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How Big a slice does defensive medicine take from the healthcare pie?
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Let's say
for the sake of argument that attorneys turned their sites on the auto repair
industry with the same zeal as they pursue doctors and the perceived and real
medical mistakes they make. You might find mechanics practicing defensive auto
repair. If a mechanic sensed an attorney looking over his shoulder every time
he looked under the hood of your car, your visit to the shop might include a
computer diagnostic test...$60, a precautionary removal and cleaning of the
oxygen sensor...$120, an x-ray of the engine block to look for stress
fractures...$195 and a chemical analysis of all of your car fluids (antifreeze,
oil, brake and transmission fluid) to screen any possible contaminants...$350.
Total cost...$725...and of course there is the cost to fix the actual problem.
And, if
your car's health was insured through your employer, and you had already met
your deductible, why take chances with your car's health? After all, the cost
of maintanance is no longer your problem. Let the bean counters at company
headquarters manage the rising costs. As long as the cost of preventive
maintenance doesn't come out of your pocket who cares what it costs.
This may
seem a nonsensical analogy, but the fear of law suits is driving doctors to
perform medical procedures that are, in many cases, unnecessary. It's called
defensive medicine and a recent Price Waterhouse Coopers study, as reported in
the Wall Street Journal, estimated that defensive medicine is responsible for
as much as 10 percent of the country's annual health care spending, or some
$210 billion.
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Destiny - A peak behind the curtain
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If you knew that you were ten times more likely to get Alzheimer's
than the average person but could do nothing about it...would you want to
know? If you knew that your brother was at 100 times the average risk
of dieing of a heart attack but there was nothing he could do to change
those risks...would you tell him?
Well, the day is fast approaching when you will be to afford to have
your genome mapped out and delivered into your hands in a nice neat
report. Why would anyone not be interested in such a valuable database
of information? There are actually a number of very valid reasons.
First of all, the report is going to basically be nothing but bad
news. After all, there is no link to genetics that will predict wealth,
happiness, talent or success. What it can do is list all of the genes
that have the potential to make you sick. And in most cases, there is
probably little that you can do to change the future with that
knowledge.
Secondly, most people would probably not be willing to make a
meaningful commitment to make radical lifestyle changes to prevent a
"statistically possible" future health event. Let's face it, we all
know that those who have a good diet, exercise regularly and make
intelligent lifestyle choices generally live longer. I would hardly
describe our younger generation as healthy, wealthy and wise.
Read more at Rounds Online
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Patient surveys drive practice funding
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Now here is
something that docs in this country can really look forward to as our heath
care system drifts closer to the government run system in Great Britain. It seems that government funding
for general practitioners (GP) is driven in part by the results of patient
satisfaction surveys. A recent change in the system added measurements in two
important areas...access to an appointment with a doctor within 48 hours and the
ability to make an appointment in advance.
You are
going to love their methodology. The British government sent out a multiple
choice paper survey by mail to thousands of patients asking them if they were
happy. Any of you want to base next year's income on a multiple choice survey
of your clients (anonymous of course)? When the results were in, the funding
formulas were affected only by responses from surveys returned rather than of
patients surveyed. In some cases a handful of negative responses resulted in
devastating cuts in government revenue.
And keep in
mind that the standard set for a positive response was 48 hour access. It seems
to me that a recent survey conducted in Massachusetts, where there is now universal
healthcare coverage, revealed that the wait for a primary care physician visit
in Boston was 61 days (I believe that works
out to 1,464 hours). I'm guessing that missing the target by that margin would
place a degree of downward pressure on future funding.
So, the
government sets the rules, the patients keep score and the doctors face the
music. It's a brave new world out there.
Read more at Rounds Online
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Financial management: your second full-time job
| by Brian
Picariello, CPA/PFS, CFA, Traust Sollus Wealth Management, 609-779-6700,
bpicariello@tswealth.com
A doctor's
chief occupation is helping to cure the sick. Answering this calling, however,
does not preclude the desire or the need for a doctor to earn a good living
whether she works on staff at a hospital or ultimately owns her own practice.
