Joseph Eastern, MD

Opinion

Should you dismiss that patient?

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: January 18, 2022

Contrary to what seems to be the popular opinion, there are no statutory laws that I am aware of that directly apply to patient dismissal, beyond t...

Opinion

Don’t forget about OSHA

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: September 11, 2018

Failure to comply with OSHA regulations can result in stiff penalties running into many thousands of dollars.

Opinion

Employment practices liability insurance

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: August 14, 2018

All EPLI policies cover litigation against your practice and its owners by employees, but some cover only full-time workers.

News

Resolving patients’ complaints

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: July 18, 2016

For most physicians, the resolution of patients’ complaints ranks second only to firing an employee on the Least Favorite Tasks List.

Article

Maintaining Adequate Third-Party Compensation

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: December 11, 2014

While it is important to pay close attention to newer third-party vehicles, do not ignore established payers or assume their compensation schedules...

Article

The Discount Dilemma

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: November 10, 2014

Health care reform has triggered considerable discussion both in print and online about the administrative problems it has created for private prac...

Article

Private Practice Will Survive But Patient Billing Will Not

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: October 10, 2014

Aggressive management of accounts receivable is the key to financial health for any private practice. In the current health care reform climate, it...

Article

Dermatology: The Last Refuge for Private Practice?

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: September 9, 2014

The unprecedented challenges that I have been discussing in this column over the last several months—the Patient Protection and Affordable C...

Article

Should You Accept Insurance Exchange Coverage?

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: August 7, 2014

It remains unclear how the influx of newly insured patients through the Health Insurance Marketplace will affect private practice health care prac...

Article

Is Meaningful Use Worth the Burden?

Author:: Joseph Eastern, MD

Publish date: July 8, 2014

Adoption of the meaningful use program entrails a substantial commitment of time, money, and energy. Much more is involved than simply having an el...