Physicians News Health news for doctors and patients.

If you are a specialist, consider the advantages offered by single specialty networks, which include increased control in a managed care environment, enhanced negotiation clout with health plans or primary care groups, shared administrative resources and marketing leverage.

The merger of physicians or their acquisition by hospitals often encounter logistical and bureaucratic obstacles to meaningful unity. Those problems can be overcome by consolidating sites into strategically located ambulatory care centers, an approach that has competitive advantages to the sponsoring organization.

For many physicians, the decision to become an employee is fraught with doubt and uncertainty. A great deal of control over decision-making can be maintained by taking certain actions both before and after becoming an employee.

Many issues could arise upon leaving a medical practice. It is essential to negotiate the terms of a Termination Agreement to ensure a smooth withdrawal or split-up. Learn the types of provisions that should be included in the documents.

While some health care organizations remain disappointed with their Internet results, others sense they're on the edge of an unprecedented era of global communication, electronic commerce and education. This article provides guidelines to ensure your success.

Gary C. Brown, M.D., offers a five-step plan for physicians to challenge the health care industry trend toward decreasing physician autonomy. Physicians must learn the business language, collaborate effectively, decrease the rate of rise in number of physicians, take active political roles and halt the trend of physicians selling their practices.

Decide whether you need "own-occ" coverage, and learn how that decision affects your choice of disability companies and policies.

The first step is identifying high-risk enrollees with self-administered surveys. The authors discuss population-based screening instruments and probability of repeat hospitalizations surveys. The second step is following the at-risk patient. Interviews and case management programs are appraised.

How to weigh advantages and disadvantages of practice mergers. Specific traps to watch out for include ownership, governance, compensation, liability, fraud and abuse, reimbursement, taxation, benefits, antitrust and personnel.

Physician unionization has been in the spotlight during the past few months. Physicians may join or form a union, but must be mindful of the potential obstacles and barriers involved.