7th Annual MD/MBA Conference

7th Annual MD/MBA Conference in Dayton OH
When: April 17-19, 2009
Where: Wright State University School of Medicine and College of Business
Want to learn more about this event? Click here.

You may think that most people who pursue a combined MD/MBA plan to pursue non-clinical careers, but that may not be true. An MBA can be very beneficial to help you run a more efficient practice or hospital. If you stop to think about it, medical management is really a form of business administration, so if you're properly equipped, you'll be better at it.

HITECH for Health IT

HITECH now stands for health information technology or Health IT. President Obama is making history on several levels: the first Black president, the huge economic stimulus plan, and the push for HITECH to get doctors into the 21st century. Get used to hearing more and more about Health IT or HITECH.

When I hear HITECH, I think of hiking. Why? One of my first hiking boots were made by a company called Hi-Tec. They're still in business and they make footwear for hiking and golf. Now, when I hear HITECH, I'll be thinking about Health IT. Thank you Mr. President!

FDA: Listeria Contamination in Smoked Salmon

The FDA has issued a new warning: Don't eat Strubs Norwegian Style Sliced Smoked Steelhead Salmon in 300 gram packages because of potential contamination with the Listeria monocytogenes. Distributed by West Side Foods Inc. of Bronx, N.Y., the smoked steelhead salmon was imported from Canada, and 13 cartons were sold to three kosher retail stores in New York and Maryland. Are you following these FDA alerts on Twitter?

Coupons for the Apple Store

I'm a big fan of the Apple Store. But, it's hard to find really good coupons for the Apple Store. Have you looked at Savings.com? You can find some incredible Apple coupons, discount codes, and more. Certain promotions are only available to teachers and students. Apple has been loyal to the education industry. You can also get certain Apple discounts through various alumni networks and honor societies like Phi Kappa Phi. But if you look on Savings.com, you can some great deals and discount codes even if you're not a student.

I've been playing around with the iPod touch and I've been having a blast testing software and evaluating how the iPod and other handheld devices will change healthcare. My wife has a Macbook Pro and she loves using that at night because of the backlit keyboard. I'm often tempted to get a Macbook myself just for that feature alone - glowing keyboards. If you're looking to make a purchase at the Apple store or any other online retailer, make sure to look for coupons and other valid promotions codes that can help you save money. Medical students and residents, are you listening?

Health and Beauty Products Online

Where do you shop for health and beauty products? I'm a big fan of online shopping and I even purchase large items through the Internet. I recently purchased a new car and I did all my price comparisons online and got the best price via e-mail by corresponding with several dealers in the area. When it comes to health and beauty products, it's important to know what other people think about certain products. This is where social networking and Web 2.0 can really change the way you learn about things before you shop.

Have you ever used a wiki? You've probably heard of Wikipedia. Well, take that to the next level - the shopping level. Looking for bath and body products? Cosmetics? Don't get stuck with counterfeits. Maybe you want to change your look and you need some new hair care. If you want to get input from other consumers and users, then you may want to visit ShopWiki for a different online shopping experience. Wouldn't it be great if you could find doctors and hospitals like that?

Health IT and the NEJM

I don't think I've ever seen so much content related to health IT in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). I'm sure more and more universities are offering programs in medical informatics and health informatics. The March 25, 2009 issue of the NEJM had an article titled, "Use of Electronic Health Records in U.S. Hospitals." The issue that I got today has an article on health IT by David Blumenthal, MD, MPP.

Treating Acne

Many teenagers and young adults struggle with problems related to acne. You don't have to be a dermatologist to see how prevalent acne can be in this country. There are many available acne treatments out there and some are safe while others are associated with some significant risks and contraindications. So what are you supposed to do? How do you select among different acne products that are available? Many are over-the-counter, some are prescription-only, and then there are others where you may not quite be sure. You have face creams. Pills. Gells. Scrubbing pads. Acne body wash. Well, make sure you do your research and evaluate the evidence behind those acne treatments that are out there. Murad offers an acne treatment called Resurgence and you may have even seen Joan Lunden, age 57, advertise this product on television. When you have celebrities endorsing cosmetic products such as acne products, do you feel more or less inclined to evaluate that product? As physicians, we must always be evidence-based and evaluate clinical data fairly and objectively.

