issue-09-2015

Editor’s Note | Our business is to find options and possibilities for your consideration. We don’t advocate for any particular style of practice, because that’s always your decision. Still, you need to be armed with solid information about technique, the latest research, new technology, and best business practices.

Feature | Creating an integrated practice that combines the healthcare modalities offered by a chiropractor and a medical doctor is not a decision to be made lightly. Not only is there considerable expense and financial risk involved but building a successful model means drastic changes in how you run your practice and deliver care.

In Focus | The National by FCA has quietly become the “largest chiropractic continuing education and business event—as well as the largest exposition—in chiropractic worldwide.”

Clinical Concerns | Provide patients with effective pain treatment and relief. Natural ingredients can work as well as prescription medications—causing side benefits (including lowered cancer and Alzheimer’s risk) instead of side effects.

Practice Central | The interoperability of software and technological devices is a hot-button issue in medical practices today, because of the health information exchange (HIE) requirements of Stage 2 of the meaningful-use (MU) electronic health record (EHR) program.

Wellness Approach |You’ve heard it a thousand times: the most important factor contributing to your health and wellness is the amount and quality of your sleep. Sleep well and you will live longer and presumably be “healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

Marketing Matters | Compelled by clinical evidence and the value that ancillary products offer their practices, over half (52 percent) of the nation’s DCs offer orthotics to their patients. Yet while some doctors excel at recommending custom orthotics, others struggle with it.

Coding Keys | The modifications to the CMS-1500 claim form were mainly designed to support the planned transition to ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Although legislation that postpones ICD-10 until at least October 1, 2015 has recently been signed into law, the changes to the claim form are still needed to facilitate this now-delayed transition.

Chiro Biz Quiz | Medical integration is potentially the single most effective weapon you have in your arsenal against decreasing reimbursements and abuse by third-party payers.