Opinion columns

AMA Leader Commentary 2007

Messages to all physicians about current events in medical practice.

• More maydays for a Medicare meltdown, by AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD - Dec. 17
• World of medicine gets smaller, flatter, by Edward L. Langston, MD, AMA board chair - Dec. 3
• To partner or perish? That is the question, by AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD - Nov. 26
• Let's keep competition in medicine -- and insurance, by Edward L. Langston, MD, AMA board chair - Nov. 5
• Delivering an ounce (or more) of prevention in your office, by AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD - Oct. 22/29
• Reaching top quality of care a joint effort, by Edward L. Langston, MD, AMA board chair - Oct. 1
• All is not quiet on the Canadian health system front, by AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD - Sept. 17
• AMA joins the battle with a campaign for the uninsured, by Edward L. Langston, MD, AMA board chair - Sept. 3
• Autonomy vs. accountability: A delicate balance, by AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD - Aug. 20
• Quality care results from comparing, analyzing data, by Edward L. Langston, MD, AMA board chair - Aug. 6
• A president's review of critical issues facing medicine, by AMA President William G. Plested III, MD - June 11
• Celebrating -- and reflecting on -- a year of principles, by Cecil B. Wilson, MD, AMA board chair - June 4
• The AMA: A 160-year commitment to quality care, by AMA President William G. Plested III, MD - May 21
• Trust: A reciprocal relationship between us and patients, by Cecil B. Wilson, MD, AMA board chair - May 7
• The partnership principle: Together we are stronger, by Cecil B. Wilson, MD, AMA board chair - April 2
• Military medical care and lessons for the home front, by AMA President William G. Plested III, MD - March 19
• AMA's health advocacy agenda, our own Sacagawea, by Cecil B. Wilson, MD, AMA board chair - March 5
• Pay-for-performance: It's about cost control, not quality, by AMA President William G. Plested III, MD - Feb. 19
• We can echo the leadership principles of past presidents, by Cecil B. Wilson, MD, AMA board chair - Feb. 5
• Starting the new year with our priorities set realistically, by AMA President William G. Plested III, MD - Jan. 22
• A new year but continued resolve to reform pay system, by Cecil B. Wilson, MD, AMA board chair - Jan. 1/8

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Contract Language 2007

A monthly column examining the ins and outs of contract issues, by Steven M. Harris.

• Noncompete provision in contract might not be legal - Dec. 3
• Corporate compliance plan produces many benefits - Nov. 5
• Check for these essentials in confidentiality agreements - Oct. 8
• Balance billing a no-no in most cases - Sept. 3
• "Most-favored-nation clauses" don't favor physicians - Aug. 6
• Negotiating the finer points of mediation, arbitration - July 2
• Review deferred compensation plans in light of IRS rules - June 4
• Indemnity, guaranty, warranty: Learn how they differ - May 7
• Lien against future settlements one collection remedy - April 2
• Tail insurance: Who pays and when do you need it? - March 5
• Policy needed to manage electronic, paper documents - Feb. 5
• Set policies to address discrimination complaints - Jan. 1/8

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Ethics Forum 2007

A monthly column from the Institute for Ethics at the AMA that answers questions on ethical issues in medical practice.

• Trained interpreters: a necessary expense - Dec. 3
• Deciding whether to take call in the ED - Nov. 5
• Prenatal care weighs needs of 2 patients - Sept. 3
• Can unions lead to better patient care? - Aug. 6
• Doctors and patients may not always agree - July 2
• When patients want feel-good medicine - June 4
• Physician ethics still in play when talking to the media - May 7
• Weighing value, risk of full-body scans - March 5
• Covert medication hits balance of ethics, safety - Feb. 5
• Charity care may mean crossing U.S. borders - Jan. 1/8

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In the Courts 2007

A column analyzing the impact of recent court decisions on physicians, by Bonnie Booth.

