Vol. 105, Issue No. 11 - November 2009
COVER STORY(pages 16-22)
Staying Well
The 2009-10 influenza season is well under way, but this year it is complicated by the accompanying H1N1 flu sweeping Texas and the nation. Physicians are concerned about immunizing their patients, obviously, but public health experts say they need to be as concerned about vaccinating themselves. Look at this way: You're no good to your patients if you're sick. By Crystal Conde
LAW(pages 25-30)
Shopping for Dollars
A Tennessee company has been hired to recover "overpaid" insurance claims. By Crystal Conde
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT(pages 33-37)
Trust, But Verify
TMA has some advice on how to prevent employee embezzlement. By Crystal Conde
MEDICAL ECONOMICS(pages 41-45)
Rating the Rater
TMA says the claims data Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas uses to evaluate physicians are inadequate to produce true quality rankings. By Ken Ortolon
PUBLIC HEALTH (pages 47-52)
Vaccinate or Not?
A TMA survey shows Texas physicians are slow to recommend the human papillomavirus vaccine consistently. By Crystal Conde
SCIENCE(pages 53-56)
Back to Work
Texas scientists are excited over lifting of the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. By Ken Ortolon
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS(pages 57-61)
"Uncharted Waters"
Kingwood family physician Martin Basaldua, MD, and anesthesiologist Susan Curling, MD, MBA, both plan to run for the same Texas House of Representatives seat. By Ken Ortolon
JOURNAL
The Texas Physician Workforce: Current Status and Future Direction ( full text ) ( abstract )
By T. Samuel Shomaker, MD, JD
ROUNDS
Opportunity to Influence Health System Reform Still Exists
Foundation Says HSR Balloons Health Cost
New Network Enhances Patient Safety
New Law Affects Pregnancy Testing
Ask the TMA Knowledge Center
Include Plastic Surgeons in Disaster Response, New Study Says
Delay in Diagnosing and Treating Oral Cancer
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