News

Release of 2012 physician payment data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has perhaps done a disservice to the reputation of healthcare providers including dermatologists, say several dermatologists.

Are you an owner of a medical practice taxed as a flow-through entity such as an S-corporation? Most physicians are. As such, you may be paid both as an employee of the practice - receiving a W-2 - and as an owner of the practice, through a K-1 distribution. Poor tax advice can cost physicians $10,000 or more each year, every year of their career.

I have not found any product for eye puffiness in the cosmetic marketplace that work, but there are several categories of products available.

The Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug application for Jublia (efinaconazole 10 percent, Valeant), a topical treatment for onychomycosis of the toenails.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have found that pretreatment tumor size is the primary reason some patients with advanced melanoma respond better than others to the experimental immunotherapy MK-3475 (Merck).

In part 2 of our series on brand identity, Melanie Palm, M.D., elicits the help of expert colleagues that have been successful in developing their own practice brand identities. Dr. Palm poses and responds to questions along with Dr. Tina Alster, Dr. Fredric Brandt, and Dr. Tom Rohrer.

For all our society’s emphasis on physical beauty, nothing is sexier than self-esteem. This was the theme of “Subliminally Exposed,” a performance given by Steven Dayan, M.D., and Valerie Monroe, beauty director of "O, The Oprah Magazine," at Cosmetic Surgery Forum.

For one dermatologist, the hands-on approach has helped not only in growing his practice, but also in making a video that’s been honored by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) for promoting the specialty of dermatology.

One of my mottos is: “The treatment should never be worse than the disease.” So, when I provide education about therapeutic options for ditzels, merely mentioning the Serenity Prayer usually gets me an understanding nod from the parent, and protects my patient from a painful procedure.

Reactions to arthropod attacks can range from minor skin manifestations to life-threatening situations, an expert says.

Do you have a Facebook page for your dermatology practice? Are you looking for fresh ideas to quickly ramp up engagement and participation from your fans?

With “discount” injectable treatments here to stay, experts say, dermatologists must court sophisticated consumers willing to pay for the quality and expertise that only dermatologists and other core aesthetic specialists offer.

Dr. B. generates a flood of new patients through a newly designed, interactive website. Although very careful not to “practice medicine” on the Web, he offers one patient extensive advice about the pros and cons of the rosacea treatments she has received. She later sues Dr. B, claiming she delayed treatment due to his advice.

New research has led to the discovery of previously unidentified genes that may be responsible for keloid scarring. The findings could lead to more effective treatment methods.

The Food and Drug Administration is requiring black-box warnings on tanning beds, advising the devices shouldn’t be used by those under age 18.

Results of a phase 1b trial of nivolumab combined with ipilimumab demonstrated one- and two-year survival rates of 94 and 88 percent, respectively, in patients with advanced melanoma.

Self-tanning creams are safe, but perhaps an explanation is in order. There have been a very few reported cases of allergic contact dermatitis to self-tanning creams.

Researchers in Australia are cautioning about an aggressive form of melanoma that looks like a pimple, leading many doctors to dismiss it as harmless.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved an antibacterial medication for the treatment of adult patients with acute skin infections.

A protein that plays a role in healing wounds and in tumor growth could be a future therapeutic target, recent research suggests.

Your brand identity is a communication to the world at large of who you are – as a physician, practice, product, and business. If done successfully, the creation of a strong brand identity resonates through all aspects of the practice – the website, logo, clinic space, staff, physician, and any of the associated ventures. Here, Tracy Drumm, Vice President of IF Marketing, offers tips relating to brand identity.

What emotions do these two little words evoke: “public speaking”? Perhaps fear, anxiety, discomfort or agitation? If you are among the greater than 90 percent of Americans that have an aversion to public speaking, the idea of being in the spotlight is enough to make your palms perspire and your heart leap from your chest.

Cellulite creams are the perfect cosmetic because of a wide potential audience and the large body service area that must be covered with cream required frequent purchase. This explains the competitive marketplace, but determining efficacy is another story.

Microsponges are very small sponges that can be loaded with substances for delivery to the skin. The most interesting use of microsponges in OTC (over-the-counter) drug dermatologics is in dandruff shampoos.

Although the timeline for implementation of the ICD-10 coding system has been pushed back to October 2015, all dermatologists will have to deal with this eventually. Meaningful Use regulations are also here to stay and will impact every practitioner sooner or later. Mark Kaufman, M.D., associate clinical professor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York, explains the many vagaries of these initiatives for those of us who insist on pretending that they will never happen.

Triclosan, a common ingredient in antibacterial hand soaps, sanitizers and other hygiene products, has been banned from use in Minnesota, after the governor signed a bill into law recently.

Challenges facing physicians in dermatology include marketplace consolidation and competition from non-core providers. These issues are top of mind not just among clinicians themselves but also among the executives of pharmaceutical companies.

The vast majority of us have a fear of public speaking, but much of this fear can be dissolved with practice and preparation. What follows are some practical tips for the dermatologist in how to get and stay involved with the media.

A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology confirms the possibility of off-label filler injections to the forehead causing permanent blindness. Do you include this risk on your patient consent forms?

An innovative new line of cosmeceuticals (NuvesseMD, Nuvesse Skin Therapies) is being looked at as an exciting advance in the skincare market.