Features 2002-2003
Beginning with the most recent issue
2003
NOV/DEC 2003
Office Morale
Tending to Morale
(pdf)
Left unchecked, poor morale can poison an
entire office and even affect patient care. The good news is
that you can create and cultivate positive morale and it
doesn’t have to cost big bucks.
Employee Payscales
Computing Compensation (pdf)
Paying employees fairly and keeping pace
with both the competition and internal salary ranges is
critical to retaining quality people. How to be equitable and
squash the rumor mill.
Fraud and Embezzlement
Taking Care of Business (pdf)
Employee fraud is more common than your
think, and medical practices are especially vulnerable if the
physician doesn’t keep an eye on the books. What you need
to know to protect your practice.
SEP/OCT 2003
Confrontation
Addressing conflict may be difficult, but
avoiding it leads to low morale, resentment, even financial
consequences. To triumph over controversy, adjust your
perception of the problem.
Anthropology
Although not as action-packed an Indiana
Jones makes it appear, anthropology—the study of
humankind, its culture, language, history, and social
relationships—can offer a rich and satisfying career for
physicians.
Retainer-Based Practice
Faced with decreasing satisfaction in how
they practice medicine, some physicians are giving up
traditional practice. Instead, they provide personalized luxury
medical services to those who can afford to pay.
JUL/AUG 2003
Making Friends in a New City
Settling in Socially (pdf)
Finding ways to make personal connections
in a new city.
Airport Medicine
If variety is something you like in your
work life, airport medicine may be right for you. With patients
from every culture and the challenge of distinguishing everyday
aliments from exotic illness, the hours may be the only thing
about the job that’s routine.
MAY/JUN 2003 • Technology issue
e-Communication
From e-mail with patients to virtual
visits and e-scripts, technological advances are changing the
practice of medicine—even for technophobic physicians.
Electronic Medical Records
Easier to use and more affordable than
ever, electronic medical record systems still present a
challenge for most practices. Careful planning and
implementation are key to a smooth transition and realizing
their full potential.
On-line Degrees
On-line degrees are more popular than
ever, but learner beware: Evaluate programs for costs, content,
and accreditation carefully. Not all degrees are created
equally.
MAR/APR 2003
Geriatrics
A
Booming Need (pdf)
Geriatrics is the hot specialty these
days, as the number of elderly skyrocket and baby boomers start
pushing 60. With demand outstripping supply, it’s a
subspecialty worth considering.
Fund Raising
The
Art of Fund Raising (pdf)
Their skills as communicators and
educators help make physicians excellent fundraisers, but a few
tips can make the process easier and more effective.
Jan/Feb 2003
Medicaid
Abandoning Medicaid
(pdf)
Citing low reimbursement and increased
paperwork, some physicians are refusing to care for Medicaid
patients. Will it force the government to address the problem
or merely make the crisis worse?
Office Sales
To make certain health products available
to time-pressed patients, as well as boost profit margins in
their practices, physicians are turning to product sales. Is
this the right move for you?
2002
Nov/Dec 2002 • Managing People issue
Administrator Harmony
For physicians and administrators to
overcome distrust and age-old conflicts about quality of care
vs. bottom line, both sides must work on building relationships
based on respect and communication.
Unions
Physicians and Unions (pdf)
Experts say the day is coming when every
physician must decide whether to join a union. The issue is
controversial and confusing, but it’s not going away.
Retaining Employees
Hidden Treasure
(pdf)
Finding the right employees is akin to
striking gold. Keep those workers by keeping them on cloud
nine. Tips for hiring and retaining quality staff.
Sept/Oct 2002
Pain Control
Taming the Pain Monster (pdf)
Lack of knowledge, fear of regulatory
scrutiny, and diagnostic challenges can present hurdles to the
treatment of pain. However, standards and tools exist that can
help you practice and prescribe without undue fear of
litigation.
Rural Practice
You won’t get rich, but if you like
a sense
of community and seeing a wide variety of
patients, a rural practice setting may be right for you. Jobs
are abundant and the government has repayment options for
medical school loans.
Bartering
Bartering may be an ancient type of
economy, but it has new twists for today’s medical
practices.
July/Aug 2002
Cultural Care
Diversity Dilemma
(pdf)
As the population in the United States
becomes more diverse, providing culturally competent care
presents challenges for physicians. How to overcome issues of
language, trust, and time constraints.
Correctional Medicine
Prisoner Patients (pdf)
Correctional medicine can be good for
physicians, prisoners, and society as a whole. Is it right for
you?
May/June 2002 • Compensation
issue
Incentives
The Road to Riches (pdf)
Today’s job-seeking physicians can
expect attractive salaries and tempting incentives, but beyond
money, keep in mind the emotional remuneration and what’s
in it for your family. And don’t forget to play fair.
Pay Trends
Specialists net the biggest gains in
salary surveys, while geography and payer mix also play a role.
Think classic supply and demand with interference.
Negotiating
Get a Sweet Deal (pdf)
Learn how to negotiate like a pro. The
keys to success are preparation, self-awareness, and
professionalism.
MAR/APR 2002
Nursing Shortage
Too few nurses could mean fierce
competition between hospitals and physician practices. It also
means rethinking how RNs are used and what can be done to
retain existing nurses and recruit new ones.
Specialty Clinics
High End Health Care (pdf)
Boutique clinics offer a marriage between
medical care and luxury lifestyle. For patients who need
specialized care and are willing to pay for it, such facilities
are an oasis of excellence .
Jan/Feb 2002
Diversity in Medicine
Minorities entered medical schools in
record numbers in the early 1990s, but recent court decisions
have called into question using race as an admission criterion.
With minority enrollment down in the last several years,
diversity advocates question the quality of care minority
patients will receive in the future.
Doctors Volunteer
Doctors Do Good (pdf)
Volunteer physicians are keeping the
uninsured from falling through the cracks. Not only do the
patients benefit from the health care they receive, the doctors
say their entire communities reap the rewards of healthier,
more productive citizens.