In my financial planning work at my wealth management firm I quickly found that
while most doctors, once established, do earn a good salary, as a whole they are
usually too busy to sit down and plan for their financial futures. However,
they do want to have greater control over their financial health.
Doctors who
are new, who work at a hospital or are employed by a practice, also need to
look ahead at the fast-approaching future. While planning their professional
lives new doctors should not neglect their personal finances. Not having a
sound personal financial plan can impact such important milestones as their
ability to buy a home, to educate their children and to have a happy
retirement. While establishing and following a personal financial plan early is
the best prescription for good financial health, the good news is that during a
working life it is never too late to begin.
As a doctor
in your own practice, which means your own small business, you want to be in a
position where the decisions you make about running and growing your business
have a direct impact on the lifestyle you create for yourself and your loved
ones.
As you have
undoubtedly learned, being a small business owner isn't easy. Most of us start
out with great expertise in our professions or industries; we soon learn that
we also need to become experts at managing a business's finances. Without this
added skill, your business will never generate maximum returns, and your
personal wealth will be limited as a result.
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Back to the future
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As the ancient Roman lawyer, writer, scholar, orator and statesman,
Marcus Tullius Cicero once observed, "Never go to excess, but let
moderation be your guide." What was true in 43 BC has once again been
validated by some rather thin research reported by psychiatrist, Charles
Grob at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
It would seem that Doctor Grob and his colleagues offered 12
terminally ill cancer patients an opportunity to participate in a test
of one of the 60's most endearing psychogenic substances. We are
talking of course of the psychedelic drug psilocybin, the active
ingredient of "magic mushrooms."
And, in a carefully controlled clinical setting, a single modest dose
of the drug produced not a wild, mind bending trip but rather a
measurable improvement in mood and a reduction in the anxiety and
depression often associated with a terminal diagnosis. And the effects
of the single dose can last for up to six months.
Other researchers working in the field pointed out that the test
sample was small by modern standards. But the report, which appeared in
a reputable psychiatric journal, lent credibility to the study of
hallucinogens used in moderation to improve the quality of life of
terminal patients. Marcus Tullius would have been pleased.
Read more at Rounds Online
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Physician Opportunities from Medical Match
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SPRINGFIELD, IL - Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, IL seeks Nurse Practitioners to join
the Division of Neurosurgery. Primary responsibilities include first assist in
surgery and rounding in the hospital. Attractive work schedule and call
responsibilities. Ideal candidate will be team-oriented and have an
interest in teaching. Competitive salary offered with exceptional
benefits package (25 days of vacation, 43 sick days and 13 paid holidays). New
graduates are welcome to apply. Review of applications will continue
until the position is filled. Southern Illinois University is an Affirmative
Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. For full consideration: A current resume and
letter of interest should be directed to the healthcare search firm, Jordan
Medical Consultants c/o Sheila Bixler at sheila@jordanmc.com; Telephone: 636-294-6082, toll-free
866-750-7231 or by mail to Jordan Medical Consultants at 129 Park Ridge Drive,
O'Fallon, MO 63366.
To view hundreds
of practice opportunities in
32 Medical
Specialties, visit Medical Match online |
Physician Opportunities from Medical Match
| ARKANSAS - A premier physician owned,
physician operated group dedicated to providing the best clinical and operational
service seeks high-quality full-time and part-time emergency medicine
physicians in the St. Vincent Health System based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The three hospitals for which we
will be providing services are St. Anthony's Medical Center in Morrilton, AR
with an annual ED volume of 10,000 located 54 miles northwest of Little Rock;
St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center in Little Rock, AR with an annual ED
volume of 40,000 and St. Vincent Medical Center North in Sherwood, AR with an
annual volume of 17,000 located 11 miles northeast of Little Rock.
Competitive salary with A-rated malpractice and tail included.
