Features 2006-2007
Beginning
with the most recent issue
2007
Medical Questions in Your Private Life
Separating your professional and private
life can be as easy as a stock response to requests.
Making your friends and family heed that, however,
presents a whole new wrinkle.
Working in the Media
By JON VAN ZILE
It’s not the glamour job you may
think, and you probably won’t get rich, but physicians
who work in the media agree that if you have the passion,
it’s a great career.
Community Health Centers
Community health centers exist for one
reason–to care for patients regardless of ability to pay,
resident status, or cultural differences. The growing number of
uninsured and constant threats to funding are but two of the
challenges faced by providers who say the rewards of caring for
this population outstrip the hassles.
Making a Move
By KAREN CHILDRESS
A new position is exciting, but moving can
be stressful for your spouse and even frightening or depressing
for your children. Tips to ensure a smooth and happy transition
for everyone.
Doctor-Business
By IVO DRURY, MD, MBA
Careful review of your rationale and the
range of program options and demands are key considerations
before you enter the classroom.
Religious Faith in Practice
Can Religion and Medicine Get Along?
Physicians have the right to live their beliefs, while at the
same time, patients should be able to access services. Whose
rights trump when they collide?
Hiring the Best Staff
Use these strategies to attract and retain
top talent for your practice.
Rent or Own?
By MARK TERRY
Although it may not have the drama of
Shakespeare, whether to rent or own your practice's facility
depends-at least in part-on the philosophical question of how
you see yourself.
Renovating Your Space
Remodeling an existing structure for a
medical practice can have both significant advantages and
challenges. Choose the right experts and plan carefully,
however, and you can have a unique, charming, and accessible
facility.
Finance Your Project
Whether you remodel or build your
practice's facilities, it's not cheap, and unless you're
rolling in dough, you'll need to finance at least part of the
project. A how-to guide for landing the best deal and
avoiding common pitfalls.
Preventing Physician Turnover
Physician turnover costs hospitals and
practice groups millions in lost revenues, and recruiting and
training expenses. Why your practice can’t afford not to
be involved in physician retention.
Bully Busting
Workplace aggression destroys morale,
leads to staff turnover, threatens patient care, and wreaks
financial havoc. Learning to recognize intimidating behaviors
and how to stop them makes sense legally and financially.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The Family and Medical Leave
Act–designed to simplify when to give employees a leave
of absence while still guaranteeing their jobs–has
instead created confusion and chaos.
Résumés and CV’s
By KAREN EDWARDS
Shine up your life–in 500 words or
less.
2006
How Medicine Will Change
Aging, consumerism, and technology are
about to change fundamentally the way medicine is practiced.
Hang on to your stethoscope.
Practicing with Family Members
Doctors and their grown children who
practice together find more rewards than challenges, and that
medicine practiced all-in-the-family style has a lot to offer
both generations.
Toxic Employer
Attentive listening and trusting your gut
can prevent working for a toxic employer. Clues to recognize
before you interview.
Malpractice Arbitration
Arbitration as a method of settling
malpractice claims is picking up steam. The increased
efficiency—as well as the confidentiality of the
proceedings—make this up-and-coming trend attractive to
both physicians and insurance companies.
Finding a Better Balance
Whether it’s to pursue an avocation
or to spend more time with family, physicians are finding ways
to better balance their profession with their lives.
Wheel of Fortune
Physician shortages across the country are
giving today’s young doctors an advantage when it comes
to negotiating salaries. New physicians are landing great
deals, and high-demand specialists are practically winning the
lottery.
Communication—The Key to Effective
Teaching
The quality of patient instruction vastly
improves compliance and outcomes, and mastering a few
communication concepts can help you master the teaching moment.
Federal Medicine
Physicians who work for the federal
government have a variety of job descriptions and enjoy the
chance to shape public policy, conduct research and improve the
health of patients on a much larger scale than in the private
sector. Acknowledging they are lower paid than those in private
practice, these doctors say the positives outweigh the
negatives for them.
Retirement Communities
Geriatricians practicing in retirement
communities say caring for patients as their needs progress is
satisfying and rewarding, Whether contracted, independent, or
employed, these physicians are in the right place at the right
time to care for an aging population.
Humor in the Workplace
If giggles, grins and guffaws aren’t
bouncing off your walls, your practice could be in serious
trouble.
Time Management
It may be the biggest challenge for
doctors, but the cost of chronically running behind can be
enormous—in patient satisfaction, employee morale, and to
the bottom line. Best-practice tips for keeping on task and on
time.
Medicine as a Second Career
It’s not a trend, but physicians who
entered medicine after having a previous career aren’t a
rarity, either. These nontraditional students say the rewards
have been worth the sacrifice and the obstacles are not
insurmountable.
A New Era of Leaders
Value systems, work ethics, and
expectations can clash when younger physicians join a practice
headed up by “mature” doctors. Learn what makes
each group tick, and how physicians—regardless of
generation—can work more effectively together.
On-Line Networking
Use on-line networking Web sites to expand
career opportunities and open doors.
