Legal & Practical Considerations for Telemedicine

In the face of a global health crisis that called for limiting close, in-person contact, it's not surprising telemedicine has enjoyed skyrocketing popularity in 2020.

Conferences go Virtual during COVID

While it is essential for health care professionals to stay current with the rapidly changing body of knowledge, it can be a challenge to accomplish this during the pandemic.

Covid-19 Documentation Toolkit

Life during a pandemic is something few of us will soon forget. But five years from now, how well will you remember the specifics of day-to-day details if you are called on to testify during a lawsuit?

Re-opening Practices during the COVID Pandemic

"We do everything a little different now," Jennifer Perry, Norwood Clinic administrator, says. When Alabama shut down in March to slow the spread of COVID-19, the multi-specialty, 20-physician practice had to stop elective surgeries, ophthalmology visits, and even mammograms. Once the state reopened in May, they had to adapt to new restrictions.

Economic Effect of COVID-19 Shutdowns and Paycheck Protection Program Relief

Five months after the initial COVID-19 shutdown, it is apparent that most industries have been affected by shutdowns, restrictions and quickly changing guidelines and best practices.

Teaching Resiliency in Tough Times

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, creating a sense of normalcy where kids can feel safe and continue to develop the social skills they will need to navigate a complex world isn't easy.

Diversion from Life's Path Leads Physicians on a New Journey

UAB emergency room physician Julian Maha, MD and his wife, UAB Pediatric Critical Care physician Michele Kong, MD were living their dream as successful physicians starting a family with endless opportunities ahead on the path of life.

Addressing the Growing Issue of Firearm Injuries

It's hard to stop what you don't understand. The American College of Surgeons has secured a grant to identify individual & community risk factors for non-lethal firearm injuries.

Broken Heart Syndrome

We use the term 'broken heart' to describe someone suffering emotional distress, but not experiencing an actual medical condition. In cardiovascular medicine, however, this phrase is no longer strictly symbolic. Medical professionals now understand that there is a direct link between severe emotional and a serious cardiac condition.

All of Us Looks to Improve Care for Each of Us

The innovative All of Us initiative from the NIH provides researchers with a rich source of data to speed discoveries in both precision medicine and population health.

Meal Timing Strategies Appear to Lower Appetite, Improve Fat Burning

Researchers at UAB have discovered that meal timing strategies -- like intermittent fasting or eating earlier in the daytime -- appear to help people lose weight.

Evaluating ADA Issues Through the COVID-19 Lens

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are taking a second look at even the most routine of workplace situations. Where multi-employee Monday morning watercooler gatherings once took place, empty spaces with social distancing reminders have appeared.

Non-Discrimination during COVID-19 Pandemic

There have been a number of recent enforcement actions announced by the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights ("OCR") regarding alleged discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HHS Moves Forward with Prescription Drug Import Plan

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a proposed rule that would allow states to pursue pilot programs to import drugs from Canada and a draft guidance that would allow drugmakers to import their own products and sell them under different drug codes.

Proposed Stark Law Changes May Impact Physician Compensation Models

On October 9, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") proposed sweeping changes to the federal Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly referred to as the Stark Law.

AACR Releases Landmark Cancer Disparities Progress Report

On Sept. 16, the American Association for Cancer Research released a first-of-its-kind report outlining disparities in outcomes and clinical trial participation for ethnic and racial minorities, along with other medically underserved populations.

Transcarotid Artery Revascularization

As carotid plaques thicken, narrowing the flow of blood to the brain, the risk of stroke increases. The gold standard for reducing this risk has been endarterectomy, a surgical procedure that involves a fairly substantial incision, anesthesia and recovery time.

Patients Treated with Wrist Access for Arterial Disease Intervention

More than 8.5 million Americans are affected by peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and Alabama has one of the highest rates of the disease and of amputations, which result from critical limb ischemia developed from PAD.

UAB Musculoskeletal Sarcoma Surgery Program

Percutaneous Arteriovenous Fistulas Now in Birmingham

"It's a big deal to be able to have this option," says David Whitley, MD, vascular surgeon at The Vascular Institute of Birmingham, and the first in the region to perform percutaneous creation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in a patient using the Ellipsys device made by Avenu Medical.

O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Focused on Patient Care and Research

Fast Track to Become an Emergency Medicine Doctor

Several years ago, Bruce Burns, MD, FACP, recognized a shortage of Emergency Medicine physicians in Birmingham and other areas in the South.

Children's of Alabama Wins Excellence Award

Children's of Alabama was recognized by NRC Health as a recipient of its 2020 Excellence Award, which recognizes top-performing hospitals in overall patient-experience ratings.

Vines Joins Fagan

Rachel Vines, PA-C has joined Fagan Sports Lifestyle Medicine.

Doctors Join Grandview

William Ennis, MD and Gregory Mayberry, MD have joined the medical staff of Grandview Medical Center.

Research to Understand How Exercise Affects the Body at Molecular Level

The UAB Center for Exercise Medicine is one of the clinical sites participating in the nationwide, NIH-funded Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium study, or MoTrPAC, which aims to increase our understanding of how exercise affect our bodies by measuring molecular changes in healthy adults and children before, during and after exercise.

Two Physicians Join the Cullman Regional Medical Staff

Obstetrician/Gynecologist Taylor Massengill, MD, to the Cullman Regional Medical Staff, practicing at Cullman Primary Care OB/GYN.

Michael Polcari, MD Joins Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center

Michael Polcari, MD has joined Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center.

UAB Receives Grant to Train Physicians for Rural and Underserved Areas

The Department of Family and Community Medicine at UAB has been awarded a $7 million grant from United States Department of Health and Human Services to train additional family medicine physicians to serve in rural and underserved areas of Alabama.

UAB stands 22nd in the nation in NIH Funding

Research funding to the University of Alabama at Birmingham from the National Institutes of Health topped $300 million in 2019, placing UAB 22nd in the list of universities receiving funding from the NIH. Among public universities, UAB ranks ninth.

Carstensen Joins Alabama Bone & Joint

S. Evan Carstensen, MD has joined Alabama Bone & Joint. After, receiving his undergraduate, magna cum laude with honors, and medical degrees from Wake Forest University, he completed his internship and orthopaedic training at the University of Virginia.

Walker Named to Samford University Board of Trustees

Dr. Cecelia Walker, executive director of chaplaincy and clinical pastoral education for Brookwood Baptist Health, has been elected to the Samford University board of trustees. Samford's 40-member board serves a four year appointment as the governing body for the university.

Cox Joins Vulcan Imaging

Chad Cox joined Vulcan Imaging Associates in July.

Doctors Join Norwood Clinic

Drs. Alan Hanley and Elizabeth Carstensen have joined Norwood Clinic.