Skin & Allergy News articles from March 2003

Skin & Allergy News archives from March 2003

MRSA skin bug strikes Los Angeles. (Young, Otherwise Healthy Victims).(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infection)
March 1, 2003... Los ANGELES -- Public health officials are investigating an outbreak of an aggressive, community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infection that has struck more than 1,000 people, including newborns, young athletes,...

ACGME says yes to 'procedural dermatology': 'as long as the house of dermatology remains united ... this is very positive'. (New Dermatology Subspecialty Created).
March 1, 2003... Dermatology officially has a new surgery-related subspecialty: procedural dermatology. In February the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) voted to approve this new subspecialty and begin accrediting fellowship...

FDA okays alefacept as first psoriasis biologic Tx: be ready for patients' insurance questions. (First of Several Biologics under Review).
March 1, 2003... The wait is officially over. Alefacept in January became the first biologic therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration for psoriasis and the first treatment available that can clear psoriasis by specifically targeting the T cells...

ACIP fine-tunes smallpox vaccination. (Autoimune Disorders).(Advisory Committee on Immunization Procedures )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Autoimmune disease and needle insertions were among the last-minute issues pertaining to smallpox vaccination that were clarified in telephone conference calls held by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on...

Congress delivers promised medicare fee fix. (PPAC: Remove Drugs from SGR).
March 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Congress finally answered the call from medical organizations to increase Medicare physician payment rates. House and Senate conferees for the fiscal year 2003 omnibus spending bill last month reached an agreement that would...

New LED device may stimulate skin cell growth. (Available in March).(GentleWaves)
March 1, 2003... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- A new device that uses light-emitting diodes to improve scars, wrinkles, and other signs of photoaging is poised to revolutionize the photonics industry, Dr. Robert Weiss declared at a meeting sponsored by the Skin Disease...

Botox beats microdermabrasion for title of top cosmetic procedure in 2002. (American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Botox injections far surpassed all other procedures performed by members of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in 2002, drawing 28% of cosmetic patients, according to a survey released by the academy at its annual...

Clipboard clinicians. (Under My Skin).(Column)
March 1, 2003... Years ago, a pediatric resident named Amit told me about a famous dermatologist in his north Indian city of Bharatpur who saw 350 patients in an afternoon. How? "The examining room was like an auditorium," explained Amit. "Patients stood...

Is the insurance cycle responsible for rising malpractice premiums? (Pro & Con).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... YES Medical malpractice claims have held steady, yet insurance premiums have skyrocketed. This pattern can be attributed to the cyclical nature of the commercial insurance business. We are in the midst of a classic "hard" insurance...

Defending ablative resurfacing. (Guest Editorial).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Two factors--bad publicity and poor patient selection-have contributed to the dramatic drop-off in the use of [CO.sub.2] laser resurfacing for treatment of wrinkles. The [CO.sub.2] laser is great for certain patients and certain problem areas,...

Medicine in space. (Guest Editorial).(Brief Article)(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... The tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and its crew reminded the nation of the importance of the space program and the courage of those who choose to risk their lives in the name of scientific discovery. If the seven men and women...

Interferon for melanoma appears to be worth risks. (Within Acceptable Standards).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Interferon treatment of melanoma is rigorous therapy. But is it worth it? The answer is that it may cure some melanomas, and the rigors and costs are within the standards of what is acceptable in oncology, Dr. Michael P. Kosty...

Break anogenital itch-scratch cycle with sedatives. (Antidepressants Sometimes Needed).
March 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- Sometimes sedatives or antidepressants are needed to break an insidious cycle of itching and scratching before the cause of a patient's anogenital pruritus can be identified. Scratching at night, even during sleep, is one of the...

New topical an alternative for androgenic alopecia. (No Systemic Absorption).
March 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- A novel topical antiandrogen may offer an "elegantly conceived" alternative to current therapies for androgenic alopecia in both men and women, Dr. Nia Terezakis said at a meeting of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and...