• Lawsuit leads clinic to drop patient, family - Dec. 10
• Physicians challenge New Jersey fee schedule - Nov. 12
• Gender discrimination still an issue for women doctors - Oct. 8
• New York City wants calories put on menus - Sept. 10
• Internet won't protect your secret identity - Aug. 13
• Online prescribing case raises jurisdiction issue - July 9
• Surgeon not protected by Good Samaritan law - June 11
• Is failed evacuation plan medical liability? - May 14
• Physicians turn the tables on insurers, attorneys - April 9
• Kansas high court: Doctor can be sued under consumer act - March 12
• Records of minors' sex-related care ruled private by Indiana court - Feb. 12

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Practice Management 2007

A column on managing your practice, by business writer Pamela Lewis Dolan.

• Diagnostic tools ready for a test drive - Sept. 24
• Plan ahead for times you need to take a sick day - July 23/30
• Turn to the telephone to dial up practice efficiency - May 28
• Denial-management systems can bring cleaner claims - April 23/30
• Practices take a look at extending office hours - Feb. 26
• Unique aspects of patient debt collection - Jan. 29

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Practice Pointers 2007

A monthly column from St. Louis-based Stone Carlie Wealth Advisors answering your questions about the business side of your practice.

• You can still act to lower this year's taxes, by Karen S. Schechter - Dec. 17
• What to ask before you join a medical practice, by Karen S. Schechter - Nov. 19
• Mind the details when opening a practice, by Karen S. Schechter - Oct. 15
• Opening a new practice requires planning, by Karen S. Schechter - Sept. 17
• Closing tax gap; investing in residential rental properties, by Cathy B. Goldsticker - Aug. 20
• Review practice operations before adding physicians, by Karen S. Schechter - July 16
• Tax issues: Drug inventory, hybrid vehicles, new tax law, by Cathy B. Goldsticker - June 18
• The best employees will share your practice's values, by Karen S. Schechter - May 21
• When should you start collecting Social Security?, by Amy S. Born - April 16
• Know signs of embezzlement before your cash vanishes, by Karen S. Schechter - March 19
• It's time for answers to some of your tax questions, by Cathy B. Goldsticker - Feb. 19
• Focus on process in 401(k) investment policy statement, by Amy S. Born - Jan. 22

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Quick View 2007

An occasional snapshot of current facts and trends in medicine.

• Quality care not always enough - Dec. 17
• Personality can guide specialty choice - Dec. 10
• Tracking MRSA - Dec. 10
• The crippling reach of arthritis - Dec. 3
• AMA meeting: Tax deductions vs. credits - Dec. 3
• It takes more than advice to stop smoking - Nov. 26
• Drug industry ties -- do they bind? - Nov. 26
• How to prevent visits to the ED - Nov. 12
• More residents, more subspecialization - Oct. 15
• Medicare & Medicaid: A study in contrasts - Oct. 15
• Who is following an aspirin therapy regimen? - Oct. 1
• Testing the U.S. News rankings - Oct. 1
• EMRs linked with lower liability risk - Sept. 24
• Gender-based breakdown of heart disease - Sept. 17
• West Nile virus infects humans across the country - Sept. 10
• Primary care doctors in demand - Sept. 10
• Where patients go after retail clinics - Sept. 3
• CME dollars still flowing - Sept. 3
• Needlestick injuries in residency - Aug. 20
• Reluctant to prescribe - Aug. 6
• Where adult depression lives - July 16
• Number of uninsured growing - July 16
• Satisfaction with hospitals up slightly - July 9
• EMRs don't guarantee quality - July 9
• Drug rep interaction widespread - June 11
• Assessing quality on cardiovascular care - June 4
• Infant mortality: Inside the numbers - May 28
• Too much medicine? - May 21
• Helping patients who don't speak English - May 14
• Immunization refresher - May 7
• Rating physician quality - May 7
• Black doctors view DTC ads more favorably - April 16
• Hospital EMR use not yet widespread - March 19
• Kids without coverage - March 19
• Health system, IT executives describe their infotech plans - March 12
• State of liability - March 5
• First, determine what an error is - Feb. 26
• Consumers rate in-store clinics - Feb. 19
• Health care called the No. 2 priority - Jan. 29
• J-1 waivers on the decline - Jan. 22

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