Don’t Drown: Ride the (Modified) Wave!

Steven E. Fisher, MBA

How much do you know about the way appointment scheduling really works in your practice? Many orthopaedic surgeons are simply content to have a steady stream of patients whenever they are in the office. However, failing to implement a structured appointment scheduling system can result in both dissatisfied patients and lost revenue. Many medical offices use the “wave” method to schedule appointments.

Catch the Thief in Your Office

Steven E. Fisher, MBA

What would you do if you were told there was a 100 percent chance that you as an orthopaedic surgeon would be the victim of fraud or embezzlement at some point? What would you do if you were told that your chances were “only” three out of four? In fact, no one really knows the extent of the problem because most incidences of embezzlement are never uncovered. Further, many incidences of embezzlement that are uncovered are never reported to the authorities or prosecuted.

CPT Coding Update 2012—Part 2

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

This is the second in a series of articles providing a high-level overview of code changes for 2012. It is not meant to be an all-inclusive introduction to either the code changes or the guideline changes being introduced in 2012.

Tips for 5010 implementation

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare providers are required to follow certain standards for electronic transactions, including claims submission, remittance advice, eligibility, claims status, and referral authorizations. On Jan. 1, 2012, these standards were upgraded to the 5010 version. To help AAOS members with the transition, Gateway EDI—our partner in the AAOS Revenue Management Program—has a “5010 FAQ & Tips” page on its website.

Trends in Medical Liability Coverage for Orthopaedic Surgeons

Fellowship survey finds 92 percent of trial cases decided for defendant Douglas W. Lundy, MD, FACS The AAOS Medical Liability Committee recently fulfilled one of its charges by conducting the 2011 Professional Liability Insurance Survey. The committee regularly surveys the fellowship to ensure that the needs and perceptions of the membership are addressed. The last such survey was performed in 2006.

Be Mindful of the Autopilot

Elliott H. Leitman, MD

As a pilot as well as an orthopaedic surgeon, I am familiar with the parallels frequently drawn between the two professions. A recent string of airline crashes attributed to the pilot’s loss of control raised concerns that pilots have, to some extent, lost experience in manual piloting and become less able to cope effectively if the autopilot disengages. The use of the autopilot is so universal in commercial airliners that the pilot flies the plane manually for just a few minutes of each flight.

Join the Social Media Conversation

Jackie Ryan

Although many physicians keep up with technology trends, few orthopaedic practices are actually using social media to improve patient communications or boost their bottom line. Those that do use social media understand the benefits as more than simply a way to share general health information. Social media can help orthopaedic surgeons communicate with their patients one-on-one, market their practices, and improve communications with colleagues.

Managing Medical Liability with Risk Retention Groups

Thomas B. Fleeter, MD

Six years ago, rapid increases in malpractice premiums and the diminishing availability of malpractice insurers in Virginia forced our group practice to look for alternatives to traditional insurance. At that time, premiums were rising 15 percent to 20 percent each year and the number of insurance companies offering insurance was shrinking.

Upcoming MOC deadlines

Certificate expiration Exam date Deadline date Requirement 2013, 2014, 2015 2013 5/1/2012 Application deadline for computer and oral exams 2013, 2014, 2015 2013 5/31/2012 Late application deadline for computer and oral exams; late fee applies 2013, 2014, 2015 2013 12/15/2012 Exam fee due for those taking the computer and oral examination pathways 2013, 2014, 2015 2013 12/15/2012 6-consecutive-months case list of surgical cases perf