Advances in technology have made it possible to communicate with patients via electronic devices, but that does not mean it is always a smart decision. Physicians should always be aware of the potential pitfalls and downsides associated with electronic communication solutions. Accidental Breach of Privacy As a physician, you are responsible to maintain doctor-patient confidentiality

There are a variety of concerns that are associated with shaking hands in a medical office. Since doctors and nurses are in contact with many patients throughout the day, taking measures to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses is essential. Contact with hands during a handshake can result in spreading bacteria from one patient

Physician credentialing clearly has its benefits. Physician credentialing is the process of organizing and verifying a doctor’s professional records. The most important is that ultimately it promotes better patient care by providing standards for medical providers. Credentialing is indispensable, but the process often seems to be more trouble than it’s worth. It can be time-consuming

Clinical documentation is complicated and getting more so. Some of the complexity has to do with EHRs, to which physicians are still adapting. Much of it relates to Medicare, which has a number of goals related to the medical record. Dr. Lorena Chicoye, corporate medical director of managed care at Baptist Health South Florida, discussed

As tempting as it might be for physicians to send and receive texts from patients, it is not a good idea unless certain safeguards are in place. There even may be legal liability if texts reveal protected health information (PHI) that is confidential under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In fact, the

With the move to electronic health records (EHR), physicians are generally aware that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has certain IT security requirements. See HIPAA Final Security Rule, Section 164.308(a)(7). Those requirements now apply to certain subcontractors and business associates of health care providers. HIPAA requires a medical practice to have policies

Arguably, the most important aspect of a medical practice is the physician–patient relationship. It is a combination of mutual respect and trust. Physicians expect their patient’s compliance with orders for tests and medications, as well as respect for their time. Patients expect their doctor to respect their time, offer proper treatment that results in a

CMS is expected to implement a greater number of audits is mounting. Doctors and health administrators should assume that the chance of being audited is going to be higher than normal. Consequently, they should begin preparing for a potential audit as soon as possible. To continue receiving meaningful use funds from the CMS, providers must

While the fax machine has become a bit of a dinosaur in many business offices, its prominence persists for a majority of private medical practices. Studies from only a few years ago reveal 90% of healthcare providers rely on the fax machine as a primary means of communicating and sharing information with other providers, billers