Dr. Alexander Strasser – Guest essayist http://www.democratandchronicle.com Trial lawyers have had a major impact on medical care. The implied threat of a malpractice suit whenever an outcome is not entirely satisfactory to the patient and family has forced physicians to practice defensive medicine. This is especially true in radiology. It is well known that a […]

Associated Press http://www.tulsaworld.com OKLAHOMA CITY — A Tulsa-based consumer group says many Oklahoma nursing homes appear to be operating without malpractice insurance. Hugh M. Robert, executive director of the Oklahoma Center for Consumer & Patient Safety, says the lack of insurance often leaves families with no legal recourse if a nursing home patient suffers serious […]

Unnati Gandhi http://www.theglobeandmail.com CLEARWATER, B.C. — Every morning at 8 a.m., Bob Mackenzie and John Soles are already making their rounds at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. They slip in a few minor procedures – stitching a wound for an elderly neighbour, setting a bone for the boy across the street – before heading to the […]

By Jeremy Oberstein http://www.burbankleader.com Frustrated by the inherent limitations of the healthcare industry, Dr. Mark Gerard joined a growing group of physicians who are opting for a program that allows them more time to spend with patients. Gerard, a personal care physician in Burbank, converted his primary practice to a concierge-style service that he says […]

By: Robert Swift http://www.thedailyreview.com Gov. Ed Rendell said legislation to reform insurance regulations is just as important as a House-passed bill extending coverage to uninsured adults. As he travels across Pennsylvania, Mr. Rendell said numerous individuals approach him with stories about losing insurance coverage and not being able to get it back because of a […]

By MIKE DENNISON http://www.missoulian.com HELENA – Retiree Hugh van Swearingen hadn’t seen a doctor in four years, but when he called a Helena clinic a few months ago to make an appointment, he was told, sorry, no room at the inn. “They said they weren’t taking new Medicare patients,â€? says Van Swearingen, who is 70. […]

BY FRANK X. MULLEN JR http://www.rgj.com Four years ago, a Reno Gazette-Journal investigation of the state’s medical board concluded that it was easier for consumers to find out information about their building contractors than it was for them to get information about their doctors. At the time, the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners pledged to […]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com ECRI Institute, an independent nonprofit that researches the best approaches to improving patient care, announces a suite of new resources specifically developed to help physician practices assess and address quality, risk management, and patient safety issues. ECRI Institute is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians.

By Physicians Practice http://www.sunherald.com BALTIMORE, March 17 — Physicians and patients of community- based medical practices in the Washington, D.C. metro area will benefit from a new partnership between Physicians Practice and Washington Hospital Center. The new partnership will provide resources to help local physicians manage their practices more efficiently, thereby improving patient care.Under this […]