As Seen in the Dermatology Office
Category Archives: A.R. Pito
Cry the Beloved Specialty
by A.R. Pito, FRCP(C) In the Entrepreneurship section of a recent NY Times there was an article with the title “Fat Freezing Helps Doctors Enhance Physiques, and Their Revenue.” Here are some excerpts: “Dermatology clinics and medical spas are increasingly offering a procedure called CoolSculpting to shrink love handles, flabby tummies and jiggly arms. Doctors’ offices are eager to offer the treatment because it represents a way to meet the fast-growing demand for fat-reduction services that don’t require surgery. It is also, they say, a way to get new types of customers in the door, including men.” “The spokeswoman for one dermatology spa in Arkansas was quoted as saying that … Continue reading
Doctorpreneurs
The Business of Medicine: Old paradigm and new I wish I was a young buck looking for my first job. Recently, I received an email promoting a new position: Hi Dr. …, Hope this email finds you well! I’m contacting you regarding a Dermatology Opening in [a scenic rural area] Please see below for details and send CV if interested. Seeking a BE/BC Dermatologist to join its medical staff. Join the most trusted hospital in the area due to its highly trained physician staff and its arms-length affiliation with the University of [X] Hospital in {Y]. The community itself is an attractive university town located in the Foothills of the redacted … Continue reading
Specialists in the Skins of the Rich and Famous
top doctors make a difference Castle Connolly – Top Doctors by Dr. A.R. Pito, FRCP Castle Connolly often buys a full-page ad in the New York Times listing preferred physicians (16 per page). “The mission of Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is to help consumers find the best healthcare. The top doctors who are listed in our books and on this website’s directory were nominated by their peers in an extensive survey process of thousands of American doctors each year. Those doctors who are among the very best in their specialties and in their communities are selected for inclusion. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be included in any Castle … Continue reading
Welcome to The Cloud Clinic
by A.R. Pito and D.J. Elpern Sugata Mitra hit upon the idea of unsupervised learning by computers in an iconic study of slum children in India. This evolved into Self-Organised Learning Environments (SOLEs) where children search for answers to ‘big’ questions. Why not apply this idea to the medical environment? We envision a Consultative Cloud Clinic. The primary aim of Cloud Clinic is to enhance diagnosis and therapy in the interest of patient care and autonomy. Mitra’s School in the Cloud project enables small groups, to competently search for answers to ‘big questions’, drawing rational, logical conclusions. The concept can be usefully applied to ‘health questions.” Mitra and his colleagues … Continue reading
AMA – Industry Link
We have observed an exciting new trend. Professional journals have started arriving with adverts glued to their covers. First, the Academy of Dermatology’s flagship journal, the JAAD, recently touted Topicort Spray. Now, the July 2015 issue of the the AMA’s journal JAMA Dermatology has its table of contents obscured by a cover ad for Cosentyx, a new biologic for psoriasis. At ~ $44,000 per year per patient, if prescribed by one busy dermatologist, that might come close to the revenue the AMA gets for prominent placement of this annoying drug promotion. All one cay say is WTF! We can’s wait to see the Direct To Consumer Advertisements on TV!! Cover … Continue reading
The Great God Fred
Once in a generation or so, there appears in our specialty, a charismatic individual whose creativity and intellect advance our knowledge and understanding in ways that were unanticipated. Dr. Frederic Sheldon Brandt was featured recently in a New York Times Style essay: The Man Behind the Face. His specialty is facial rejuvenation, and, if one believes the article, he and his associates are miracle workers. The Great God Fred and Associates’ website is worth visiting as well. This is dermatology for the rich and famous. After reading the article and visiting the website, you can draw your own conclusions.
Listen to the Patient…
Notes from the Xanadu Clinic, Norfolk Island, South Pacific The patient is a 65 yo man with a one week history of intense lancinating pain in the right upper quadrant. He was examined by his internist who suspected gall bladder disease and ordered an abdominal ultrasound. It was negative, so an abdominal CT scan was scheduled. Between the ultrasound and the CT scan the patient developed a rash on the abdomen and back. He attributed it to one of the new drugs he was prescribed for his abdominal symptoms. I saw him today for elective surgery of a skin cancer. I greeted him with “How are you today?” He answered, … Continue reading