HIMSS Virtual Expo 2009

HIMSS is winding down and if you weren't able to go to Chicago this year, then you can still experience HIMSS by attending the Virtual Conference Expo this June. I attended the virtual expo in 2008 and made some great connections, attended some virtual meetings, and had the opportunity to expand my network. Health information technology is changing the way physicians are practicing medicine and I think we're going to see some significant movement in 2009 and 2010. Everyone is anticipating major changes in 2009, but we're already in the second quarter. Stay tuned and keep up with everything going on in the health IT world.

Becoming a Physician Entrepreneur

Do you consider yourself a physician entrepreneur? How does one become an entrepreneur? Most medical schools don't teach much about business skills. As a result, medical school graduates know very little about entrepreneurship. Yet there are many young entrepreneurs who are making a tremendous impact in the healthcare industry. For instance, health IT is a budding area that will only grow as more dollars get directed into electronic health records (EHRs) and other health IT initiatives.

MIT recognizes young entrepreneurs by featuring those who are under the age of 35 in the Technology Review TR35. The categories include: biotech, nanotech, infotech, and energy. That makes sense since MIT is about technology. If you wish to learn more about being an entrepreneur, then you may want to check out the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a very common condition that causes foot pain. Advances in technology have led researchers to use ultrasound to deliver extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and reduce the pain associated with plantar fasciitis. There have been various studies evaluating extracorporeal shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis. One recent study suggests that radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy significantly improves pain, function, and quality of life compared with placebo in patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. It's great to see how advances in technology are improving the landscape of medicine.

Do Electronic Health Records Reduce Medical Errors

Guns don't kill people, but people can use guns to shoot and kill people. Electronic health records (EHRs) or electronic medical records (EMRs) don't reduce medical errors by themselves. However, they can help clinicians reduce the risk of medical errors if they are used properly. Hence, although they have many automated alerts, reminders, and warnings that may pop up when an error is about to occur, there is still a need for human discretion when using these systems. Doctors (and other prescribers), pharmacists, and nurses need to be know how to use EHRs to reduce medical errors. As they become more familiar with the advantages of EHR/EMR solutions and as they get more proficient as using them, medical errors will decrease.

Actor Dennis Quaid has been pushing hard for EHRs and he made quite an argument at HIMSS 2009 in Chicago. He told his story of how his 10-day-old twins nearly died after they were mistakenly given excess doses of heparin at a Los Angeles hospital. Could this have been prevented by more robust EHR systems that alerted the entire healthcare team about the improper dose? Technologies such as computer physician-order entry (CPOE) and bar coding may have reduced the possibility of confusing drug packaging. Dennis Quaid and his wife have started the Quaid Foundation to promote awareness of the need for more information technology as a way to prevent medical errors.

Downgrading from Windows 7 to XP

Looks like Microsoft XP continues to live on. According to rumors, consumers will be able to downgrade from Windows 7 to XP. Maybe the netbook version of Windows 7 will really be XP with a new skin. I still use XP on most of my machines and I run Vista on my Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Tablet PC. To be quite honest, my expectations for Windows 7 are not very high. I've been doing some beta testing and I haven't been impressed with the new OS. I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Herbal Nutritional Supplements in Medicine

I was trying to explain the concept of herbal nutritional supplements to someone the other day. This person really didn't seem to understand that herbal agents are not the same as prescription medications. We were talking about a bottle of 81 mg baby-strength aspirin that you can purchase at your local drug store. You don't need a prescription since this is an over-the-counter medication. However, Bayer has a new bottle of 81 mg aspirin called "Bayer with Heart Advantage." This is a bottle of aspirin that also includes a supplement called phytosterols, a natural plant-based supplement that are also known as plant sterols.

Some people are fanatical about nutritional supplements and they even become Herbalife distributors. I personally think you can have quite a successful business in this industry because there are so many people who want to engage in holistic medicine, complementary medicine, alternative medicine, herbals, nutritional supplements, and much more. Many clinicians are members of the American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA) and may even achieve board certification. Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? Want to learn how to become an Herbal Life distributor? You don't need an MBA to build a successful business that integrates the distribution of herbal nutritional supplements.

