LocumLife - September 2008 - (Page 5)

INSIGHTS Stat! News locum tenens physicians can use IN BRIEF… Doctor visits outpace population growth Healthcare statistics issued by the CDC indicated that Americans made 1.1 billion visits to their doctors’ offices and hospital outpatient and emergency departments in 2006. The 26% increase from 1996 to 2006, which outpaced the U.S. population growth (11%), was attributed to an aging population. Increase in measles largest since 1996 A Right of refusal A recent proposal by the Bush Administration will protect doctors and other healthcare workers from having to make any medical decisions about abortion that they find personally objectionable. The ruling could extend to refusing to prescribe contraceptives or accept referrals, training, or other arrangements for procedures considered offensive. It also will permit federal health officials to withdraw funding from entities if they deny employees the right to refuse care for moral, personal, or religious reasons. recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have medical practitioners on alert for cases of measles. According to the announcement, more outbreaks—131 cases—have been reported in this country from January 1, 2008, to the present than during the same time period over the past 22 years. In comparison, 55 cases of measles were recorded in 2006, with 66 cases in 2005, 37 during 2004, 56 in 2003, and 44 in 2002. “Measles can be a severe, life-threatening illness,” stresses Rear Admiral Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). “These cases and outbreaks serve as a reminder that measles can and still does occur in the United States.” Of the cases reported so far this year, 112 were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Sixteen children were less than 12 months old and therefore were too young to receive immunizations. Although 15 patients were hospitalized, there were no deaths associated with this occurrence. In the decade before the measles vaccination program was instituted, 400 to 500 people died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 1,000 developed chronic disabilities from measles encephalitis. “These cases resulted primarily from failure to vaccinate, many because of philosophical or religious belief,” said Dr. Schuchat. “The vaccine against measles is highly effective in preventing infections, and high immunization levels in the community are effective at preventing or drastically decreasing the size of outbreaks.” Interestingly, measles is one of the first diseases to surface when the rates of vaccination coverage fall—as evidenced in Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and the United Kingdom, which have experienced substantial outbreaks among residents who have declined immunizations. Young school-aged children are particularly vulnerable to the disease since proper heath habits have yet to be introduced into their daily routines. Practitioners who provide locum tenens services to diverse patient populations at a variety of locations are more likely to encounter cases of measles and should be alert to further outbreaks as schools open across the country. DID YOU KNOW… 2008 Best places to live 1. Plymouth, MN 2. Fort Collins, CO 3. Naperville, IL 4. Irvine, CA 5. Franklin Township, NJ 6. Norman, OK 7. Round Rock, TX 8. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD 9. Overland Park, KS 10. Fishers, IN Source: CNNMoney.com. (n.d.). Best places to live. Retrieved August 21, 2008, from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/ bplive/2008/top100/ BOOKSHELF Herb, Nutrient and Drug Interactions: Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies Mitchell Bebel Stargrove, ND, Lac; Jonathan Treasure, MNIMH, AHG; Dwight L. McKee, MD (2008/932 pages/$88.95/Softbound/ ISBN: 13 9780-323-02964-3 /MosbyElsevier) Written by experts in the field of integrative medicine, this comprehensive manual examines the beneficial and adverse effects of combining herbal, nutrient, and pharmaceutical therapies. Detailed summary tables and quick-reference guides provide an evidence-based review of common herb-drug and nutrient-drug interactions as well as drug-induced nutrient depletions. A must for those interested in integrative medicine, this text is available through www.medicineworks.com. www.LocumLife.com SEPTEMBER 2008 LocumLife 5 http://www.medicineworks.com http://CNNMoney.com http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/top100/ http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/top100/ http://www.LocumLife.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of LocumLife - September 2008

LocumLife - September 2008 Editorial Contents From Nalto Stat! Dynamics The Net Last-Minute Luxury Unplugged Going Wireless on the Road Getting Oriented Advertiser Index Opportunities Direct Destinations On Location Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - September 2008

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