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| Current Nashville Medical News |
Leading By Example
Getting Healthcare Workers Vaccinated for H1N1
As healthcare providers in Tennessee ramp up to vaccinate the general populace against H1N1, industry leaders around the state still have a major question about the vaccine … namely, will colleagues lead by example or go through the season unprotected?
CINDY SANDERS |
Seeking Shelter
The Effect of the Economy on Medical Housing
Nashville is well respected for the quality of research and treatment options available at the city's many hospitals. Patients with cancer, burns, heart disease, neurological disorders and other complicated diagnoses are routinely referred to one of the city's outstanding facilities for care. With those extended stays, however, comes the unique problem of housing for family members.
CINDY SANDERS |
Making a Move Toward a Hospital Salary?
Physicians Should Bear in Mind Retirement and Tax Issues
According to the most recent Health Tracking Physician Survey, published in September by the Center for Studying Health System Change, there's a decided trend toward physicians abandoning independent practice and opting to be salaried employees of a hospital or health system instead. When weighing the pros and cons of such a move, physicians must carefully examine retirement and tax implications.
SHARON H. FITZGERALD |
Baptist Launches Surgicalist Program
Hospital Rounds Out Its "Ist" List
Baptist Hospital has recently launched a hospital-based surgical initiative. The surgicalist program is the latest addition to the medical center's robust inpatient specialty hospital programs, which already include hospitalists, intensivists and obstetrics hospitalists.
CINDY SANDERS |
| REIMBURSEMENT & ACOs Focus |
A How-To Guide: Deferred Income Strategies for Medical-Group Docs
Particularly in today's tough economic climate and particularly at this time of year, deferring income with an eye toward retirement is the name of the game. Lynn Edwards, a certified public accountant with Nashville-based KraftCPAs since 1976, summed it up: "There are so many things going on right now with retirement plans. Certainly, everybody's trying to cut corners where they can.
… When you're paying 35 cents on the dollar, and most physicians probably are, every dollar to defer is beneficial."
SHARON H. FITZGERALD |
In Tough Tax Year, Planning is Key
Roth IRA Offers Unique Opportunity
If you haven't started your tax planning now, you're late, and this isn't a good year to dilly-dally. Considering the hit most physicians have probably taken on their investments, challenges await. Yet there are opportunities as well.
SHARON H. FITZGERALD |
Trusted Advisors: MCSI (Medi-Copy Services, Inc.)
Insurance companies require them to process claims. Attorneys need them for their casework. Other doctors require them for consults. Handling ROI (release of information) requests is a daunting task, often relegated to a low priority administrative chore. It doesn't take long for medical records requests to stack up.
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Going Green in a Down Economy
Given today's economy, it seems only natural that healthcare companies would want to focus more on the bottom line and less on perceived "extras" such as green building. With businesses doing all they can to survive, going "green" can seem unaffordable, particularly to healthcare companies, which are under tremendous financial pressure.
HUGH O. NASH, JR., PE |
CDC-Authorized H1N1 Confirmatory Test Offered by Local Molecular Laboratory
A variety of diagnostic tests are available to detect the presence of influenza viruses in respiratory specimens. The most widely available tests are referred to as rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDT). These tests can be performed in a clinical setting, and results are typically provided within 30 minutes. However, these tests are not very sensitive (10-70 percent) for specific detection of 2009 H1N1 influenza, so a negative RIDT result does not rule out influenza virus infection. Furthermore, an RIDT is unable to distinguish between influenza A subtypes (i.e., 2009 H1N1 vs. seasonal H1 and H3 viruses).
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Physician Spotlight: Wayne J. Riley
Implementing a New Vision, Preserving a Legacy
Three years ago, in November 2006, Meharry Medical College announced that Wayne J. Riley, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, had been tapped as the 10th president of the college, a unique 170 year-old institution that he describes as a "national treasure."
KELLY PRICE |
Reaching Out
African American Program Brings Diabetes Education to High-Risk Group
With more than 10 percent of the state's population reporting they have been diagnosed with diabetes and many more classified as being prediabetic, the chronic illness is clearly prevalent across gender, age, race and ethnicity.
CINDY SANDERS |
A Little Good News for Tennessee
First the bad news — it's no surprise Tennessee ranks 46th in the nation for rates of diabetes with only four states faring worse. Tennesseans' continuing struggles with weight and active lifestyle choices have been well documented. However, there has been some good news in recent months.
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Attacking Diabetes on a Molecular Level
Obesity Research Could Stem Type 2 Epidemic
It's no secret there is a diabetes epidemic in this nation. The prevalence rate for type 2 diabetes has increased right along with the girth of the population.
Published data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2007 (the last year available) states an estimated 23.6 million people in America have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes. Even more alarming, based on the percentage of Americans with impaired fasting glucose, it is estimated that an additional 57 million Americans age 20 and older have prediabetes … slightly more than one-quarter of the adult population.
Cindy Sanders |
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