| HealthLeaders Media PhysicianLeaders - September 6, 2007 | The Critical Eye |
View as a Webpage | Subscribe for Free |
 |
 |
The Critical Eye
Rick Johnson, Senior Editor
Life as an editor can lead one to become at times overly critical--and perhaps even cynical. A prime example: The column I wrote two weeks ago called Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow. In it I listed the top things that make physician leaders want to pull out their hair. I attempted to keep the list humorous, but a couple of readers pointed out that there are alternative positions to a few of the items. Life as an editor also goes much smoother if you learn to appreciate well-considered and constructive feedback. And I do. [Read More] |
 |
| |
September 6, 2007 | |
 |
|
|
Editor's Picks
|
Patients show interest in no-interest loans
Lending companies have expanded into healthcare financing for high-priced, noncovered procedures. The zero-interest credit might make sense for patients who can afford to make monthly payments on time. This article by the New York Times points out that more than 100,000 doctors and dentists offer interest-free monthly payments. [Read More]
Illinois' malpractice law faces challenge
Two years ago, Illinois passed a medical malpractice law that capped damages for pain and suffering. This St. Louis Post-Dispatch story presents the challenges the law is expected to face in a court case later this month. No doubt some lawyers are overly aggressive in pursuing medical malpractice cases, but capping damages can also have an impact on patients and families who are forced to live with long-term conditions. In this case, an attorney will argue that the $500,000 cap isn't enough to care for an infant born with severe brain damage. [Read More]
What are the effects of limiting residents' hours?
According to a new study of Medicare data, limiting residents' hours has made no difference in death rates. The rules were instituted two years ago, and now researchers are uncertain of the benefits. With the quality of medical education immensely important to all of us, let's hope researchers and educators get this figured out. As we face a shortage of doctors, we don't want the ones we have to be ill-prepared for the job. [Read More]
Disparities in pay for Medicaid doctors
I don't know a whole lot about this group called Public Citizen, but it released an interesting report this week that points out that physicians who treat Medicaid patients in D.C., New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania are paid less than doctors in other states for the same services. The group warns that the patients in these regions are at risk because doctors have a financial disincentive to treat Medicaid patients. You can read the entire report on Public Citizen's website. [Read More] |
|
Business Rx
|
The Earning Curve: How Production, Comp Change Over Time
From Physician Compensation Report: Physician productivity--and as a result, compensation--isn't uniform throughout a career. So if a practice loses a physician in his or her prime, finding a replacement contains certain risks. Will the new physician be less productive? Will he or she drag down the practice's overall profitability? Depending on the specialty, one way of answering those questions is to look at how long the physician has been practicing medicine. [Read More] |
|
Physician News
|
New study: Drug-coated stents not so bad
AP/Yahoo News - September 6, 2007
Tougher policing of Washington's doctors ordered
Seattle Post-Intelligencer - September 6, 2007
Survey: 60 percent of PCPs would choose another field
Physician Practice - September 6, 2007
| |
| From HealthLeaders Magazine |
What All Great Hospitals Do
 Think you're headed for the top floor? Are you sure? [Read More]
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | |
