Keeping Up with Orthopaedic Apps

Orrin I. Franko, MD

The last few years have witnessed a rapid expansion in clinical information available for use in smart phones and tablets, including new ways to access medical records, read journals, and keep up with product releases. For practicing surgeons, staying abreast of the most relevant and useful software can be a challenge. The mobile computing sector is currently fragmented by various devices and operating systems.

Engaging Your Patients in Pricing Discussions

Thomas J. Grogan, MD; Mike Albainy

If a patient called your practice for a personalized cost estimate, would you be able to provide one? The need for increased cost transparency is becoming a higher priority for several reasons. The average health plan deductible has increased by about 65 percent over the past 5 years, prompting patients to ask how much they will personally owe for a procedure or service.

Preserving Independence Through a Practice Merger

Kenneth Hekman, MBA, FACMPE

Although healthcare reform, reimbursement changes, and continuing economic pressures are making hospital employment an attractive option, most surgeons still desire the autonomy of private practice. One option is to merge with other independent practices to create an organization with the scale and resources to thrive in today’s healthcare environment.

CPT Code Update 2012—Part 1

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

This article provides 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. The new CPT codes are indicated in the CPT book with a ; revised codes have a  and guideline changes are found between sidelying triangles . A list of all additions, deletions, and revisions is found in the CPT codebook Appendix B.

You Be the Judge

David H. Sohn, JD, MD; S. Jay Jayasankar, MD

Medical liability cases are based on state tort law. To prevail, a plaintiff must prove the following four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. The questions of how and when “duty” is created may be problematic at times, as the illustrative court cases in this article indicate. When a physician agrees to become the treating doctor for a patient, a fiduciary duty is created between the physician and patient.