Medical Doctors Seeking a Career Change

The majority of physicians we speak with protest their profession due to: ever decreasing reimbursements, tighter regulations, increasing costs, lack of security, less respect and more and more work!

From the list above, tighter regulation and threatened security are the latest frontrunners. With regard to regulation, we tell our clients not to worry about the government, but do worry about payers, accountability measures, best practices and clinical pathways.

Medicine has become a business focused on profit, and you and your patients are the casualties. Add to that the "off the record" regulation of patients arriving with reams of Internet reports regarding their conditions and the defensive medicine you feel forced to practice to alleviate their demand.

Then include malpractice companies that don't just raise your rates over a claim, they discontinue your coverage and in one to six months, you're out of practice.

Threatened security is of course the result of all of the above. More than one physician has told us that they are one malpractice claim away from losing their practice. Interestingly, these same practitioners had never had a claim filed against them. However, they all agree it only takes one to close you down.

Payers and insurers are constantly looking for an oversight or a simple discrepancy about care to terminate you from a panel, restrict your privilege or put you on the platform for a law suit. Furthermore, many of your wonderful patients see you as a "lottery ticket". These are people who say, "I don't really have any opposition to your practice doc, I know you have insurance for this type of thing". Can you relate to any of this?

You've followed a roadmap your entire career: undergrad, medical school, residency... maybe fellowship, and then practice. But now there's no roadmap. You know it's time for a new career direction, but how do you start? We'll design a roadmap for your new career. More importantly, we'll "ride-bedside" with you as we help you navigate your way to career fulfillment.

Is it possible to make a rewarding change after all these years?

Absolutely. Medicine is a wonderful education and we know how to transform your education, your training and your practice into a non-clinical competence.

As our client you will "treated" the way you might treat a new patient. First, a formal diagnosis of your career situation is prepared. Next, we develop a career search treatment plan, and finally, we work closely with you to implement your plan.

Diagnosis

Its sounds easy, but you know all too well both the challenge and the importance of the right diagnosis. It's equally essential and as challenging for your career change/search.

Treatment

Developing your career search "treatment plan" is crucial to the success of your career wellness. is We will utilize our health care, business, entrepreneurial, coaching and leadership backgrounds to develop a real-world action plan in an effort to engage your search campaign.

Implementation

Implementing your search/change campaign is where all of our intensive preliminary work joins together. We will act as your career/search agents in an effort to identify new opportunities. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 20% off all jobs are advertised.

The implementation phase of your search is where we begin to confidentially introduce your credentials to key decision makers in your new field of interest as identified through the diagnosis assessment. Our objective is to look beyond the career positions that are advertised in newspapers, trade journals or the Internet.

Once your search is underway, we will work closely with you throughout the entire search campaign; this will ensure our commitment to you and steadfast client compliance. Imagine how your patient compliance would improve if you met with your patients at least once a week to converse about their plan and their success? That's exactly what we will do for you.

Many of our prospective clients often ask us what they could possibly do other than practice.
Our clients have recently interviewed for these positions:

Medical Director, Vice President of Clinical Services, Healthcare Consultant, Medical Educator, Entrepreneur, Health Writer, Hospital CEO, just to name a few.

According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 14 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. Job growth will occur because of continued expansion of health care related industries. The growing and aging population will drive overall growth in the demand for physician services, as consumers continue to demand high levels of care using the latest technologies, diagnostic tests, and therapies.

Demand for physicians' services is highly sensitive to changes in consumer preferences, health care reimbursement policies, and legislation. For example, if changes to health coverage result in consumers facing higher out-of-pocket costs, they may demand fewer physician services. Patients relying more on other health care providers-such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, optometrists, and nurse anesthetists-also may temper demand for physician services. In addition, new technologies will increase physician productivity. These technologies include electronic medical records, test and prescription orders, billing, and scheduling.

Job prospects. Opportunities for individuals interested in becoming physicians and surgeons are expected to be very good. In addition to job openings from employment growth, numerous openings will result from the need to replace physicians and surgeons who retire over the 2006-16 decade.

Clinical Trials of the New York Doctors

Doctors understand the feeling of patients and their family when they need to enter hospitals for medical attention. Most often, they are afraid the impending results of laboratory tests and other treatments.

In this respect, medical doctors make it a point to conduct consultations with their patients and explain possible medical proceedings that patients will have to undergo. As much as possible, they make their patients more comfortable with the medical proceedings.

In line with providing better medical services, the New York doctors members and residents of New York Presbyterian Hospital, conducts research studies on medicines particularly for the clinical phase. The research will greatly help doctors of the New York- Presbyterian Hospital to provide patients relatively more choices of lifesaving support and well-developed applications on health care service.

Dedicated doctors from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and Weill Medical College of Cornell University are collaborating to come up with positive results for this objective. As part of the collaboration, clinical trials have been established in order to provide patients the best means to access medical and therapeutic treatments easily.

These patients who take part of the trials undergo strict guidelines and careful supervision in order to ensure a safe and beneficial procedure.

The Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons has so many research centers where various research studies on specific subjects including molecular therapeutics, neurobiology, reproductive, women's health, cancer genetics, and Alzheimer's disease are conducted. The Columbia's Irving Center for Clinical Research is one of the institutions equipped with the most modern facilities and provides clinical investigators enough equipment to conduct studies for the benefit of contemporary medicine.

On the other hand, Weill Medical College of Cornell University doctors deals with clinical research on areas of genetics and gene therapy, neuroscience, structural biology, AIDS, cancer, and psychiatry.

Some of the New York doctors are:
Dr. Robert J. Kaner, M.D.
Address: 520 E 70th Street, Ste 505, New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 746-2250
Fax: (212) 746-8808

Dr. Kaner is a specialist in Pulmonary Disease Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Board Certified in Internal Medicine.

Areas of expertise include:
• Lung Cancer
• Asthma
• Lung Disease
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Interstitial Lung Disease

Education and Training:
• Earned his Doctors Degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
• Internship - Hospital of University of Pennsylvania
• Residency - Hospital of University of Pennsylvania
• Fellowship - Hospital of University of Pennsylvania

Dr. David R. Bickers, M.D.
Address: 16 East 60th Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 326-8465
Fax: (212) 326-8567

Address: 161 Ft. Washington Avenue, 12 Floor, New York, NY 10032
Phone: (212) 305-5293
Fax: (212) 795-1859

Areas of Expertise:
• Skin Cancer
• Psoriasis
• Baldness
• Phototherapy
• Mole and Wart Removal

Education and Training:
• Medical School - University of Virginia School of Medicine
• Internship - University of Iowa College of Medicine
• Residency - New York University Medical Center
• Fellowship - New York University Medical Center

Dr. Robert R. Walther, M.D.
Address: 16 East 60th Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 326-8465
Fax: (212) 326-8567

Dr. Walther is a Board Certified Dermatologist with expertise in:
• Skin Cancer
• Psoriasis
• Dermatologic Surgery
• Mole and Wart Removal

Education and Training:
• Medical School - North Carolina Memorial Hospital
• Medical School - University of North Carolina
• Internship - University of Miami Hospital
• Residency - Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York
• Residency - University of Miami Hospital

How to Save Money at the Eye Doctor

Many people have health insurance but don't carry things like vision coverage. The reason for this is that it is expensive and many times doesn't seem to cover very much. There is also the mindset that a heart attack could bury you financially but a new pair of glasses won't so why worry. The result is millions of people putting off visits to the doctor until the problem is too big to ignore, then paying for everything out of their own pocket. It is estimated that 7 out of 10 Americans are either under insured or completely uninsured and some of the largest numbers are those without vision coverage.

Maybe you are one of the many that wants lasik surgery but hasn't done anything because you don't have the money, or needs new glasses but doesn't want to spend the money. You're not alone. People are delaying treatments that can greatly improve their quality of life because of money. We also know that if little problems are left untreated they can often grow into much bigger conditions that are more difficult and more expensive to correct. Sometimes they even leave permanent damage.

I personally have faced the dilemma where I didn't want to fork out large amounts of cash every month for insurance I would rarely use, but at the same time paying those huge doctor bills wasn't any more appealing. I started researching and looking for an affordable answer to my problem. After going through numerous articles and website that where pretty much selling me the same thing I discovered a new concept called customer driven health care. it turns out that the majority of people are like me and put off check ups and exams as long as possible. This has really hurt medical practices especially eye doctors & dentists, leaving them hungry for new patients.

There are now medical savings groups that bring doctors together with members. The doctor get a new influx of new business and the members get huge discounts on services. Everybody wins.

I joined a plan that includes Vision, Dental, Prescription Drug and Chiropractic and is under twenty dollars a month per household. It has already saved me money and includes things like lasik surgery, orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry that many insurances wont touch.

