OTTAWA – Data released from the medical student and resident component of the 2007 National Physician Survey (NPS) highlight the need for governments, medical schools and professional medical organizations to pay attention to the changing face of the medical profession. Medical students and residents have identified several priorities that signify changes from the way previous […]

By T.M. Shultz, The Daily Courier http://www.dcourier.com/ The president of the company that insures about 90 percent of Arizona’s doctors against medical malpractice says he can understand the frustrations of family practice physicians. “It’s extremely difficult for physicians today to meet the financial needs of their practices,” said Dr. James Carland, president of Mutual Insurance […]

By MARSHA SHULER http://www.2theadvocate.com/ The House of Representatives watered down, then killed, legislation Monday to expand coverage under the state’s medical malpractice laws. House Bill 70 by Rep. Greg Cromer, R-Slidell, died when 44 representatives voted for it while 45 representatives voted against it. Fifty-three votes are needed for passage. Sixteen House member didn’t vote. […]

By James Arvantes http://www.aafp.org Two members of the Senate Finance Committee have announced that they are working on legislation to address payment issues for primary care physicians. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chair of the Senate Finance Committee, is expected to introduce legislation in the next several weeks that will increase Medicare payments for primary care physicians, […]

http://www.businesswire.com CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sermo (http://www.sermo.com), the largest physician-only online community, today formally announced the launch of its Discuss on Sermo initiative – a new environment closing the loop between medical researchers and practicing physicians. By linking physician-only discussions on Sermo to current medical research, ‘Discuss on Sermo’ is quickly becoming the world’s largest journal club. […]

By JIM SALTER/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.columbiamissourian.com/ CREVE COEUR — Missouri is seeing the benefits of medical lawsuit restrictions passed nearly three years ago, Gov. Matt Blunt said today. But critics say the law is keeping many people, especially the elderly and needy, from getting justice for medical mishaps. Blunt said that since the liability lawsuit […]

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/ ALBANY—Governor David A. Paterson applauded the work of New York’s hospitals this week and called them critical partners in continuing the State’s push to improve access to quality and preventive health care. During remarks to the Greater New York Hospital Association’s (GNYHA) Annual Meeting in New York City, the Governor said that New York […]

NJ-A.M.-BEST http://www.earthtimes.org/ OLDWICK, N.J. – (Business Wire) A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good) and issuer credit ratings to “a-â€? from “bbb+â€? of Physicians Insurance Mutual Group, which consists of Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company and its reinsured subsidiary, Western Professional Insurance Company. The outlook for the […]

By Charles Bankhead http://www.medpagetoday.com/ SEATTLE, April 22 — The general surgery workforce shrank by more than 25% between 1981 and 2005, potentially setting the stage for a severe shortage in the specialty, investigators here reported. The decline was steeper in urban areas (27%), but rural areas already had fewer general surgeons before a 21% decrease, Dana […]