Oncology Business Management

The rise of social networking websites that encourage patients to rate their physicians and discuss their experiences has some practitioners worried about the damage a malicious review could do to their practice.

Consider this hypothetical situation: A patient with new onset of a major depression is evaluated by a physician who has found no evidence of suicidal ideation.

Many physicians are skeptical about getting involved in the practice, and rightfully so. Sermo and other online physician communities are rife with posts and comments from physicians who know colleagues who have stretched the truth or even lied on the stand because of personal beliefs or compensation.

One of the most important legal documents in your practice may have a significant impact on your finances. And even though you (or someone in your practice) agreed to abide by its terms and conditions, it's highly likely that you have never even read it.

According to an article published in the June 17, 2008 edition of the New York Times, declining reimbursements, managed care, physician shortages (especially in primary care), and concerns about malpractice are contributing to doctors' discontent.

New Research Presented at ASCO Highlights Advantages of Pegfilgrastim in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for a Wide Variety of Solid Tumors and Hematologic Malignancies

One of the most uncomfortable consequences of anticancer therapy is the development of oral mucositis.

Combining a modified version of a commonly used chemotherapy medication with Positron Emission Tomography (PET), researchers at UCLA have achieved a breakthrough in immune system modeling and treatment response monitoring.

Despite the enormous potential of electronic health records (EHRs) and other health IT applications, very few providers have adopted them.

The Internet can be an amazingly useful educational resource for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. It can also be the source of potentially dangerous misinformation.

Rafael Fonseca, MD, is a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic and a consultant in the Division of Hematology/Oncology.

Dr. Adil Daud is a clinical physician and medical researcher, certified by the American Board of Internal Medicinein both oncology and hematology.

Does the word "free" grab your attention? It sure gets mine.

Cell phone applications and other high-tech tools are changing the way physicians approach patient education.

Health literacy requires more than just knowing how to read. It involves a number of additional skills, including listening, analyzing, and decisionmaking.

The seeds of CCE were planted nearly three years ago, when some OTN-affiliated physicians decided that they needed to start working more closely together to help advance care in their field. The privately fi nanced company formally started in April 2007.

New genomics-based tests are helping oncologists answer one of the most basic, yet often challenging, questions in cancer care: What kind of cancer does the patient have?

5 Questions with Charles Morris, MD, VP of Worldwide Clinical Research, for Cephalon Oncology.

Many of our patients are using the Internet to look up their diagnoses and medications as soon as they get home from our offices.

We must overcome all of the technical, political, and economical obstacles NOW. The need for system efficiency and patient safety demands it.

A year later, as we read and watch the breathless coverage devoted to recent moves by Google, Microsoft, and Apple, we are left asking "is healthcare IT worth the hype?"

Oncologists must come to grips with the fact that healthcare is becoming increasingly service-oriented and consumer-centric.

Lately, ultrasound has been used to increase sampling accuracy. Trans-thoracic ultrasound does not provide adequate guidance because of the difficulty in imaging the mediastinum

It was not for several years until I started really reading professional development and then medical blogs. And somewhat to my surprise, I found them quite useful professionally.

Continuity of care is important during active treatment. A cancer diagnosis is confusing and frightening, and the treatments administered may produce adverse reactions.