Doctorate Programs Offer the Highest Level of Education

If you are a serious student who wants to achieve the pinnacle of education in your particular chosen field, the doctorate program can help you achieve your goals. The doctorate degree is often referred to as a "terminal degree" as it is the highest level of education available for most fields of study. Those who possess a doctorate degree are considered experts in their chosen field, and respected as equals by their peers.

There are different kinds of doctorate degrees. The research doctorate (Ph.D.) is the most common and is awarded in recognition of academic research and contribution to human knowledge. Professional doctorates are awarded in professions of law, medicine, music, and ministry, to name a few.

Honorary doctorates are awarded by institutions in honor of noteworthy contributions to fields other than academic. Honorary degrees are often conferred on celebrities. So as not to confuse the Honorary Doctorate with academic degrees, it has become common to use Hon.D. to indicate that the degree is purely honorary.

A doctorate is the highest level of academic degree possible, the most common being the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Doctorate programs require candidates to spend anywhere from four to six years in graduate school, subsequent to the master degree. PhD degree programs build extensive knowledge in the chosen field of study. The doctorate program produces new original research that holds meaning in the field, and prepares candidates for teaching at the college and university level.

Doctorate programs are possible in many subjects as well as combinations of subjects that some students may choose for developing skills and expertise in various fields, such as business (management and information technology), engineering, sciences (chemistry and biology), education, and other academic areas. In a nutshell, doctorate programs begin with gaining broad knowledge in the field and teaching basic undergraduate courses before focusing on developing a research project, writing a thesis, taking comprehensive exams, and defending the publication-quality thesis before a peer group of faculty who will judge the candidate's qualifications and readiness.

Those interested in doctorate programs or doctoral degrees must be prepared to spend many years of intensive study, and must be eager to advance theoretical and practical knowledge and leadership skills. The satisfaction and many rewards and accolades that await the doctorate degree holder are immeasurable, making it well worth the necessary sacrifices and effort.

If you would like to learn more about Doctorate Programs [http://schoolsgalore.com/categories/2/doctorate_programs_schools.html] and Online Doctorate Programs, you can find more in-depth information and resources on our website.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Visit our Traditional School Directory and find Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Doctor Stop Losing Money - 6 Ways To Stop The Bleeding

Are you one of those doctors who thinks that if you want more money you need to see more patients? The reality is that you just need to get paid for ALL of the patients that you are already seeing.

Many doctors make the mistake of only watching what comes in and not what is going out. They look at the bottom line, and if the bottom line is not high enough, then they figure they need to see more patients. What they really need to look at is how much of what is going out is coming back in. It isn't possible to collect 100% of what you bill out, but you should be collecting 95% or better. (I'm not talking about contractual adjustments. I'm talking about the amounts that you are legally entitled to collect.)

The following are some of the most common ways that doctor's offices lose money and what you can do to stop it from happening in your office:

1. According to a local insurance company, the number one way that doctors lose money is by not collecting copays, co-insurance, and/or deductibles. These are the amounts that are due directly from the patients.

If you do not have a good system in place for billing your patients, then you are probably losing more money than you realize.

First of all, copays SHOULD BE collected at the time of service. If a patient cannot pay the copay at the time of service, (or they forget their checkbook, etc.) then your staff should give them a pre-addressed envelope when they leave so that they can mail it in when they get home.

If you don't receive the copay within 10 days, the patient should be billed.

Co-insurance and deductibles usually cannot be billed until the EOB is received from the insurance company since the amount varies. As soon as the EOB is received a bill should be sent out to the patient with an explanation as to what the bill is for.

Bottom line, patients with balances need to be billed regularly. If they do not respond to the bills, appropriate action needs to be taken.

2. The number two way in which doctors lose money is due to non-covered services. The services may be non-covered because they are a contract exclusion, or they may be non-covered due to the way that they were billed. In any case, if the insurance doesn't pay, many times the doctor ends up writing off the charges.

