Opinion columns

AMA Leader Commentary

Messages to all physicians about current events in medical practice.

• AMA at a crossroad: Let basic values be our guide, by AMA President J. James Rohack, MD - Nov. 23
• AMA's 7 guiding principles for health system reform, by Rebecca J. Patchin, MD, AMA board chair - Nov. 2
• Scientific method offers view to solving liability crisis, by AMA President J. James Rohack, MD - Oct. 19
• AMA's private sector advocacy efforts yield results, by Rebecca J. Patchin, MD, AMA board chair - Oct. 5
• Two nations, one debate over how to achieve reform, by AMA President J. James Rohack, MD - Sept. 21
• AMA offers students, residents a head start in medicine, by Rebecca J. Patchin, MD, AMA board chair - Sept. 7
• "Making the sausage" that will reform broken system, by AMA President J. James Rohack, MD - Aug. 10
• Reform needs a more rational insurance purchasing system, by AMA President J. James Rohack, MD - July 20
• AMA connects with doctors at each stage of their careers, by Rebecca J. Patchin, MD, AMA board chair - June 29
• Health system reform is coming -- and you all helped, by Joseph M. Heyman, MD, AMA board chair - June 1
• Medicine's voice being heard on health system reform, by AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD - May 18
• AMA can help you prepare for the health IT future, by Joseph M Heyman, MD, AMA board chair - May 4
• We must protect guidelines against undue influence, by AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD - April 20
• AMA participation on the Joint Commission a win-win, by Joseph M. Heyman, MD, AMA board chair - April 6
• The challenge and opportunity for health system reform, by AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD - March 23
• Reflecting on successes and looking to future challenges, by Joseph M. Heyman, MD, AMA board chair - March 9
• United agreement a victory for fair pay for physicians, by AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD - Feb. 9
• Physicians need one voice to fight for payment reform, by Joseph M. Heyman, MD, AMA board chair - Jan. 26
• Health reform is coming; let's work for a good outcome, by AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD - Jan. 19

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Contract Language

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

• New laws on patient security breaches mean your associate contracts probably need updating - Nov. 16
• Plan to advertise? Be mindful of ethical, legal rules - Oct. 19
• Should you keep patients from commenting online? - Sept. 21
• Making sense of extended warranties for medical equipment - July 13
• Law means rethinking how you protect patient data - June 29
• Dissolving a practice takes more than closing the door - June 15
• Stimulus package alters HIPAA rules for business associates - May 4
• Red flag rules on identity theft take effect soon - March 30
• Noncompete clause may not restrict you - Feb. 16
• Hospitalist's role needs to be defined - Jan. 12

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Ethics Forum

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

• CME must be untainted -- no matter who's paying - Nov. 9
• H1N1 vaccination of children can require reasoning with concerned parents - Oct. 12
• Medical spas can be a good business, but with ethical challenges - Sept. 14
• Take care when discussing phase I trial options - Aug. 17
• Doctors weigh morals, ethics in decisions on refusing services - July 13
• Conversation, rapport key to evolving world of medical history taking - June 8
• Bad behavior by physicians can't be ignored - May 11
• Consider ethics, patient rights before treating your immediate family - April 13
• Treating the homeless can go beyond medical care - March 2
• At end of life, listen to patient's fears, values - Jan. 26

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Geriatric Consult

A monthly column about treating a growing demographic, by Beatriz Korc, MD, with AMNews staff writers.

• At what age do cancer tests offer more risk than benefit? - Nov. 23
• Delirium in hospitalized patients may be preventable - Sept. 21
• Helping older patients get a good night's sleep - July 20
• Knowing when to ask seniors for the car keys - June 15
• Diagnosing different levels of dementia no easy task - April 27
• Honing in on varied causes of urinary incontinence - March 23
• Addressing involuntary weight loss - Feb. 16
• Depression not a "normal" part of aging - Jan. 19

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In the Courts

A column analyzing the impact of recent court decisions on physicians, by staff writer Amy Lynn Sorrel.

• Disciplinary records relevant in liability case - Nov. 2
• Florida lawsuit takes swing at 3-strikes liability rule - Oct. 5
• N.J. liability trial swamped with errors - Sept. 7
• Doctor liable despite no patient relationship - Aug. 10
• Doctor's duty to a third party the exception, not rule - June 1
• Peer review hearing officer's role is limited - May 4
• Pain doctor made to prove care was proper - April 6
• Doctor wants to share trials of liability suits with peers - March 9
• Doctor stands up for patient care, wins case - Feb. 2
• Doctor liable for not providing sign language interpreter - Jan. 5

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Practice Management

A column on managing your practice, by staff writer Victoria Stagg Elliott. Columns prior to June were written by Karen Caffarini.

• Misclassifying nonexempt employees as exempt can cost you - Nov. 9
• Review what expanded ADA means for your practice - Nov. 2
• How to code, bill for H1N1 flu vaccine - Oct. 12
• Review your sick-leave policy before flu season hits - Oct. 5
• Hunting for a small business idea? Listen to your patients - Sept. 7
• How to reduce your practice's credit card fees - Aug. 17
• If job candidate has a criminal record, ask questions - Aug. 10
• Going green can help your budget - July 6
• Overwhelmed by phone calls? Adding lines, staff not the answer - June 29
• Need to lay off employees? Be honest -- and work out details first - June 8
• Good scheduling can link vaccinations to well-child visits - June 1
• How to handle patients who are always late - April 13
• Stimulus bill puts burden on physicians to tell patients of data breach - March 16
• Keeping rubber checks from clogging revenue flow - Jan. 26

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Practice Pointers

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

• How to calculate the right staffing for a smaller practice, by Karen S. Schechter - April 6

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Quick View

An occasional snapshot of current facts and trends in medicine.

• Public support for health system reform drops - Aug. 10
• Ways patients are cutting health care costs - June 29
• Prevalence of C. diff in hospital patients - June 1
• More money, fewer problems getting insurance - April 6
• Growth spurt in spending on disease-management technology - March 23
• States changing public health access - Feb. 9

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Technically Speaking

A practical look at information technology issues and usage, by business writer Pamela Lewis Dolan.

• EMR school offers help for doctors wary of technology - Nov. 23
• Smartphone use pushed by hospitals - Oct. 26
• Is speech recognition technology ready for prime time? - Oct. 19
• Your practice really needs broadband - Sept. 28
• Don't let EMRs cut into your doctor-patient time - Sept. 21
• How to determine an EHR's "usability" - Aug. 31
• Tap into proper expertise and support before joining EHR "gold rush" - Aug. 24
• Update employee policies to include guidelines for social networking - July 27
• How CCHIT influences your health tech purchasing - July 20
• Before buying an EMR system, learn from others' mistakes - June 22
• Prepare to meet "meaningful use" EMR requirement - June 15
• Rural physicians may face pharmacy hurdle in e-prescribing - May 25
• Don't toss all your practice's e-mails in the virtual trash - May 18
• Helping search engines find you more quickly - April 27
• Steps to take to eliminate spam from your e-mail diet - April 20
• Interactive kiosks expanding beyond patient check-ins - March 30
• Texting can increase office efficiency, bottom line - March 23
• Technology costs may be tax-deductible - Feb. 2
• Economic downturn adds new uncertainties to IT planning - Jan. 5

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48% of medical executives say doctors and nurses are equally culpable for conflict; 45% say doctors are mostly to blame. Read more