John Zitelli, M.D., laughs when he recalls how he first realized his passion for medicine. The clinical associate professor of dermatology and otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, remembers when his aunt, who liked to whittle, gave him a small knife. Instead of using it on wood, Dr. Zitelli would use it to dissect road kill. In high school, years later, he worked at a funeral home, embalming bodies.
In today's world, it's a tough road for a small doctor's office with all of the billing and reimbursement nuances, says Steve Sullivan, founder and executive vice president of Advantedge Healthcare Solutions, a technology-enabled service provider that provides medical billing services to physician groups.
Using In-house billing as opposed to a billing service can help the physician - who is ultimately responsible - ensure that the job is done properly. However, there are pros and cons to either method, so every doctor must decide what is best for his or her practice, say two dermatologists with differing opinions.
Consultants can help improve performance and solve problems for a dermatology practice, but before bringing one on board, doctors should have a clear set of goals or well-defined problems that need to be addressed. Consultants who specialize in a particular area of practice management can offer more productive assistance than a generalist with less focused experience.
As society is in flux over retirement, the ever-impending retirement plan is also changing with times. Retirement plans based on predicted returns of 10 percent could be in trouble, says an expert. Credit card debt may also hinder a retiree from maintaining any savings to live comfortably, and it is even possible that one will never actually "retire" for need of activity or money.
Dermatologists should regard opportunities to speak with members of the media as chances to disseminate information about public health issues such as skin cancer, a communications specialist says. Therefore, physicians should develop messages that they want to get across, as well as prepare delivery using their voice, hands, eyes and body language.
A drop in collections can be attributed to a variety of logical reasons that rarely have to do with malice from the billing staff. Reviewing the paperwork and processes of billing in the office can illuminate easy-to-overlook problems and their solutions.
Results from the 2005 American Academy of Dermatology Association practice profile survey show a marked increase in employment of physician extenders, but no significant impact on new patient appointment wait times, the proportion of practices seeking a new associate, or physician productivity. The data also indicate that dermatologists are very happy with their careers.
Modeling has shown that the large outbreak of community acquired methicillin-resistant S. Aureus (CA-MRSA) associated with the Los Angeles County Jail probably did not have its origin in that facility. That finding surprised the senior author of the study, Sally Blower, PhD.
An estimated 600,000 cases of breast and colorectal cancer a year worldwide-160,000 in the United States-could be prevented by increasing peoples' serum level of vitamin D, according to a new study from the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego. It was published in the August issue of the journal Nutrition Reviews.
I am responding to the letter from Craig G. Burkhart, M.D. regarding the issue of dysplastic nevi vs atypical nevi wherein he discusses some comments made by Terry Barrett, M.D. in your May 2007 issue
I recently have found myself questioning the safety profile of the drugs I prescribe. How safe does a drug have to be before I will confidently write a prescription? Conversely, how dangerous does a drug have to be before I will discontinue its use in my practice?
Washington, D.C. - While dermatologists welcome proposed changes to FDA's iPLEDGE isotretinoin risk management program, they say iPLEDGE needs further tweaking in areas including physician and patient convenience, data security and drug access for low-income patients.
Results of a recently released study suggest that where quality of care is concerned-and despite the hype over recent years-physicians who use electronic medical records (EMR) have no significant edge over those who keep records the old-fashioned way: on paper.
october art
Dallas - A study conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center here suggests that cleaning absorbable sutures with hydrogen peroxide dramatically decreases their tensile strength, news source ScienceDaily.com reports.
Hayward, Calif. - Thermage®, based here, has won Aesthetic Trends & Technologies magazine’s “2006 Laser & Light Technology Choice Award” in the Best Device for Skin Laxity category for its ThermaCool™ system, PRNewswire reports.
Copenhagen, Denmark - Two Danish firms have teamed to produce and market a new, vendable hot chocolate drink that is high in antioxidants, the molecules associated with skin health and anti-aging, reports news source Cosmeticsdesign-europe.com.
Cary, Ill. - Biotech firm iSoy Technologies, based here, has developed a molecule with sunscreen properties known as FSG33 - the result of joining a compound found in the soy plant with ferulic acid.
Galveston, Texas - A research team from Shriners Hospitals for Children here reports that burn-associated morbidity and mortality in children are driven by an increased hypermetabolic and inflammatory reaction and impaired cardiac function related to burn size, according to news source Medpagetoday.com.
Baltimore - Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medical Center have released a study showing that an experimental model of the rare skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa simplex responds promptly to an antioxidant phytochemical found in broccoli and related plants, reports Medpagetoday.com.
Graz, Austria - A new study shows that alefacept combined with phototherapy clears psoriasis more quickly than alefacept alone, Medpagetoday.com reports.
Paris - A team of French researchers has completed a study showing that women who take antioxidant supplements, which include vitamins C and E and beta carotene, may increase their risk of skin cancer by as much as 68 percent, according to an ABC News report.
september art
Dr. Schlessinger answers cosmetic questions about melasma, laser hair removal, cosmeceuticals and liposuction for men