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Climbing Compensation Sparks Debate
October 1st 2004National report - According to a recent American Medical Group Association (AMGA) survey, median compensation of dermatologists grew 16.71 percent in 2003, rising from $221,255 to $258,235. How to interpret these figures and determine if they are accurate are subjects of lingering debate.
Proposed guidelines for formularies
October 1st 2004Washington - Dermatologists should be aware that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is in the process of developing "standards and processes" under the new Medicare drug discount program that takes full effect in January, 2006. The legislation will have a major impact on what drugs are covered and for how much.
Effective interviewing vital for reducing employee turnover
October 1st 2004Stanford, Calif. - Effective interviewing skills are the foundation for good hiring decisions that will maximize the office environment and productivity, said Kathy Kennady at "The Next Step: Mastering Cutaneous Outpatient Procedures," a continuing education program sponsored by the Stanford University Department of Dermatology.
Triple-combo cream treats chronic, recurrent melasma
September 1st 2004New York- Results from a 12-month, open-label extension study highlight the efficacy and safety of the fixed triple-combination cream containing hydrocortisone 4 percent, tretinoin 0.05 percent and fluocinolone acetonide 0.01 percent (Tri-Luma Cream, Galderma) as a modality for the long-term management of melasma, says Helen M. Torok, M.D.
Wound age, size define, difficult-to-heal ulcers
September 1st 2004New York - Simple clinical characteristics determined as part of the usual examination allow for reliable prognostication of the response of venous leg ulcers to standard therapy, and that information is useful formanaging patients in everyday practice as well as when conducting clinical trials, said David J. Margolis, M.D., Ph.D, at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Academy '04 here recently.
Multimodal regimen provides rational, effective tratement for acne in skin of color
September 1st 2004New York - A combination regimen beginning with adapalene cream 0.1 percent (Differin, Galderma) and incorporating the fixed triple-combination depigmenting cream (Tri-Luma Cream, Galderma) provides a well-tolerated and effective method for treating acne and its distressing sequel of post-in-flammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in African-American patients, said Valerie D. Callender, M.D., at the recently held Academy '04 meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Edit your video clips for Internet
September 1st 2004A large video clip can be difficult to send over the Internet, and can be difficult for viewers to download... Reducing the frame rate to one-third of the original led to a great reduction in file size, and it reduced the rate at which data had to be sent.
Physician says TNF-? antagonists very safe overall
September 1st 2004New York - While dermatologists need to be aware of legitimate safety issues when prescribing any of the TNF-? antagonists for the treatment of psoriasis, as a bottom line, adalimumab (Humira, Abbott Immunology), etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen/Wyeth), and infliximab (Remicade, Centocor) appear to be safer than some older psoriasis treatments, such as methotrexate and cyclosporine, says Mark Lebwohl, M.D., Sol and Clara Kest Professor and chairman, department of dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.
For optimal result, begin treating with biologic while tapering conventional systemic therapy
September 1st 2004Dallas - For psoriasis patients just starting treatment, as well as those who've had poor results from conventional systemic therapies, biologics are a good first-line treatment option. But what about those who've had good results with methotrexate and cyclosporine and are forced to consider alternatives?
New oral psoriasis agents show promise
September 1st 2004New York - While acitretin remains a common oral treatment for psoriasis, oral tazarotene (Allergan), fumaric acid esters (FAEs), and oral pimecrolimus can cut side effects ranging from alopecia to liver and kidney damage, according to a recent study.
It's time to reclaim patients with severe psoriasis
September 1st 2004Research shows that less than half of patients with severe psoriasis in the United States receive aggressive treatment - systemic drugs, biologic drugs or phototherapy - for their disease. The total number of severely psoriatic patients has been estimated at 120,000 to 450,000 or more.