Properly accredited CME replaces computer modules and repeated examinations in this roadmap for continued board certification and optimal lifelong learning.

Patient-centered medical homes and nurse-managed health centers may help mitigate the expected shortage of primary care physicians.

A high burnout rate translates into even more physicians leaving practice, thus adding to an already critical shortage.

How Primary Care Physicians Are FaringThese charts are culled from the annual Physicians Compensation Survey, which is conducted by the editorial staff of Physicians Practice-a sister publication of ConsultantLive. This year, more than 1311 physicians of all specialties completed the survey .The charts you see here show how primary care physicians responded to just a few of the survey questions. We invite you to visit the Physicians Compensation Survey in its entirety to see how your colleagues responded to such questions as: How does your personal income last year compare with the previous year? What was your practice’s overhead as a percentage of medical revenue? How many hours per week do you work, on average?-The Editors 

The US health care system can meet the need for primary care providers by fully implementing physician-led patient-centered medical homes, according to an American Academy of Family Physicians report.

Collecting from patients at the time of service can be stressful to medical practice staff. Historically, asking for money seemed almost inappropriate, if not distasteful-a job for the business office, not the front office. Fortunately, staff can learn to take collections more seriously.

Appointment confirmations are a necessity in today’s fast-paced environment. Not only does the process help forgetful patients (or their parents) to stay on time, but it can reduce your appointment no-show rate. Every no-show you eliminate improves your practice’s bottom line. To be effective, follow these nine tips:

Is running out of supplies plaguing your efficiency? Is an overabundance of supplies harming your bottom line? Maybe it’s time to evaluate a just-in-time (JIT) inventory control system.

Compare your salary, bonus structure, overhead ratio, and career plans with those of your peers, using this exclusive research by ConsultantLive

Be creative with performance rewards. Give movie tickets to employees who go “above and beyond” the call of duty.

Maintain a “murmur log” to record compliments and complaints from your patients.

Assign one clinical staff member to check the expiration dates on all prescription samples once a month, and keep a log of these inspections.

I have started asking my female patients to bring their own bathrobes for well-woman examinations.

Measure your cycle time from patient entry to patient exit. If you can keep it to less than 1 hour, you will keep more happy patients-and physicians.

Remember, time is money. Make sure that your billing office works the electronic claims transmission edit report within 3 days.

Ask your billing staff to place appointment reminder calls to patients who have an account balance.

For pre-authorizations and referrals, get the name of the person who approves the service, and document the time and date.

Make sure you are paid for authorized services.

Always make sure that you work all of your accounts each month.