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Research uncovers formula for enhancing informed consent

Research uncovers formula for enhancing informed consent

■ Combining several comprehension-aiding techniques yields documents that are vastly superior to traditional forms, but legal fears still impede changes that could improve patient understanding.

Cancer prevention: Jolie's choice creates patient demand for tests

Cancer prevention: Jolie's choice creates patient demand for tests

■ The actress's story is connecting with women concerned about breast cancer risks. Primary care doctors must be ready for their questions.

A time to apply lessons learned

A time to apply lessons learned

■ As AMA president, Ardis Dee Hoven, MD, says she will listen to physicians' concerns and help pave the way for new payment and delivery of care models.

VA tries quality improvement approach to medical ethics

VA tries quality improvement approach to medical ethics

■ Tools to evaluate how health care facilities perform ethically are in their infancy. The VA Health Care System hopes others can benefit from its experience.

Calming a hospital culture clash

Calming a hospital culture clash

■ Bridging communication gaps between medical staffs and hospitals can prevent unnecessary lawsuits.

Top 10 ways to improve patient safety now

Top 10 ways to improve patient safety now

■ A comprehensive evidence review narrows the field of targets to prevent harm. These are things hospitals should be doing to protect patients.

Is your EHR ready for the ADA?

Is your EHR ready for the ADA?

■ Physicians risk lawsuits if they fail to make electronic resources accessible to disabled patients.

Primary care's Match Day rebound still comes up short

Primary care's Match Day rebound still comes up short

■ A 5% increase in medical school seniors choosing primary care residencies will make little headway in the predicted shortage of 46,100 such doctors by 2020.

How to talk about hospice care

How to talk about hospice care

■ The discussions are trying for everyone involved. But there are concrete strategies to make these end-of-life care talks go more smoothly.

Physician liability: When an overdose brings a lawsuit

Physician liability: When an overdose brings a lawsuit

■ Doctors often face blame after injuries and deaths by prescription drugs. But taking proactive steps can help spot risky situations and reduce liability.

Motivating patients to make wise choices

Motivating patients to make wise choices

■ Patients are often the biggest obstacle to their own health. Physicians are exploring new communication techniques to help patients make lasting changes.

Physicians entangled in tainted drugs lawsuits

Physicians entangled in tainted drugs lawsuits

■ Doctors often are sued after medical product disasters, such as a recent meningitis outbreak linked to a compounding pharmacy. How can they reduce their risks?

How doctors can spot patients likely to sue

How doctors can spot patients likely to sue

■ Knowing what types of patients are more lawsuit prone can help reduce physicians' liability risks.

AMA pledges millions to jump-start innovation in medical education

AMA pledges millions to jump-start innovation in medical education

■ Applicants will compete for funds in an initiative aimed at transforming undergraduate medical education.

Death certificates present final medical complication

Death certificates present final medical complication

■ Signing the documents can pose challenges for physicians in determining the cause of death. Inaccuracies can have widespread consequences.

Using mindfulness to soothe physician stress

Using mindfulness to soothe physician stress

■ Doctors find relief from burnout symptoms in relaxation techniques designed to keep them focused on factors they control, such as patient communication.

Adopted children greeted by doctors who specialize in their needs

Adopted children greeted by doctors who specialize in their needs

■ Physicians specializing in adoption medicine are experienced at identifying and helping to care for the unique medical, mental and developmental needs of adoptees.

Patient satisfaction: When a doctor’s judgment risks a poor rating

Patient satisfaction: When a doctor’s judgment risks a poor rating

■ Patients sometimes demand inappropriate care. Saying no could lead to unhappy patients, bad survey scores and even financial penalties. Some doctors see an ethical conundrum.

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Confronting bias against obese patients

■ Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


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Goodbye

■ American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


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Policing medical practice employees after work

■ Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


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Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

■ The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


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Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

■ The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


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How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

■ Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


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Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

■ Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


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Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

■ When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

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