Dr. Baum is a urologist in private practice in New Orleans and the author of Marketing Your Clinical Practice: Ethically, Effectively, and Economically.
The physician in transition: A three-phase plan
Whether the plan is retirement or reduced hours, these steps will benefit both physician and practice
A physician is leaving the practice; are you prepared?
Careful planning is essential to ensure a smooth transition
The smartphone: Here's how it enhances patient care for urologists
Numerous capabilities help put your practice at your fingertips
How to give your patient education Web video a professional look
Here are some ways to add polish to your Internet videos
How to create and upload your own online video
User-friendly technology makes producing your own video easy and inexpensive
Is your practice protected against embezzlement?
Here are some suggestions for keeping your practice safe from employee theft
You've decided to switch to a new electronic medical record: What's next?
One practice's experience shows how you can safely move existing data to a new system
Is it time to the make the switch to a new electronic medical record system?
Here's how to make a smooth transition to a new system
E-prescribing: Time to put away the pen and the prescription pad
Advantages include greater efficiency, fewer errors
How to manage your time more effectively: Key steps
Properly allocating time and establishing clear-cut goals can lead to higher productivity, more profit
How to make a good first impression with patients
Here are some simple, practical ways to get off on the right foot with newcomers to your practice
Online presentations: How to keep your audience engaged
In the age of distance learning, here are 10 tips to hold your audience's attention
An attorney's perspective: What drives a patient to sue?
Here are the motives for seeking a claim and how attorneys decide whether to take a case
Is there life after urology? Entrepreneurs say yes
These five urologists became successful entrepreneurs and explain how you can, too
In-office drug dispensing: A new revenue stream?
This growing practice can lead to both increased patient satisfaction and income
How satisfied are your patients?
Here's why positive patient experiences are vital to the success of your practice
How office technology can move your practice forward
A wide range of tech toys can enhance patient service and help you cut costs
How to achieve balance in and out of the office
Here are 10 strategies for leveling the scale between your personal and professional lives
How to write a book and have it published
Here are some first-hand tips to take you from concept to bookstore shelves
Workplace drug abuse: Your practice is not immune
Here's how to recognize, prevent, and respond to substance abuse
How apologizing to a patient may help you avoid litigation
Knowing when and how to say 'I'm sorry' is vital to patient and physician well-being
Quick, easy steps can improve your efficiency in your practice
Using two-way radios and microtasking are two ways to make your day go more smoothly
How to communicate with patients
Here are 10 ways to improve your communication skills and enhance patient satisfaction
Don't be afraid to re-negotiate insurance contracts
Here's how to re-negotiate from a position of strength to be paid what you deserve
Ensuring patient safety: Practical steps to take now
A staff that stays healthy and is aware of in-office hazards means safer patients
Ensuring patient safety: Culture and communication
Following these best practices will reduce your risk and improve your quality of care
Do a clinical study right, and leave them wanting more
Conducting a research study smoothly will keep sponsors coming back to your practice
Attracting patients to a research study: 12 tested techniques
Many existing internal resources will help you enroll patients into a new research study
Clinical trials: How to secure your first grant
Some 5,000 physicians are awarded their first study every year; here's how to join them
Three generations, very different practice styles
Group practices may be prone to culture clashes; here's what makes each generation tick
Health care competition redefined: Value vs. cost
Positive-sum competition is a radical idea that makes sense for all parties involved
Culture and health care: What urologists should know
More than ever, quality is urologists' business
The time is now to embrace quality metrics based on evidence-based medicine
Ancillary income: What's possible and what's legal?
Many business opportunities exist; here's how to know what's right for your practice
The quest for quality: How to recognize and measure it
No longer an ambiguous concept, quality is definable, identifiable, and measurable
Informed consent: Use it to improve care, reduce risk
Here are the necessary ingredients of effective consent and the tools to achieve it
Practice mergers: Steps to a smooth transaction
This model ensures equitable income distribution without creating internal competition
Sexual harassment: What you can do to avoid it
Here are preventive measures you can take and six steps to follow if complaints arise
Costs and profits: What urologists need to know
Here.'s a simple method to evaluate the profitability of your practice.s services
Never lose data again with online backup
Backing up your electronic data off site isn't just smart; it could soon be required
Don't let the 'doorknob' rob your productivity
A little preparation can keep your patients' last-minute questions to a minimum
How to enhance patients' experience with you: 11 steps
These simple pointers can help keep your patients happy and, consequently, healthy
How to streamline your interactions with drug reps
Here are some practical tips to help both the physician and rep save valuable time
A pathology lab model can add to your income
HSAs: A new paradigm in payment and collections
Health savings accounts are a growing trend you will need to accommodate; here's how
Locum tenens may offer a flexible practice option
For some physicians, practicing medicine without running an office may be the way to go
Need more time with patients? Consider hiring a scribe
Having an extra hand during a physical exam can help increase your productivity
Going paperless: Tips for implementing an EMR
Follow this advice on preparation, contracts, and more to ensure a smooth transition
Ten tips for maximizing your time and revenue
Here's how to work smarter, not harder, to improve efficiency and your bottom line
'Just in time' means more dimes in your pocket
Stocking only what your practice needs takes careful planning, but offers big savings
How to prepare for disaster: Lessons from Katrina
Preparing for the worst can be invaluable for the survival of your practice
How employee turnover can turn your practice under
Here are the unexpected reasons why employees leave and steps to prevent them
Choosing an EMR: How to determine what's best for you
A request for proposal will help define your needs and objectively compare systems
Buying used medical equipment: Does it make sense?
Savings of up to 50% are possible, but select your vendor carefully and ask questions
Finding the perfect partner: References and negotiations
Reference checks and fair negotiations are key to successfully hiring a new associate
Practice Tools
The Bottom Line is a monthly Urology Times column written by Neil H. Baum, MD, and Robert A. Dowling, MD.
Dr. Dowling is medical director of Urology Associates of North Texas, a 48-physician, community based, single-specialty group in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.