Query: Hiring an In-House Biller
What should a DPM look for when hiring an in-house biller? Comments and suggestions would be appreciated.
Darryl J Martins, DPM, Jackson, MI
Query: Shadowing Students and HIPAA
I have had several college students request to 'shadow' me at the office and hospital. Are there any HIPAA concerns?
Joe Burckhardt, DPM, Kingwood, TX
Editor’s comment: PM News does not provide legal advice. Under HiPAA, Covered Entities (CE’s) are required to take reasonable steps to protect the private health information (PHI) of patients. This responsibility extends to all personnel associated with the CE, including employees. Thus, a college student shadowing a doctor needs at least basic training in patient privacy.
If you frequently have students shadowing you, include a disclosure statement as part of your initial HIPAA Notice of Privacy Rules. In addition, it is good policy to introduce students and ask patients for permission to be present during the examination and treatment.
Query: Destroying Old Charts
We purchased a practice 2 years ago along with all the old charts. They are an eyesore and taking up valuable space. We have EMR and really have no need for them as any old patient is now a new patient and fills out all new paperwork, etc. We have heard we have to keep charts up to 7 years from date of last visit. Is this correct? It would be great to shred them all!
Christian Smith, DPM, TN
Editor’s comment: PM News does not provide legal advice. You can destroy charts only after you have scanned them electronically. Most practice experts recommend that you maintain charts for seven (7) years. The charts of minors should be maintained until the patient is 18 years plus the statute of limitations for malpractice in your state.
Query: Reporting Diabetic Shoe Dispensing Problem
Every spring and frequently throughout the year, for the last couple of years, I been having diabetic patients come to my office complaining about foot pain. Usually, it is a neuroma or a heel spur. These patients come in wearing diabetic shoes that have been made/dispensed at a local pharmacy. These patients may qualify for the Medicare Diabetic Shoe Program, but they are active people without significant foot deformities that would do much better in an athletic shoe.
My concern is these pharmacies. Are any other podiatrists seeing a problem here? I saw two patients this week who both had shoes from the same pharmacy. Both patients are active and never should have been put in diabetic shoes. When this happens, should I be reporting this to someone?
Wm. Barry Turner, RN, DPM, Royston, GA
