Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Developing Data: October, 2013

These data from the 2012 Urgent Care Industry Benchmarking Study are based on a sample of 1,732 urgent care centers; 95.2% of the respondents were UCA members. Among other criteria, the study was limited to centers that have a licensed provider onsite at all times; have two or more exam rooms; typically are open 7 days/week, 4 hours/day, at least 3,000 hours/year; and treat patients of all ages (unless specifically a pediatric urgent care). In …

Market-Driven, Performance- Based Physician Compensation in Urgent Care

Urgent message: Determining compensation for urgent care physicians is a challenge, particularly given the current health care environment. This article provides guidelines for achieving fair compensation based on reliable metrics and objectivity. RICHARD M. CAMERON, MHSA, CMPE and RICK E. WEYMIER, MBA, FACMPE Introduction Physician compensation presents one of the greatest challenges to the success of an urgent care practice because it has an impact on practice culture, physician interelationships, and the ability to attract …

Commercial Motor Vehicle Medical Examinations – Act Now to Participate!

JOHN SHUFELDT, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP This is not the call you want to receive. “Dr. Shufeldt, one of urgent care centers your group just purchased was named in a multimillion dollar suit. The allegation is that one of the center’s providers performed a DOT physical on a driver who was reportedly overweight, had Type II diabetes, had hypertension and undiagnosed sleep apnea. While driving, he fell asleep, crossed the median and a struck a …

Preventive Medicine, Preventive Medicine Counseling

DAVID STERN, MD (Practice Velocity) Q. How do you code for a Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) screening visit in a patient who has no symptoms? Can you use a preventive medicine code (99387-99397) and still receive reimbursement? A.You would code based on the service provided. If you performed a physical and collected the specimen to send to the lab, then you would bill the appropriate preventive medicine Evaluation and Management (E/M) code. If the only …

Developing Data: September, 2013

Creating Value By Adding Physical Therapy to Urgent Care – PART II: Tactical Considerations

Urgent message: Part 1 of this article, in the June issue, looked at initial considerations for enhancing urgent care profitability by providing physical therapy services. In Part 2, the authors address tactical considerations, from revenue to staffing models. LAUREL STOIMENOFF, PT and HILARY HELLMAN, SLP Babe Ruth said, “Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” Consumers have gravitated to on-demand medical services and the market has responded. Urgent care centers now face competition, not only …

The Game Part 3

JOHN SHUFELDT, MD, JD, MBA, FACEP Lawyer: Now doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn’t know about it until the next morning? Lawyer: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people? Witness: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. Lawyer: Do you recall the time that you examined the body? Witness: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m. Lawyer: And Mr. Johnson was dead at the …

2013 Physical Therapy G Codes

DAVID STERN, MD (Practice Velocity) Q. We offer Physical Therapy services to patients in our urgent care center and some patients have Medicare insurance. I understand there are new codes that we must use for Medicare. What are they and how do we use them? A.The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was mandated by the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2012 to collect information regarding beneficiaries’ function and condition, therapy services furnished, …

Practice Management