Lifestyle

If a medical practice employs a physician who is impaired and injuring patients, the practice is open to liability as well. Our experts explain the danger of ignoring the problem, and offer advice on what to do when confronting a colleague with an addiction.

Odds 'n Ends

Periodically, I like to digress and recycle factoids and crumbs for thought financial. It is with this plan in mind that I humbly submit today's offerings.

MD Magazine, our new sister publication, is one of the first publications designed exclusively for the Apple iPad. The magazine is a unique celebration of the lifestyle and experience of being a physician. Download the premier issue now -- for free!

What's in your wallet? If it's an American Express or Discover credit card, chances are you're one satisfied customer. J.D. Power and Associates ranked both card companies highest in customer satisfaction for exceptional rewards and benefits, customer service, and a focus on fixing problems.

Buying low is easy after the market plunges -- most stocks, mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs) are on sale. In this type of market, every investor needs to have a "bucket list" at the ready to snap up bargains. Here's mine.

Couples in long-term, romantic relationships exhibit lower cortisol response to stress than individuals without partners, according to a new study by the University of Chicago. As stressful as marriage can be, "social support can act as a buffer."

If your kid's about to head off the college, you may want to consider urging them to change their major. A new study found that students who major in math-focused fields of study go on to earn the highest salaries, while students who major in education and child studies typically earn the least.

As the regulations that will define the shape of our reformed healthcare system are fleshed out, evidence continues to emerge that our legislators may have burdened us with a raft of new rules that could do lasting damage to physicians and their patients. Far from promoting greater access and improved care, these changes may instead end up denying patients' freedom of choice, degrading physicians' clinical decision-making authority, and disrupting the trusted physician-patient relationship.

For a plausible explanation of how the nation's economy melted down in 2008, read "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis. The book not only boasts solid writing, but it's peppered with wisdom and insight into the workings of Wall Street.

The idea that physicians need to protect their assets from lawsuits is hardly new, but the rationale for the strategy has changed. Malpractice insurance policies are shrinking, plaintiffs' malpractice awards are growing. Never before has the medical profession been so vulnerable.

Join Ryan Flesher, MD, director of "The Vanishing Oath," and Paul Hochfeld, MD, director of "Health, Money and Fear," in a live Webinar on Wednesday, Aug. 25, when they'll explore how drug giants, insurance companies, and the U.S. legal system are driving up healthcare costs and driving doctors out of medicine.

The largest investors in private equity are U.S. pension funds -– but a new study finds that these investments may not be benefiting the retirees they were meant to help. Pension funds that invest in private equity are not making sufficient return for their pensioners for the level of risk they are taking.

As if physicians weren't already swamped with paperwork: A new provision of the healthcare law requires businesses to file tax forms for every vendor who sells you more than $600 worth of goods in a year. The new law will affect almost 40 million businesses, including most medical practices.

Each year, AARP magazine ranks the top places for Americans to retire overseas, taking into consideration climate, the expat community, the cost of living, housing, and quality of healthcare. If you think Central American countries dominate the list, you're in for a surprise.