractures are among the most common and most commonly treated fractures. Although Abraham Colles stated that after a radius fracture, full freedom of movement and function are restored—and that statement may be true for fractures in the very young or very old—fractures in the younger adult population can certainly be problematic. Distal radius fractures are often the result of high-energy impacts and falls and can be difficult to treat.

Orthopaedic liability: The plaintiff’s perspective

Paul A. Manner, MD; Elliot G. Budashewitz, JD

An Interview with a Personal Injury Lawyer Editor’s Note: One aspect of medical liability that frequently is not fully explored is the perspective of the plaintiff’s attorney. In the interests of closing the gap between the orthopaedic surgeon and the plaintiff, Paul Manner, MD, a member of the AAOS Medical Liability Committee, asked Elliot Budashewitz, a personal injury attorney, to comment on and respond to several questions and concerns.

Know what to expect in litigation

Douglas W. Lundy, MD, FACS

“Be prepared” is good advice Legal matters and the process of medical negligence lawsuits aren’t covered in medical school. But knowing what to expect in the event of a lawsuit can be extremely valuable, enabling the physician to prepare for the suit itself, and decreasing the anxiety and emotional trauma that such an ordeal is likely to cause. When Good Doctors Get Sued: A Practical Guide for Defendant Physicians Involved in Malpractice Lawsuits by Angela M. Dodge, PhD, and Steven F.

Protecting your assets

Howard B. Yeon, MD, JD; James H. Herndon, MD, MBA

Common asset protection techniques Part I of this series (AAOS Now, January 2008) described problems with the medical malpractice tort system that make sole reliance on malpractice insurance an imperfect solution to protecting a physician’s assets. “Asset protection” techniques are used to limit the risk of involuntary loss of property from adverse judgments or other unforeseen events.

Lessons from a fire

Richard A. Brown, MD

Recently, the people of San Diego experienced the unfortunate intrusion of a major fire disaster. My family and I were among the 500,000 individuals evacuated from our homes. Although the specter of natural disaster—specifically earthquakes—has always loomed over us, when confronted with the reality of departing our home, I was struck by my lack of preparedness. My family was much more fortunate than others because we had time to gather our things and load our cars.