Practice Management

One hospital leverages technology to reduce the stress of extensive, ongoing care on patients and families

While reimbursement questions linger, teledermatology can help dermatologists triage effectively in deciding whether a patient needs to go to the hospital. It is also a way to reduce the disparity in access to dermatological care, experts say.

EHRs…resist temptation to cut corners.

Reducing medical errors requires taking a structured approach that includes teamwork, communication and tools to help eliminate bias and oversights, experts say.

Performing clinical trials and dispensing in-office products can help dermatologists diversify their practices and revenues without necessarily adding patients, says an expert.

Reducing medical errors requires taking a structured approach that includes teamwork, communication and tools to help eliminate bias and oversights, experts say.

With the approach of a new year, it is an ideal time to review the old handbook or finally create one if it does not yet exist. The employee handbook should be reviewed annually and updated for changes in employment law and growth of the practice. Extra credit goes to practices that review the employee handbook with staff annually and emphasize regularly at staff meetings the best practices put forth in the handbook.

If you want to increase practice profitability and haven’t mastered patient collections, consider how you might employ technology to help you succeed in the new high deductible landscape.

What, if anything, can dermatologists and other aesthetic practitioners do to use home aesthetic devices to their advantage? Physician experts offer their perspective.

All medical practices need to realize they are vulnerable to information security breaches. Mobile devices that house sensitive patient information can easily be lost or stolen, and practices should take steps to reduce risks by performing a risk assessment and identifying potential “leaks.”

So you have surrounded yourself with a solid team. How do you continue to coax the best of your employees’ attributes and enrich their growth as staff members? Some fellow dermatologists weigh in.

There is no cut-and-dried correct response to firing an employee charged with domestic abuse, but, there are a number of factors dermatologists should first take into consideration before taking any adverse employment actions against workers embroiled in domestic violence disputes.

With high deductible health plans on the rise, patients are expected to shoulder more of the cost of healthcare; yet practices are finding it difficult to collect. In part because patients don't understand their plans; but also because staff may be unprepared to collect patient obligations.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) pulls no punches when it warns healthcare providers that meaningful use audits are happening, at random, and consequences for failing the audit are costly. If a provider cannot produce documentation that fully supports its electronic health record (EHR) attestation, the CMS could recoup incentive payments.

There has been a major shift in the financial aspect of patient care and it’s affecting patients and those who provide their care in major ways. Perhaps you’ve noticed certain patients not coming in as often or a rising accounts receivable (A/R) that’s increasing in age and amount. The shift by third-party payers and government entities to have patients shoulder more of the cost of healthcare is creating a huge need for hospitals, clinics and private practices to change how they communicate about and collect patient payments.

One of the biggest challenges facing a medical practice is procuring and developing exceptional staff members. A low turnover rate is usually a good sign and indicative of a happy, healthy, dynamic workplace. Excellent staff anticipates your needs, improves your clinic efficiency, supports your efforts, and makes the workday enjoyable. So how do you attract great employees, and more importantly, what keeps staff eager and motivated to stay?

To fire a problem patient, an expert recommends remaining cordial, and communicating your intent in a letter that details why you're firing them, where else they can seek follow-up treatment and what could happen medically if they don't.

The current market scenario is entirely different from what it used to be a few decades ago when a dermatology practice would grow on the basis of word of mouth publicity alone. However, in the current digital market environment, patients are very willing to comparison-shop for dermatology and aesthetic skin care services the way they would do for any other retail product.

One of my employees recently visited another physician office as a patient and remarked “Oh, Dr. Palm, their office was nothing like ours. I realize how lucky our patients are.” She recounted her experience including an extended wait in the reception area, her lack of pre-visit counseling, a mountain of paperwork, and the brusque and cursory manner of the office staff.

As a medical professional in the field of dermatology and aesthetics your time is valuable and there are only so many hours in a day. So the million-dollar question is: Beyond providing quality care for your patients and relying on voluntary referral sources, how you can maximize the potential of your practice?

Creating your own in-house training can benefit your staff and your practice in many ways, according to Jody Comstock, M.D., an aesthetic dermatologist in private practice in Tucson, Ariz. She walked attendees of the 2014 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery conference through the development of her staff bootcamp.

A relatable, helpful and professional front desk staff is one key to practice success, according to Laurie Mercier, a practice consultant with Allergan Practice Consulting who spoke at the 2014 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery meeting recently.

Whether your practice is purely aesthetic or a mix of medical and aesthetic, you’re operating a business, and it serves you to understand key business principles to stay successful, say panelists at the VCS 2014 meeting.

Despite the initial inconvenience, a well-implemented electronic health record (EHR) system can improve patient care and office workflows, according to an expert.

Patients are online, looking for information about their symptoms and illnesses or tips for living healthier lives. With so much information out there, why would a dermatologist add to the incredible amount of online noise by starting a new blog? Here are nine specific reasons why dermatologists should blog.

For dermatologists, key concerns created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other elements of healthcare reform include patient access and provider payments, says an AAD official. Fortunately, he adds, the varied and largely office-based nature of dermatology could provide unique advantages in the evolving regulatory environment.

Captive insurance companies can help physicians manage financial risks, reduce taxable income by hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, and build a side fund to help manage future changes.

From branding to business basics, the technology startup companies of Silicon Valley offer lessons for entrepreneurs including core aesthetic medicine specialists, an expert says.

Are you a dermatologist using social media to market your practice? Wondering which metrics you should be paying attention to? The answer is a lot easier than you think.

Do you have a Facebook marketing strategy for your dermatology practice? Without a strategy and definitive goals to market your practice, you won’t be able to reach the people that need skincare services.