Legislation to Delay ICD-10 Introduced

Elizabeth Fassbender

Physicians and other eligible professionals are expected to implement the International Classification of Diseases–10th edition (ICD-10) diagnostic coding system effective Oct. 1, 2015. Under ICD-10, the number of diagnostic codes would increase from the 13,000 currently in place under ICD-9 to more than 68,000 codes.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Hospital Affiliation

Jennie McKee

Orthopaedic groups and hospitals are under significant pressure to manage costs, maintain quality, reduce hospital readmissions, implement electronic health records systems, and meet many other challenges. According to Jeff Boomershine, CPA, “in the last few years, there has been a frenzy of hospitals and physicians trying to figure out ways to work together” to address these issues. “Everybody knows that large health systems are acquiring primary care practices,” said Mr.

“Clean Up” Diagnosis Coding for Staged Revisions

Margaret M. Maley, BSN, MS

Assigning diagnosis codes for joint revision surgery is challenging in both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM. Orthopaedic practices that carefully examine the instructions in both editions may find that they have been reporting staged revisions incorrectly for years. The following side-by-side comparison of ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding will help clean up diagnosis coding for staged revision surgeries.

Are Medical Scribes Right for Your Practice?

Jennie McKee

An increasing number of hospitals and private practices are turning to medical scribes to increase productivity and profitability, as well as to enhance patient care and satisfaction. Medical students, medical assistants (MAs), and other professionals who serve as medical scribes are at the physician’s side during patient examinations, documenting the visits in real time.

Ethical Issues in Domestic Medical Tourism

Charles Carroll IV, MD; Daniel K. Moon, MD, MS, MBA

The evolution of medical care and the philosophy underlying physician reimbursements have brought new ideas and forces to bear on the delivery of health care in 2015. As healthcare insurers and payers search for alternatives to the traditional fee-for-service model and pursue the goal of “value” in health care, they take into consideration various models of care.

Meeting Meaningful Use: One Practice’s Experiences

Douglas W. Lundy, MD, MBA

Meeting the criteria required for Stage 2 of Meaningful Use (MU) isn’t easy—as our experience at Resurgens Orthopaedics, a multispecialty orthopaedic practice with 21 locations and more than 100 physicians, proves. Although Resurgens was an early adopter of electronic health record (EHR) technology and successfully attested for MU Stage 1, Stage 2 has been a significant challenge. (See “Meeting the Challenges of Meaningful Use Stage 2.”

Show Me the Money

Gail S. Chorney, MD

Gail S. Chorney, MD Although not every orthopaedic surgeon needs to be an expert on the revenue cycle, it certainly helps to know a few basic concepts. The word “cycle” implies that the billing process may be just an endless circle with no payment in sight. However, if physicians and staff adhere to a few basic principles, it can be a straight line to the money. Where it all begins The revenue cycle begins when the patient calls the office to make an appointment.

Talking With Patients After an Adverse Event

Knowing what to say and how to say it is crucial Poor communication between the physician and the patient is a root cause leading to filing a medical liability lawsuit. Recently, Thomas Fleeter, MD, and Robert Slater, MD, of the AAOS Medical Liability Committee, spoke with Lee McMullin, CPHRM, about how to talk to patients after an adverse event. Mr.

How to Build a Successful Orthopaedic Practice

Charles A. Goldfarb, MD

The practice of medicine has changed notably in the Internet Age. Although crucial patient management skills that were applicable years ago are still important, new skills are now necessary to build a successful practice. As orthopaedic surgeons, we all seek to provide the highest level of care to our patients. However, outstanding care may not be enough. Patients expect compassionate, patient-centered care with short wait times, an excellent bedside manner, and a high level of service.

Demystifying Trauma Center Levels

Douglas W. Lundy, MD; Philip R. Wolinsky, MD; Chris Cribari, MD

Just as sports medicine physicians tend to distinguish themselves by the notoriety of the athletic team that they cover, trauma surgeons tend to do the same by the level of trauma center that they cover. However, what a center is required to have to achieve a specific level and how the process actually occurs tends to be a mystery to many.

Meeting the Challenges of Meaningful Use Stage 2

Sunny Saran, MBA

Do you have unanswered questions or concerns about meeting Stage 2 Meaningful Use (MU) requirements? If so, read on for key information on attestation for MU in 2014 and achieving Stage 2 requirements in 2015.