Combo cream will target melasma. (Polymeric System).(hydroquinone and retinol lotion)
March 1, 2003... SCOTTSDALE, Ariz -A new product that combines microentrapped 4% hydroquinone and 0.15% retinol cream significantly improved melasma and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in a small study, Dr. Pearl Grimes reported at a meeting sponsored by the...

Low-dose doxycycline emerges for acne, rosacea. (Off-Label Studies).
March 1, 2003... DORADO, P.R. -- Low-dose doxycycline, which is Food and Drug Administration--indicated for adult periodontal disease, is showing promise for treatment of acne, rosacea, and perioral dermatitis, according to presentations at the Caribbean...

Peptide deformylase inhibitors will target antibiotic resistance. (RNA Chain Terminator).
March 1, 2003... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- Call it the Arnold Schwarzenegger of antimicrobials. A chain "terminator" of messenger RNA is expected to help overcome the ever-evolving problem of antibiotic resistance if it reaches the market, Dr. Stephan Billstein...

Study questions link between depression and isotretinoin. (In 215 Patients).
March 1, 2003... Isotretinoin therapy did not appear to cause depression in acne vulgaris patients in a limited, prospective study. The findings contradict anecdotal reports of the drug's possible causal association with depressive symptoms, although they...

Novel cream improves chronic hand dermatitis. (Occupational Exposure).(healing properties of quaternium-18 bentonite )
March 1, 2003... DORADO, P.R. -- A novel hand cream provided a moderate or better improvement in chronic hand dermatitis from occupational allergens and irritants, according to physician and patient global assessments in a pilot study. "Hand...

Potent topical best for vulvar lichen sclerousus. (Patient Education, Support Key).
March 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- Ultrapotent topical clobetasol should be the mainstay of treatment for genital lichen sclerosus, despite a widely held belief that it shouldn't be used on the vulva, according to Dr. Elizabeth Edwards. Studies comparing...

Sequential therapy speeds melasma lightening. (Indian Study).
March 1, 2003... Melasma in dark-skinned patients responds more quickly to sequential treatment with potent topical steroids followed by 20% azelaic acid than to 20% azelaic acid alone, although both are effective, well-tolerated therapies, a prospective study...

Higher doses of terbinafine clear tinea capitis better. (2-Week Course).
March 1, 2003... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- Children with tinea capitis are more likely to clear with terbinafine treatment if higher than usual doses are used, Dr. Sharon Raimer said at the annual meeting of the Noah Worcester Dermatological Society. Terbinafine...

Tea tree oil treatment may reduce histamine-induced inflammation. (Reinventing the Wheal).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Tea tree oil reduced mean wheal volume when applied to histamine-induced inflammation, reported Dr. K.J. Koh of Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Australia, and associates. The investigators injected histamine intradermally into both...

Cosmeceutical critique: topical estrogen. (Dermatologic Therapy).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Any discussion of estrogen must begin with the controversial, highly publicized cessation of the estrogen/progestin arm of the Women's Health Initiative during the summer of 2002. Results from the halted phase of the National Heart, Lung, and...

Most medication errors aren't hurting patients. (Staffing Problems Lead to Errors).
March 1, 2003... Most medication errors that occur in hospitals do not harm patients, Diane Cousins said in a Webcast on medication errors sponsored by U.S. Pharmacopeia. Overall, 97.6% of medication errors that occurred in hospitals voluntarily reporting...

Much-needed investigational drugs for HIV show promise. (Improved Convenience, Lower Toxicity).
March 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Although 16 drugs are currently approved to treat HIV infection, the need remains for new therapeutic options, Dr. Roy M. Gulick said at a meeting on HIV management sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco. ...

Double-check decimals to prevent pediatric Rx errors. (Use Care with Calculations).
March 1, 2003... A few extra steps can help prevent medication errors involving children, the US. Pharmacopeia said in a list of recommendations for pediatric medications. Pediatric medication errors often involve misplaced decimal points or improperly...

