Articles

Online and offline data security continues to challenge large and small businesses, costing companies money — real money. Unlike consumers, businesses do not enjoy the same protection when they experience fraud on their commercial bank accounts. It’s critical that businesses know their liability and responsibility when dealing with cyber fraud.

University Hospital has received Level IV NICU designation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the state of Texas, further cementing the hospital’s commitment to providing exceptional care for newborns with complex conditions and their families.

Answers to questions about why you would want to change your medical practice’s bottom line should be obvious: To increase revenue and decrease expenses. However, this can be easier said than done. This article addresses a few examples regarding increasing revenue and decreasing expenses.

Implants are the most common method of breast reconstruction performed today, but they are not considered the gold standard. Because of the extra training needed and the complexity of more advanced procedures like the DIEP flap, few centers in the U.S. truly offer the full spectrum of breast reconstruction procedures. Unfortunately, reports today show seven out of 10 women are never told about all their breast reconstruction options, with many believing implants are the only choice.

Obesity and weight gain have long been risk factors associated with death from breast cancer. In a recent study published in the journal Cancer, a multi-institutional team of researchers, headed by Virginia Kaklamani, MD, from UT Health San Antonio, focused on the factors that affect weight gain in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

In May of this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for the first time for a cancer treatment based on a common biomarker rather than the location in the body where the tumor originated. The drug, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), which was first tested at START in San Antonio’s Medical Center, is now approved for treating solid tumors in any organ so long as the malignancy bears a specific genetic signature.

New advances in hematology testing offer parameters useful in assessing challenging conditions such as thrombocytopenia. The immature platelet fraction (IPF) is an available parameter on analyzers in some laboratories. When used with patient information and platelet counts, the IPF can help the clinician with the differential diagnosis of thrombocytopenia.

Many business executives use a professional coach to enhance their skills and improve their bottom line. There are physicians in the San Antonio area who have a coach, and perhaps it’s time for the practice manager to have a coach, too. It doesn’t matter whether the practice manager has two years or 20 years of experience. Having a third-party coach allows the practice manager the opportunity to talk with another medical practice executive in a non-threatening setting to discuss concerns and ideas they may not otherwise discuss with any other staff member, including the physician.

I know you’re thinking to yourself: “the year-end is still pretty far away…” Speaking from experience, this is a great time of year to review how your year is shaping up and what can be done to avoid larger than necessary tax bills. With that in mind, this article will discuss a few tax planning ideas as you start thinking year-end.