In June, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released a series of patient oriented videos that describe in easy to understand methods, the rights that patients are afforded when it comes to accessing their health information. “Many people are not fully aware of ... Read More

EMR Blame Game A recent article in Pharmacy Times EMR sited discrepancies in the cause of patients not taking their medications correctly. This occurs when many different medications are prescribed. The regimens of these medications are not consistent. For example, a drop may be required 6 times a day, a pill ... Read More

Patient’s Legal Capacity to Consent Situations vary from patient to patient and there are rules to provide guidance during the process of obtaining consent.  Sometimes the guiding rules are not enough and the provider must make a judgement call.  Providers should look at all of the factors in each situation carefully, ... Read More

When is Informed Consent Needed? The rules and regulations surrounding Healthcare have changed drastically in the last 25 years. In the past, the common thought about informed consent for treatment was that it was required for surgery and other interventional treatments.   Once intrusive diagnostic procedures came about, such as diagnostic images ... Read More

The Informed Consent Responsibility Informed consent is a process, not simply the collection and documentation of a form.  The consent process requires active, two-way communication between the patient and each healthcare provider involved in the treatment and the decision-making process.  Physicians and patients should exchange information in an interactive way that ... Read More

Healthcare laws and best practices have been changing rapidly over the last couple of decades. Patient rights are protected by complicated laws that, when not followed, can result in stiff penalties and criminal charges.   It is more important than ever to gain a full understanding of how the law defines ... Read More

Historically, a physical document was signed and stored as an original in a secured physical environment. Often the document was copied but the copy was not considered official unless it was signed, stamped, or notarized. Over recent decades, technology has been brought to market to take the paper documents and scan ... Read More

Many physicians start out in hospitals and group practices as a way to get established in the industry. This is how they get experience and develop a reputation in the community.  There are, however, some drawbacks to putting their reputations in the hands of hospital administration or a physician board ... Read More

So, you want to go solo and start your own medical practice.  The choices you make can determine how quickly you make money or go out of business.  Solid planning is essential.  A business plan is a must!  If you don’t have time to create a full business plan, make ... Read More