Wider use of sentinel node biopsy urged for melanomas under 1 mm. (Trend Toward Aggressive Care).
March 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Even melanomas thinner than 1 mm may warrant a sentinel node biopsy when there is ulceration, evidence of regression, or the melanoma has a Clark's level greater than IV, Dr. Merrick I. Ross said at a melanoma update sponsored by...

Use sentinel node biopsy for research, not Tx. (Melanoma Boondoggle?).
March 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Sentinel node biopsy may be a standard procedure in cutaneous melanoma, but dermatologists must understand that it is still a research tool more than a definitive therapy, Dr. Duane Whitaker said at a melanoma update sponsored by...

Don't write off radiation in melanoma management. (Treatment Rarely Curative).
March 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- The indications for radiation therapy in melanoma are few, and radiation treatment is generally only palliative, but it does have a role, Dr. Prabhakar Tripuraneni said at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic. ...

PET imaging may be effective with BCC. (Nodular Tumors Work Best).
March 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Positron emission tomography shows promise in imaging basal cell carcinoma in certain cases, reported Dr. Scott W. Fosko of Saint Louis University. The researchers found that three of six basal cell carcinoma (BCC) patients who...

Use mohs to remove residual cancer lurking after biopsy. (Prospective Study of 741 Patients).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Although some non-melanoma skin cancers seem to disappear after biopsy patients with these cancers are at risk of having residual cancer and should undergo Mohs surgery for removal of the remnant cancer, said Dr. Joseph Alcalay of...

Study: Head, neck melanoma sentinel node mapping is reliable. (In 80 Patients).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The complexity of the head and neck lymphatic system does not preclude the use of sentinel lymph node mapping with biopsy to stage cutaneous melanoma safely and accurately said Dr. Cecelia E. Schmalbach and her associates at the University of...

Specialty does not affect melanoma surgery outcomes. (Scottish Study).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The specialty of the surgeon may not affect the outcome of malignant melanoma surgery despite a rise in the number of these surgeries performed by dermatologists. Scottish researchers reviewed the files of 4,159 melanoma patients from the...

Intraincisional antibiotics cut risk of infection. (Prior to Dermatologic Surgery).
March 1, 2003... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- A single intraincisional dose of either nafcillin or clindamycin in a buffered lidocaine solution immediately prior to surgery is safe, inexpensive, convenient, and highly effective, Dr. Robert Griego said at a meeting...

Nonablative techniques don't thrill some users. ('Patient Satisfaction is Low').(evaluation of skin resurfacing techniques)
March 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Nonablative laser resurfacing and microdermabrasion reduce the "hassle" factor associated with more aggressive skin rejuvenation techniques, but the results are less than spectacular, according to several dermatologists at a...

Cooling method critical to laser hair removal. (Principles for Procedure Success).
March 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Given the rising popularity of laser hair removal, it's important to know how to optimize treatment, Dr. Heidi Waldorf said at a dermatology symposium sponsored by Mount Sinai School of Medicine. First of all, review the...

Structural fat grafting has corrective applications. (Face, Hands, and Thighs).
March 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Structural fat grafting effectively corrects acne scars, improves lipodystrophies associated with previous liposuction and use of protease inhibitors, and improves cosmetic appearance of the face and hands; results appear to be long...

Liposuction fatalities on the wane as surgeons increase emphasis on safety. (Combination Procedures Raise Risk).
March 1, 2003... WESTMINSTER, COLO. -- Liposuction-related mortality appears to have declined markedly since the unexpectedly high rates reported by plastic surgeons in the late 1990s, Dr. C. William Hanke said at the World Congress on Liposuction. This...

Problem facial feature? Think microliposuction. (Melar Puffs, Marionette Lines).
March 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Microliposuction is a simple and effective approach for achieving improvement in problem facial areas, Dr. Dwight A. Scarborough said at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American...