This is a plan that can deliver discounts of...
Up to 55% on eye exams & lasik surgery.
Up to 60% on lenses and frames
Up to 20% on contacts and 40% on replacements.

This plan is called DENTAL PLUS and it only costs $14.95 / mo. for an individual & $19.95 / mo. for your entire households Here is the best part, there is a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE so you can try the plan for 30 days Risk Free

To find more details on these and other services go to MEDIC SAVINGS & watch the movie then click Dental Plus. To read articles on how to save money go to medicalsavingsBlog.com - Medical Savings Blog

Medical Practice Marketing - All Doctors Need PR

Consumers want the latest style in automobiles, the latest fashions from Paris, and the cutting edge in technology. But patients are gun-shy about embracing experimental medicine or cutting edge technology when it comes to improving their health or enhancing their bodies.

That’s why doctors on the cutting edge in their area of specialty need public relations. The message of safety, convenience, and success must be conveyed because medical consumers are much more reluctant to be among the first to accept a new medical technique than are buyers of automobiles, computers, furniture or fashion.

Of course, sick people want to be treated with the very latest drug, equipment or method. They just don’t want to be the first! And so an innovative doctor introducing new equipment or a new treatment method needs the assistance of a public relations/marketing professional to be successful.

No one will agree to eye surgery without being convinced the procedure is absolutely safe. No woman will ever agree to breast augmentation or vaginal rejuvenation without feeling absolutely comfortable about the practitioner. The more sensitive the procedure the greater the need for public relations.

It has been my experience that a well-thought out and executed public relations/marketing plan will overcome reluctance by patients to embrace medical innovations. In my practice that certainly has been the case.

While working with prominent doctors over the past several years, I have developed successful marketing campaigns for plastic surgery, LASIK surgery, dental surgery, liposuction and BOTOX. Among the most successful methods is to arrange for radio, television and sports personalities to have the surgery or treatment free and then give testimonials on how great this new surgery or treatment has been for them. I’ve also arranged for endorsements by popular sports, TV and radio celebrities to help convince customers that it is safe and desirable to use the elective medical procedure.

One of my earliest medical clients, who serves as an insightful test case for the theme of this article, is the Windsor Laser Eye Institute (WLEI) founded by Dr. Fouad Tayfour who today is a household name in the Detroit-Windsor market.

But when the WLEI became my client Dr. Tayfour was not a household name in Southeast Michigan. The FDA had not yet approved laser eye surgery and so it was only available in Canada. Dr. Tayfour, a pioneer in Canada and the U.S., opened a clinic in Windsor across the river from Detroit. Thus, because of Windsor’s close proximity to Detroit, Dr. Tayfour wanted to reach out to the Greater Detroit metropolitan area.

While there was interest in laser vision as a substitute for prescription glasses or contact lenses, initially there was not a flood of traffic over the Ambassador Bridge to the clinic. People are very sensitive about their eyes and very hesitant about being among the first to embrace this revolutionary approach. What about side effects or complications down the road? How uncomfortable is the procedure? How long will the correction last? Will it damage my eyes? And added to these concerns was the fact that the procedure did not have FDA approval and was not covered by health insurance.

One of the first steps was to prepare a set of documents for a press kit to explain what the laser procedure involved, what the benefits were, and facts to overcome concerns about side-effects, pain, discomfort, etc. The press kits were distributed to television, radio and newspaper reporters, and to sports figures, talk show hosts, and other celebrities in the Detroit market. News reports were filed and radio celebrities began talking about this new procedure across the river. Dr. Tayfour then performed the procedure free of charge to sports figures, celebrities, and media personalities who then spread the word further. These well-known and respected celebrities also issued endorsements for laser vision. As part of this campaign I arranged for two laser vision surgical procedures to be televised live, which really had a positive impact on patients!

We created a buzz campaign and soon everyone was talking about laser vision and how wonderful it was. The trips became so frequent from Detroit to Windsor that when the immigration officials in the booth asked, “Why are you coming to Canada” and heard “to get laser eye surgery” they just waved them on by Dr. Tayfour then launched an intense television advertising campaign that cemented his status as a household word in the region. But the groundwork to that happening was a targeted media campaign and selected endorsements.

This was not just a classic textbook approach to media promotion and niche marketing where you tear out a page and cover the bulleted points. The media coverage particularly was successful because I have invested the hard time needed cultivating media contacts and establishing their trust. Now when they get a pitch from me, the editor/reporter trusts me and knows the facts presented will be accurate. If you don’t establish the relationship and trust first, your carefully planned press kit when landing on the editor’s desk will end up in the wastebasket within 20 seconds. PR is not about gloss and glitter; it’s about relationships and trust.

As part of cultivating media relations I regularly attend major media events in New York City where I have face-to-face meetings with journalists, editors, writers and producers from top national magazines, newspapers and radio/TV programs. I have successfully pitched such media outlets as 20/20, Prime Time, CNN, People, Good Morning America, Newsweek, Time Magazine, Dateline NBC, The View, Oprah's O magazine, Cosmopolitan, Fox News, Good Housekeeping, Newsweek to name a few.

The same things that worked for Dr. Tayfour also worked for:

 The TLC Laser Eye Centers of Michigan to arrange FOX and ABC TV coverage promote their new Custom LASIK procedure,

 Dr. Joseph Berenhotz, Director of the Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of Michigan promoting a new vaginal laser treatment covered by the Detroit Free Press, NBC and ABC TV in Detroit, and an Indianapolis TV station

 To promote Plastic Surgeon Dr. Gregory Roche of Bloomfield, Michigan, when he launched BOTOX in Michigan

 Media coverage and advertising for Dr. Fiander of the Farmington Laser Eye Clinic

 For laser plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Castleman I placed dozens of articles, and arranged TV and radio news coverage, and gained newspaper coverage for everything from Ultrasonic Liposuction to BOTOX for sweating, and hair transplants

 Targeted marketing for Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Michael Gray when he launched an endoscopic breast augmentation program in Michigan

 And placed print articles and arranged TV news coverage on dental implants and a tooth friendly Easter Basket for Dr. Timothy Kosinski, DDS

(By the way, I never represented two LASIK surgeons or two plastic surgeons at the same time. My company and personal code of ethics does not allow representing clients who are in competition).

In addition to PR and marketing campaigns aimed at television, radio, newspapers, professional and trade publications internet marketing is very effectivce. One of the first things I check when meeting with new clients is whether they have a web site and how good it is at marketing their product, service or message. Nine times out of ten one of the first things we schedule is a redesign and revamping of the content to make the web site the viable marketing tool it should be.

With that done, I then strategically place electronic press releases and EzineArticles on the Internet and employ sound, state-of-the-art search engine techniques and drive traffic to the client’s web site. The increased traffic to the newly rejuvenated web site will subsequently result in phone calls or email inquiries to the client’s medical practice that then drives new traffic to the medical clinic.

Another technique that is key to promoting professionals in the medical fields is to establish the client as an expert in his/her field of specialty. The executive biography included in the press kit is geared toward promoting the client’s expertise. I also make sure that the client is listed as an expert in a valuable online expert service. Editors consult this service when looking for experts on developing stories. To gain an interview in a news story as an expert in the field is worth a pot of gold and that makes subscribers to this service, such as my firm, a valuable ally to the media by providing just what they need… an expert.

A major strategy in establishing a medical professional as an expert is to schedule interviews on television, radio, and radio talk shows. To do this the client must be equipped to deal with the media, and most clients are not skilled in being interviewed. Therefore, while the client’s web site is being boosted, and the press kit is being developed, I sign the client up with a well-respected media coach.

Media training will give doctors, dentists and surgeons the skills to learn how to use the media, not just to convey their message but to compel people to try the medical procedure or treatment plan. As a marketing expert, I can pitch a doctor’s story and line up a TV or Radio interview but the author won’t be able to amaze listeners and capitalize on the interview without being trained by a media coach

Before investing in a PR firm it is prudent to find a PR professional who knows his or her way around the newsroom and has body of work with successful medical placements in all forms of media. When shopping for a PR firm consider the following:

• Does the firm have a track record of medical and health placements?

• Does the firm have extensive media contacts and an ongoing relationships?

• Does the firm have a good reputation with journalists?

• Are the sample press kits from other medical clients professionally written?

At the end of the day, sign up with someone who can demonstrate the results you want. My clients have been featured by Good Morning America, CNN, ABC Nightly News, The New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Family Circle, Woman's World to name a few.

Is SizeGenetics a Scam? - A Medical Doctor's Review on Penis Enlargement

It is not uncommon for us to receive loads of emails on an almost daily basis about penis enlargement pills, devices and other contraptions. Rest assured over 905 of these are nothing but pure scams exploiting people who are looking for genuine answers. Out of interest I began to research the internet to see if there are any documented and genuine devices and pills aimed at penis enlargement. After several hours of research and studies I came across a couple of products which seem genuine enough. What are my criteria for certifying the product as genuine and not a scam?

1. The product should be medically and clinically endorsed.
2. There should be genuine testimonials from previous users.
3. The product should give results that are visible to the user and his partner.
4. Cheap is not always best but still the product should be affordable.
5. It should be backed by a solid guarantee.

SizeGenetics is one such product that seems to meet all criteria. Whilst I am not writing this having tested the product, I do understand a reasonable amount of physiology with my medical background. SizeGenetics is a physiologically acceptable and possible means of penis enlargement. What is the science behind SizeGenetics? Stretching a body part over a long time period leads to the organ adjusting to the stretching. The same holds true for the penis. The length and girth of the penis is limited by the amount of blood that can be filled in the cavernous spaces of the penis. The more these spaces become, the more blood they can hold and leads to an increase in penis size in both girth and length. Every time these exercises are performed, the penile cells stretch and expand beyond their normal size. During rest days penis cells heal and grow to larger sizes. Patience is the key here and in two-three months one can add 1-3 inches to the penis size.

Contemporary Orthopedic surgery uses the principle of traction to lengthen or straighten fingers and legs. It is also used to force the body to grow fresh skin to cover tissue defects of the face. Even history has proof about the results achieved through traction. Do you remember the Paduang tribe of Burma with their elongated necks?

SizeGenetics is not scam but a genuine physiologically proven method for penis enlargement. Cheap parts, unregulated markets, non-existent testing and lack of manufacturer knowledge mean there are devices, which look similiar to the SizeGenetics device, but produce vastly different results. Instead stick to the SizeGenetics device which is classifed as a medical type 1 device by the European Union Health Authorities.

Nutrition Certification For Medical Doctors

Nowadays the competition in the medical world is growing and becoming more difficult. Great numbers of new proclaimed medical practitioners are offering their service and joining the business. For you to get greater edge, it is important that you get nutrition certification for medical doctors. This could help you to gain more knowledge about dietary and human nutrition thus making you wiser in curing and treating your patients.

Knowledge in dietary and human nutrition is important especially on holistic doctors that are concerned on dealing with serious and had to cure diseases such as heart disease, cancer, HIV or AIDS, high blood pressure, depression, infertility, menopausal symptoms, prostatitis and diabetes. People who are suffering from these types of diseases usually look for doctors who are well briefed about dietary and human nutrition because the treatment that they need have to be coupled with proper diet and nutrition monitoring.

If you are planning to study dietary and human nutrition to get a nutritional certification for medical doctors, well you have to know the relevant and helpful information that could be included on that. Actually there are only three, so here they are, first the study of dietary and human nutrition. If you will study this you will be a dietitian with the goal to promote dietary habits and good health. This is significant in your medical practice for doctors with dietitian education are more in demand. They are considered experts in dietary and human nutrition thus they are looked after by various types of institutions, hospitals, clinic, schools and other living facilities. The second relevant information in the nutrition medical certificate for doctors is the study and completion of Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition. Under this study you could learn how to advise the use of herbs, supplements and natural foods.

You will also know how to asses diets and lifestyles to construct wellness programs and brought out nutritional changes in your patients. Medical practitioners who study this course are sought after by patients with severe and serious health conditions. The patient trusts that a medical practitioner who undergoes study of holistic nutrition is capable of speeding up their treatment with minimal and low cost procedures. The last thing that will add advantage in your doctor's nutrition certificate is the degree of Masters of Science. This is the highest education that you could gain that deals with dietary and human nutrition. It can make you expert and a specialist in understanding of alternative health care options such as enzymatic nutritional therapies, holistic human development and nutrition and disease prevention. Getting this in your nutritional certification for medical doctors will make your patient feel assured with your capacity to provide them with the right treatment and cure.

Aside from making you more valuable in the medical world and making your name renowned by your patients, getting the nutritional certification for medical doctors will also help you a lot in your professional growth and advancement. You are now advised to get one for yourself and start to create a recognizable name in the medical practice.

Sample Employment Agreements For Medical Doctors

In order to provide good services and be aware of the rights of an employee as well as company policies, a doctor should be getting familiar with sample employment agreements for medical doctors. Included in this sample are the terms, duties and place of employment, compensation and benefits, terminations and so on.

It was basically stated in sample employment agreements for medical doctors about the effective date of employment and the place of employment as well. The most essential part of this agreement that has to be stated in the sample is the primary duties of the employed doctor. Included in his duties is to devote all his energies, effort and time to ensure the safety of his patients.

Other important things that have to be included in the sample employment agreements for medical doctors are:

-Compensation and Benefits - The company should site the basic salary of the doctor and shall give the annual computation to be paid in accordance with the policies of the company for salary payment. As regards to the benefits to be provided to an employed doctor, the company should give bonus compensation officially approved by the board. There are at times, necessary expenses that were shouldered by a doctor just to fulfill his duties as an employee and this has to be reimbursed by the executive. Other benefits to given to a doctor as an employee under the benefit plan are long-term disability pension plans and insurance, split dollar life insurance, life insurance, and of course medical insurance. These benefits should be clearly stated in the sample and shall be given to employees without limitations.

-Terminations - The sample agreement should also discuss the grounds or reasons for termination. For instance, the death and disability of a person may cause the employer to properly terminate the employee. This should be done through a written notice to be sent to an employee's representative, stating that the employee is deemed disabled to perform essential tasks. The employer may also have the right to terminate a doctor who is no longer proficient to work. This usually occurs when a doctor has accidentally provided improper medications that put his patient into troubles. These grounds should be properly discussed to the sample of agreement to avoid appeals and complaints on the part of an employee.

-Certain restrictions - There are confidential matters that have to be respected by medical doctors. These things should be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person, unless a written noticed was released by an executive for a reasonable cause. Such confidential information will only be given to the general public if needed and was approved by an authorized representative or executive. The importance of confidentiality shall be given much attention, so this should be clearly discussed to the sample.

Digital Signage at the Doctor's Surgery

The use of digital signage, that is an interactive, dynamic form of electronic advertising, is most certainly on the rise. Of course you may expect retailers and mainstream advertisers to use this engaging and dynamic form of advertising to attract new customers and make sales, but even your favorite friendly MD may be taking advantage of digital signage soon, increasingly medical practitioners are.

One of the biggest complaints that any patient has about a doctors practice is the time they have to spend in the waiting room. Some busy offices see wait times as long as two hours. Many savvy medical professionals are now installing digital signage systems in their waiting rooms, instead of conventional television.

These doctors are using content that educates and informs patients about their medical conditions, the treatments their practice offers and informative infomercial type programs about a particularly hot medical issue that the practice treats.

As an example, a general surgeon my chose to utilize his or her digital signage system to provide patients with all kinds of information about illnesses and medical conditions that lead a patient to seek their advice, as well as programming detailing the particular surgical techniques that they are trained in.

This kind of use of a digital signage system has a number of benefits for both patient and physician. The reason for the long waits in most physicians offices is that they are just not able to efficiently accommodate every patients questions and concerns within the 15 minutes they are usually allotted to do so. These days medicine is much a business as any other industry, and often a doctor has to see an allotted number of patients every day to make ends meet.

By having a waiting room digital signage system that displays accurate information about the medical conditions the doctor treats the chances are good that many of a patients questions and concerns can be addressed and satisfied in the waiting room by watching the content that is displayed, therefore saving both patient and doctor time for other more important discussions. In addition, all patients can have something to watch that will keep them entertained and less annoyed by the long wait times they may be subject too.

Lastly, the doctor can sell space on his in office digital signage programming to drug companies, allowing them to promote drugs that are related to the conditions he treats.

Dave is a technical author in the field of outdoor digital signage, as well as owning the leading European manufacturer of LCD enclosures, that are used in outdoor digital signage solutions to protect TV's from vandalism and the weather.

Understanding Surgery By Doctor Joel Berman Presents Medical Info for Families!

I highly recommend Dr. Joel Berman's Understanding Surgery for your home medical reference bookshelf! I was pleased to be asked to review the 2008 second printing of this major effort, and found that, just as the title says, it is A Comprehensive Guide for Every Family!

One thing I want to quickly point out. Although this book is geared toward Surgery; i.e., Dr. Berman provides complete information that is needed as you are considering surgery, I found that the book is so well presented and written, that it is easily also a wonderful overall medical reference manual. For instance, if you have something that is bothering you in your chest, there is an extensive index that can be used to find different issues to review. Also, since there is no way to totally eliminate the use of hard-to-understand medical terms, Dr. Berman has included an extensive glossary that is written in easily understandable words.

I admit that I'm one of those individuals who is afraid to hear "the bad news" because I find it hard to understand and thus fear interactions with doctors and potential surgeons. However, right from the start of the book, Dr. Berman has taken the time to make readers feel more comfortable--he has written silly, funny, and sometimes outrageous limericks to start each conversation. Then he moves very professionally into describing exactly what is involved and what the patient and family needs to know as they explore the option for surgery.

