April 2008 Children's Healthcare of Atlanta announced a landmark investment in the future of pediatric research in Georgia. The Children's Board of Trustees designated $430 million of the Children's endowment toward pediatric research. "Annually, income generated from this Board-designated fund will be invested in pediatric research," said James E. Tally, Ph.D., president ... Continue Reading
Medical Practices Facing a Lease or Purchase Decision
July/August 2008 By Larry E. Willey, CCIM Medical practices, large and small, are faced with the question of whether to lease or purchase the building housing their practice. A variety of factors pertinent to the practice and the owner's objectives, as well as local market factors, must be taken into account before an informed decision can be made. Factors to be ... Continue Reading
Georgia Tech and Saint Joseph’s Collaborate
April 2008 In an innovative collaboration, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Saint Joseph's Health System and Saint Joseph's Translational Research Institute (SJTRI), a division of Saint Joseph's Health System, have signed agreements designed to move new treatments, therapies and products into clinical use with patients more rapidly. The agreements call for the $18.5 ... Continue Reading
Georgia Cancer Center Of Excellence
At Grady Health System April 2008 A recent study by the American Cancer Society reported that uninsured Americans are more likely to have advanced forms of the most common cancers by the time they seek treatment. For patients, this disparity can mean decades of lost life. The correlation between insurance status and stage of cancer is especially noticeable in colon, ... Continue Reading
How to Staff your Office
March 2008 Employers face several recruitment challenges. This is due not only to a competitive market, but also to the changing workforce. There are several different types of workers, which brings an increased amount of diversity that must be addressed when contemplating staffing your office. In recent years, more women have entered the work force, the work force is ... Continue Reading
Medical Office Building Acquisition: Understanding The Process
January/February 2008 Medical practices face an environment of declining Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements coupled with increased administrative costs to recover these shrinking revenues. Many medical practices are considering owning their own building as a way to increase their revenue and add an appreciating asset to their practice. Purchasing commercial real estate, ... Continue Reading
Does Your Practice Have Multiple Personality Disorder?
Employee Retention Through Personality Profiles January/February 2008 By Charity Q. Boulton, CMPE Medical practices are notorious for their high rate of employee turnover. With the many hats practice managers wear, it is easy to neglect the financial and emotional value of employee retention. Most of us have some form of employee programs aimed at retention whether ... Continue Reading
Q&A with Cheris Craig, MBA CMPE
November/December 2007 For the past six years, Cheris Craig has been Practice Administrator for Atlanta Women's Obstetrics & Gynecology, PC, where she is responsible for almost everything aside from treating the patient medically, including financial management, marketing, collections and patient satisfaction. Craig, who recently took on the role of President of the ... Continue Reading
Q&A with Charity Boulton, CMPE
October 2007 Charity Boulton is a "technology-lover." As the Practice Administrator for the North Fulton Internal Medicine Group for over 13 years, Boulton relies on all that today's modern electronics have to offer. Whether it is e-mail or certain computer programs, Boulton relies on these tools to make her office run smoothly and as the incoming president of the Atlanta ... Continue Reading
Q&A with Glenna Masters of the Atlanta Medical Group Management Association
September 2007 By Robert Nebel Glenna Masters, president of the Atlanta Medical Group Management Association and a healthcare professional for over 20 years, recently spoke with M.D. News-Metro Atlanta Edition about the organization's mission and status in the medical community. M.D. News: How long have you been President of AMGMA? Glenna Masters: I have been ... Continue Reading
3 Surefire Ways to Increase Cash Flow Quickly
July/August 2007 By Jill Medzelewski In a time when reimbursement seems to decrease while expenses increase, some medical practices are struggling to bring in revenue. Many are taking big steps, such as putting together joint ventures, merging with other practices, or investing in ancillary equipment. However, not every practice has the time and the means to take such ... Continue Reading
Online with The Modern Patient
June 2007 Consumer-driven health care (CDHC) has evolved to encompass more than just a patient's health care finances. Patients are demanding more involvement with and power over every level of their care, from scheduling appointments to handling insurance. In many ways, CDHC has given birth to The Modern Patient. The Modern Patient demands more transparency in almost ... Continue Reading
Doctors Orders: Know your Shareholder Agreement
May 2007 I recently presented a lecture entitled "Doctors Orders: Know your Shareholder Agreement" to a group at Piedmont hospital. This article summarizes some of the questions after the presentation ended and my answers. I hope the questions and answers give you some insight into the legal issues that arise now that physician's move from practice to practice with much ... Continue Reading
Front Desk Errors No More!
May 2007 By Christine Ingram, Senior Consultant Errors at the front desk can cause denied claims in your practice, but with a few simple exercises, many of these discrepancies can be avoided. Most of these errors are caused by putting incorrect information into the patient's account, and many can be avoided, including incorrect demographic information and insurance ... Continue Reading
Leases for Docs
May 2006 A thorough understanding of all aspects of a commercial lease is essential to successfully investing in a medical office building or running your medical practice. Commercial property investors determine whether or not to purchase a commercial building based in large part on the lease revenue such building generates. Physicians who lease space know that one of ... Continue Reading
