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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.

Banking on home equity

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.

Consider public speaking

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.

Public relations 101

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

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.

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 101

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.

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.

Face transplant

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.

The value of mentors

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.

Off-label prescribing

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.

Acne affects almost all adolescents and adults at some point in their lives but is highly treatable with topical retinoids and antibacterials. The type and severity of acne guide early intervention, which can prevent disfigurement and its psychosocial sequelæ.

Greensboro, N.C. - Merz Pharmaceuticals, based here, has announced the donation of 10,000 tubes of its Mederma consumer skincare product to several nonprofit organizations in the United States, including those for members of the military who have been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, Medadnews.com reports.

Augusta, Ga. - Research conducted at the Medical College of Georgia suggests that the body may hold the secret to normalizing overzealous skin-cell growth in psoriasis and non-melanoma skin cancers and growth that is too slow in sun-damaged and aging skin, Medicalnewstoday.com reports.

Bern, Switzerland - A study published in July’s Archives of Dermatology suggests that patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis may develop papular eruptions during efalizumab treatment - and that because these are new psoriatic lesions, the condition could be referred to as efalizumab-associated papular psoriasis or EAPP, according to a HealthDay News report.

Hong Kong - New research at the University of Hong Kong’s Division of Dermatology suggests that combination therapy using infrared and radiofrequency waves produces mild to moderate improvements in facial skin laxity with few complications, HealthDay News reports.

If you own your medical practice, your goal should not be simply to protect your personal wealth from the practice's creditors. While this is certainly a mandatory first step, you must do more.