• FEATURES

    Creating a Lean Practice

    Scott Endsley, Michael K. Magill, Marjorie M. Godfrey

    A highly efficient practice is within your reach if you’re willing to examine your processes and ruthlessly eliminate waste.

    Outpatient vs. Inpatient Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia

    Mark H. Ebell

    Using a clinical prediction tool at the point of care will help you choose which course is best for your patient.

    Using a Simple Patient Registry to Improve Your Chronic Disease Care

    David D. Ortiz

    Who needs an EHR? Software you already have can help you make sure your patients get the care they need.

    Same-Day E/M Services: What to Do When a Health Plan Won’t Pay

    Cindy Hughes

    These ideas will help you deal with the difficult consequences of this common policy.

    Can Your Patients Afford the Medications You Prescribe?

    Richard J. Sagall

    Patient adherence may depend on the answer to this question, so it must be asked.

    FROM THE EDITOR

    How Do You Cope With Bundled Claims?

    Robert Edsall

    Don’t cheat yourself. That’s the health plan’s job.

    EDITORIAL

    Reinventing Family Medicine

    Sanford J. Brown

    Redefinition is the first step toward reinvigoration.

    LETTERS

    Should you cut out the middle plan?

    Level-IV visits

    Correction

    NEWS TRENDS

    NEWS & TRENDS

    Family medicine sees small gains in filling residency positions | Work setting affects physicians' quality of work life | Physicians urged to prepare now for 2006-2007 flu season | Coalition aims to reduce physicians' administrative hassles | 99214s on the rise

    CODING & DOCUMENTATION

    CODING & DOCUMENTATION

    Cindy Hughes

    List the chief diagnosis code first | Consultation or subsequent care in hospital rehab unit? | New vs. established patients | Acupuncture | Psychotherapy | Managing home INR draws | E/M + trigger point injections | Swing bed stays | When to use 99361

    PRACTICE PEARLS

    PRACTICE PEARLS

    Mark Needham, Sarah Yonder, Henry F. Domke, Cheryl Iverson

    Know when to ask for help | Send reminders for needed lab work | Encourage appropriate dress in your office | ED work and opting out of Medicare | Promote patient education with podcasts | Show your appreciation for your staff

    THE LAST WORD

    Turning Frustration Into Fulfillment

    Sweety Jain

    When we invite our patients to be part of the solution, even difficult encounters can become rewarding.



    Disclosure

    All editors and editorial advisory board members in a position to control content for this activity, FPM journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.



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