Keith A. Reynolds

Julianne Andrews, principal and co-founder of Atlanta Financial Associates LLC, discusses some strategies to help physicians minimize their tax liability.

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How physicians can limit their tax liability

The American College of Physicians’ (ACP) Internal Medicine Meeting is still going on as planned, according to an 

The meeting is scheduled to take place the week of April 21 in Los Angeles, but as fears of the COVID-19 coronavirus ramp up and other organizations cancel their large gatherings the ACP is working closely with the CDC and local officials to ensure the safety of attendees, the update says.

“ACP considers the health, well-being, and safety of its meeting attendees, staff, and the public our top priority,” the update says. “ACP leadership is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and is actively working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure authoritative communication of safety updates and recommendations as the situation evolves.”

As part of the organization’s response to the disease, the update says:

·      Leadership is ready for flexible decision making as information becomes available

·      They are working with the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Los Angeles Convention Center to make sure proper medical and sanitation processes are in place

·      Leadership will advise regarding precautions and standard respiratory hygiene procedures to reduce transmission

·      The organization will make updates to members and registrants as more information becomes available

The announcement follows the March 5 cancellation of the HIMSS20 conference in Orlando, Florida, which was expected to draw tens of thousands of people and feature a speech from President Donald J. Trump.

More than 100,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus around the globe and the leader of the World Health Organization is pushing governments across the globe to step up their response to the ever-widening health crisis, according to a 

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The organization is working closely with the CDC and local officials to keep attendees safe from the coronavirus.

ACP Internal Medicine Meeting still on for now

The weight loss drugs Belviq and Belviq XR (lorcaserin) have been pulled from shelves after a request from the FDA due to an increased occurrence of cancer when using the drugs, according to a 

The drugs’ manufacturer, Eisai Inc., voluntarily complied with the request.

The FDA says they took the action after reviewing randomized clinical trial data in January which identified the increased possibility of cancer. The drugs were approved in 2012, and a five-year, 12,000 patient clinical trial found increased rates of cancer in those who took the drugs.

The trial found that 462 patients treated with lorcaserin were diagnosed with 520 primary cancers compared to only 462 patients who had taken the placebo. These cancers included pancreatic, colorectal, and lung, according to the FDA.

The trial found that there was not an increased cancer rate in the initial months of treatment with the drugs, but the rate increased over time.

Physicians are asked to stop prescribing and dispensing the drugs to patients and contact any patients currently taking lorcaserin to inform them of the increased occurrence of cancer and ask them to stop taking the medicine immediately while discussing alternative weight loss medicines or strategies, the release says.

Patients should stop taking the drugs immediately and dispose of unused lorcaserin at a drug take back location. If that is not possible, the FDA advises a patient can dispose of the drugs in their household trash but first they should first mix it with “an unappealing substance” like dirt or kitty litter first, the release says.

The weight loss drug’s manufacturer complied with the request due to an increased occurrence of cancer.

FDA asks for Belviq, Belviq XR to be pulled from shelves 

Most American patients are frustrated with the country’s healthcare system, but they think technology can help, according to a 

In all, 78 percent of the adult patients surveyed said they think it should be easier to find medical care, while 68 percent feel that most of their time at a hospital isn’t spent with a physician. Meanwhile, 63 percent of respondents are sick of feeling like their personal health doesn’t matter in the current system.

This dissatisfaction is pushing these patients into the online world where six out of 10 respondents have attempted to diagnose themselves after researching symptoms on the internet. These patients also believe they can figure out the best treatment options without visiting a healthcare provider, the survey found.

Despite these numbers, 85 percent of respondents said they value their relationship with their primary care physician and want to use technology to improve communication with them. More than double the number of respondents who said they currently use online chat or app-based communication told surveyors they would like to use it in the future and three times as many would like to use video chat.

Patients are also using technology to monitor their health with 56 percent using at least one digital data collection tool to do so.

These users are also more likely to take part in preventative healthcare measures, including screening for cancer and other high-risk conditions, exercising regularly, and seeing a doctor or primary care physician regularly.

“Apps and other digital tools now provide easy, secure access to our own health data and our doctors at all times,” says Carlos M. Nunez, MD, ResMed’s Chief Medical Officer. “These real-world data can reveal insights that help improve the use of a home-based therapy or may spark a talk with a doctor that helps patients get the most from their therapy for better results.

“Meanwhile, clinicians with remote access to patients’ data can monitor them more easily, quickly reaching out to those who need support,” Nunez adds. “Medical researchers can analyze large data sets to uncover findings that may lead to new best practices that are applicable across populations of patients. All of these benefits are changing the way we all receive care today, improving the quality of care for millions and increasing healthcare providers’ efficiency.”

While patients are already adopting these technologies, they still have a thirst for their physicians to bring newer tech into their practice with a vast majority believing robotics, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality will have a positive impact on healthcare.

Patients want to take their healthcare matters into their own hands using technology

Author | Keith A. Reynolds

Articles

How physicians can limit their tax liability

ACP Internal Medicine Meeting still on for now

FDA asks for Belviq, Belviq XR to be pulled from shelves

Survey: Patients frustrated with healthcare, think tech can help