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| Current Birmingham Medical News |
Blue Cross Delays Fee Changes
The new fee schedule announced by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) in September stirred such a reaction among physicians that a delay of seven months was declared in November. "There was more interest in these changes than we anticipated, so we're having some productive dialogue with the different physician groups," says Koko Mackin, BCBS spokesperson.
Jane Ehrhardt |
Pillcam Offers Hope For Patients With Small Bowel Conditions
For years, Petrina Charles of Woodlawn suffered from severe pain and bloating in her upper stomach. When repeated colonoscopies and traditional endoscopies proved negative, she was told her condition was most likely a combination of acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome. Then one day last February, she wound up in the emergency room.
Cindy Riley |
Urology Centers Free Screening Program Helps High Risk Men
Jimmy Love was driving his log truck out of Birmingham when he heard a radio interview with urologist Tom Moody, MD about a free prostate screening Urology Centers of Alabama (UCA) was doing in Butler County that coming weekend. The 56-year old Love decided to go to the screening.
STEVE SPENCER |
Gene Therapy Trials Show Promising Results in Ovarian Cancer Patients
A promising new cancer drug will begin testing in Phase 2 clinical trials in the second quarter 2010. A product of a Huntsville-based biotechnology company, EGEN, Inc., EGEN-001 is a combination of an interleukin-12 gene expression plasmid and a biocompatible delivery polymer that is being given to recurrent ovarian cancer patients to boost their immune system.
Ann B. DeBellis |
Breast Cancer SPORE Funds Research of Leading-Edge Treatments
Researchers have made strides in the battle against breast cancer in recent years, with University of Alabama at Birmingham investigators at the forefront of these efforts.
With the renewal of an $11.5 million grant by the National Institutes of Health for its Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in breast cancer, UAB continues its focus on experimental compounds and cellular targets that have shown promise in preventing or treating breast cancer.
Ann B. DeBellis |
Geriatric Dementia
Princeton's Intensive Outpatient Program
According to H.E. Logue, MD, Medical Director at the Princeton Baptist Behavioral Unit, there are times when a small change in the life of a mild dementia patient can result in decompensation, where the patient loses the ability to maintain normal psychological defenses, sometimes resulting in depression, anxiety, or delusions.
Jane Ehrhardt |
Psychiatric Patients Wait in Overcrowded ERs
Brookwood Expanding their Mental Health Department
A 2007 American Hospital Association survey found that nearly half of emergency departments are at or over capacity. A portion of the overcrowding results from the need to house psychiatric patients short-term. And with over half of the ERs in urban hospitals proclaiming an increase in boarding demand for behavioral health patients, the problem is escalating.
Jane Ehrhardt |
Dr. Richard Meyer: Orthopaedic Surgeon Who Flies and Plays with Fire
Richard Meyer, MD is renowned for his surgical expertise. He is routinely named one of the Best Doctors in America. Outside of the medical world, Meyer is well known by a group of enthusiasts for several unique hobbies. To begin with, he and his wife are both licensed pilots who fly frequently and attend air shows around the country several times a year. On top of that, he works with a group of fellow firework aficionados to conduct pyrotechnic displays at the shows.
Cathy DeLozier |
2009 Health Law Year in Review
Another year is coming to a close and that means it is time again for my year-end review of events and legal changes effecting Alabama health care providers. In 2009, providers of all types continued to experience the impact of the economic downturn, including the lack of access to capital. Contrary to conventional wisdom, health care is not recession proof, and the slowing economy has caused lower patient volumes and higher uncompensated care.
Howard Bogard |
How to Respond to Reference Requests Regarding Difficult Physicians
Unfortunately, it happens routinely. A difficult physician is fired because he fails to appropriately perform his duties due to alcoholism, drug addiction or some other cause. Weeks later, the physician's former partner, employer, or the hospital where the physician had privileges receives a request for a reference letter from that physician or another healthcare entity interested in employing that physician or granting him medical staff privileges.
Michel Marcoux |
Literary Examiner
Reviews of Going Out Green by Bob Butz and The Deadly Dinner Party & Other Medical Detective Stories by Jonathan A. Edlow, MD
TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER |
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