Practice Management Publications

Electronic Nicotine Delivery systems (ENDS) are the newest emerging technology in the epidemic of novel tobacco products that has been spilling out of start-up companies for the last 13 years. So physicians wonder, “How should I respond when my patients seek advice about using these electronic devices?”

Medical practices frequently receive medical record release requests from multiple sources, including subpoenas, attorney letters, and patients themselves. Learn the answers to several frequently asked questions by patients.

What should you do when your office receives a grievance letter from a health plan and a written response is requested?

Does your staff perform any in-office laboratory tests, such as patient urine dip-sticks or Glucose Tolerance Tests?

Yes. According to Business & Professions Code Section 680, a health care practitioner, while working, must disclose his or her name and license status on a name tag in at least 18-point type.

Here is the question asked most often on our risk management hotline: How long should our office retain patient medical records and billing information?

A frequently asked question to the CAP Hotline is: Our practice wants to offer "Microdermabrasion". Can the procedure be done by a trained medical assistant, under the supervision of a physician? The answer is no.

A CAP member physician recently called our risk management hotline requesting help with a call from a Washington Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent. The caller demanded that she turn herself in to local law enforcement for writing fraudulent prescriptions and dealing drugs with the Mexican mafia. 

California law provides that any adult patient and any minor patient authorized by law to consent to medical treatment, is entitled to inspect and request a copy of their medical record upon written request to the healthcare provider and payment of reasonable costs to make the record available.  (California Health and Safety Code Section 123110)

It depends… The Medical Board of California (MBC) cautions, “Physicians should view carefully his or her decision to allow medical assistants to perform this task.” It is not the physical act of picking up a phone and dialing a number that is of concern.