From Physicians News Wire Services
CHICAGO, IL –  The American Medical Association welcomed President Obama to its annual meeting in Chicago.  Like the president, the AMA is committed to health reform this year that provides all Americans with affordable, high-quality health coverage.
 
“We have a historic opportunity for reform this year, and the AMA is actively working for health reform that covers the uninsured, makes insurance more affordable, increases the value our nation receives from its health-care spending and enhances prevention and wellness for patients,” said AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, M.D. 
 
In …

Top Free Medical Apps
Epocrates
Far and away the most popular mobile software for physicians.  Epocrates is developed by healthcare professionals, and includes a drug guide, formulary information, drug interaction checker and continual free updates and medical news!
Skyscape
A collection of free medical information and decision support resources including:  information on brand/generic drugs; information on hundreds of diseases; medical calculator; journal summaries and more.
uHear
A hearing loss screening test which allows you to test your hearing to determine if it is within normal range.  Assessment tests include: hearing sensitivity; speech in noise; and a …

Like most healthcare providers, Doylestown Hospital has an inherently mobile workforce. And for years, the hospital’s IT team searched for the right portable communications tool: a multi-function, indispensable device that provides real-time information to community physicians.
“Physicians need something that is a beeper and cell phone, and that allows them to get messages and information about patients,” explains Dr. Scott Levy, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Physicians also need on-the-fly access to patient and clinical data stored in the hospital’s databases.
To meet these requirements, Doylestown prescribed iPhone for its doctors …

President Obama appeared on ABC last night to discuss reform proposals with a small group of healthcare practitioners, students, executives and citizens.  What did you think?  What would you ask the President about how reform may affect the practice of medicine?

The nation’s physicians concluded their second day of voting at the American Medical Association’s (AMA) annual policy-making meeting in Chicago. The unifying physician consensus developed at the democratic forum directs the political and legislative agenda of the country’s largest physician organization.
Following are several policies adopted to date by the nation’s physicians:
FLU PROTECTION GUIDELINES FOR AIRLINE TRAVEL
The recent outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus highlights the importance of basic hygiene to help protect patients from the flu. The confined nature of air travel poses an increased risk for influenza to passengers …

The big news affecting all of healthcare is the subject of reform.  Today, President Obama will speak at the AMA Convention to garner support for his proposals.  Physicians News will cover much of his discussion, reform proposals and reaction from different sources with different viewpoints.  If you would like to add your point of view, send a comment to this post and we’ll add to the national dialogue.

By Patricia A. Costante
Waiting out this Great Recession is not an option for physicians who want to maintain a financially viable practice. As economists predict that the hoped-for turnaround will not begin until the fall of 2010, there is an urgent need to proactively deal with the ongoing fallout right now.
The Physician as a Businessperson
Physicians have the right to make a living, and it isn’t mercenary to expect patients to pay for medical services, either through health insurance coverage or out-of-pocket payments. This expectation is the same financial model …

By Thomas Reinke

The American Cancer Society reports there will be about 1,479,000 new cancer cases in 2009 and the five year survival rate for all cancers has reached 66%, up from 50% in 1977. Since the short term survival rate is higher, the number of living cancer patients will grow by over 1,000,000 people this year, surpassing 12 million.
Cancer survivorship is receiving more attention, not only because of the substantial number of ongoing patients but also because of recognized shortcomings in comprehensive follow-up care. In response, the Ft. Washington based …

By Rebecca J. Patchin, M.D.

Every day across America physicians are forced to consider the broken medical liability system when making important medical decisions. Physicians are compelled to order unnecessary tests to avoid lawsuits, yet many still wind up in court fighting a meritless case. This expensive, ineffective cycle has to stop for the sake of both physicians and patients, and the AMA is working to make that happen.
Medical liability reforms will ensure adequate access to health care, as well as reduce health-care spending. Not only are physicians forced to …

By Roccy DeFrancesco, JD, CWPP, CAPP, MMB 

Most doctors are not aware of the fact that industry altering legislation was passed in 2006 called the Pension Protection Act (PPA).  What’s so incredible about the PPA?  It allows for significantly increased contributions to a tax-deferred retirement plan for business owners and an ability to be even more discriminatory against the rank-in-file employees.

If it’s that incredible and was passed at the end of 2006, then why don’t doctors who own/run medical practices know about it?  Poor service from pension consultants would …