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 DAN WALLACH, The Enterprise http://www.southeasttexaslive.com Lawsuit reforms in Texas since 1995 have helped lead to $1.75 billion in local investment and creation of more than 8,300 permanent jobs, an economic analysis released Monday said. A group called Texans for Lawsuit Reform Foundation sent out the analysis by Waco-based economist M. Ray Perryman. In his […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

By Derrick DePledge http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com Working under a tight budget, state House and Senate lawmakers have tentatively agreed to appoint a working group to study ways to lure doctors to rural and underserved areas. The group would discuss the idea of a student loan repayment program this year and report to lawmakers next year on how […]

by George Lauer http://www.ihealthbeat.org/ Virtual house calls — or virtual visits to the doctor, depending on your perspective — are making major strides toward the mainstream in North America. In the United States, two large insurers recently announced plans to reimburse physicians for online consultations with patients. Aetna expanded a three-state pilot project to the […]