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A Salute to Medical Pros Who Battle Breast Cancer
At its 14th annual Sisters' Luncheon celebrating breast cancer survivors, the North Central Alabama Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure saluted the entire spectrum of medical professionals who work to make survival possible.
"When a woman begins her treatment, she has no idea that a large team is already available to back her up...
ANN HALPERN |
Komen Funding Supports UAB Breast Cancer Research
The UAB Gene Therapy Center has received ongoing funding from local and national grants from Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "Komen has been very supportive of our efforts to develop therapies and early detection methods. Over the last five years it's been more than $1 million from the national organization,"says David Curiel, MD, PhD, director of the Division of Human Gene Therapy and the UAB Gene Therapy Center.
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Computer Imaging System Enhances Reliability of Pap Tests
For more than 60 years, physicians have used Pap smears to screen for cervical cancer. In recent years, conventional Pap smears have been replaced by the ThinPrep® Pap Test which the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims is more effective than the conventional Pap smear for detecting low-grade squamous intraepithelial and more severe lesions in a variety of patient populations.
ANN B. DEBELLIS |
Genetic Mutation Increases Response to Chemo Drugs
For the almost 150,000 people in the United States who are diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer each year, a new genetic test can identify those patients who are likely to respond to certain chemotherapy drugs. Since non-small cell lung cancer makes up nearly 80 percent of all lung cancer cases, the test has the potential to help a number of patients.
ANN B. DEBELLIS |
Bio-identical Hormones: Real Medicine or Hot Flash in the Pan?
Since my hysterectomy, I have taken hormones to keep the world safe for democracy. It's my small contribution to world peace. Women who have celebrated more than 20 anniversaries of their 30th birthday often echo my sentiment. Hormones make them feel calmer, more in control, and generally more popular, especially at home. Yet controversy reigns today hormones are good, tomorrow they are going to kill you.
VERNA GATES |
Grand Rounds May
UAB Opens Clinic for Rare Genetic Disease
UAB will open the first clinic in the southeast dedicated to treating a rare genetic condition known as tuberous sclerosis (TS). The clinic will serve patients from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas.
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In-Office Endometrial Ablation
Endometrial ablation, which involves destroying the lining of the uterus, has recently evolved from a one-day outpatient surgery to an in-office procedure. Last fall, after receiving approval from the insurance carriers, William M. Johnson III, MD of OB/GYN Associates of Alabama was the first doctor in the state of Alabama to do an in-office endometrial ablation.
STEVE SPENCER |
Need for Hispanic and Bilingual Nurses Grows
Between 1990 and 2000, the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area experienced a Hispanic population increase of 348 percent. In 2004 the Hispanic population numbered 25,000 plus, an increase of more than 35 percent in just four years.
DEBORAH LOCKRIDGE |
New Financial Incentives for Physician Quality Reporting
Widespread physician "pay-for-performance" under the Medicare program is one step closer to a reality. On April 3, 2007, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released 74 detailed specifications for its Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). Under this program, physicians and certain other healthcare providers (including physical therapists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and CRNAs) can earn a bonus payment in return for complying with at least three applicable standards of good practice.
COLIN LUKE |
Nursing Schools Turn to Technology
Area nursing schools are using the Internet to allow practicing nurses to obtain advanced degrees while remaining at work in their nursing jobs.
Last month, Trinity Medical Center announced a partnership with the University of Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing that will allow nurses to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Master of Science in Nursing degree.
DEBORAH LOCKRIDGE |
Physican Spotlight: John Kingsley, MD
On at least two occasions, pausing for a tennis match and a couple of beers ultimately landed John Kingsley, MD, in another state. What was supposed to be a short social visit to Oregon in the late 1970s turned into a 14-year stay and a successful surgery practice in the Northwest. Practically the same thing happened in 1992, when he traveled South for some playing time with his doubles partner from his Navy days and wound up moving to Alabama.
JUNE MATHEWS |
Successful Match Day
Match Day, when graduating seniors at medical schools across the country simultaneously find out where they will be doing their residency training and in what field, was held in mid-March this year, with more than 16,000 U.S. medical school seniors participating.
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Ten Areas for a Physician Practice to Explore Before Adding Ancillary Services
Not a week goes by when I do not receive a call from a physician practice wanting to increase revenue by adding a new modality. These "so-called" ancillary services can take various forms, including ultrasound equipment, nuclear cameras or more expensive diagnostic equipment such as CTs, MRIs, or PET scanners. Other ancillary services might include diagnostic catheterization labs, physical therapy, clinical laboratory services or outpatient prescription drugs. Unfortunately, many physician practices do not fully investigate the financial and operational issues associated with adding a new service and often find themselves paying for costly equipment that is underused or obligated to an expensive long-term contract with no termination options.
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The Women's Health Initiative: A Tale of Two Trials
In 1987, the "grandmother" of hormonal trials tested 875 healthy postmenopausal women from ages 45 to 64. The Postmenopausal Estrogen/ Progestin Interventions (PEPI) trial begun by the National Institutes of Health concluded the best treatment regimen to prevent heart disease would combine estrogen/progesterone therapy for postmenopausal women with a uterus and estrogen alone for women who have had hysterectomies.
In 1991, a more ambitious test was launched with 16,808 women, also postmenopausal.
VERNA GATES |
Working Well Nursing Program Wins Award
The Wellness Councils of America has honored the City of Birmingham's Working Well initiative, which relies heavily on nurses to improve employee health.
WELCOA's 2006 Well Workplace Award winners included the Working Well program with a Gold Award.
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