Knowing the rules can help practices receive payments that better reflect the work of the whole health care team. Medical services are usually billed by the individual who performs the service.

• In patients 65 years and older or in those 50 to 64 years of age at increased risk of falls, a comprehensive fall-risk assessment is recommended rather than using fall-risk prediction tools alone. • ...

• Patient engagement and shared decision-making are key because the risks of tapering must be balanced against the risks of continuing benzodiazepine therapy, which increase with dose, duration, age, ...

Cryosurgery is the application of freezing temperatures to achieve the destruction of tissue. Cutaneous cryosurgery has become a commonly performed outpatient procedure because of the combination of ...

Palpitations are a common problem in the ambulatory primary care setting, and cardiac causes are the most concerning etiology. Psychiatric illness, adverse effects of prescription and over-the-counter ...

• Diagnostic testing is not routinely recommended in patients with uncomplicated traveler's diarrhea. There are many possible sources of infectious diarrhea, including consumption of shellfish, raw ...

Acute pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection of the kidney and renal pelvis and should be suspected in patients with flank pain and laboratory evidence of urinary tract infection. Urine culture with ...

Medical decision-making capacity is the ability of a patient to understand the benefits and risks of, and the alternatives to, a proposed treatment or intervention (including no treatment). Capacity ...

The well-child visit allows for comprehensive assessment of a child and the opportunity for further evaluation if abnormalities are detected. A complete history during the well-child visit includes ...

Cerumen production is a normal and protective process for the ear canal. However, cerumen should be removed when it causes symptoms (e.g., hearing loss, itching, pain, tinnitus) or prevents assessment ...

High-quality, office-based spirometry provides diagnostic information as useful and reliable as testing performed in a pulmonary function laboratory. Spirometry may be used to monitor progression of ...

Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects 12% to 20% of Americans 60 years and older. The most significant risk factors for PAD are hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ...