A 45-year-old female, “Ms. Patient,” with a history of diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and high BMI was seen in a medical office for complaints of left shoulder pain that occurred after heavy lifting. On presentation to the clinic, Ms. Patient’s heart rate was 128/minute.

We’ve all heard the term “speed kills.” Just like a road or freeway is engineered with consideration of vehicles in motion towards an established maximum safe speed, the medical office, too, is designed for efficient, safe care at a maximum limit.

What is the appropriate time frame for completing medical record documentation in the office setting? According to Medicare, “the service should be documented during, or as soon as practicable after it is provided, in order to maintain an accurate medical record.”

Our case for this month is all about "agents,” so if you hire independent contractors, you’ll want to read on to learn more about how to manage your liability exposures.

An abnormal test result typically sets in motion a number of follow-up actions by a patient’s treaters. While many of those actions will depend on the particular situation, one of them should be a constant: Telling the patient.