The manual is divided into two parts. The second part includes a single chapter on anything and everything that may be operable (and even a little about what is not). Dr. Berman moves from his own "general surgery" area, which includes such things as gall bladder, appendix, and transplants. Then he moves into areas for which specialists are normally sought, moving through various parts of the body from head to feet, (including plastic surgery) describing what may be problems, and then what can and would be done through surgery. Each narrative includes detailed diagrams of the affected body area, clearly marked for use in understanding the actual process.

While Part II will be the more important part of this reference manual on an ongoing basis, I found Part I to be very informative. Oftentimes, professionals, especially specialists, are brought in to handle a specific task, or surgery. While we, the patients are grateful, we have no idea what has actually taken place!

Dr. Berman, in Part I, has taken care of this problem! He begins with a brief history of surgery, education of the surgeon and then specialties that have been developed. He talks about the details that we, the patients, wouldn't immediately think about if we were in pain, but that would be very important to us, if we weren't seeing the individual for an immediate medical reason. The book includes what questions to explore with the surgeon(s).

Part I takes us into the surgeon's office, into the operating room and/or an outpatient surgical center, as well as the emergency room. He ensures that we need to talk to our surgeon, consider second opinions, credentials, and qualifications of the individuals involved. Then the issues of postoperative care, complications, infections and antibiotics are covered.

The potential use of lasers or laparoscopy (a method of operating which uses only a few small openings into the abdomen) are, first, explained, and then reviewed as options. The importance of rehabilitation is covered thoroughly. Then more detailed information on problem areas, such as hemorrhage, the issue of diabetes and surgery and problems with wound healing, as well as the importance of anesthesia and the professional in that area are discussed.

In fact, as I reviewed the book, I could not think of anything that I could want to know that was not at least mentioned by Dr. Berman. And, if more information was suggested, then he also provided references, including his first book, Comprehensive Breast Care.

Unfortunately we oftentimes do not think about valuable health-care information until it is too late to spend time reading and learning what we want to know. For this reason, I consider this a must-read/home library requirement! Spend some time right now and prepare for responding to life-threatening issues!

Preferred Doctors and Workers' Compensation Claims

Injuries that occur to a person while he or she is on the job often involve different steps than injuries that happen during a person's free time. If you are injured on the job, you may be required to visit medical professionals recommended by the insurance company and may have to take different steps to gain compensation for your claim.

If you are injured away from work, you have the right to visit the medical provider of your choice. Many people may have a doctor or physician that they have visited for a long time and may feel more comfortable consulting someone who they know and trust. In many cases, personal doctors and physicians may be familiar with the patient's medical history, allergies, and other important information that can help with treatment of injuries.

If a person is injured on the job, however, he or she may be required to visit a physician specified by the company's insurer. Insurance companies may also have medical providers that they trust, and they may wish to use their own doctors to help prevent false insurance claims. By using doctors that they trust, insurance companies claim to be able to protect against higher rates caused by exaggerated or falsified injury claims.

In the event that an injured worker does not like the doctor assigned to his or her case, the employee may be able to request another physician to examine them. In some cases, the employer may agree to the use of a person's preferred specialist, but many times they will simply assign another company-recommended doctor to check the injury.

Additionally, some states allow for people to switch to their own medical provider after being treated for three months. During this period, the insurance provider typically will continue to pay for the required treatment. If you are concerned about the specific laws in your state, consult an experienced worker's compensation attorney to help determine what type of medical attention you are eligible for. In the end, proper care is the main goal and a full recovery is preferred by all.

If you have been injured in a work-related injury, you may be eligible for worker's compensation benefits. If you would prefer to visit your own doctor for treatment, you may be able to do so under the specific laws in your state. For more information on work injuries and workers' compensation benefits, visit the website of the Philadelphia workers' compensation lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C.

Ten Things A Doctor Joining a Medical Group Must Know Before Signing Your Employment Contract

BEFORE JOINING A MEDICAL GROUP, YOU MUST LEARN THE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. Who owns the property where your office is located?

2. If one or more partners own the property, do they charge your Group rent for the space it occupies? To understand this, let's say that your Group has three doctors. Dr. Senior Citizen bought the building 15 years ago, where your office is located. He's now the landlord. Dr. Middle Aged, and Dr. Young Un' are employees of the Group. Your Group then pays rent, as it always did to the landlord. But now, the landlord just happens to be the senior partner of the Group. In reality, he's paying himself money from his practice for rent. Believe it or not, this is totally legitimate. He's using pre-tax dollars to pay his office rent. He's then receiving rent from the Group to pay any mortgage or other expenses he has on the building, like maintenance and upgrades.

I'll bet you anything that he's making a profit on his investment. It's a strange situation and gives the appearance that there's something wrong with this set-up, but most times there's nothing wrong with doing this. The senior partner could just as easily have bought a building down the street. But shouldn't Dr. Senior Citizen at least give his Group a discount on the rent? From Dr. Citizen's point of view, why should he? From the Groups' perspective it seems greedy that Dr. Senior Citizen won't reduce the rent, thereby leaving more money in the Group to pay the employees a bonus at the end of the year.

This has happened in a number of Groups and the employees wind up paying their partners for the benefit of renting space the Group or a member of the Group already owns! This tends to generate animosity because the Partners are clearly benefiting from owning the property at the expense of their associates. The employees of the group need to understand that the owner of the property deserves to be paid regardless of who the landlord is.

In most cases, it is not the Group that owns the building but rather one or two of the partners that own it directly either personally or through a corporate entity. If the medical Group owned the building then this scenario would be different, and it would be a good idea to address this point further.

3. How much time is left on your office lease?

4. How many doctors work in the Group? How many are partners? How many full partners? How many partial or non-equity partners? (A non-equity partner is someone who is held out to the public as a 'partner' yet does not share in the profits of a true 'partner' A non-equity partner will usually be paid a higher salary than when he was simply an employee. The downside is that as a non-equity partner, you have no right to, and cannot claim any portion of the profits.) How many physician employees?

5. How many staff do you employ?

6. Hours of operation?

7. Call schedule? Do partners take equal call? Do associates take same call as the partners?

8. How many days per week are you expected to see patients in the office?

9. How many offices will I need to travel to?

10. Do I rotate through different offices or do I stay in one office?

Even before you start to negotiate your physician employment contract, you need information- lots of it. The only way to get that information is to ask lots of questions. This way, you'll be better informed, and better able to evaluate your options.

Attorney Oginski has been in practice for over 19 years as a trial lawyer practicing exclusively in the State of New York. He has recently published a book that will help every doctor in residency and every doctor changing jobs to understand their employment contract. Take a look at his useful website, http://www.mdcontract.com for more information.

Over the last twelve years, Gerry has developed a niche practice helping residents and physicians who are changing jobs by evaluating and negotiating their physician employment contracts. Gerry can be reached at http://www.oginski-law.com, or 516-487-8207. All inquiries are free and totally confidential.

Parental Rights in Children's Medical Care: Parents, Do You Dare Say No to Doctors?

What's a more frightening nightmare for parents than their children's illness? It is the fear of losing custody of their children.

In America, parents risk losing custody of their children forever when they disagree with doctors' recommended treatments or even when they want a second opinion.

That's what happened to the Werneckes in Texas in 2005, Corissa Mueller in 2002, Pam Anderson in 2000, Tina Phifer in 1997, and a slew of other parents and children who have been victimized throughout American history. My mother Juliet Cheng was one parent whose child was forcefully and wrongly taken away by Child Protective Services over treatment disputes--not only once, but twice. The first time happened when I was twenty-two months old because my mother requested the doctor to stop giving me aspirin, which was worsening my condition and causing severe side effects. The second custody case occurred when I was seven years old after she had wisely chosen not to follow a doctor's plan to operate on six of my joints at once during the time when I had no medication to control my inflammation.

Fortunately, she won me back both times so I did not receive the unnecessary, harmful treatments that would send me to my grave.

The last custody case in 1990 made international headlines. My mother appeared on CBS This Morning with Paula Zahn, and the news was reported on CNN, in New York Times, Newsweek, Washington Post, among many other major media outlets. She gained worldwide support, including from celebrities like Connie Chung and Katharine Hepburn.

When I was seven, I did not have a voice. Now, fifteen years later, I am here to speak for every parent and child because everyone is a potential victim to this injustice when the child falls ill--including your own child or grandchild. I am here to help today's loving parents protect and keep custody of their children.

It is a crime when doctors force unwanted or harmful treatments on children, and it is a violation against humanity when the state tears loving parents and children apart.

The American government needs to deal with each case according to its unique needs, instead of acting upon the same plan for every case. Just because a loving parent who only wants the best for their child disagreed with a medically recommended treatment does not mean their child should be torn away from them. In this democratic land of independence, the medical laws are extremely out of place.