Carticaine offers advantages for tumescent liposuction. (Safer, Stornger than Industry Standard).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... WESTMINSTER, COLO. -- The local anesthetic carticaine provides safety and efficacy superior to that of lidocaine for use in tumescent liposuction solution, Dr. Afschin Fatemi said at the World Congress on Liposuction. Klein tumescent...

Sclerosant selection drives scierotherapy success. (Vessel Size Also Important).
March 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Selecting the proper scierosant is one of the most important factors for success with scierotherapy, Dr. Neil Sadick said at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs...

Let vein type, location determine laser or scierotherapy Tx. (Consider Patient Preference).
March 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Laser treatment is a good alternative to sclerotherapy for some veins, Dr. Jeffrey S. Dover said at the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and...

Scalpel is mightier than laser in hair transplants. (Better Spacing, Less Expense).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Hair transplant patients expect a natural hairline, and scalpels create a more natural look than lasers do, Dr. Mark Avram said at the 11th International Symposium on Cosmetic Laser Surgery. "Straight lines [of hair transplants]...

Radiofrequency an alternative to vein stripping. (Endovenous Technique).
March 1, 2003... OAK BROOK, ILL. -- Radiofrequency dosure is one of the new generation of endovenous techniques that will replace traditional vein stripping, Dr. Richard Vazquez said at a symposium sponsored by the American College of Phlebology. In the...

Tips fix hypopigmentation disasters. (Painstaking Process).
March 1, 2003... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Disfiguring hypopigmentation arising after laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, or aggressive chemical peeling can be corrected, but it is a painstaking process, Dr. James E. Fulton Jr. said at the annual meeting of the...

Myobloc: fastest response yields longest effect. (Lacks Staying Power of Botox).
March 1, 2003... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Patients who get the quickest response to injections of botulinum toxin B can also expect to have the longest lasting results, but no one should expect the newer agent to have the same staying power as botulinum toxin...

Nonablative devices could face more objective testing. (Proof of Efficacy).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Expect to see more studies that employ objective measurements of intense pulsed light lasers, radiofrequency devices, and other nonablative cosmetic dermatology techniques over the next few years, Dr. David J. Goldberg...

Nose defects? Don't default to surgery before considering fillers for correction. (Hyaluronic Acid).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Not all nose defects require plastic surgery--certain defects of the nose can be corrected by using fillers, Dr. Doris Hexsel said at a dermatology symposium sponsored by Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Although rhinoplasty...

Biologic wound therapies have limited utility. (Expert Opinion).
March 1, 2003... WAILEA, MAUI -- Advanced wound care therapies such as growth factors or skin substitutes can be indispensable in closing some chronic wounds, but overall their use is fairly limited and somewhat disappointing, Dr. Vincent Falanga said at a...

Surgical excision remains the best treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa. (Abnormal Hair Follicles).
March 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- Surgery remains the treatment of choice for patients plagued by anogenital hidradenitis suppurativa, Dr. Peter J. Lynch said at a conference on vulvovaginal diseases sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine. Surgical excision is...

Wound bed preparation key to chronic wound Tx. (More than Debridement).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Prompting healing in chronic wounds requires extensive wound bed preparation, Dr. Vincent Falanga said at a meeting sponsored by the Dermatology Foundation. Wound bed preparation is more than just simple debridement: It...

Myths cloud diagnosis of vulvar lichen sclerosus. (Mistaken for Sexual Abuse).
March 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- Several myths or misconceptions may confuse the diagnosis and management of vulvar lichen sclerosus, Dr. Elizabeth Edwards said at a conference on vulvovaginal diseases sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine. Conventional...

Cowden syndrome more common than suspected. (Genetic Cancer Syndrome).
March 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Cowden syndrome is much more common than traditionally thought, Dr. Charis Eng said at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the San Antonio Cancer Institute. Since the discovery that germline mutations of the tumor...

Facial flushing in infants may not be food allergy. (Case Report).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... BARCELONA, SPAIN -- Sometimes cutaneous symptoms are more than skin deep. What appeared to be cutaneous manifestations of food allergy in a 1-year-old girl turned out to be an unusual case of a rare neurologic disorder known as Frey's...

