Shriners changes billing policy

Howard R. Epps, MD

Fundamental change in response to economic challenges Shriners Hospitals for Children, which provide health care to more than 123,000 children annually, without financial obligation to patients or their families, is implementing a fundamental policy change intended to solidify the hospital system’s financial standing.

Coding arthroscopic knee procedures

Mary LeGrand, RN, MA, CCS-P, CPC

Although coding arthroscopic knee procedures should be pretty straightforward, confusion persists around coding and reimbursement for chondroplasty and removal of loose or foreign bodies. This tends to result from a lack of understanding of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding rules and payor reimbursement rules.

Are you ready for emerging technologies?

Put high tech to work in your practice Orthopaedic surgeons have frequently been identified as “high-tech,” that label more appropriately applies to the tools used in the operating suite rather than to the way many orthopaedic practices are run. In many cases, orthopaedic practices still rely on paper records, film radiographs, and snail mail rather than electronic medical records (EMRs), picture archiving and communications (PACs) systems, and Web-based patient portals.

Patient safety and risk management

Barry C. Dorn, MD, MHCM

Kim, aged 3 years, lays asleep, waiting for a miracle. Outside her room, the nurses on the night shift pad softly through the half-lighted corridors, stopping to count breaths, take pulses, or check the intravenous pumps. In the morning, Kim will have her heart fixed.

The apology dynamic

Aaron Lazare, MD

Meeting the needs of the offended party is key in making an apology During the past 15 years, public and private apologies have increased, as has the body of literature on the application of apologies in various aspects of life.

Tribunal system works in Massachusetts

Marylou Foley, RN, MS

An effective approach to decreasing frivolous lawsuits The Massachusetts Medical Malpractice Tribunal (MMT) system attempts to screen out nonmeritorious lawsuits and reduce the number of frivolous medical malpractice cases.