Back
Dr. Cal Dodson of Red Mountain Internists |
|
A Physician Shortage – The Looming Crisis
The number of primary care physicians has been declining over the past 10 years, and the resulting shortage in pediatricians, general internal medicine and family medicine physicians is becoming a major concern among healthcare professionals.
In 2006, the American College of Physicians warned that primary care was on the verge of collapse and stated that if the trend continues there will not be enough internists to care for an aging population. Without sufficient primary care, medical consumers also will be faced with higher medical costs, lower quality and greater inefficiency in our healthcare system.
ANN DEBELLIS |
William Carroll, MD checks a patient. |
|
Robotic Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer
The da Vinci robot is well regarded for prostate, cardiac, lung, and other surgeries of the chest and mid-section of the body. Recently, doctors at UAB have been working with a new application of the robot, operating on the narrow spaces inside the head and neck.
JANE EHRHARDT |
Excellent visualization of the complete peripheral artery tree. Courtesy of University of Zuerich/Zuerich, Switzerland |
|
Shelby Baptist First Alabama Hospital with Dual Source CT
Weighing in at 8,000 pounds and costing $2.2 million, the SOMATOM® Definition Dual Source CT system is the new pride and joy of the Shelby Baptist Medical Center Radiology Department. Shelby Baptist, the first hospital in Alabama to use this next-generation machine, purchased the Definition in the fall of 2007 and it went into use in February 2008.
LORI K. DITORO |
The Certificate of Need Physician Office Exemption
Before initiating any healthcare project or new healthcare service, physicians should determine whether the project will require a certificate of need (CON).
What is a CON?
A CON is a determination by Alabama’s CON Review Board that a proposed project is in the best interests of the citizens of the state and that it would not be unnecessarily duplicative of other services or unreasonably detrimental to existing providers.
CAREY MCRAE |
Will Varnell, MD, St. Vincent’s East Chairman of Radiology |
|
St. Vincent’s East Lowers Radiation Exposure, Streamlines Imaging Process
St. Vincent’s East’s multi-slice CT scanners, in position for two years, have helped lower the radiation exposure patients receive. “I’m excited about radiation safety and exposure, and the steps we are taking as a group and as a profession to try to minimize the amount of radiation to patients when we image them,” said Will Varnell, MD, chairman of radiology at St. Vincent’s East.
LORI K. DITORO |
Trimming Employee Fringe Benefit Costs Utilizing Health Savings Accounts
Companies are always seeking opportunities to provide employee benefits at a reasonable cost. One of the more unique methods allows participation from the insured and the insured’s family—the Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA is a special account, owned by an individual, which is used to pay for medical expenses in conjunction with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
GERARD J. KASSOUF |
UAB Completes New Biocontainment Lab
With the threat of biological terrorism heightened after the September 11th attacks, the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) wanted to enhance its ability to identify, treat, and vaccinate against infection from bacterial and viral diseases. Part of this effort was the development of regional biocontainment labs. UAB was one of thirteen sites chosen for the project, and the construction phase of the Southeast Biosafety Laboratory Alabama Birmingham (SEBLAB) has been completed.
LORI K. DITORO |
Ricardo Bracer |
|
New Microspheres Deliver Chemo While Blocking Vessels
In April, interventional radiologist Ricardo Bracer, MD was the first in Alabama to perform an innovative cancer treatment. In fact, only 200 such procedures have been performed thus far across the nation.
JANE EHRHARDT |
Andres Forero, MD consults with a patient. |
|
Birmingham Researchers Work On Promising Cancer Drugs
Currently, Birmingham area physicians and scientists are involved in research on several drugs that show promise for treating a variety of cancers.
Experimental Drug for Lymphoma
Patients with follicular lymphoma may have a new agent on their side. Clinical data showed that an experimental drug called AME-133v had a potent tumor-halting response in some patients suffering from this slow-growing, recurrent lymphoma.
JANE EHRDARDT |
Children’s Hospital Now Flies Its Own Transport Helicopter
No medical professional needs to be told that every minute counts when it comes to critical care. But the Critical Care Transport Team at Children’s Hospital of Alabama was acutely aware of that fact whenever the Alabama Lifesaver helicopter they’ve shared since 2000 was already in use, resulting in a delay or requiring another type of vehicle to retrieve a young patient.
MARTI SLAY |
Grand Rounds June
Children’s Hospital Campus To Be Renamed Thanks To Transformational Capital Gift
Crestwood Appeals CON Decision
The Sanders Trust Acquires Building
Urology Centers Hosts Cancer Survivors
UAB Designated NIH Diabetes Research And Training Center
Children’s Health System Announces Pediatric Nursing Hall Of Fame
Trinity Names Assistant Chief Financial Officer
Behavioral Health Systems Promotes Debra Nickolson
UAB First In U.S. To Offer Speedier Precise Cancer Therapy
Certificate of Need Announcement
Uab Creates Executive Doctor Of Science In Administration
|
Stuart Royal, MD, radiologist-in-chief of Children’s Hospital studies images |
|
Image Children Gently
The Image Gently campaign, sponsored in part by the Society for Pediatric Radiology, was initiated to educate physicians of the importance of “child-sizing” the radiation dose when scanning children. Minimizing the amount of radiation that patients receive during X-rays and CT scans is an important goal for radiologists. Following the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) guidelines is critical. Children, in particular, should receive special consideration.
LORI K. DITORO |
Incident To” Guidelines Updated by CMS
Part One of a Two Part Series
Medicare Part B pays for services and supplies that are furnished “incident to” a physician’s or nonphysician practitioner’s (“NPP”) services by auxiliary personnel. Because incident to services and supplies are considered so integral to the physician’s/NPP’s services, they can be billed to Medicare as if the physician/NPP personally performed the service and the claim will be paid under the applicable Medicare fee schedule. On May 2, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued new clarifications for “incident to” billing by a physician or NPP in a physician owned or operated clinic.
HOWARD E. BOGARD |
Morehead with village boys in Ghana. |
|
Physician Spotlight: Dr. Shawn Morehead’s Mission
Growing up in Miami, Fla., can impart the kind of wisdom it takes to successfully bridge cross-cultural differences. Combine that with the influences of a nurse mother, an educator father and missionary grandparents, then throw in a heap of medical education and practice, and you’ve got Shawn Morehead.
A graduate of Lee College (now Lee University) in Cleveland, Tenn., Morehead earned her medical degree from the University of Miami. She also holds a master’s in public health from UAB. She is board certified in family medicine.
JUNE MATHEWS |
|
|
| Google Ad Blocks |
|
| Add our RSS Feed |
|
| |
|
