LocumLife - October 2008 - (Page 5)

INSIGHTS Stat! News locum tenens physicians can use IN BRIEF… BPA: A safety risk? At a recent scientific hearing, the Food and Drug Administration continued to maintain that Bisphenol A (BPA) is safe to use in products such as baby bottles and food packaging despite the findings of a new study published in JAMA, which associates the chemical to possible health risks. Previously linked to reproductive and hormonal problems, the study found that BPA might also contribute to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Decline in primary care physicians corresponds to lower salaries indings of a recent survey published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), indicate that the attraction to more lucrative specialties by graduates entering residency has contributed to the shortage of primary care physicians, including those in family medicine, general internal medicine, and pediatrics. Of the nearly 1,200 fourth-year residents surveyed, only 2% plan to work in primary care internal medicine. Moreover, the drop of primary care physicians has been linked to an increase in poor health outcomes. When comparing these results to 2007 starting salary data for the various physician specialties, Mark Ebell, MD, a professor and assistant to the provost at the University of Georgia, found a direct connection between salary and the percent of specialty filled by U.S. medical residents. Heading the list of positions filled were orthopedic surgery (93.8%) and radiology (88.7%), with the highest salaries, averaging $400,000 annually. In contrast, only 42% of family practice positions were filled, garnering salaries around $185,740. F Medical Assistants Recognition Week (October 20-24) To find out how you can show your appreciation at home or on the road, visit http://www.aamantl.org/marweek/index.aspx. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® October is breast cancer awareness month, so join the fight by entering one of the 20 remaining 5K runs or fitness walks found at http://cms.komen.org. Dr. Ebell found similarities in a study he conducted 20 years ago. Since then, the widening gap in salaries has paralleled a marked decline in family practice physicians. In the last decade, the number of medical school graduates entering family practice residencies has declined by 50%. What are some of the factors contributing to the shortage in primary care? Experts suggest that the move toward the popular specialties stems from the need for physicians to cover medical school debts, which have quadrupled—from $35,000 to $140,000—in the last 20 years. Other contributing factors include more time spent doing paperwork, lower Medicare reimbursements for office visits, and an increase in patients with chronic complex conditions. The ongoing shortage, and the movement of more graduates toward hospitalist and other specialty positions, has created constant demand for physicians interested in choosing locum tenens opportunities in family practice and internal medicine. Median income ranges for these and other select specialties can be found in our first compensation survey, beginning on page 10. DID YOU KNOW… Top 6 U.S. Ghostly Getaways 1. Farnsworth House Inn Gettysburg, PA 2. St. James Hotel Cimarron, NM 3. The Menger Hotel San Antonio, TX 4. Hotel Queen Mary Long Beach, CA 5. Hawthorne Hotel Salem, MA 6. Myrtles Plantation Saint Francisville, LA Source: Trip Advisor.com. (n.d.). Top 10: Ghostly getaways. Retrieved September 9, 2008, from http://www.tripadvisor.com/ BOOKSHELF The Alzheimer’s Action Plan: The Experts’ Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems P. Murali Doraiswamy, MD; Lisa P. Gwyther, MSW; and Tina Adler (2008/496 pages/$17.79/Hardcover/ISBN: 10: 0312355394/St. Martin’s Press) Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects over 5 million Americans. In this authoritative guide, experts provide insightful advice on how to cope with patients and loved ones who suffer from AD. Highlighted in the book are topics that describe the importance of accurate and early diagnosis, the most effective treatment and medication regimens, and managing behavioral and emotional changes. Available through www.amazon.com, this book is a must-read for caregivers and medical professionals who wish to mitigate the devastating effects of AD or memory loss. www.LocumLife.com OCTOBER 2008 LocumLife 5 http://www.aama-ntl.org/marweek/index.aspx http://www.aama-ntl.org/marweek/index.aspx http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm http://www.amazon.com http://www.tripadvisor.com/ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ http://www.LocumLife.com

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

LocumLife - October 2008 Insights Editorial Contents From Nalto STAT! The Basics Med Ec-cerpts Last-Minute Luxury Where Do You Stand? Gastroentrerology Career Center Advertiser Index Opportunities Direct Destinations Passport - Cairo, Egypt Contest Rules Anyone's Guess La Vita Locum

LocumLife - October 2008

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