Old iPod Chargers and new iPods

So I have several older iPods and a few new ones (yes, I admit that I'm a gadget freak, but most of these were not purchased). I've had the opportunity to win some iPods through drawings, Sermo, and a few others sources. I love iPods because they are great travel companions. However, I've recently noticed that my older iPod chargers don't charge my new iPod nano (4th generation) and iPod touch (2nd generation). If you have no idea what models I'm referring to, then take a look at this Apple Support page on different iPod generation models.

So I'm very disappointed that my Firewire charger, my Kensington Universal Charger (tip J3), and several other old iPod chargers do not work on my newer iPods. What's going on Apple?

Using the iPhone or iPod Touch in Healthcare

The Apple iPhone and iPod Touch are versatile devices that can be used in the healthcare setting. Can you think of more than 15 ways they can be used? If you're a medical student or a resident, maybe you can empty your white coat and replace some of your tools with this single device. Here's my list of 15 ways:

1. Epocrates (drug reference)
2. Web browsing (research)
3. Record patient data
4. 2-way communication with others (get rid of those pagers!)
5. Neuro/rehab tests and exercises (use the built-in accelerometer and improve your gait)
6. Visual acuity tests and exercises
7. Vibratory stimulation test (no need for that bulky tuning fork)
8. Auditory test (can you hear that high-pitched sound?)
9. Reflex hammer? Maybe, if you're really talented.
10. Take a photo of that rash or wound (great for surgery and dermatology)
11. Flash cards
12. Anatomy reference (try ADAM)
13. As a phone to answer your pages (if you still carry a pager)
14. As a flashlight in your call room
15. To watch Scrubs, ER, or other educational medical TV shows.
16. Medical podcasts, earn CME/CE credits.

I could go on and on, but I was thinking about these things as I played around with my iPod. Can you add to this list?

Opera Mobile 9.7

I'm waiting to try Opera Mobile 9.7 on my HTC Titan XV6800 (Sprint Mogul). I've been using Opera Mobile 9.5 and it's been working quite well so far. However, it's slow compared to Opera Mini, and Opera Mobile 9.7 is supposed to have Opera Turbo. So, when is Opera Mobile 9.7 going to be available?

Many Questions Related to Residency and Non-Clinical Careers

I've received quite a few questions recently on the Student Doctor Network about residency, clinical medicine, and careers in non-clinical medicine. Here's the bottom line: you'll have many more career opportunities if you complete a residency and become board-certified in a medical or surgical specialty. Of course, if you're stuck in the middle of a very long residency and you really don't enjoy your work, then you may want to consider switching to a shorter one. You can still find opportunities if you don't complete a residency, but make sure to do your research so that you understand your options.

Also, you don't need an MPH or an MBA to succeed in the non-clinical world. Although these degrees help, they aren't necessary.

Twitter Getting Jammed

Twitter seems to be getting jammed quite a bit these days. My guess is that their servers are getting overloaded. Speaking of servers, I often wonder how EHR/EMR providers have their servers set up. After all, you can' t have your server go down if you have thousands of clinicians using an ASP version of your EHR solution. Do you worry about that if you're using a free EMR or free EHR?

Excitement at HIMSS 2009

The buzz and excitement at HIMSS 2009 is fantastic! It may not compare to CES, but it's still quite revolutionary this year. I didn't make it this year, but I've heard from several people who are there and they tell me that it's unlike previous years. The economic stimulus plans have people excited about some major opportunities in health IT.

Fitness Watches

So how often do you go to the gym? There are so many ways to improve your health and fitness. Buzzwords in the health industry include: wellness, health, fitness, and prevention. This way, you avoid the need for things like disease management since you're preventing disease.

I spend a fair amount at the gym and I've seen some significant changes in consumer health technology that have made it both fun and easier for people to exercise. For instance, I use a Polar heart rate monitor strap so that I can easily monitor my HR during exercise. I also wear a Timex sports watch. I'm also a fan of other brands, but Timex has always been reliable and cost-friendly. If you can afford to spend a fair amount of money for a nice sports watch, then you may want to also look at Suunto and Polar. I've had watches made by both companies and still wear my Suunto at times.