Redi-Reference Clinical Guidelines. (Digital Assistance).
March 1, 2003... Overview: Redi-Reference Clinical Guidelines is a broad sampling of well supported national clinical guidelines written for Palm OS and Pocket PC handheld platforms. Hyperlink navigation, bookmarking capabilities, and regular program updates...

Vulvar SCC rare but can be lethal. (Always Biopsy).
March 1, 2003... HOUSTON -- Squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva comprise only 4%-5% of all primary malignancies of the female genital tract, but they can be lethal, especially since they may not be diagnosed until late in their course, Dr. Raymond H. Kaufman...

Drug update: prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
March 1, 2003... Three basic options exist for preventing osteoporosis and fractures in postmenopausal women: the workhorse bisphosphonates, the intriguing option raloxifene, and estrogen replacement. The newcomer, teriparatide, is labeled for treatment only....

Stains don't help sort out extramammary paget's. (Study of 55 Patients).
March 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- A common battery of immunohistochemical stains is not helpful in distinguishing primary from secondary extramammary Paget's disease, according to a Mayo Clinic study of 76 biopsy samples from 55 patients. Primarily seen in the...

Lupus dx: distinguish cutaneous from systemic. (Cutaneous is Benign but Prolonged).
March 1, 2003... DORADO, P.R. - Patients with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus experience significantly fewer hematologic abnormalities and significantly more photosensitivity than do patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, Dr. Jeffrey P. Callen said...

Screen alopecia areata patients for depression. (Study of 46 Patients).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Patients with alopecia areata should be screened for depression and anxiety, Sandy Venneman, Ph.D., said in a poster presentation at a meeting sponsored by the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Stress is thought to play a role...

Studies shed new light on melanoma in kids. (Sunburn, Congenital Nevi).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Some of the new information on melanoma in children includes more accurate knowledge of the U.S. incidence and a better appreciation of neurocutaneous melanosis. But there are still unknowns, including whether sun exposure is...

Dysplastic nevi should raise red flags. (Watch Risk Factors).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Physicians should worry about patients with dysplastic nevi, despite the very low likelihood of the nevi becoming melanoma, Dr. Terry L. Barrett said at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic. Patients with...

Melanoma follow-up duties begin at diagnosis. (Recurrence Risks).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SAN Diego -- Critical aspects in the follow-up of a patient who has had a cutaneous melanoma removed must be done right away-not in 2-3 months or a year, Dr. Lynn Proctor-Shipman said at a melanoma update sponsored by the Scripps Clinic. ...

Know the ropes before starting office dispensing. (Can Be Profitable If Done Right).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Business issues and ethical issues come into play when a physician decides to dispense prescription or nonprescription products from the office, Dr. Ira J. Berman reminded colleagues at a meeting of the American Society of Cosmetic...

Adding midlevel providers to your practice? Learn ABCs of PAs, NPs. (Extending Dermatology Care).(physician assistant, nurse practioner)
March 1, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Midlevel providers such as physician assistants and nurse-practitioners can increase a dermatologist's income, provide coverage for a satellite office, perform cosmetic or medical procedures, enhance public education and community...

Ready for feds' HIPAA questions? (CMS Assistance).(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... BALTIMORE -- There are many ways for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to check that physicians and other covered entities are complying with the standards of the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, a CMS...

Malpractice crisis? Blame MD errors, not juries. (Economy Cuts Insurers' Investment Returns).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- If physicians really want to lower their malpractice premiums, they should weed out bad doctors who are responsible for medical errors, representatives of a coalition of consumer advocacy organizations said at a recent press...

Physician council may drop medicaid oversight. (Advisory Group for CMS).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- A federal advisory panel that addresses physician payment issues will limit or possibly eliminate Medicaid deliberations from its purview The Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (PPAC) no longer has the time or the...

