“I want to go off call”

Robert H. Blotter, MD

Does your group have a plan for anticipated or unanticipated changes in its work profile? What would you do if a partner requested a temporary leave to pursue a master’s degree in business administration? How would you respond when a member announces one day, “I want to go off call”? Most groups must face such transitions at some point, but deciding what to do on a case-by-case basis at the time of each request can be emotionally damaging, build resentment, and set confusing precedents.

OIG’s Morris: An enforcer’s perspective

Lewis Morris, JD

Relationships between physicians and the healthcare industry, including pharmaceutical and device manufacturers and suppliers, are under intense scrutiny. The popular press and professional journals are raising questions about the ability of physicians to maintain their professional integrity in an environment where lucrative physician-industry deals flourish.

Retirement plans: Choose one and invest regularly

Frank M. Griffin, MD

When retirement plans make news, it’s usually bad—which is a primary reason for having professional assistance in setting up a retirement plan and for regularly reviewing established plans. You don’t want to approach retirement and get bad news about your retirement plan. Defined benefits, contributions Most retirement plans are “qualified plans,” meaning that they meet certain Internal Revenue Service requirements that offer tax advantages to both the employee and the employer.

Are you missing out on the news?

Did you know that you could be missing important messages from the AAOS—including patient safety member alerts and Headline News Now? AAOS frequently sends messages to members on the behalf of the Board, committees, and various other organizational entities. Due to the algorithms involved in detecting junk mail, such broadcast e-mails from the AAOS may be labeled as spam. To ensure that you receive the messages from AAOS that are vital to you and your practice, make sure that the aaos.

What is an “OPA-C,” anyway?

Jerry Nelson, OPA-C; Gail Haas, OPA-C

Are you bewildered by the “alphabet soup” of credentials used to designate certification or licensure of allied health providers and physician extenders? Let’s clear up one of those titles right now: The “OPA” or “OPA-C.” The certified orthopaedic physician’s assistant (OPA-C) is a professional, mid-level physician extender who works strictly in the field of orthopaedic medicine under the supervision of an orthopaedic surgeon.

Modifier changes for 2008

Mary LeGrand, RN, MA, CCS-P CPC

A modifier is a 2-digit code appended to a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code to indicate that a service or procedure has been altered by some specific circumstance, but has not changed in its definition or code. Exceptions to the 2-digit code are the anesthesia modifiers and the use of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) modifiers for toes and fingers. In 2008, some modifiers were changed. This column will cover the changes for modifiers 22, 25, and 76.

What’s up with practice management?

Stephen P. Makk, MD, MBA; Steven E. Fisher, MBA

According to Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, AAOS first vice president, practice management support from the AAOS will be the “next best thing” and the focus of his term in office. He’s already taking steps to meet that goal. Practice management support from the AAOS is good and getting better. Online support The online Practice Management Center (www.aaos.org/pracman) now contains more than 150 articles and white papers on practice management–related topics.

What is a preventable adverse event?

David E. Attarian, MD

Current trends forecast double jeopardy for physicians and hospitals During the past decade, both the press and the government have increased scrutiny of imperfections in the healthcare system. In response, hospitals and physicians have implemented new systems and updated standards to reduce adverse events and/or medical errors.

When you’re on the “hot seat”

Douglas W. Lundy, MD, FACS

Tips in answering questions during expert witness depositions From my first encounter with the tort system, I have been concerned about the lack of formal education that we as physicians have about medical liability litigation. As an orthopaedic traumatologist, I have been deposed as a treating physician on multiple occasions. I am frequently concerned about how my testimony will be interpreted and used, in part because I am unfamiliar with the rules and processes of the legal system.

Medicare project focuses on EHR

Kerry N. Weems

A new national Medicare demonstration program is aiming to show healthcare professionals the on-the-ground advantages of connecting to the information age. Medicare is looking for 12 communities across the country that can bring together a broad cross-section of community leadership, leverage resources, and recruit small and medium-sized primary care physician practices willing to provide the evidence that electronic health records (EHR) can improve the quality of patient care.