News

Preparation is crucial to patient flow. Poor preparation wastes time - and your time, after all, is your dermatology practice's most valuable asset.

Though this column typically focuses on lights and lasers, mentioning radiofrequency (RF) is clearly indicated for many reasons.

Q. Can oral soy phytoestrogens be used by women with breast cancer to improve skin texture?

Given consumers' desire to look younger-and the recent resultant increase in the number of medical spas, for example-it would appear that dermatologists looking to expand their practice have an instant, built-in business solution: growth via aesthetics.

William D. James, MD, presented the Everett C. Fox, MD, Lectureship at the Summer Academy Meeting 2007. He discussed a series of interesting cases to illustrate the impact his interactions with patients and colleagues has had on teaching important practical lessons.

National report - Slight changes in the biologic manufacturing process can significantly alter efficacy and safety, manufacturers say.

Regardless of the fate of a committee-approved Senate bill outlining a regulatory pathway for approval of follow-on biologics, sources agree that it's just a matter of time before such drugs become reality.

National report - Results of a recently released study charting the startling increase in incidence of both community- and hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are no surprise to many dermatologists, who advise more thorough testing of patients for the presence of the potentially dangerous bacteria - and more care in prescribing antibiotics.

Little did June K. Robinson, M.D., know - when she was in charge of layout for her high school yearbook - that she would one day oversee the content of the oldest and, arguably, most powerful peer-reviewed journal in dermatology.

If you've ever been a victim of a mild case of computer fever, a patient record that you couldn't open, or a pre or post-operative media file that you or someone accidentally deleted, consider yourself lucky. Glitches like that pale in comparison to the ultimate computer disaster - a hard disk crash or a virus that wipes out all of your records including patient and billing files.

You've been thinking about expanding your practice, or perhaps you have a child entering college, or maybe you just have a heavy debt load, and debt consolidation looks like a sensible way to lighten it.

Dr. Maloney offers these tips for volunteer speaking, whether on a local,

All dermatologists possess one important attribute that promises a sure-fire way to increase the size of their practice, according to one dermatologist. It's the ability to volunteer to speak to community, state and national groups.

When attempting to position yourself as a media resource or cosmetic surgery expert, keep these tips in mind, according to Catherine Maley:

Done right, the practice newsletter can enhance dermatologist and practice credibility, cross-sell services and products, and more.

The cosmetic consultation is a one-on-one opportunity to present your practice as the resource for cosmetic dermatology and associated products. These meetings are a podium for dermatologists to cross sell services and cosmeceuticals. Done right, they can be the beginning of long, trusting and financially fruitful relationships.

Are mid-level practitioners right for your office? One dermatologist is convinced it's the right thing to do to grow your practice and have more time to do the procedures you want to do.

Skincare product sales can be a natural fit for dermatologists, and patients need more guidance than ever in navigating the sea of cosmetic products. Here are some important guidelines to follow when venturing into the sales side of skin.

Advertising can pay big benefits, from helping to brand a dermatologist and practice, to driving would-be patients in the door. But without guidance, dermatologists who embark on what can be expensive campaigns might also find they get nothing, or, worse, tarnish their reputations.

National report - The importance of vitamin D to a wide range of health issues - from bone problems to cancer to infectious disease - is highlighted in a review article on vitamin D deficiency that appeared in the July 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Chronic or prolonged stress is a key factor in the creation and maintenance of fat, according to a paper published in advance online in Nature Medicine on July 1. The signaling pathway - neuropeptide Y and its cellular receptor Y2 - play a crucial role in this process.

Washington - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced proposed changes in regulations governing formulation, testing and labeling of over-the-counter sunscreen products claiming to offer protection from ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation.

Paris - Isabelle Dinoire, the French woman who received the world's first partial face transplant in late 2005 after she was mauled by her dog, is progressing excellently, according to her physician.

Creteil, France - A man with neurofibromatosis who received a new nose, mouth, chin and partial cheeks in a 15-hour procedure in January is now doing very well, according to surgeon Laurent Lantieri, M.D.

Boston - Brigham and Women's Hospital, located here, has granted a surgical team led by Bohdan Pomahac, M.D., permission to perform partial face transplants, according to published accounts. Meanwhile, the physicians who performed the world's first and third partial face transplants are planning future transplants, while their existing patients continue progressing well, these physicians tell Dermatology Times.

Published studies have found that dermatology residents express a desire for expanded mentorship. An increasing number of dermatology residency training programs in North America have implemented mentorship programs, designed to advise, encourage, and promote resident mentees. A survey of program directors in both the U.S. and Canada found that program directors supported the concept of mentorship programs. The majority of respondents said it was important for residents to have access to mentors during their residency. Moreover, the majority indicated that the development of more structured mentorship opportunities within the training curriculum could influence the proportion of dermatology residents who pursue academic careers.

Dr. Label is well known for his innovative off-label use of a variety of medications for bullous diseases.

With more than 200 million Internet users in the United States (according to the CIA's online World Factbook, 2005 estimate) the Internet is taking the place of many informational resources such as the Yellow Pages and even person-to-person communication.

A group of medical specialty organizations, including the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), is pushing new legislation that would delay permanent implementation of Medicare's "pay-for-performance" quality reporting program to allow for a more orderly transition to the new system's Medicare reimbursement.

I have recently seen the newly released Michael Moore movie, Sicko, and it left me with profound sadness and some outrage about how our country cares for the medical needs of its citizens. We physicians have all seen the deterioration of medical care over the past 10-15 years, particularly for middle class working people, many of whom are forced to go without health insurance, while gambling that they do not develop a serious and expensive illness which could ruin them medically and financially.