Survey: religion shouldn't restrict health choices. (Public Opinion Poll).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... DENVER -- Most Americans do not believe that hospitals, insurance companies, or pharmacies should be able to refuse to offer health care options on religious grounds. That's one of the messages from a national survey conducted on behalf of...

Tobacco ads abound in physicians' offices. (Mixed Messages).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Physicians don't appear to be alarmed that magazines containing tobacco ads are readily available to patients in their waiting rooms, according to results of a survey by Dr. Adam Keating and Dr. Scott Francy of the Cleveland Clinic...

Fee cuts force physicians to trim medicare cases. (Survey Suggests Widespread Impact).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The ongoing drop in Medicare reimbursement has forced physicians like Dr. Michele O'Fallon to dip into their own pockets to keep their practices afloat. After she found herself unable to pay her bills, Dr. O'Fallon used her...

PhRMA faces uphill fight against medicaid prior authorization. (Suffers Legal Setback in Michigan).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The legal tide has continued to turn against the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in its fight to stop state efforts to introduce prior authorization and require supplemental rebates for Medicaid-covered prescription drugs....

Practice redesign can improve life for physicians. (Home in Time for Dinner).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Dr. L. Gordon Moore gives his patients his home phone number. He also gives them same-day appointments, answers his office phone himself, and rarely works past 6 p.m. Fed up with the paperwork, declining quality of care, and...

Suicide is top cause of premature death among doctors. (Male Physicians have Higher Completion).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... HENDERSON, NEV. -- Suicide ranks as the leading cause of premature death among physicians, Dr. Peter Mansky said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. "Physicians probably start out with better health than...

Medical examiners push to create clinical skills test. (Too Expensive, Students Say).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The National Board of Medical Examiners and the Federation of State Medical Boards have launched a major public relations push to win acceptance of the addition of a Clinical Skills Assessment Examination as part of the U.S. Medical Licensing...

Electronic medical records: look beyond the hype. (One Health System's Experience).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... BIG SKY, MONT. -- Medical software salespeople have been known to promise the moon. Here's a more realistic view of what physicians can expect to achieve through a switch to a full-bore electronic medical record (EMR) system and related...

Physician-patient relations may lurk behind health disparities. (Minority Health Status).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO--There is a growing recognition that some of the disparity in health and mortality among racial/ethnic groups in this country is due to physician-patient relations, Dr. Denise V Rodgers said at the annual meeting of the American...

Web site helps seniors on drug plan eligibility. (Free Service).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... To help older patients find out if they are eligible for prescription drug assistance, consider referring them to www.benefitscheckuprx.com. This free service, developed by the National Council on the Aging, allows a senior or caregiver to...

Job-related genetic testing now emerging. (Legal and Ethical Challenge).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Medical practice will undergo a "paradigm shift" in the coming decade as genetic testing to predict and treat diseases becomes more common in health care settings and in the workplace, Dr. William G. Buchta said. "Genetic...

Osler's writings continue to inspire physicians. (The Quotable Osler).(Sir William Osler)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The prolific writings of Sir William Osler have long provided a rich vein of epigrams, maxims, and aphorisms for the physician. "Osler wrote about character and ideals, faith and religion, medical education, professionalism, and science,"...

Think like an MBA to make dermatology practice profitable. (Business School Tips).
March 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Medicine is not a business. It follows a higher standard, and physicians must choose between high-quality medicine and profits. Right? Wrong. Physicians can offer high-quality medicine and still make a profit, but they...

Primary care gaps may drive medicare ER visits. (Emergency Room Trips on the Rise).
March 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Gaps in primary care may be one reason emergency department use is increasing among Medicare patients, according to a report presented at a meeting of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. The volume of emergency...

Spray bandage. (Products).
March 1, 2003... Curad spray bandage covers cuts and scrapes on body parts where traditional adhesive bandages don't stick well. The bandage sprays on, sealing the affected area from water, dirt, and bacteria but is breathable to help wounds heal faster....