“Healthcare is local” has been a mantra among providers for decades. The volume of that mantra increases anytime the industry goes through changes. Recently, it’s gotten louder in the field of dermatology, most likely due to the trend of industry consolidation. While commonalities exist, there…
Technology as a Physician Recruitment Tool
In a recent issue of Dermatology World, the cover story focused on recruiting and retaining millennial physicians. While how to attract that generation’s best and brightest is a hot topic in many industries, it is especially important in dermatology as the gap between the supply…
Physician Leadership: The Key to Quality Care
It is no secret that the number of independent dermatology practices is shrinking. In fact, the 2017 American Academy of Dermatology Member Profile Report showed that 52% of dermatologists now are practicing in a group setting. While the pressures of practice management and shrinking reimbursements…
The Cost Barrier: Improving Patient Access to Quality Dermatological Care
At last month’s American Association of Dermatology Annual Meeting, the topic of patient access to care was again a topic of discussion. This year, cost was named as an additional barrier to patient care. This issue is not unique to dermatology. In fact, a Kaiser…
Dermatology Industry Change: 3 Issues
Thousands of dermatologists recently descended upon San Diego for the 2018 AAD Annual Meeting. This conference provides attendees a chance to connect with colleagues, learn about clinical advancements, and discuss the state of their industry. Preparing for change has been a common theme in the…
Recruitment: Quality Matters
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the U.S. will face a significant physician shortage by 2030 – up to 100,000 more physicians will be needed to meet patient demand. The dermatology world is already facing a deficit. While the American Academy of…
Physician Burnout: The Burden of Bureaucracy
Forty-six percent of dermatologists say they feel career burnout, according to the 2017 Medscape Physician Lifestyle Report. This sentiment seems to be worsening in dermatology, and medicine in general. Since 2013, the percentage of physicians who claim burnout has risen 25%. During this same period,…
2018 QPP / MACRA Final Rule: More Changes for Dermatologists
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) just released the 2018 Quality Payment Program / MACRA Final Rule. This iteration is supposed to reduce burdens and provide flexibility. Yet, the documentation outlining the final rule is thousands of pages long. According to an American…
IT Training and Support: Keys to Dermatology Practice Efficiency
Over half of surveyed physicians are dissatisfied with their electronic health records (EHRs), according to a study by the Mayo Clinic. Technology, oftentimes touted as the silver bullet for practice efficiency, is in reality giving many dermatologists more headaches than help. In most cases, the…
EHRs: The Burden on Small Dermatology Practices
A recent study found that electronic health records (EHRs) are creating an even greater burden on small physician practices than was originally anticipated. This study defined a small practice as one with 1-4 physicians. Published earlier this year in Perspectives in Health Information Management, this…
REPORT: The Growing Risk of Patient Data Breaches
The WannaCry Ransomware attack wreaked havoc on organizations worldwide. This attack impacted more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries. While WannaCry is the latest headline-making attack, cybercrime is a continuous and growing threat. Cybercrime costs the U.S. an estimated $108 billion per year, according to…
Consolidation: What it looks like in dermatology
It seems as though merger and acquisition announcements in healthcare are happening weekly, as payers, hospitals and more join forces to become more powerful players in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. What’s happening with the big corporations has trickled down to private physician practices. The…