Commonly Asked Fracture-Related Coding Questions

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

This issue of AAOS Now takes a look at some commonly asked fracture-related coding questions. Using a global fracture CPT code Q. The physician saw a patient in the office for a shoulder injury sustained during football training camp activity. Following the evaluation, the physician diagnosed a nondisplaced clavicle fracture. No cast or splint was applied. Can we report a global fracture code? A.

What to Consider When Closing Your Medical Practice

Todd A. Rodriguez, JD

Orthopaedic surgeons may decide to close their medical practices for many reasons. Some may elect to sell their practices to hospitals and become hospital employees. Others may have experienced a disability or the unexpected death of a key partner in the practice. Still others may decide that the current regulatory and economic landscape is becoming too burdensome, and some will simply wish to retire.

Five Easy Ways to Get Started with Online Video for Your Practice

C. Noel Henley, MD

Just how popular is online video? Consider the following statistics: 84 percent of Internet users in America watch videos online. In January 2012, Americans watched 40 billion videos. One trillion people visited YouTube—the dominant producer of Internet video—in 2011. It’s not just folks sitting at their home computers who are watching video.

Physician Stress and Burnout: Taking Care of Yourself

Alan H. Rosenstein, MD

The August issue of AAOS Now included a report on the results of the Physician Stress and Burnout Survey conducted by Physician Wellness Services/Cejka Search. The findings are a wake-up call for both organizations and physicians on the importance of seriously addressing stress and burnout.

Avoiding Complications in Arthroscopic Surgery

Elliott H. Leitman, MD; Thomas B. Fleeter, MD

Not all medical complications result in litigation. According to an AAOS member survey, postoperative complications that resulted in litigation included deep vein thrombosis (DVT), infection, or persistent pain following knee arthroscopy. Technical errors, including implant failures and nerve injury, were also common causes of litigation.

Can I Have a Refill on My Percocet?

David H. Sohn, JD, MD

Most orthopaedic surgeons dread this type of request, particularly from patients who are beyond the normal timeframe for significant postoperative pain medications. They are concerned not only about engendering dependency when prescribing pain medication, but also with the medical and legal ramifications of prescribing opioid medications. Orthopaedic surgeons may wonder, “Can I be sued for not giving enough pain meds? Can I be prosecuted for giving too many pain meds?