To view hundreds
of practice opportunities in
32 Medical
Specialties, visit Medical Match online |
Physician Opportunities from Medical Match
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MICHIGAN - Mercy Memorial Hospital is
a 238-bed, full-service community hospital with 14 ICU beds which is part of
the Mercy Memorial Hospital System serving the historic and picturesque community of Monroe in Michigan's southeast corner, the
gateway to Lake Erie. It
is the primary force in health care services for this region with a service
population exceeding 160,000. With a medical staff of 252 professionals,
Mercy Memorial offers a wide range of services, including a birthing
center, dialysis treatment, inpatient/outpatient mental health services,
CT and MRI, cancer care, cardiac care, home health and hospice care, physical/occupational
therapy and outpatient surgery.. In 2009, Emergency visits exceeded
45,000; admissions 10,000; surgeries 14,000, outpatient visits 180,000 and
865 deliveries. Great Hospitalist and Intensivist services. Effective hospital
EMR. A new 10,000 s.f. Monroe Cancer Center being built by 2011 with Promedica of
Ohio and nationally-renowned Karmanos Cancer Center of Detroit providing
top-ranked medical and radiation oncology services at one location.
To view hundreds
of practice opportunities in
32 Medical
Specialties, visit Medical Match online |
Physician Opportunities from Medical Match
|
WASHINGTON STATE
25
Bed Hospital Faith
based organization Four
clinic sites (X-ray and lab on site) EMR
- Practice Partners using wireless tablet computers Join
a busy GI in an established practice Brand
new GI procedure suite set to open late 2010 1:4
call / Inherit a current patient base Area
Population of 300,000 Wine
Region rivaling NapaValley NO
State Income Tax Two
hour drive to Seattle or Portland Easy
access to three major rivers
Not what you're looking
for? Send us your CV and a
list of your search criteria and we will email you whenever we come across
matching opportunities.
To view hundreds
of practice opportunities in 32 Medical
Specialties, visit Medical Match online |
MD Preferred National Award Recipients
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MD Preferred National Award Recipients
| PH YSICIAN'S PREFERRED WELLNESS GROUP. Doctors throughout the country are offering
this high quality, PDR LISTED, health and wellness program to their
patients, providing options and guidance in this currently unregulated
industry.
The Physicians Preferred Wellness Program
is a perfect complement to your existing practice.
This program has been adopted by over 2,000 doctors
nationwide and is helping doctors each day capture a new source of
income that is not tied to insurance reimbursements or co-pays!
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MD Preferred Community Award Recipients
Real Estate
|
The MD Preferred
Service Award is presented to highly qualified Real Estate Firms who offer a
superior service experience, maintain high ethical standards, employ cutting
edge technology and demonstrate a commitment to meeting the special needs of
physicians and medical professionals.
To find an MD Preferred Service Provider in your community,
please visit our website!
Nextage Realty International
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& Mobile, AL Little
Rock, AR Scottsdale,
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& Lafayette, LA Potomac,
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& Butler County, OH Myrtle
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Newton, Brookline,
Chestnut Hill, Boston, Weston&Cambridge, MA Long & Foster Realty
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Chantilly&Arlington, VA Washington, DC Northern Virginia Homes
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Reston, McLean&Fairfax, VA Rick Thompson & Team Realty
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Gaithersburg, Germantown
& Frederick, MD |
MD Preferred Community Award Recipients
Financial Advisors
|
The MD Preferred
Service Award is presented to highly qualified Financial Advisory Firms who
offer a superior service experience, maintain high ethical standards, employ
cutting edge technology and demonstrate a commitment to meeting the special
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MD Preferred Community Award Recipients
Legal Services
|
The MD Preferred
Service Award is presented to highly qualified healthcare attorneys and law firms
who offer a superior service experience, maintain high ethical standards,
employ cutting edge technology and demonstrate a commitment to meeting the
special needs of health care professionals.
To find an MD Preferred Service Provider in your community,
please visit our website! |
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