Dermatologist and dermatopathologist Ray A. Carlsen, M.D., discovered just how difficult it was for musically inclined families to afford cellos when he took up cello playing as an adult. The now-retired clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, found out his talent was not necessarily in playing the instrument, but rather in facilitating others' talents.
No simple, effective treatment exists for the 14 million Americans suffering from rosacea, according to figures released by the National Rosacea Society. The society reports that rosacea is becoming increasingly more common as a large number of the baby boom generation approaches the age where they become more predisposed to develop the condition, yet as many as 78 percent of them don't even know what rosacea is, let alone how to treat it.
An impending cut of 9.9 percent in average Medicare reimbursement rates is only months away and will be imposed unless physician organizations and specialty groups, including those representing dermatologists, can convince Congress to reach a solution.
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Les Ulis, France - Laser device manufacturer Quantel Medical is expected to acquire WaveLight Aesthetic, a German company that manufactures dermatologic and aesthetic laser devices, PRNewswire reports.
New York - Rosetta Genomics Ltd., an Israel-based firm specializing in the field of microRNA and RNAi, will collaborate with NYU Medical Center to develop a melanoma diagnostic test based on microRNA profiles, PRNewswire reports.
Manchester, England - Results of a new study suggest that topical methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy (PDT) may be more suitable in certain basal cell carcinoma cases than excision surgery, HealthDay News reports.
Washington - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed a new vaccine, ACAM2000, to protect against smallpox, which has the potential to be used as a bio-terrorism weapon, MedicalNewsToday.com reports.
Durham, N.C. - According to results of a recently released study, patients with dermatitis herpetiformis have normal levels of serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) if they follow a gluten-free diet, HealthDay News reports.
Boston - The question of how melanin - the pigment responsible for skin and hair color in mammals - is delivered to appropriate locations may have been answered in a study conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cutaneous Biology Research Center, MedicalNewsToday.com reports.
Louisville, Ky. - A new study suggests that estimates of the immunologic risks of facial transplantation may be based on factors that are irrelevant to the controversial procedure, HealthDay News reports.
Belmont, Australia - New research suggests that patients’ feelings about their scars significantly influence their long-term satisfaction with skin cancer surgery, HealthDay News reports.
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?
