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January Observer Contents

Advocacy Update

Congress expected to restore 2005 payment cuts
While legislators passed bills to avert pay cuts, last-minute changes have allowed cuts to take effect.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Clinical medicine

Taking the pulse of women's heart health
Despite heart disease's toll on women, many fail to heed early warning signs.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Web exclusive
Heart disease risk: men vs. women
Heart disease risks: the differences between men and women are significant.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Hospital Medicine

Physicians make new push for better glycemic control
With guidelines now available for inpatient glycemic control, the next step is to coordinate hospital staff to implement those standards.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Hospital medicine fast facts: HIV hospital admissions
The number of U.S. hospital admissions for HIV infections has fallen by half since 1995.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Computers & Medicine

The files are electronic, but the staff is only human
Be prepared for some tense moments as you transition from paper to computer.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Small practices slow to adopt EHRs
A recent survey found that almost 18% of responding physicians reported using an electronic health record between 2001 and 2003.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Special focus

COPD
Easily preventable, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remains the country's fourth largest killer.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Web exclusive
Smoking cessation: the golden rule of COPD
There is no disease-modifying intervention in COPD except smoking cessation, says one noted pulmonologist.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Your Practice

The New Year brings more changes to CPT E/M codes
Internists will be most affected by changes to the evaluation and management services codes.
Jan.-Feb. '06

CMS initiative paves way for physician pay-for-reporting
The voluntary program allows doctors to test the waters without a big investment in information technology.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Help is on the way for small-physician practices
This month, the new Center for Practice Innovation opens its doors for business.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Measuring Performance

Want patients to keep coming back? Ask for their input Scoring well on patient satisfaction surveys can improve care and boost your pay-for-performance rewards. Jan.-Feb. '06

The Business of Medicine

'Want a stress management class with your physical?'
Bringing ancillary services in-house offers patients one-stop shopping while boosting your bottom line.
Jan.-Feb. '06

ChartNotes

Sometimes the trick is knowing when to keep quiet Getting to know her patients helps this internist remember that good medicine is more than a numbers game.
Jan.-Feb. '06

For Residents

Hi-tech tools offer hands-on training without the risks
Next generation options are interactive and current, but can virtual patients teach doctors real-life lessons?
Jan.-Feb. '06

Commentary

Letters
Readers discuss pay for performance.
Jan.-Feb. '06

College Watch

President's Column
Merging the humanities with the science of medicine
In practicing the art of medicine, we must combine science with the humanities to treat those who come to us for help.
Jan.-Feb. '06

ACP announces new Masters and service awardees.
Jan.-Feb. '06

College Briefs

Chapters present Laureate Awards, others.
Jan.-Feb. '06

PIER on PDA transitions to new enhanced program.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Save 25% on Update recordings from ACP's 2005 Annual Session.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Physicians encouraged to enroll in Special Olympics directory.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Washington Perspective

Recasting the debate on Medicare physician payments
Congress is expected to halt the cuts, but doing so will not solve the longterm problem unless legislators fix the sustainable growth formula.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Policy Briefs

ACP Associate presents perspective of young physicians to Congress.
Jan.-Feb. '06

College releases sweeping pay-for-performance guidelines.
Jan.-Feb. '06

ACP issues recommendations on drug importation.
Jan.-Feb. '06

College comments on payment rules for power mobility devices.
Jan.-Feb. '06

ACP urges broader "safe harbors" for information technology.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Obituaries

Roy H. Behnke, MACP; Arthur W. Feinberg, MACP.
Jan.-Feb. '06

Quiz

The MKSAP Challenge
A 44-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia is evaluated because of, among other issues, intermittent right upper quadrant discomfort.
Jan.-Feb. '06

CME

January-February

Chapter Meetings

January-February

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This Month's Poll:

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

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