EHRs Deliver on Promise of ‘Increasing Revenue’

Karen Zupko; Mary LeGrand, RN, MA, CCS-P, CPC

But they also triggered a coding outcry at CMS Karen Zupko and Mary LeGrand, RN, MA, CCS-P, CPC Suddenly, it seems the popular press has developed an interest in medical coding. Perhaps it has something to do with money. The details of how higher level evaluation and management (E/M) coding has cost the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) “billions” hit the pages of The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal in September.

Give Your Practice a Competitive Advantage

Francis “Sam” Santschi, JD

Make sure your practice executive, key staff are AAOE members Francis “Sam” Santschi, JD Measuring the return on investment (ROI) for staff education and professional development is difficult. But when it comes to membership in the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE), your ROI will be easy to determine. Once your practice executives start taking advantage of AAOE member benefits, you’ll see a change.

The Truth Behind APTA’S Campaign Against POPTS

Cary B. Edgar

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has waged a decades’ long campaign to bar orthopaedic and other physician groups from providing physical therapy (PT) services. APTA and its state chapters actively discourage their members and other physical therapists from working for physician groups and have led legislative efforts that would, if successful, result in job losses for physical therapists affiliated with physician groups.

AAOS Now Journal Clubs Underway

In the July issue of AAOS Now, Editor-in-Chief S. Terry Canale, MD, reported on the success of three trial programs using AAOS Now practice management articles in a journal club format. He also announced that the AAOS Now Editorial Board had received a $5,000 sponsorship from HCA (Healthcare Corporation of America) to help fund the first 10 residency programs that apply to conduct a journal club on practice management ($500 each).

When a Patient Leaves Against Medical Advice

Thomas B. Fleeter, MD

The patient with a comminuted impacted distal radius fracture arrived at the emergency department (ED) inebriated, hostile, and angry. The ED physician hastily splints the wrist and sends the patient for radiographs. As the on-call orthopaedic surgeon, you are in the operating room, and it’s more than an hour before you can see the wrist-fracture patient. Despite your apology about the delay, the patient becomes more upset.

No-Fault Compensation Systems

David H. Sohn, JD, MD

Most patients injured in medicine are not eligible for compensation, a fact often lost in discussions of medical liability tort reform. Only patients whose injuries were caused by negligence on the part of the physician or other healthcare provider can seek compensation. Most injuries in medicine, however, are due to either system errors or nonnegligent reasons.