Effective communication between medical specialists is necessary to ensure that all patients receive proper care. But the recent healthcare reform, combined with insurance cost issues, oftentimes results in dermatologic patients seeking care at emergency rooms or primary care facilities. It is the responsibility of physicians of all specialties to meet this challenge and improve interspecialty communications for the benefit of all patients.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan) for treatment of migraine headaches, the Associated Press reports.
The PinPointe FootLaser, made by PinPointe USA, based here, has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for the treatment of onychomycosis, Marketwire reports.
A new test can help doctors determine whether a woman experiencing hair loss is likely to benefit from antiandrogen therapies, Business Wire reports.
Psychiatrists dominate a list of physicians who receive the most in payments from pharmaceutical companies, according to a database compiled by investigative journalism group ProPublica.
Eugene Van Scott, M.D., and Ruey Yu, O.M.D., Ph.D., will be awarded the first Innovators in Cosmetic Dermatology Award during the 2010 meeting of the Cosmetic Surgery Forum here Dec. 2-4.
Dermatology's Future : Experts foresee greater demand, more extenders Melanoma & Minorities : Rising incidence signals need for more targeted outreach, experts say Special Report : Geriatric Dermatology
A new study suggests that dietary antioxidant supplementation does not help prevent skin cancer. In fact, in women, antioxidant supplements taken for a very long period may facilitate the development of skin cancer, especially melanoma.
One part of the healthcare reform package mandated under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes a measure to give physicians a financial incentive for developing "meaningful use" of their certified electronic health record technology. As I learn more and more about the meaningful use provision, I realize it involves a great deal more than just digitalizing patients' medical records.
Several recent developments, such as ammonia-free hair dyes and more gentle hair-straightening methods, can help make taking care of geriatric hair easier, according to an expert.
Mohs surgeons are facing rising skin cancer rates, along with concerns about healthcare reform and controversial changes in credentialing, sources say.
The key concerns that dog dermatology today - healthcare reform, workforce woes and the impact of cosmetic dermatology - aren't going to disappear soon, sources say. Nevertheless, they say, the specialty will survive, although probably with more nonphysician clinicians delivering dermatologic care.
Melanocytic nevi always have the potential to change in size, shape and color regardless of when they first appear in the skin, or the age of the patient. A recent study shows that though some nevi demonstrate dynamic change throughout a pregnancy, there does not appear to be an increased risk of malignant transformation of these nevi, nor is there an association between changing nevi and melanoma.
Comorbidities and the concomitant use of other drug therapies are factors that need to be taken into account when managing skin cancers in elderly patients, according to the chairman of the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.
Reducing patients' time to wait is certainly a noble goal and one that you should always strive to achieve. Eliminating wait time, however, is impossible for most dermatology practices. Steps you take to improve the quality of waiting time can do more than reduce frustration; they may turn the experience into a positive impression for patients.
Dr. Buttox travels to Europe to learn about a new botulinum toxin that is popular there. He understands he can't use the product in his office without FDA approval, but his marketing department gets him to discuss the product with the national press. Does the FDA have jurisdiction over Dr. Buttox in this instance, and if so, to what extent?
Believe it or not, even The Wall Street Journal is guilty of offering advice that we believe may be inappropriate for doctors. A June 2010 article advised readers not to take advantage of the opportunity to convert retirement plan assets to Roth IRAs. However, converting all retirement assets to Roth IRAs could give doctors a tax benefit that may never be offered again.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for melanoma is not intended to be a therapeutic procedure, but it provides excellent information for staging the disease, an expert says. However, he says, the use of SLNB in thin melanomas is somewhat controversial.
Dermatologists dedicated to research require thick skin, humility, patience, creativity and effective mentors, an expert says. John R. Stanley, M.D., says researchers must recognize that "we all stand on the shoulders of others." For instance, the first clinical description of pemphigus appeared before 1800, but it took more than a century for the next major advance - establishing a histological definition.
A new cohesive polydensified matrix hyaluronic acid (CPMHA, Belotero Balance, Merz) has outlasted bovine collagen in a 24-week study of nasolabial fold (NLF) correction and performed well in a 1.5-year follow-up study, according to Rhoda S. Narins, M.D., director of the Dermatology Surgery and Laser Center, White Plains, N.Y., clinical professor of dermatology, New York University School of Medicine; and lead author of the study.
Rising melanoma rates among patients of color in portions of the country indicate that dermatologists must tailor specific sun-safety messages for these populations, experts say.
Good communication and negotiating skills are the cornerstones to any productive relationship, including those with patients, office staff and leaders in the cosmetic industry. Understanding the importance of cultivating these skills can help to build a solid foundation for harmonious, long-lasting and fruitful working relationships.
Probiotics are assuming popularity in nutraceuticals, especially for female health. They are found in yogurts and nutritional supplements, such as Align (Bifidobacterium infantis, Procter & Gamble).
Most of us use them or are at least fascinated by them, but do we all know the basics of today's lasers? This month's Light on Lasers column is devoted to the basic laser terms that are critical to understanding, naming and operating any laser or light-based system.
Decubitus ulcers or bedsores can be a serious condition, especially for the elderly patient. But one expert says prevention, treatment and a dermatologist's early involvement offer the best combination for a positive outcome.
Lenore S. Kakita, M.D., learned about perseverence, acceptance, determination and strength during an unlikely time. She was a United States-born Japanese toddler when the fear of "Yellow Peril" gripped the country during World War II. She spent five of the first six years of her life in U.S. relocation camps. Her father, Hajime Uyeyama, M.D., a family practitioner born in Berkeley, Calif., was forced to close his Oakland practice, and he and his family were interned at camps in California, then in Colorado.
The U.S. government is strengthening its crackdown on practitioners who scam federal healthcare programs, with new muscle provided by the 2010 healthcare reform law and a determination to shut down fraudulent or erroneous claims, which exceeded $24 billion in 2009.
There are few things more aggravating than an itch you can't scratch - but for geriatric patients that aggravation can be almost unbearable, as the elderly are often susceptible to a total body itch that has no apparent cause, and therefore no apparent solution. There are a number of potential causes that dermatologists should consider as they try to relieve their patient's itch, an expert says.
Drugmaker Allergan recently agreed to pay $600 million to resolve federal charges that the company improperly marketed Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for off-label use. On Call wondered whether dermatologists think that this increased effort in enforcing off-label marketing rules is a good pursuit for the government. Would derms rather they never be allowed to hear about potentially beneficial off-label uses from drug reps?
Choosing the form and structure of one’s medical practice is an important decision. If you want to explore ways to reduce unnecessary taxes without subjecting yourself to double taxation and would like to see how you can do this without having to change any of your insurance provider or Medicare provider numbers, this article is ideal for you.
