side note: This is an interesting, and likely unforeseen, aspect of the current rush of independent doctors to hospital employment. Who pays for the physicians’ tail, or prior acts, coverage? According to this article, that may be determined by which specialty a doctor practices in or how high of a demand their is for the […]

side note: This is a great article for physicians to read. The early reporting model espoused in the article is not dissimilar to what is commonly referred to as the “I’m Sorry” model where a physician makes a statement of empathy to the injured patient. These models are gaining endorsement because it has been statistically […]

Side Note: With more and more Baby Boomers needing primary care, and their care getting more complex as they get older, primary care physicians are having a tough time meeting their patients’ needs and their practices’ needs simultaneously for several reasons. First, Medicare reimbursements for primary care physicians often don’t cover everything that is involved […]

Side Note: The article below reviews a new book, Out of Practice, by Frederick M. Barken, M.D. The book is a narrative of one upstate New York primary care physician’s decision to retire early and his reasons why. The book discusses many frustrating scenarios that are very familiar to most primary care docs. Specifically, Dr. […]

side note: This is an extreme example of a topic that I’ve done plenty of writing about. As the nation’s abuse of prescription painkillers continues to grow, it is more than likely to result in a growing number of physicians who prescribe those painkillers being sued for malpractice or arrested for law breaking. In the […]

side note: The author of this article uses the Annual Rate Survey data published by Medical Liability Monitor — which illustrates a downward trend in medical malpractice insurance premiums — to question whether federal tort reform should be included in any deficit reducing strategies (see AMA Wants Supercommittee to Limit Malpractice Suits). He also questions […]

side note: Since 1975, California’s MICRA Tort Reforms, which include a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages, has been the gold standard of tort reforms for more than 35 years. It has been tested in the state’s court system regularly, and most recently, an appellate court decision that reduced a $6 million jury award to the […]

Side Note: Don’t think you’re online? You may be surprised. In this era of the internet and social media, even the most non-technologically advanced physician may be surprised to learn that he or she (and his or her practice) is online –reviewed, for better or for worse, by patients. “Online reputation management” is becoming a […]

side note: This is a topic that I’ve posted about several times. As the epidemic of prescription drug abuse grows at an exponential rate, doctors can expect greater police interest in their prescribing practices. Not only can prescribing powerful medicines to addicts be considered medical malpractice, it can be prosecuted as criminal negligence. Prescription drug […]