One way to cut down on denials for non-covered services is to make sure that you have experienced people in charge of your billing. If you have an experienced biller it will cut down on incorrect denials due to billing errors.

If it is a true contract exclusion then the patient should be notified prior to the services being performed so that they can arrange for payment. The biller should know before the services are submitted that the insurance company does not cover them.

3. The third top reason for doctors losing money is due to sloppy bookkeeping. Yet another reason to make sure you have not only experienced but loyal people in charge of your billing. It is amazing how much money doctors lose due to the negligence and inexperience of the people that they put in charge of their money.

There are many ways that sloppy bookkeeping can cause money loss. One is from claims just not being submitted. The doctor does the work of seeing the patient, but never gets paid because his staff doesn't submit the claim. Many doctors think that this can't happen to them but in reality they just would never know if it did.

Another example of sloppy bookkeeping is incorrect patient information on file. If you don't have the correct personal information or insurance information, the patient's claim can be denied. In many offices denials are not handled so if the claim isn't paid the first time around, the doctor loses out.

4. The fourth reason is due to lack of proper follow up. The sad truth is most doctor's offices do very little, if any, follow up. All unpaid claims should be followed up on at least every 30 days. Just submitting the claims to the insurance companies is not enough. For whatever reason, a certain percentage of claims will go unpaid unless they are followed up on. Many times claims are denied for improper reasons and a phone call needs to be made to get the issue resolved. If these calls are not made, the doctor does not get paid for their service. Proper and thorough follow up is a necessity.

5. The fifth reason for doctors losing money is employee theft. Doctors never want to believe that someone on their staff would ever steal from them, but unfortunately it happens in the majority of doctors offices. It is great if you feel that you can trust everyone in your office, but it is even better if you have systems in place that make theft nearly impossible in the first place. Make everyone accountable for any money that passes thru their hands.

6. The sixth top reason for doctors losing money is due to under-coding, and/or coding errors. It is important to have someone who understands all of the ins and outs of coding. Doctors have to be careful when submitting claims to insurance companies that they code everything accurately. It would not be good to submit claims with codes that do not reflect the services actually performed to the patient. But sometimes coders can be so concerned about over coding, that they actually tend to under code EVERYTHING. This can result in a huge dollar loss for the doctor.

A doctor also wants to make sure that the coder understands which diagnoses apply to which procedures were performed. Many insurance companies only cover certain procedures when certain diagnosis codes are linked to them.

So, if you are a doctor who thinks you need to be seeing more patients, you may want to consider if any of these top six reasons doctors lose money listed above may apply to your office. You may be able to raise your bottom line considerably on the patients you are already seeing.

Michele Redmond is co-owner of Solutions Medical Billing and has been in business since 1994. She has a bachelor?s degree in Computer Information Science and is responsible for the medical billing for over 50 providers. For more information on medical billing visit her website at http://www.solutions-medical-billing.com.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Bill From Your Doctor - To Pay or Not To Pay

What do you do if you receive a bill from your doctor for services that you think should have been paid for by your insurance company? What if your doctor states that your insurance company has denied payment, so you are responsible. What if it's hundreds of dollars? What if it's for an old date of service? Do you pay the bill?

Well, maybe, but certainly not without checking into a couple of things!

The first thing you will want to do is to call your doctor's office and find out exactly what you are being billed for and why. Sometimes the bill will indicate exactly what services the bill is for, but it doesn't hurt to make sure. If you have insurance that you feel should have paid for the services, ask the doctor's office why they didn't pay. They may have not billed your insurance correctly. Verify the insurance company and the id #'s that they used. Also, verify that the service they billed for was the actual service you received. For example, did they bill for a routine check up when you were actually there for a medical reason? Some insurances don't pay for routine check ups. Many times a call to the doctor's office will clear up the matter. Based on information from your phone call, the doctor's office will be able to go back and rebill your insurance for payment.

