Practice Management

Part 1 Ethics: rules of ethics; the business of medicine; anti-trust considerations; the Federal Trade Commission; guidelines for ethical behaviour. Part 2 Socioeconomic considerations: payment of health care expenses; the uninsured populations; oversupply of ophthalmologists; Medicare fraud and abuse regulations; physician payment reform. Part 3 Risk management and malpractice: the general problem of medical malpractice; the experience of ophthalmology; damages; tort reform; national practitioner data bank; risk management; preferred practice patterns (PPP); outcome analysis; malpractice insurance; risk management in the ophthalmologist's office; in the event of a malpractice action; the ophthalmologist as expert witness. Part 4 Starting and developing a practice: evaluating established practice opportunities; purchase of a practice; contract considerations; sources of funds for practice development; leasing vs buying; office location and planning. Part 5 Practice cash flow management: billing and collecting; dealing with insurance carriers; accounts payable management; computers in medical practice; CPT and ICD-9-CM coding; Medicare fraud and abuse; Medicare participation vs non-participation; retirement planning.