June 2001 Observer Contents
Features
As they struggle to improve quality, HMOs try a new incentive: bonuses
Insurers have learned that financial rewards are an effective way to encourage innovation.
Are health plan incentives hurting generalist-specialist relationships?
Some worry that HMOs force generalists to act as marginal specialists.
(From the Center for Ethics and Professionalism.)
Commentary
June letters
Members share their opinions on the specialty's name, physician pay, diagnosis skills, alternative careers, pain management and research ethics.
Recertification letters
Members react to College leaders' update on recertification.
Web only
Your Practice
Medicare clarifies its definition of 'homebound'
The revision allows beneficiaries who occasionally leave home for nonmedical purposes to still be classified as homebound.
Computers & Medicine
Is your practice ready for the new privacy rules?
Internists must examine everything from e-mail accounts to the waiting room to prepare for HIPAA's privacy rules.
For Residents
How to help patients who use alternative medicine
With alternative therapies booming, you need to identify patients' nonconventional treatments.
Annual Session
Strategies to make the most of patient appointments
Active listening, the right questions and collaborative decision-making can save time in the long run.
Balancing the pros and cons of telephone medicine
Physicians need to make sure they treat patients on the phone as carefully as those they see in the office.
Do you know what to look for in Alzheimer's patients?
Generalists rarely catch the diagnosis. Here are tips to help identify—and treat—Alzheimer's disease.
Q&A
How Annals has responded to a period of rapid change
The departing Annals Editor talks about the influence of evidence-based medicine and electronic publishing.
College Watch
President's Column
What we can do to prevent errors and improve patient safety
Improving systems—and our own practice habits—can reduce medical errors.
College Briefs
Free CD-ROM can help promote your practice.
College releases two publications for young physicians.
College works with program to foster volunteer health care.
Don't forget about chapter dues.
Regent nominations due Aug. 1.
Notice to international members
Research and clinical vignette poster winners
Residents and medical students presented winning posters at Annual Session in Atlanta.
Washington Perspective
Navigating the policy and substance of patient protection legislation
To make progress, all parties in the patient protection debate must work together to resolve remaining disagreements.
Internists make case for access, policy issues during this year's Leadership Day activities
Members visit Capitol Hill to advocate for patient protection legislation, access to care, patient safety and regulatory relief.
Policy Briefs
College president talks to IOM about the lack of health insurance.
College: Self-referral rule improved, but still too complex.
Expand Medicaid and SCHIP, but first address problems
Individual health insurance not ready to replace employer-based coverage.
College favors most points in plan to change how training is funded.
Internist Archives Quick Links
ACP Career Connection
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Your voice in these surveys is very important to ACP and enables us to continue to produce the high-quality publications that you expect. Find out more.