America will be better if it gives freedom to devoted, competent parents. The average parent wants the best for their child. We, the patients in our own bodies and caregivers who have cared for the patients for years, know what is best for us, better than any doctor or nurse.

So, what is the question here regarding the parental rights issue? Is it who loves the children the most or is it who knows what's the best for the children? I believe that question could only be answered by God. God created us, so He must know what's the best for each and every one of us, but He gives us free will and the rights to care for ourselves on our own.

Medical Billing - Doctor Files Overview

We all live in our own little world. What we see in front of us is pretty much all we believe there is. In the world of medical billing, this can be a nightmare waiting to happen when it comes to doctor files. Why? Well, there are quite a few reasons. We're going to cover some basic things you will need to know about your doctor files before setting them up in your DME billing system and then afterwards when you're getting ready to bill them.

The first thing you need to be aware of is that if you are a medical billing agency, you will most likely be billing all kinds of claims. They can range from people with broken legs who need wheelchairs to people who have smoked for 50 years and now need oxygen because of it. Both bills require not only different pieces of information to be sent but different kinds of doctors. Most likely, the patient with the broken leg has gone to an orthopedic surgeon. The patient with the bad lungs probably went to a heart or lung specialist. Why does this matter when it comes to billing for services rendered?

For starters, these doctors have different kind of billing practices. They also belong to different medical agencies, even though they both fall under the general blanket of the AMA. Why does this matter? Because the way each doctor's insurance is set up with the various agencies such as Medicare and Medicaid is different. Each is governed by different rules and regulations. Oxygen, as an example, is highly regulated. Much more so than simply setting a broken leg. You're going to have to jump through more hoops billing the doctor for the oxygen claim than for the doctor who set the broken leg. Again, how does this affect the setup of the doctor file itself?

Each doctor file has a number of fields. One of the most important of these fields is the category that the doctor falls into. This category must be transmitted to the insurance carrier, either on the paper claim or in the electronic billing format in the doctor record. Because of this, you want to make sure that when you setup your doctor file for each doctor that you include the correct category. What happens if you don't? Simple. The claim will be denied and for reasons that you can't even comprehend, not the least of which is that the doctor isn't authorized to perform the procedure. It might seem like a simple and stupid thing, but it's the simple things that usually trip up most claims.

When you're actually billing the claim, after the doctor files have been set up, you want to make sure that you're pulling the right doctor for the patient. The way this is usually done is by a cross reference in the patient file to the doctor file itself. This way a screw up isn't possible, unless the initial cross referencing is done incorrectly to begin. That's why you need data entry specialists who have to be extremely careful.

Medical Check-Up - What Does Your Doctor Need From You?

How can you get the most from a visit with your doctor?

First, wear clothes that are easy to get on and off. Wear comfortable shoes, too, because you may have to do some walking. You may want to wear a long-sleeved shirt because buildings can be drafty. Bring a magazine to look at, a bottle of water, and lists of health facts with you. Gathering these facts can take weeks, so start now. Here are the things your doctor needs to know.

YOUR BIG PROBLEM. Why did you make the appointment? Have you been feeling this way a long time? Can you still get things done?

OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS. If you do not hear well tell the doctor. If you can not see well, even with glasses, tell the doctor. Do not be afraid to ask questions.

YOUR SYMPTOMS. What are they? Where are they? How long have you felt this way? Does anything set off these symptoms?

X RAYS AND TEST RESULTS. If you have x-rays bring them with you. You should also bring your medical records -- shots you had in the past, surgery you may have had, and test results. Bring letters from other doctors if you have them.

PRESCRIBED MEDICINE LIST. List all the things you are taking and how often you take them. Bring the medicine bottles with you if you do not understand the directions. Make two lists, one for your doctor and one for you.

OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINE LIST. You may be taking "baby" aspirin, cough syrup, vitamins and herbs. List everything you take and how often you take it. Number the list. How long have you been taking these things?

YOUR HEALTH HISTORY. Think about the the illnesses you had when you were a child, the injuries you had, like a broken arm, when and if you were in the hospital, the number of kids you have, and anything else that may help the doctor. Make two lists, one for the doctor and one for you.

YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH HISTORY. Did your mom have breast cancer? Did your aunt have breast cancer, too? Think about your relatives' health because it could have something to do with yours. After you have talked with relatives write down what they have told you and put your family health history in a safe place. Getting ready for a visit with your doctor helps your doctor to help you.

Copyright 2007 by Harriet Hodgson

http://www.harriethodgson.com

Harriet Hodgson has been a freelance nonfiction writer for 29 years. She is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD is available from http://www.amazon.com A five-star review of the book is posted on Amazon. You will find more reviews on the American Hospice Foundation Web site and the Health Ministries Association Web site.

Massage Can Treat Many Medical Problems, But Without the Doctors, Pills, and Bills

It is amazing and frightening at the same time what types of foods people eat. With all that is known and suspected about heavy fats, cholesterol, sugars, carbohydrates, sodium, and hydrogenated oils, it is a wonder that individuals continue to stuff their faces with excessive amounts of fast food and prepackaged processed foods. What is even worse is that the majority of these individuals are passing on these bad habits to their children. The best answers to this continued problem is changing one's diet, exercising, and massage. Yes, massage.

Massage has been a common practice in the Far East for hundreds, if not thousands of years to treat all manner of ailments and debilitating conditions. Western medicine is just now past its infancy with regards to understanding exactly how, through massage, the human body can heal and treat conditions. The medical community is constantly learning more of the hows and whys pertaining to this type of therapy.

As a person ages, the stresses of everyday modern living takes a toll on the body. The eyes wear out faster, tension headaches frequently visit, and the skin ages prematurely. Massage and exercise help to combat the effects of modern stress by relieving eye strain and muscle tension, which often goes hand in hand with tension headaches. Even the skin's health, appearance, and nourishment can benefit from massage therapy and exercise.

Massage is well known to relieve tension and promote deeper and easier breathing just as meditation does, but there are many more benefits that are not as well known. There are a myriad of massage techniques and focal points ranging from deep tissue massage to aromatherapy which can be used that will treat particular problems or affect certain parts of the body. Many of these methods can be combined to improve an individual's wellness and stress level. Through repeated sessions, massage therapy has been shown to reduce blood pressure, improve circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids, and strengthen the immune system.

While western medicine can improve people's quality of life, it is clearly a fact that multiple massage techniques can improve an individual's quality of life as well, but without all of the blood tests, pills, and thousands of dollars in medical bills. Individuals owe it to themselves to explore every option before resigning themselves to expensive doctors who may not be able to help, but will certainly get paid regardless.

For more information and guidance about massage therapy, visit http://www.leosmassagetherapy.com. Leo's Massage Center specializes in most types of relaxation and therapeutic massage, including hot stone, swedish, sports, etc.

Affordable Health Insurance Plan - Insight on Doctors and Medical Insurance Providers

It is true that choosing a doctor is not an easy task. This is the case with people that have changed their home locations and health insurance companies. You can get advice from friends and colleagues but the fact remains that the medical plan you buy should be suitable considering your medical needs.

It is important that you understand the terms associated with the doctors you will be given in the plan you intend to buy. A lot of companies may limit your access to plan-approved doctors and encourage you to go for plan-affiliated doctors. At this point, you will have to make a firm decision when checking the plan and the doctors offered. It is important that you note that no matter the medical insurance company you work with, the final decision of the doctor to work with is on you. Before you choose a doctor, here are some factors to consider.

You need to know the physical location of the office. This will make it easy for you to calculate issues of accessibility when there's urgent need. It is important that you use referrals and if you are not satisfied with the services of the provided doctors, you should switch to your preferred doctors. Take note of the customer relationship practices in the office and note how professional they are when responding to their duties. It is important that your calls and questions are treated urgently and as confidential as possible. This is where you can easily differentiate leading health insurance companies from the pack medical cover providers.

Where To Get Free Professional Help From Leading Medical Insurance Companies and Compare Their Free Quotes Online?

Medical Billing Work

Doctors and other health care professionals are hard-pressed for time when they have to take good care of their patients as well as conform to the legalities of the medical system. So many administrative tasks like medical billing and insurance claims handling can draw focus away from their main line of expertise. Instead of practicing medicine and saving precious lives, doctors could be forced to chase down payments and submit claims if the proper administrative infrastructure is not in place. Erroneous data entry, delayed claims and a host of other unforeseen contingencies can considerably sap a health care professional's money, time and energy. With the need to adhere to legal requirements in medical practice, doctors are burdened more than ever before with formalities that are totally unrelated to their profession.

