Program DescriptionThe 2009-10 Medical-Dental-Legal Update

MONDAY

The Medical Expert Witness: What You Need to Know
Robert P. Siemion, Esq.
Malpractice defense veteran, Robert P. Siemion, Esq., examines the role and necessary qualifications of expert witnesses, offers practical tips on dealing with counsel and then imparts invaluable advice - equally applicable to the defendant doctor - on testifying effectively while avoiding common pitfalls.

"Things I Wish I Knew Last Year"
Louis Kuritzky, MD
Practitioner and academician, Louis Kuritzky, MD, reviews a number of clinically relevant items that, despite their utility, are not well known. His discussion includes methods for predicting the presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, the potential impact of 2D6 interactions on clinical outcomes, explanations for discordant glucose: A1C relationship, and more.

Low Back Pain: A Common Sense Approach to Evaluation and Treatment
Kathryn A. Stolp, MD
Ninety percent of people will experience at least one episode of low back pain. After a brief review of spinal anatomy and "pain generators" Mayo Clinic Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation chair, Kathryn A. Stolp, MD, offers a straight forward discussion of clinical presentations, examination techniques and treatment options ranging from conservative to alternative to surgery.

Fraud and Abuse Update: The Impact of Health Care Reform
Alan G. Gilchrist, Esq.
The Healthcare Reform bill has significantly impacted the scope and severity of fraud and abuse laws. Veteran healthcare criminal defense attorney, Alan G. Gilchrist, Esq., surveys some of the most salient changes and offers advice on how to most effectively cope with them.

WEDNESDAY

Physician-Hospital Integration: Practice Acquisitions
Roger Strode, Esq.
Healthcare law attorney, Roger Strode, Esq. opens with a helpful review of today's practice acquisition environment and then explores the key business and transactional issues surrounding these purchases, the various employment models available and the critical terms of the employment agreements themselves.

Structuring Your Practice - Part 1: Corporate Entities and Buy-Sell Agreements
David B. Mandell, JD, MBA
Attorney and asset protection specialist, David B. Mandell, JD, MBA offers guidance on optimizing healthcare practice succession, tax, risk, retirement planning and asset protection. In his first of two talks, Mr. Mandell reviews the pros and cons of the various corporate structures available to practitioners, looks at buy-sell agreements and then explains why good advisors don't always render good advice

England v. Katibah: Who's at Fault for an Unnecessary Mastectomy?
A CourtTV production with commentary by David J. Cooper, Esq.
A vital, young woman undergoes a radical mastectomy only to later learn she never had cancer in the first place. Who is responsible? CourtTV covers the trial and veteran litigator, David J. Cooper, Esq., offers insightful commentary.

Practice Benchmarking - Part 1: Revenues and Expenses
H. Christoper Zaenger, CHBC
Veteran practice management consultant, H. Christoper Zaenger, CHBC, surveys the waterfront of medical practice revenues and expenses offering tips to increase the former and decrease the latter. Areas covered include office co-pays, practice management system rules engines, ancillary services, proper coding, staffing cost optimization, efficient patient scheduling, and much more.

FRIDAY

Anti-Microbial Stewardship: Fighting the Resistance Crisis
C. Wayne Weart, PharmD
Antibacterial drug resistance is in a crisis state and getting worse. Providers have played a role in this gathering storm and are positioned to combat it through proper anti-microbial stewardship. Nationally renowned expert, Professor C. Wayne Weart, PharmD, outlines the dimensions and the details of both the problem and the solutions.

Advice to the Defendant Doctor from a Plaintiff's Attorney
James I. Devine, Esq.
Veteran malpractice litigator, James I. Devine, Esq., draws on defense and plaintiff experience to advise defendant doctors how to best help with their own defense. Areas covered include chart alteration, the attorney-doctor relationship, the doctor's role in deposition and at trial, and the merits of retaining personal counsel.

Structuring Your Practice - Part 2: Retirement Plans and Insurance Captives
David B. Mandell, JD, MBA
Medical practice specialist, David B. Mandell, JD, MBA, continues his two part talk with a close look at the pros and cons of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans - including Section 79 plans - in various medical practice circumstances. He concludes with a look at the potential tax, risk management and asset protection advantages offered by captive insurance companies.

Practice Benchmarking - Part 2: Office Operations
H. Christopher Zaenger, CHBC
Practice management expert, H. Christopher Zaenger, CHBC, discusses the utility of benchmarking medical practice operations and then explores specific operational domains with the aid of actual case studies. Office areas discussed include reception, records management, lab results, personnel management and patient account services.