October Observer Contents

Features

Getting yourself ready for Medicare Rx
Internists can expect lots of patient questions and confusion—but help is available.
Oct. '05

With doctors and housestaff in short supply, physician assistants help fill the coverage gaps
PAs can handle routine patient care, freeing physicians for more complex cases.
Oct. '05

Disaster Relief

A physician in New Orleans finds refuge in giving aid
A Louisiana internist and his colleagues weather the Katrina crisis.
Oct. '05

ChartNotes

This issue of ACP Observer marks the debut of ChartNotes," a new monthly column about physicians who have made unusual career choices, shown extraordinary commitment or have unique perspectives on practicing medicine. Meet Nick Fitterman, FACP.

Special focus

Smoking Cessation
For patients, smoking represents a physical and psychological dependency; for physicians, smoking cessation is a frequent source of frustration.
Oct. '05

Measuring performance

Setting the pay-for-performance bar: simple is better
The hard part is getting physician consensus—and making sure teamwork supports the standards you choose.
Oct. '05

Hospital Medicine

Hospital research moves from the basement to the bedside
The success of research at a community hospital depends on administrative buy-in and a multidisciplinary approach.
Oct. '05

Web Exclusive

New role for hospitalists: managing other physicians
As hospitalist groups continue to grow, a new challenge has emerged: Hospitalists are now being called upon to learn personnel management skills.
Oct. '05

For Residents

Eyeing a training overhaul: Should residency by revamped?
A debate grows about how, and whether, to change the current one-size-fits-all internal medicine training model.
Oct. '05

Your Practice

Medicare implements new claims appeal procedures
Medicare is making changes to the fee-for-service claims appeal process.
Oct. '05

Commentary

Letters
Readers discuss orthopedists and internists, MKSAP, and the rising costs of physician services.
Oct. '05

College Watch

President's Column
The need for payment reform takes on new urgency
The payment system has undervalued the work of general internal medicine specialists and some subspecialists.
Oct. '05

College Briefs

ACP debuts new Web site on quality improvement.
Oct. '05

MKSAP 13 Update now available.
Oct. '05

Free diabetes management tools.
Oct. '05

Washington Perspective

Is the Relative Value Update Committee still relevant?
ACP is examining how the process that determines relative values should be changed.
Oct. '05

Policy Briefs

College members urged to contact representatives.
Oct. '05

ACP, others, present plan for phasing in pay for performance.
Oct. '05

ACP Services strengthens the voice of internal medicine on Capitol Hill.
Oct. '05

Quiz

The MKSAP Challenge
A 64-year old man is evaluated for increased urinary frequency and hesitancy and a worsening urine stream of six months' duration.
Oct. '05

CME

October

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This Month's Poll:

• Apr 2013
• Mar 2013
• Feb 2013
• Jan 2013
• Nov/Dec 2012

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