AAOS Now, June 2009
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Industry CEOs: Relationships with surgeons are vital
Transparency is necessary and desirable, but patient outcomes depend on interaction Recently, AAOS Now sought comment from the chief executives of five major orthopaedic device manufacturers on various aspects of physician-industry relationships. We wondered what has changed and what remains the same since the agreements reached with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey (Department of Justice/DOJ) expired earlier this year. (See “Final notes on the DOJ,” below.
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Making cents of computers
New systems—especially PACS—can improve the economic efficiency of a practice Since the first days of residency, orthopaedic surgeons have known and used acronyms such as AVN, OATS, and DJD. But today, new letter groupings are having a profound effect on the way that orthopaedic surgeons practice, as the following questions show: Is your EMR system CCHIT-certified? Are your PM and EMR systems integrated, and will they work with your office PACS?
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Temporary reprieve on “Red Flag Rules” enforcement
FTC delays enforcement until Aug. 1, 2009 The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has extended the compliance deadline for the Identity Theft Red Flag Rules from May 1, 2009, until Aug. 1, 2009, to give business entities more time to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs. The rule requires creditors and financial institutions to implement programs to identify, detect, and respond to patterns, practices, or specific activities that could indicate identity theft.
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Hammering out coding challenges
Four steps to accurate coding for hammer toes and bunion procedures More than 100 procedures have been described for treating hammer toes in conjunction with bunion procedures (Fig. 1). Coding is challenging due to the complexity, methods of treatment, and reimbursement policies for each payor. But the following four steps can help ensure accurate coding and reimbursement for these procedures.
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How to conduct an operational assessment
An operational assessment is a detailed review of all or selected aspects of a medical practice (Table 1). Whether your practices uses an outside consultant or conducts its own internal assessment, whether you are planning a comprehensive assessment or a more focused one, you’ll need to collect data, conduct analyses, and prepare reports. The following information should help guide you through the process.
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Don’t trust your future to a coin flip
Online tool helps you find the right practice Are you just starting out in practice? Are you looking for a new professional challenge and practice? Or are you and the significant others in your life contemplating relocating for personal reasons? Whatever your reasons for looking for a new practice, the challenge will be finding one that meets your specific needs, meshes with your goals, and provides you with the benefits and challenges you want.
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The faintest ink beats the strongest memory
Document the medical record appropriately—for your own and your patient’s benefit An old Chinese proverb says that “the faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory.” This adage has great applicability when discussing the best ways to document medical care. Liability experts estimate that 35 percent to 40 percent of suits alleging malpractice are indefensible because of problems with medical records.