Index 2007: Opinion columns

AMA Leader Commentary - Contract Language - Editorials - Ethics Forum - In the Courts - Practice Management - Practice Pointers - Quick View - 2006 - 2008

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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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Last year's index

The bulk of federal merger guidelines affecting health care have not been revised in more than 17 years. Read more

Vote refines AMA stance on health reform
The AMA House of Delegates rejected attempts to rescind support of a U.S. House health reform bill and any new government-sponsored health insurance plan during the 2009 Interim Meeting.
Story - AMA House - Slideshow