Commentaries

Gout is characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis caused by crystals of uric acid deposited in joints, tendons, and surrounding tissues. About half of cases involve the big toe, but it can present as gouty tophi (a deposit of monosodium urate crystals in the joints, cartilage, bone, and throughout the body that may break out through... »

Each time the subject of credit cards on file comes up – as it did in my recent online column Your 2012 Resolution Stop Extending Credit.I am inundated with questions, comments, and requests for copies of the letter we give to patients explaining our credit card policy. The column was the most popular yet; as one of my editors put it, "Joe’s goin’... »

Over the past couple of years, we’ve written quite a lot about choosing and implementing an electronic health record, and have also covered how best to use the system once it’s up and running. But many physicians comment that these issues often don’t apply to them, because they are employed by a hospital or health system. As a result, they believe that they... »

Question: A 15-year-old boy develops excruciating testicular pain from torsion of the testis. The family internist urged emergency surgery as recommended by the urologist, but the parents refused. Which of the following accurately describes the issue of consent?

A. Even if the boy nods in assent, this would be invalid consent as he is a minor.

B.... »

Two years from now, millions of previously uninsured Americans will gain health coverage through the Medicaid program. With that in mind, section 2701 of the Affordable Care Act instructs officials in the Health and Human Services Department to design a voluntary quality measurement program focused on the care of new adults coming into the program. On Jan.... »

Have you ever run across a negative or even malicious comment about you or your office on the Web, in full view of the world? You’re certainly not alone.

Chances are the comment was on a doctor-rating site, whose supposedly "objective" evaluations are anything but fair or accurate; one curmudgeon, angry about something that has nothing to do with... »

Health Care Armageddon has finally arrived. Thank you, Washington.

Insurance companies and the government regulators who supervise them have come up with an ingenious scheme. It is really a perfect storm of goodies if you’re an insurance company: high premiums, high deductibles, and high copays, all of which equal nearly infinite profit. Brokers love it,... »