If your phone call to the doctor's office did not clear up the matter, but you still feel that your insurance should have covered the charges, call your insurance company. The phone number is usually on the back of your id card. Ask them to explain to you why the charges were denied. If the charges were denied, and the customer service representative tells you that the denial is correct, ask them if you are responsible for the charges. In some cases doctors are contracted with insurance companies and they cannot always bill the patient for charges that are not covered. Do not assume that the person doing the doctor's billing knows if they can or cannot bill you. Many offices have people in charge of the billing that do not understand all of the insurance guidelines.

An example of a situation where the doctor can not bill you for the services is if the charges were denied for timely filing. Some insurance companies require that a doctor submit the insurance claim to them within a specific time period, for example, within 90 days of the date of service. It is in the contract that the doctor signs, and it states that if the doctor does not submit the claim in that time period, the claim will be denied and the doctor CAN NOT bill the patient. I have seen many cases where the doctor's office attempts to collect the money from the patient. However it is not the patient's fault that the doctor's staff did not submit the claim on time. The patient goes to the provider knowing that the provider accepts their insurance and expecting the doctor to be paid by the insurance company.

Many times the services can be reprocessed by the insurance company simply based on information that they receive from you during your phone call. Sometimes services are simply denied due to human error on the part of the insurance company. Or since so many things are automated, the denial may be due to a computer glitch. In any case, it is well worth the phone call to determine if the charges can be paid.

There are obviously many other reasons that the services may have been denied by the insurance company. I can't possibly cover them all in one article. In some cases the services are denied simply because the particular service is not covered under your plan. If it turns out that the claim was denied correctly, and you are responsible for paying your doctor, you should try to make arrangements with the office regarding your payment.

If the amount due is larger than you can pay at one time, ask if it is ok to make payments. Also, it is ok to ask if they will discount the bill, since it is not covered by your insurance. They may not, but you won't know if you don't ask.

Don't just pay a bill because you receive it. Unless you know for sure that you are responsible for the amount you are being billed, you should always check into it.

Michele Redmond is co-owner of Solutions Medical Billing and has been in business since 1994. She has a bachelor?s degree in Computer Information Science and is responsible for the medical billing for over 50 providers. For more information on medical billing visit her website at http://www.solutions-medical-billing.com

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Medical Malpractice - How to Become a Black Belt When Questioning a Doctor

Learn how to be a black belt attorney when questioning a doctor at their deposition.

1. Never give advance warning of what you intend to ask.

A black belt is confident of their abilities. They don't need to show off. They don't need to put on a show. They certainly don't need to impress the doctor with their legal prowess. When questioning a doctor at a deposition, I always advocate asking the key questions in the case AT THE VERY BEGINNING of the questioning.

Most physicians are not anticipating that the key issues will be discussed at the beginning. Most defense attorneys will prepare their doctor-client for the typical credentials checklist..."Where did you go to medical school, where did you do your residency, are you board certified, etc." By going directly to the heart of the case early on in the deposition, you might stand a slight advantage and get an unexpected answer you would not have obtained had you started with the standard questions.

2. Question the doctor as if you are cross-examining him at trial.

I advocate using leading questions at a deposition. Why not? It's good practice for trial, and it doesn't give the doctor much wiggle room when answering a question. Obviously there are times when I need a descriptive answer, and have no problem asking the "Why?" question during a doctor's deposition. There are also times when I want a doctor to talk at length about why he rendered a particular treatment, or what was the standard of care for treating a particular condition.

In New York, lawyers are no longer permitted to obstruct depositions by continually objecting to questions. Virtually every question asked must be answered, even though the defense attorney raises an objection. The only time a question does not have to be answered is when it is "palpably improper" or addresses something that is inherently privileged material..."What did you talk to your lawyer about before the deposition?"

3. Be respectful.

A black belt is always respectful to an adversary and to their colleagues. This is not a sign of weakness. Just the opposite. It is a sign of strength. Being hostile and argumentative with a doctor at their deposition, in my opinion, is not productive. If you are attempting to 'push the doctor's buttons' by being hostile, your intention may be worthy, but the method you are using is self-defeating, and not appropriate.