One of the most efficient solutions to this issue is to outsource most of the administrative work to professionals who specialize in this area. Right from carefully entering patient records to handling all the legal issues related to insurance claims, every step of the process is efficiently handled by these professional services. Conforming to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA is another important reason why health care professionals need to outsource these administrative tasks. Maintaining the confidentiality of patient records is a highly technical and resource intensive task. And since failure to comply with the HIPAA could mean loss of accreditation or reputation and the possibility of financial penalties, it is of utmost importance for doctors to leave the responsibility of handling patient records with people who know how to do the job efficiently.

Medical billing service providers utilize highly efficient software to enter patients' medical data as precisely as possible. Error free records get processed much faster which minimizes the risk of claims being denied. This results in faster and better payments for doctors. All changes in legal requirements are immediately incorporated into the software by service providers, thus relieving doctors from the headache of restructuring their systems every time there is a change made in the law.

In these financially difficult times, doctors are moreover advised to restructure their patients' repayment schedules to help them pay back without defaulting on their payments. Doctors can also offer a discount on their fee which would help them get their payments on schedule. It would be better for doctors to lower their fee and get paid on time rather then stick to their fee structure and then get delayed in payments endlessly. Adapting to changing times is probably the best strategy to survive in a competitive environment. Going for professional administrative support in the area of practice management is the first step in that direction.

Medical Doctors of Washington - District of Columbia Doctors

There are several doctors located in the area of Columbia, Washington that offer different types of health care and medical treatments. These doctors have their own clinics where patients can have immediate medical attention especially when hospitals are far away from their home.

Some of these doctors can provide home service treatment for patients who cannot visit their clinics due to serious illness. These doctors are mostly affiliated with hospitals in which they can refer patients in case further treatment is necessary.

Washington Institute of Natural Medicine
3402 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 237-7681

Among the established medical institutions is the Washington Institute of Natural Medicine. The institute provides homeopathy treatment to many patients in Washington, D.C. and its neighboring districts. The center is manned by certified doctors of naturopathy and licensed natural health care personnel.

Dr. Victoria K. Goldsten is the director of the center. Since 1973, Dr. Goldsten has devoted her expertise in treating several patients. During her early medical practice, she has served to several hospitals in the area. She is also a certified in homeopathy, acupressure, hypnotherapy, and Reiki.

Her credentials include:
• B.S. Nursing degree holder
• Doctorate degree in Naturopathy
• Registered Naturopath in the District of Columbia
• Licensed nurse and massage in Maryland and Washington

Dr. Goldsten has also conducted several seminars on the importance and methods of natural medicine.

Dr. Neal J. Naff
Telephone: 410-616-7600
Dr. Naff is a certified neurosurgeon. Dr. Naff finished his neurosurgical study at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

His credentials and achievements include:
• Founding member of Chesapeake Neurosurgery
• Chief of Neurosurgery at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and St. Joseph Medical Center
• Surgical Director of the CyberKnife Radiosurgery Center

As an expert in the treatment of the nervous system, Dr. Naff has gained many recommendations regarding complex surgical pain procedures. These include methods like implanting morphine pumps and spinal cord stimulators.

Dr. Naff is also affiliated with some of the finest hospitals including Union Memorial Hospital, Northwest Hospital, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, and Carroll Hospital Center.

Among the services provided by Dr. Naff includes:
• Complex spinal reconstruction and stabilization
• Spinal tumor surgery
• Lumbar discectomy
• Cervical discectomy and fusion
• Microdiscectomy
• Kyphoplasty
• Lumbar facet blocks

Dr. William C. Lauerman
Georgetown University Orthopedics
3800 Reservoir Road, N.W.
Washington, DC 20007
Telephone: 202.444.8766

Dr. Lauerman is a resident doctor of the Spine Center at Georgetown University Hospital. He is a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon and has made successful surgeries to many patients.

Most of the resident doctors in the hospital are specialists who came from the Orthopedic and Neurological Surgery, Neuroradiology, Pain Management, and Rehabilitation Medicine.

The hospital provides the latest in surgical and non-surgical medical treatment. Treatment includes degenerative disorders or spinal stenosis, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, spine tumors, infections, and spinal fractures.

Dr. Randy F. Davis
Spine and Pain Center
Telephone: 410-553-8290

Dr. Davis received his doctorate degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is a certified orthopaedic surgeon and also a professor in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Davis is also a member of the North American Spine Society and the Cervical Spine Research Society. He conducts lectures around the world in topics pertaining spinal injuries.

Organizational Membership:
• Cervical Spine Research Society
• North American Spine Society
• Scoliosis Research Society

His medical expertise includes:
• Degenerative Spine
• Spinal Deformity
• Trauma
Dr. Davis is also affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Baltimore Washington Medical Center.

Medical Malpractice - 10 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Sue Your Doctor

1. You like your doctor

So, what's wrong with that? Nothing. Most of us like our doctors. That's why we trust them and keep going back to them for treatment. But should the fact that you like your doctor prevent you from seeking compensation when he or she committed wrongdoing that caused you physical and emotional injury?

The law in New York permits anyone who has been injured by another to bring a lawsuit for compensation. This law originated from common law and goes back hundreds of years. In fact in some religions there is evidence that this type of law goes back thousands of years. It makes good common sense. If another person causes you harm, you are entitled to obtain money to pay for your medical expenses, your lost earnings, your future lost earnings, the damage to your property, and of course, compensation for the pain and suffering you endured.

So, should the fact that you like your doctor prevent you from bringing a lawsuit? It might make you feel uncomfortable, but I guarantee that when you start to think about your disabling injuries and how your doctor caused them, the anger and hostility you feel will usually outweigh your fondness for your doctor.

2. What good will the money do for you?

This is a common rhetorical question that defense attorneys often ask plaintiff's lawyers. "The money won't bring your loved one back," "The money won't make you whole again," "The money you're asking for isn't going to change anything..."

However, money is the only thing that our justice system allows us to recover when an injured victim sues their wrongdoer. While those comments above may all be true, we are prohibited from taking justice into our own hands. Therefore, what else can we obtain for the injured victim? Money is the only thing that allows us to pay the medical bills that were generated as a result of the wrongdoing. Money is going to make the victim more financially secure. Money will help the injured victim with ongoing medical care and rehabilitation. The injured victim will not be a burden on a City or governmental handout. Money will help his children go to school or camp. Money may help with modifications needed in his home- such as a wheelchair ramp or modified kitchen appliances.

Money can never make us whole, or replace the agony and suffering that was caused by a doctor or a hospital. But the money is supposed to make those wrongdoers think twice about doing that same action again, and hopefully prevent the next person from being a malpractice victim.

3. Your doctor's reputation will be tarnished

Contrary to popular opinion, (or at least from the doctor's insurance company) this is not an accurate statement. Most people living in a civilized society recognize the right to sue. The fact that a doctor has been or is sued is not that significant. If you ask a doctor if they've been sued, they will often be quick to explain how the case had no merit. Importantly, the physician will still continue to practice medicine and there will usually be no disciplinary action taken as a result of a civil medical malpractice lawsuit. The belief that a doctor's reputation will suffer a blemish if sued, is simply not correct.

4. Your doctor will be banished from his community

Once again, this statement is not true. The doctor will continue to practice medicine (even if they lose the malpractice suit against them, and are required to pay the injured victim money). The doctor will not lose their license, and in all probability, the award will not be reported in the local papers, and most of his patients won't even know of the lawsuit or the award.

5. Your doctor will shut his medical practice

No he won't. He might be outraged that he has to defend a lawsuit and take time away from his practice for a few days, but there is no reason for him to shut his medical practice.

In very extreme cases where the physician is a threat to the health and well-being of his patients, the New York State Department of Health can and will shut down the doctor's practice and revoke his license to practice.

But, in the majority of cases, this does not happen, and the doctor continues on with his practice and his life.

6. Your doctor may lose his license

Not true. A civil lawsuit in New York has no effect on whether a doctor does or does not lose his license to practice medicine. In order for a New York doctor to lose his license, the New York State Department of Health investigates a complaint of wrongdoing. After extensive investigation and after a hearing where the physician gets to explain what happened and why, the Department of Health reaches their own conclusions about whether treatment was rendered in accordance with good medical care or whether there were deficiencies.

The options to punish or cure the deficiencies are many, and only as the most extreme- and last resort option would the Health Department revoke a physician's license. But simply by bringing a lawsuit against a physician for monetary compensation does not affect his license to practice medicine.

7. Your doctor may alter your records

Believe it or not, this has been known to occur in rare instances. When it does, the attorney representing you may be able to prove it. If your lawyer is able to prove that your doctor altered your records, the doctor could suffer significant penalties and could lose his license to practice medicine. The fact that he may or may not alter your records should not prevent you from investigating and/or pursuing an action on your behalf. There are usually other ways to determine what treatment was rendered, and often such action by a doctor can help your case by showing the extent to which the doctor tried to cover up the wrongdoing.