If you like to run, then you may want a watch that also includes a sensor that measures your running speed. You don't necessarily need a GPS to do that. I also love the fact that some of these watches now incorporate solar technology and rechargeable batteries. I've had a Timex Ironman for several years and I haven't even had to replace the battery yet. So improvements in battery technology and recharging capabilities have really improved the capability of sports watches.

HIMSS 2009 Chicago

How many of you are enjoying HIMSS in Chicago? Microsoft is heavily involved at HIMSS (have you checked out Microsoft Surface yet?)

There are some great topics this year, especially with so much buzz around health IT driven by talks about economic stimulus. We've heard so much about this from President Obama. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Obama on February 17, includes $19.2 billion for healthcare information technology (health IT). This means that there are many pieces to this gigantic pie for different companies raning from small and large corporations. How do you plan to contribute to the health IT revolution?

Joining Government with Industry to Discuss Health Issues

What happens when you combine government with industry to talk about health issues related to quality of care, compliance, cost, and partnerships? You end up with roundtable reports published by the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA). They have some recent roundtable reports where industry representatives discussed some important quality and compliance issues with the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG).

The most recent HCCA/OIG roundtable report is titled:

A Report on the HHS Office of Inspector General and Health Care Compliance Association Roundtable on Hospital Board of Directors’ Oversight of Quality of Care
Driving for Quality in Acute Care: A Board of Directors Dashboard

Past HCCA/OIG roundtable reports include:

A Report on the Office of Inspector General and Health Care Compliance Association Roundtable on Long-Term Care Board of Directors’ Oversight of Quality of Care
December 6, 2007

A Summary of the Government-Industry Roundtable on the
Role of Governance in Compliance Programs
June 16, 2004, Office of Inspector General

HCCA/OIG Rountable Report
Building a Partnership for Effective Compliance
July, 2001

HCCA/OIG Physician Roundtable Report
Building a Partnership for Effective Compliance
July, 2000

CIA Survey
August 2001

Are You Ready for Windows 7?

Have you tried Windows 7? I've been so unhappy with Vista that I've gone back to XP on most of my machines, including my mission critical PC. However, I'm quite intrigued by Windows 7. We will probably see a slim (or lite) version of Windows 7 for UMPCs and netbooks. I'm still running XP on my Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC and my OQO model 02. Will Windows 7 be the ideal operating system for power PCs and ultra-low-cost machines?

In the healthcare field, XP will probably continue to dominate for a few more years because of the way many EHR/EMR systems are configured. Plus, you're often using older peripherals like scanners, printers, bar code scanning devices, and other devices. Some ambulatory EHRs have an EKG attachment that hooks up via USB. My guess is that most of those older connections will only work on PCs running XP. So, I think that health IT will lag behind other industries and we'll be using XP for a long time.

Consulting for McKinsey or the Boston Consulting Group

It seems like many students who pursue a joint MD/MBA want to get a consulting job at McKinsey & Company. Who wouldn't? I've known several people who have worked at McKinsey and I'm always fascinated by the unique stories associated with the McKinsey culture. I've also met medical school graduates who have pursued opportunities at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG, not to be confused with the BCG vaccine). So what about you? Do you have strong interests in the business/consulting industry? If you're pre-med, are you planning on pursuing an MD/MBA program? As I look back on my education, I often wonder whether I would have pursued a combined MD/MBA. Since I lacked "real world" working experience before applying to medical school, I think I would have been lost in business school. Had a been a non-traditional student who had worked for several years prior to applying to medical school, then I would have seriously considered a combined MD/MBA program.

Top Content in March 2009

According to Google Analytics, my post on "Jobs for Physicians with No Residency Experience" had the highest amount of traffic. I often get asked about this on the Student Doctor Network, so I see that many people are also finding this content helpful.

My post on "Non-Clinical Medical Opportunities for Physicians and Other Clinicians" is still very popular among site visitors. I hope that most people recognize that I've created a site dedicated to the topic of non-clinical jobs and opportunities for doctors and other healthcare professionals. You can find it here: www.NonClinicalJobs.com