Everyone in the conference room knows what role they play. The doctor looks at you as the 'bad guy'. The defense attorney looks at you as an adversary. You look at the doctor as the culprit who caused your clients' horrific injuries. I advocate putting all this aside. Be respectful, and give the doctor the respect he deserves. Then, with your exacting questions, tear him apart step by step- and do it with a smile on your face.

"Please define erbs palsy. Please describe how a baby can get erbs palsy. Is there any other way to get erbs palsy except by putting excessive lateral traction on the baby's head? Would you agree that putting excessive lateral traction on the baby's head would be a departure from good medical care?"

Remember, each question is a building block for the next one. Build up your case with carefully crafted questions that establish the standard of care, then show through the doctor's own records, that those standards were not followed.

4. Understand your limitations

A good medical malpractice lawyer knows what he knows and also knows what he does not know. (Some call this Murphy's law). The doctor has spent years studying medicine. Expect that they will have a greater breadth of the key issues in the case than you. Accordingly, you must prepare extensively. Get out those medical textbooks. Search those medical journals. Re-review the hospital records. Call your medical expert and discuss the case. Have your expert teach you the medicine.

By the time you are ready to question the defendant doctor in your case, you should have an excellent understanding of the medicine and be able to discuss the medical issues with ease. If you can't, you should spend more time studying. You have to become an expert on this limited area of medicine involved in your case. That is the only way you can properly and adequately take the doctor, head on, in a battle of questions and answers.

5. Do not expect the defendant doctor to scream "OK, I give up!" during the deposition

Unlike sparring in the ring (known as kumite), the doctor will often be defensive and at times may verbally attack either you or your knowledge of the medicine. When sparring in martial arts, a black belt looks to score points by hitting key vital areas of the body. An attorney who seeks to be a figurative black belt at questioning a doctor also seeks to hit key issues in the case- and looks to score those vital points as well.

However, I advocate that when you get a key answer that is favorable to you, simply move on to another question. Do not thrust your hand in the air and yell, "Yes!" Do not smile that 'all-knowing' smile like you're better than everyone else in the room. Do not throw that figurative football in a hoop-roaring dance in the end zone. Instead, just move on to the next question and go after the next issue in your case.

CONCLUSION

Following these ideas will lead you on your quest to become a 'black belt' when questioning a doctor at their deposition.

Gerry Oginski is an experienced New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial attorney and practices exclusively in the State of New York. He has tirelessly represented injured victims in all types of medical malpractice and injury cases in the last 19 years. As a solo practitioner he is able to devote 100% of his time to each individual client. A client is never a file number in his office.

Take a look at Gerry's website http://www.oginski-law.com and read his free special reports on malpractice and accident law. Read actual testimony of real doctors in medical malpractice cases. Learn answers to your legal questions. We have over 200 FAQs to the most interesting legal questions. Read about his success stories. Read the latest injury and malpractice news. I guarantee there's something for you. http://www.oginski-law.com 516-487-8207

Also, take a look at Gerry's FREE NY Medical Malpractice video tutorials at http://medicalmalpracticetutorial.blogspot.com

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

4 Reasons to Change Doctors

The doctor-patient relationship is crucial to your health. We all want great relationships and the doctor-patient relationship should be no different. In fact, it is so important to us, we change doctors more frequently than any of the previous generations. It is important to take your health seriously. If you don't, how can you expect the doctor to do so?

Disorganized

If your doctor is disorganized or has a poor memory, it should be a red flag. Even if you only see them once a year, they should still be friendly and courteous. If the doctor doesn't look at your file quickly for previous visits, remind them of any allergies or previous visits. If the doctor asks the same question twice in one visit, it may be a red flag that a doctor with a better short-term memory is needed.