8. Your doctor may apologize and tell you it was all a mistake

There are recent medical and insurance studies that have confirmed that when doctors and hospital staff are straightforward and honest about what happened, patients and their families tend to understand that 'not everyone is perfect'. In fact, some hospitals encourage the doctors to fess-up and tell the patients they screwed up, and apologize, and arrange to have the hospital immediately reconcile financially with the patient and his family. The studies indicate this works.

Does that mean that you shouldn't sue because the doctor apologized? Not necessarily. An apology may not solve your problems. You need to decide whether such an apology is sufficient. Most people will tell you it's not.

9. Your friends and family may think you're a gold-digger

If you live your life concerned about what your friends and family think, then maybe you shouldn't sue-under any circumstance. Your friends have not experienced what you have gone through. Nor do they live with the constant pain and disability that you have. They may not truly understand what you will live with for the rest of your life.

Some folks simply don't want their friends and family to know they're involved in a lawsuit. The reasons are endless. "I don't want anyone knowing my business." "I don't want my neighbors knowing how much of an award I received." "I don't want my family members asking me for money- this is for my future- I can't work anymore, and I can't afford to give it away." "I don't want my relatives to argue with me about why I sued my doctor."

You must decide for yourself whether these concerns outweigh your legal right to bring suit and recover money for your injuries.

10. Your injuries aren't that disabling

There are cases where the injuries are significant, but have cleared up after many months or years. The fact that you may no longer be permanently disabled is a factor to determine how much your case is worth. If you are no longer disabled- we congratulate you and your success in overcoming your injuries. If you can do those activities that you used to do, we are extremely pleased with your recovery. You should know however, that such success means that the value of your case may be limited to the time you were injured and disabled. Most people would agree with this result. You only can receive compensation for the time you were injured and disabled.

Many injured folks may make a recovery, but still be unable to do all of those daily life activities they used to do. Where there is an ongoing problem or disability, the value of your case is generally greater than where you have totally healed.

Gerry Oginski is an experienced New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial attorney and practices exclusively in the State of New York. He has tirelessly represented injured victims in all types of medical malpractice and injury cases in the last 19 years. As a solo practitioner he is able to devote 100% of his time to each individual client. A client is never a file number in his office.

Take a look at Gerry's website http://www.oginski-law.com and read his free special reports on malpractice and accident law. Read actual testimony of real doctors in medical malpractice cases. Learn answers to your legal questions. We have over 200 FAQs to the most interesting legal questions. Read about his success stories. Read the latest injury and malpractice news. I guarantee there's something for you.
oginski-law.com
516-487-8207

Electronic Medical Records - Most Doctors Say No

The Obama administration will be devoting billions of dollars to promote electronic medical records (EMR) for doctors. Today, EMR vendors run in and out of doctors' offices trying to hawk their software. Each one claims to be the holy grail of electronic records. I admit that the concept seems intoxicating.

The promise of a paperless office is certainly seductive. The notion of physicians and patients having access to their medical records from any computer would improve medical quality and efficiency. Every doctor knows how frustrating it is to see a patient in the emergency room when the relevant medical records are sitting in the primary doctor's office or in a hospital across town. Conversely, EMR permits the primary physician, who may not have been the hospital treating physician, to be easily updated after hospital discharge when the patient returns to his office. Many patients I see today in my office don't know their medications and can't recall prior illnesses or even operations. EMR solves this issue.

EMR also permits easy analysis of patient data to track important medical benchmarks including colon cancer screening, Pap smears, immunizations, mammograms and other preventative tests. Doctors like me who still use paper, rely on old fashioned methods to track who is due for a screening colonoscopy. EMR technology could permit our office to contact all patients who reach the milestone age of 50 alerting them that their colon cancer screening experience is beckoning. This would be superior to our current manual mail & call technique. EMR also eliminates the frustration of a missing medical chart. Electronic files are also more current, since data is entered much faster than paper reports. Sending medical records to other physicians' offices could be accomplished with a keystroke, which traditionally can take weeks. EMR also eliminates the inscrutable penmanship of physicians, which at times needed CIA code breakers to decipher.

With EMR, patients could have their complete medical data, including EKGs and actual x-ray images on a personal flash key. With this technology, a doctor on a cruise ship could see your chest x-ray from 2 weeks ago.

Over time, EMR saves money by improving office efficiency, reducing repeating medical tests and reducing postage expenses.

If this system promises physicians a medical utopia, then why doesn't every doctor sign up? The New England Journal of Medicine reported in their April 16, 2009 issue only 17% of physicians is using some degree of EMR in their offices. Hospitals are much further behind in acquiring these systems. Chances are that your physician hasn't pulled the EMR trigger yet either.

Michael Kirsch, MD is a full time practicing physician and freelance author. He writes about the joys and challenges of medical practice including controversies in the doctor-patient relationship, medical ethics and measuring medical quality. When he is not writing, he is performing colonoscopies. For more articles on this subject, visit: http://mdwhistleblower.blogspot.com/

When to Suspect Doctor Negligence

It is important to note that when mistakes in health care arise, they generally have little or no effect on the patient whatsoever. Indeed, even though avenues of increased communication and disclosure between Doctor and patient have been forged in recent years, mot patients won't even be aware that a mistake has occurred. The other side of the coin can equate to deliberate harm and these thankfully rare occurrences have been well documented in a series of high profile cases.

The ground in between these two opposing ends of a complicated spectrum arises from incidents where Doctors looking after a patient essentially failed to do their very best. From the perspective of a Doctor, the reasons behind mistakes can be easily explained. Anyone can make a mistake particularly when working under pressure. Although gross negligence is totally indefensible, it is also worth remembering that medical ailments don't always follow the textbook example.

Sometimes, a Doctor may not have sufficient background information regarding the patient or may have simply overlooked something trivial. And like the rest of us, Doctors may have underlying personal difficulties that slip into their professional capacities. We're all only human, after all.

The difference with a Doctor is that the results can have far more serious repercussions than a man who fails to wash a car properly or a baker that burns his bread. When things do go wrong in the medical word, patients and their families will find it hard to accept that human error is a fact of life. When you place yourself at the mercy of the medical world, you tend to have an expectation for only the highest standards.

When things do go wrong, it is necessary to ask what you wish to achieve by pursuing the matter. In most cases, mistakes are small enough to be mended by a genuine apology or a reasonable explanation.

From the medical perspective, there is a tendency for defensiveness and a group siege mentality, particularly if the patient and his family are considering a claim for compensation.

Medical cases are notoriously long affairs that are frequently difficult to win with vast expenditure. Not only do you have to prove that the Doctor was negligent, but there has to be evidence that harm was caused as a result of a Doctors actions.

Courts tend to lean towards the protection of the heath care service and winning a claim will always be difficult.

There will always be cases, however, where a court will look more closely at things especially in the event of a death that may have led to a child losing a parent or the patient needing continual and expensive medical treatment.

If you suspect medical negligence, talk it through with the Doctor first. If you're still unhappy, follow the relevant chain of command as far as the complaints manager at your local health authority.

If you still feel dissatisfied, seek a full independent medical review and talk to the medical ombudsman to see if you may have sufficient ground for filing a claim for compensation.

Medical Transcriptionist Is in Demand

Doctors and other medical healthcare professionals are sure grateful to have medical transcriptionists around. They help document important medical files. It makes the doctor's work a little easier. Medical treatment is important and its documentation is equally important. That is why for every doctor's visit we go to, we see our doctors writing down what just transpired from the symptoms down to its recommended treatment. Some doctors who are doing studies do vocal recordings of what is happening. They no longer have the time to write it down on paper. These vocal recordings are sent to a Medical Transcriptionist for documentation. This documentation ensures high-quality patient care and reduces the chances for medical malpractice. That is how important it is.

The best part about a medical transcriptionist is anybody can become one. All it takes is for a person to undergo at least 6 months of training and you can become one because you have to familiarize yourself with medical terms. There are online courses available if you already have a regular day job and you would want to change your career. You will never regret taking it as there is an increasing demand for it. You can take it at any vocational school, community college and distance learning programs. Some of them offer it as an online course.

So many people are actually looking into this career because of its flexibility. Mothers can still earn money even at home by taking in medical transcription jobs. They can watch over the household while still earning money. Most medical transcriptionist telecommute from home-based offices. But the main reason why people are leaning towards this career is because of the increasing job opportunities that it has especially for those who are certified.

Get a Doctor Background Check - Medical Malpractice - Be Safe

When you get a procedure done from your doctor it is important that you know the background history first. There are many ways that you can check to see if your doctor is board certified and has a good history with his or her patients. Most doctors should carry medical malpractice insurance so that if something goes wrong and they get sued they are covered. But for you, it is important that you always check that your doctor has a successful surgery rate, because you do not want to be a statistic. You can search online and find out the background of any physician that you may be working with.

