AAOS Now, December 2010
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Selling to a hospital? Be sure to look before you leap
Five issues to consider before signing on the dotted line Faced with shrinking reimbursement rates for their professional and ancillary services and increasing administrative, regulatory, and technological burdens, many physicians in private practice are considering selling their practices to and becoming employees of a hospital or health system.
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Managing patient data security
From HIPAA to managing a breach The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was created to fund and support a paperless national health information network through the adoption of electronic health records (EHR).
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Getting back into the game
A professional career does not have to end with retirement Do you want to return to orthopaedic practice after an off-season away from patient care? Are you considering a return into a robust practice from either a low-volume or narrowly focused practice environment? Although your circumstances may introduce some individualized considerations, the following basic strategies can help you “get back into the game.”
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Risk purchasing groups: Not so fast
Recently, AAOS Now featured the concept of risk purchasing groups (RPGs) as a potential member benefit for state orthopaedic societies. Both the New Jersey and Florida state orthopaedic societies have formed RPGs, and other orthopaedic societies are following their lead. I participated in an RPG for 6 years, dually as an insured physician and as the chairman and chief executive officer of COPIC, which insured the RPG. I thought it might be valuable to share my experiences.
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Medical liability insurance 101
Key criteria for selecting medical liability coverage Since 2002, COPIC—a physician-directed provider of medical liability insurance—has provided intensive, week-long risk management rotations for resident physicians. The purpose of these sessions is to give residents an appreciation for the “disease” of malpractice and an ability to recognize its causes and prevent its symptoms. More than 700 residents have taken the rotations to date.
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You be the jury
The judge overturned the jury verdict—would you? Imagine going through a 5-year long medical liability lawsuit and trial. The jury finds in your favor, but the plaintiff asks for a new trial. Six months later, the judge grants the request and sets aside the previous verdict. Members of the AAOS Medical Liability Committee want to know what you would do. The online version of this article includes voting buttons and an opportunity for your comments.
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Supporting your practice administrator
AAOE is a resource to consider Orthopaedic surgeons frequently have long days that are often complicated and filled with the unexpected. A day in the life of an orthopaedic practice administrator may also be long, complicated, and filled with the unexpected. Consider this scenario: The day starts with a negotiation meeting with a large healthcare organization. When the practice administrator arrives at the clinic, a stack of messages await.