Listening skills

Does your doctor seem to have a hearing problem? Have you found yourself at the doctor's office for the same symptoms more than once? If your doctor doesn't seem to listen to you, there is a real issue. So much of why we need to see a doctor is based on listening to our symptoms. If the doctor is not listening, how can you get an accurate diagnosis? All relationships are based on listening and your relationship with your doctor could mean the difference between life and death.

Rude staff

If someone in the office is continually rude to you or others. Once, can be overlooked --we all have a bad day now and then. Continuous rudeness is in effect, disrespect. Stand up for yourself or let the doctor know that you didn't appreciate how you were treated. We all have been rude to someone before and it wouldn't have hurt us a bit to be confronted with this issue at the time. Continuous rudeness is not what you need to be healthy.

Partnering

If your doctor is not your partner in your health care, they are not the right doctor for you. Talking to your doctor and having them listen is crucial to your well being. Doctor's are not inexpensive and you should have the best medical care possible. That begins with choosing the right doctor for you.

It is tough to find doctors that are "good" for you. Two-way communication is so important to you, your health and your doctor. Traveling more than a few miles is well worth the time and effort when you can cherish and trust the doctor-patient relationship.

F.C. Boyd is a freelance writer with a passion for disseminating information about health, nutrition, anti-aging, and exercise.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

The 7 Most Dangerous Mistakes You Can Make When You See a Doctor for Arthritis!

1. Seeing a doctor who's not board-certified or a doctor who isn't really an arthritis specialist. A lot of doctors will tell you they're "board-eligible." That's nonsense! What "board-eligible" means is that they did the training for the specialty but either haven't taken or- heaven forbid- failed the examination for board-certification. Don't trust your health to one of those doctors. And worse yet, some specialists don't pass on the first attempt. They keep taking the board exam over and over in the hopes they'll finally pass. Ask the doctor how many times it took them. Would you rather see somebody who passed the first time or some idiot who took three and four times to pass?

Are they American trained? While some specialists have completed a residency or fellowship in the U.S., they've gotten their medical degree elsewhere. The medical schools overseas do not compare to the medical schools in the United States.

How long have they been practicing? It takes a good ten years or longer of real world experience to really be able to take good care of patients.

And are they specialists in the field of arthritis (rheumatology)? Orthopedic surgeons claim to be able to take care of arthritis. But they're not rheumatologists. They haven't received formal training in the medications used to treat arthritis. They don't know about the newest developments in the field of arthritis. They don't know about the side effects and about proper monitoring techniques for medications. They're trained to cut and to operate. Why should they want to stop arthritis from destroying your joints? Since they are surgeons, they can always do surgery and replace your joints. Having an orthopedic surgeon take care of your arthritis is like putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop.

2. Waiting too long to be seen. Arthritis causes the most damage in the first six months. That's a fact from the Arthritis Foundation. It you have to wait a couple of months just to see a doctor... guess what... the cat is out of the bag. Damage has already been done. You can't afford to wait. And if you're thinking, "Well, this doctor participates in my insurance..." Is that really a good reason to risk crippling and loss of independence? Participating in managed care is bad for your health. Insurance companies, not the doctor, dictate what kind of care you receive. Think about it...do you really think insurance company executives stay up at night worrying about your arthritis? Is that really good for you?

3. Rude staff and doctor. If you can't get along with the staff and doctor, do you think your arthritis is going to take top priority? No way!!! Look for a practice where they treat you the way you want to be treated. Like a real human being.

4. Doctor rushes. Hey... you're paying good money. Make sure the doctor knows what you're there for and what is worrying you. Are your calls returned? Do they schedule timely follow-up visits? Are they interested in you as a whole person ... or are you just a number... a body part. Are they open-minded about alternative treatments? Do you feel comfortable discussing them?

5. They don't care if you're educated or not. You have to know about your disease and the medicines you're being treated with. You've got to know about the side-effects and what type of follow-up is needed. These are your rights! And do these doctors know their P's and Q's? Have they done clinical research? What kind of reputation do they have in their field? Are they recognized as a leader in the field of arthritis? Do you want to see a leader or a follower?