It is always better to be safe than to be sorry so make sure that you do a thorough background check of the doctor that will be working on you. If you want to make sure they have a good record so that you do not have any complications with any procedures you are having done. Even though they may carry malpractice insurance and this can make you feel safer, you want to make sure they do not have in a lot of cases of malpractice.also when searching online make sure that your doctor is still licensed to practice medicine.

Remember that if you're having a procedure done you always wanted to check the background of your doctor to make sure they have not been sued for medical malpractice. You also want to make sure that your physician is licensed to practice medicine in the state that you live in. In some cases a doctor may lose their license and still continue to practice medicine and this is illegal. Just be sure you're safe and do your homework and this way when you have a procedure done you will go confident that everything will go as planned.

Tips on Checking the Status of Doctor Medical Licenses

Letting yourself have complete faith in your surgeon is an important part of get yourself ready for surgery. Looking into the validity of your surgeon's certification is a good idea, especially if you feel uneasy about him. This is the way to research the standings of a physician's medical licensing.

You should inquire for a report via mail. It is simple to check the standings of your physician's medical licensing with conventional 'snail-mail' techniques. Ask for a status report by writing to your state's Medical Board or contact agency. If you're concerned about a surgeon's medical background, you can do a background check to see if there are any issues that may prevent you from hiring him.

Make contact with the medical board in your state. For a more critical or time-sensitive issue, a direct call to your state's medical board will get you an answer faster than a mailed letter. The majority of states (not all of them) will enable you to ask for licensing and disciplinary details over the phone at no cost. You can use the toll-free number. Some people charge minimally. Proceed with this link to get a thorough listing of state medical boards and how to contact them: liposite.com.

Search with an online directory. Such a website will give you instant access to the information from the licensing board in your particular state. These details are continually kept current, saving you the effort of mailing a letter or phoning. However, you should know that depending upon the state you will not be able to find out every thing about a surgeon's license by looking it up online. Some states are only permitted to verify surgeon's licenses, and others can go as far as releasing complete and detailed histories of your career. This is all determined on your state's law for disclosure.

The first online resource you should investigate when inquiring into your surgeon's credentials is the AIM Docfinder site. It includes data regarding quite a few physicians in the majority of states in the US and it is a popular website for furnishing updated information that is reliable. Remember that not every state lists their doctors online. However, you might just be fortunate. Browse here to check out your surgeon: docboard.org.

By going to the ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties) you may verify your surgeon's certification. This website shows Certified Doctor Verification. Just like the website above, this one lists certification and licensing information for most of the doctors and surgeons who work within the United States. Go here to see if you can find information on your surgeon:abms.org. Stick to one trusted website. The information will be trust worthy and up-to-date. The quickest method of verifying the status of your surgeon's credentials is to check online.

Find Out the Meaning of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is committed by a doctor if he failed to exercise the standard of care a doctor in the same line of expertise. (I.e. surgeon has a different standard of care than the chiropractor or both are held different standard of care than a person that is not a doctor). The meaning of Medical Standard of care is a degree of care that a reasonable person should exercise. If the doctor conducted and met the acceptable standard of care, malpractice is not committed. Knowing if the doctor is responsible for medical malpractice is a hard and a long time process that needs thorough investigation and expert witness and testimonies.

Medical malpractice lawsuit purpose is to compensate the person injured by the medical practitioners. It was a long and very tiring process taking care pursuing a medical malpractices case. However, there are excellent medical malpractices attorneys who can help you take care with your issues and help you through the legal process. With their professional advice and assistance, you can go through the procedure in a less hard way. It is also costly for the doctor even if he wins the case that is why the fear of malpractice avoided doctor to commit mistakes or negligence causing for having a good quality of health care. It serves a warning to doctors to conduct any ways that will result injury to patients. They will be more cautious and making sure not to make mistakes to avoid any penalty and legal proceedings.

A reminder though that some thinks that avoiding malpractice does not much contribute in medical care improvement as other doctors became defensive that leads to more laboratory testing and other measures to make sure a true standard of care. It is good as preventive for malpractice case but not in a big help as it is harder and long process not to mention involved substantial cost.

Costly Drugs From Busy Doctors and Greedy Drug Companies Fed to the Uninformed

This story is often told but it still bugs me at how the drug companies, the doctors, insurance and our federal government pay to drug the population. The story came to me again in a conversation with my neighbor. We were visiting about acid reflux. I related my story of my lifelong issues with acid reflux that began when I was a teenager. How I carried Rolaids in my pocket to consume the acid produced after every meal. Eventually my distrust of drugs in general sent me on a search for the cause of my reflux. Using a food journal I isolated the foods that caused my acid reflux. They turned out to be:

· Yeast raised bread products

· Sugar in candy and pastries

· Wheat Gluten

· Cereals

· Overeating

The time of day also contributed and acid came up after 4 PM so I quit eating late.

Then he related his story about his acid reflux. His made a trip to the doctor's office where his doctor prescribed the drug Nexium (the purple pill). It was successful and alleviated his issue with acid reflux. He also told me that the insurance company paid $984 every three months for the one a day medication. I asked him what he would do if he had to pay for the drug. He quickly answered there was no way he could pay and that was why he had company carried insurance. It was amazing to me that neither he nor his doctor had put any effort into the seeking the cause of his acid reflux. They simply fixed it with a pill furnished by a drug company. It is well documented that drugs never cure and only manage health issues. His management pills over the next 10 years will give the drug company $30,925 paid for by his insurance.

That cost blew my mind. I cured my acid reflux by adjusting my food at no cost to me,my insurance company, or the government My contention is that the way medical doctors fix problems is not logical. I understand the economics of both medical doctors and drug companies is to earn money. In my opinion I feel that this person was betrayed by his doctor. I accepted the personal responsibility for my health and found the cause. Doesn't that make more sense in health care reform.

My name is Bill Tallmon. 25 years ago I made a decision to eliminate medical doctors and drugs from my life. The Natural Health credentials I earned (ND, PhD) helped me become my own doctor and do away with the MD and drugs. I believe that you can do the same. I am creating a set of natural health treasures based on my successful journey. I learned to control the pain, weight loss or gain, energy, relationships, mental instability and avert the medical crisis that leads to a medical doctor's drugs and interventions. (beyourowndoc, under construction) is a drug free nature cure approach to the issues of health care. You can find out more. Visit http://embracingnature.net for now.

Why Do Doctors Run Behind? Reflections of a Medical Secretary

It's no wonder why doctors run behind. From my 13 years of secretarial experience I have seen it all, both the doctors and the patients point of view. First, doctors are overbooked with trying to accommodate patients needs, wants, and sometimes demands. It sometimes cracks me up when patients call the office and ask to speak with the doctor, like he's just sitting in his office waiting for a phone call. Sometimes patients call in and ask to speak with the doctor, but will not tell me what about!!!

Love that one!!! Like I haven't heard it all, but it's part of the job, so we explain to the patient that an appointment is required for professional medical advice. Another reason why doctors fall behind is because patients who are scheduled for one medical concern end up talking to the doctor about several medical concerns.

For example, a patient may be scheduled to come in for a lump on their arm and the doctor examines the lump and prescribes the proper treatment. But as the doctor puts his hand on the door to leave, the patient also expresses that they have been having some discomfort in their chest area for the past two days! SURPRISE!!!

As a physician, the doctor cannot morally leave the room and just ignore what the patient has said. He then proceeds in making sure that the patients health is secure enough to leave the building. But in doing so, time is taken away from the doctor, the other patients, and the nurse who has a stack of charts complete with phone messages, prescription refills and specialist referrals, all to be done in an eight hour shift!

Think what you like, but this happens daily. . .several times!

There are also the normal occurrences that cannot be ignored, like walk-in emergencies. This happens more frequently then people realize. As a secretary, it can at times be difficult to accurately block off the time allotted for patient appointments and to be precise about the length.

Being a patient myself, however, I also realize the agony of sitting in a waiting room, sometimes with crying babies, and in the company of other patients, it can be quite scary. And once you're finally called back to the exam room, you often find yourself sitting in isolation for a long period of time,waiting, until ironically

IT'S YOUR TURN!!! You've had a sore throat that's been so bothersome that you need a diagnosis and treatment.

You are examined and treated, but wait, you forgot to mention that stomach pain that's been troubling you for a week...and...and...and!!! Not to mention that your pharmacist informs you that the prescription is not covered by your insurance company and around we go again!

Phone calls, forms that need to be completed in order to convince your insurance company that your doctor knows what he is doing...etc, etc, etc

So why can't I speak with the doctor? Why is he so far behind?

Rich Niemeyer is an avid researcher of anxiety attacks and panic disorders. He believes in a natural course of action and works for an independent family practice in Leola PA. Visit his website at http://leolafamilyhealth.com for more information on Lancaster Family Practice