Book Club: The E Myth Physician

I love to read, especially anything related to business and medicine.  I have finally realized, after 15 years in practice, that is not enough to just be a doctor.  Whether we like it or not, we are all small business owners, and some of us are even entrepreneurs.  Today I will review The E Myth [...]

Hip Hip HIPAA–Myth Busting 101

Photo: starpulse.com
As far as I am concerned HIPAA has added another layer of useless paperwork on to the backs of physicians, and I particularly resent the cost it has added to primary care.  Therefore, I was excited to see an article on HIPAA myths.  Below is my summary of HIPAA myth bustin’:
Myth 1: You can’t [...]

The Hospitalist Shift From Hell, and How to Fix It

I came home from my last 12 hour hospitalist shift exhausted.  My eyes were bleary eyed from staring at the EMR , and I was in the state of beatendownness where you have been totally crushed by admissions, cross cover, your coworkers, staff and patients.  Owning a coffee shop was looking better and better, and [...]

Health Care Reform With Out High Tech: Changing a Culture of Fatness to a Culture of Fitness

 
President Obama has a stimulus package all ready to roll out.  Reportedly, it will include money ear marked to expand COBRA.  If this is true, there will be precious little left to fund the ‘everybody has to have an EMR’ mandate.
Good, I say.  Let’s work on some low tech solutions that will reap true benefits.  [...]

And the winner is… Dr. Bobb!

In the contest to describe a goal and a plan to meet that goal for a medical practice, Dr. Bobb is the winner (and the ONLY contestant!)!  Now, I don’t know exactly how well his plan will work, but I’m loving the idea of the vacuum.   He notes that they will take turns cleaning the bathroom.  [...]

Are You a Bad Apple? 5 Steps out of The Crab Apple Funk

Much has been made of disruptive physicians, giving birth to “code of conduct” booklets that are required reading for physicians, as well as special coaches that help deal with physician behavior.  In my career, I have met only one disruptive physician, a neurosurgeon who was so dismissive and rude to the staff that I felt [...]

Staying Afloat in Tough Economic Waters Part 2

So, continuing on with my tale of my little business…I left off describing how ExtraMD ( my local locums company) was going to weather these stormy economic times.  I have noticed a drastic drop in shift requests.  Over the past two years, we have typically had 10 shifts per month unfilled, almost enough for a full [...]

And Now A Little About Me: How ExtraMD is Weathering the Financial Crisis

If only I could get paid for worrying!  I was up last night at 1:30 am, worrying about my company, ExtraMD.  I formed ExtraMD five years ago, when I left the large hospitalist group I was working for.  The hospitalist group was (and still is!) made up of intelligent, caring physicians.  I earned a nice [...]

Enter to win a Amazon gift card–list a goal for your practice this year and a plan to achieve it!

See the December 29 post and enter your practice’s goals for 2009.  Include a plan by which your will achieve the goals.  The best plan wins a $15 gift card from Amazon.

Power to the Punctual! How Physicians can be on Time!

Patients have a pet peeve: they hate waiting for the doctor.  I hate waiting for the doctor, and hate it when patients wait for me!  It’s very funny, but in my personal life I tend to run late, but at work, I’m usually on time.  Reflecting on what helps me be on time, I came [...]