Table of Contents: Feb. 2, 2009

American Medical News vol. 52 no. 5. Posted online Jan. 26, 2009.

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"To really turn this around is going to be like putting a man on the moon," says Robert Kushner, MD, clinical director of the Northwestern Comprehensive Center on Obesity in Chicago and president of the Obesity Society, reflecting on the current rate of obesity in the U.S.

INSIDE THIS WEEK

Medicine at sea
The medical staff on an aircraft carrier have the task of protecting the health of 3,000+ service personnel. - Slide show
Government & Medicine
Detroit physicians share unique bond
The doctor-patient relationship has become an attending-resident partnership for two orthopedic specialists.
Professional Issues
Prevention in perspective
Experts question if the benefits of preventive care have been oversold.
Health & Science
Hospitals laying off more workers
Employed physicians could see job losses or salary cuts if the recession continues.
Business

Government & Medicine

Medicine at sea: On board the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
The medical staff on an aircraft carrier are tasked with protecting the health of more than 3,000 servicemen on a floating city at war.

House adopts SCHIP expansion
The measure also would block new physician-owned hospitals.

Medicare closes off WellPoint's drug plan
Problems with the insurer's administration of Part D persisted for months, reaching a critical point in January.

Government news briefs:

Physicians defend San Francisco universal access program

Professional Issues

California's high court bans balance billing
Doctors say the decision will burden an already strained emergency care system.

Patient grows up to work beside his childhood doctor
A Michigan orthopedic oncologist now helps train one of his former patients, 15 years after lifesaving surgery.

Ethics Forum: At end of life, listen to patient's fears, values

Professional Issues news briefs:

Joint Commission remains ASC accrediting agency

Business

Health plans eye individual insurance market
Insurers position themselves to sell to a bigger individual market as jobs disappear and health care reform featuring an insurance mandate seems possible.

Cash-strapped hospitals laying off record number of workers
Employed physicians could see job losses or salary cuts if the recession continues. View in PDF

Practice Management: Keeping rubber checks from clogging revenue flow

Business news briefs:

Online doctor visits go live in Hawaii
Walgreens markets health care to businesses

Opinion

Taking away the fear: Another step toward improving patient safety
The final rules of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act ensure that physicians have a safe resource to discover ways to improve the way they practice.

AMA Leader Commentary: Physicians need one voice to fight for payment reform

Letters:

Absence of EMRs isn't the problem, but not living up to their potential is

Health & Science

Keeping prevention in perspective: Has the value of screenings been oversold?
Prevention has become a catchword, prompting some experts to question whether physician and patient expectations are realistic.

Obesity numbers steady, but well short of health goals
A CDC statistics roundup suggests some weight subsets have settled, but the burden is still significant. View in PDF

Health news briefs:

CDC director resigns
Study: Blood pressure higher in winter
Lack of sleep linked to cold resistance

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