And that goes double for proper follow through. If the doctor and his staff drop the ball, you could be in for a bad time. Not only is the disease going to cause problems but the medicines need to be monitored carefully. You've got to be seen on a regular basis!!! And what if the doctor is a medication freak? He or she gives you a medicine and that's the end of it. And you go back and you get another medicine... and then another without any explanation. You deserve better.

6. Your doctor doesn't refer. If you're seeing a primary care doctor for your arthritis and you're not getting any better and he'/she doesn't refer, you're making a big mistake. Remember... the damage is done in the first six months of disease. It's important to be seen by a specialist as early as possible! The amount of medical information a doctor has to know has increased 20 times since 1950. Can you really expect a family doctor or internist to know about the latest developments on arthritis? Remember...arthritis causes most of its damage in the first six months. You've got to get the right treatment early!!!!!

7. Not getting a diagnosis. This is key. You need to know what you have and what can be done. There are always many treatment options available!

Dr. Wei (pronounced ?way?) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: Arthritis Treatment

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Family Doctors - Tips for Finding a New Doctor

Family doctors still exist. There are many still offering similar services to their predecessors although home visits are no longer possible except in emergency cases. Although more people are seeking care from doctors specializing in different areas of medicine, family doctors are still an integral part of the health care system. In fact, many insurance companies require that you be registered with a family doctor to be referred out to a specialist. However, these family physicians are also limited in the treatment of various injuries.

A family doctor is one who ensures your overall health. Unlike doctors who specialize in the treatment of a certain organ, disease or system, family doctors receive specialized training that enables them to treat your whole body. They take care of patients of different ages and suffering from various conditions. Their form of treatment involves physical as well as psychological treatment. These doctors forge relationships with their clients and assist them in making the right decisions for their health care.

Training to become a family doctor requires practical training for 3 years in a real practice, treating patients. This may be in a hospital, health care center, medical clinic, or a home. Although these doctors are not specialized in any particular area of medicine, they must keep up with the latest developments in general medical practice. For this reason, family doctors must undergo re-certification more often than any other type of doctor. This ensures that they continue to re-educate themselves and are up to date at all times.

Although you may not have any health problems, it is important that you register with a family doctor. This is not only to meet the requirements of your insurance provider but also as a precaution. Family doctors are trained in both primary and preventative care. They are therefore well placed to advise you on prevention of health problems which is a much better option compared to overcoming health problems. This type of care will also help you save money in the long run as you will remain healthy and tackle health problems before they become serious.

Finding a doctor can be a challenging task. The best place to begin your search is with your friends and family. They may be able to refer you to doctors that are currently accepting new patients. Before you register with a family doctor, there is basic information you need to find out from them. This includes their working hours, the number of doctors in the practice, the system of payment expected, the referral of specialists, and if the practice can treat for your specific ailment or injury.

All patients should recognize that not all family practice physicians can treat for every type of injury. The vast majority don't treat injuries that occur at work, in a car accident, or personal injury such as a slip and fall. For workman's comp, most states require that the physician be certified on the Approved Doctors List to treat for on the job accidents. Subsequently, with the tedious pre-authorizations and extra paperwork required for worker's comp medical reimbursement, the medical clinics don't have the adequate staff for the extra workload. In reference to auto accidents and personal injury situations, the majority of family practice physicians refuse to provide medical care until an attorney is retained by the patient to guarantee payment to the treating doctor for medical care. Even then most physicians never recoup anywhere close to their out of pocket cost of treatment.

A good doctor should be able to answer all your questions with ease. He or she should be able to make you comfortable and explain specific recovery methods in a way that you will understand. Good family doctors take the time to answer questions asked by their patients and are patient enough to explain the answers.

See for yourself by contacting a doctor here: Family Practice Phone Numbers.

Find more about different types of doctors at http://painandinjurydoctors.com including recovery methods for all injures and pain.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.