Mid-summer brings in a new executive team for Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Diversion program sunset may hide problem doctors, as CMA and others seek a replacement.

Wondering what the future holds for the practice of medicine? Well, if it's up to today's crop of students, you'd better wear shades.

There are options for defraying the cost of installing an electronic medical record system, but you've got to know where to look.

You can get your share of fame in the media, but only if you learn to take a realistic approach.

More than one-third of all U.S. adults are obese--that's 72 million of us. With those types of numbers, it's an issue every physician should learn to handle.

Prices are high, interest rates are low and doctors are doubling up in rentals. In a hectic medical real estate market, the right approach can still work out in the end.

Doctors don't offer help and healing to patients all on their own. A medical practice is a team. That's why choosing the best medical and administrative staffers is so critical. Here are 13 tips to help you find and retain the right people.

Local physicians donate their medical expertise in humanitarian missions abroad, serving those in need and rejuvenating themselves in the process.

As the Southern California fires were being contained, the California Medical Association convened its House of Delegates in Anaheim on Oct. 27. The event gave organized medicine leaders the chance to offer support to those affected. The CMA board of trustees voted to waive dues for one year for any CMA member who lost his or her home or office in the fires.

In the aftermath of October's fires, physicians, hospitals and public health agencies are taking the opportunity to bolster disaster response skills, in the unfortunate event that an emergency strikes the region again.

Five physicians get real about getting sued for malpractice. They reveal the emotions they felt, the support they received and the impact on their self-esteem. Learn from their lessons should you ever face a jury.

I'm a recovering doc-aholic. A doc-aholic is addicted to the fantasy that he can make it alone just by working a little harder. Doc-aholics see themselves as healers in isolation, disconnected from peers, business reality and professional organizations. They accept contracts out of fear. They embrace the idea that "I'm a doctor, so I'll be okay. I'll just keep doing the same old thing and expect a different result."

To improve doctors' professional future and garner power in the changing environment, medical staffs must cease to identify with hospitals and form regional physician organizations. Such organizations support the notion that the physician-patient interaction is the centerpiece of any healthcare delivery system.

Despite fundamental misunderstandings about its practice and goals, palliative care is expanding across the nation at a rapid pace. Practitioners say that's because society and the healthcare industry traditionally overlook--or want to ignore--the most difficult stages of life.

An overview of the practical support that medical staffs need by Brian Johnston, MD, a physician who participates in Organized Medical Staff Sections for the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

Medical staff leaders have an ally in their quest to function effectively in the hospital environment-the Organized Medical Staff Section of the California Medical Association. Pro-physician model bylaws and a bylaws- analysis service also bolster medical staff leadership and ensure patient advocacy.

An introduction to the three-part series by John Hill, MD, the physician who was at the center of a major medical staff-hospital administration conflict.

The link between hospital opposition to self-governance and economic fear cannot be overestimated. This article explains the damaging ways hospital administrations might behave in their relationships with medical staffs and highlights why medical staffs must know and exercise their rights.

Experts and physician users offer advice on better electronic health records system selection, implementation and operation. Learn more about the costs and the process of going paperless.

Female doctors have made progress lately in increasing their leadership, influence and sheer numbers in medicine. But more can be done to harness and highlight the unique contributions that women make in the field. As one female physician says, "Women are humanizing medicine just as it's becoming more technologically advanced and fragmented."

This is the second article in a two-part series examining key medical group contracts. The first article, which appeared in the August 2007 edition, focused on medical group buy-sell agreements.

A well-prepared employment agreement ensures that physicians and their groups understand what each expects of the other. Here are 10 key considerations.

Doctors realize that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but getting patients that ounce can be tons of trouble. Standing in the way are structural problems, payment problems and sometimes even the patients themselves. However, the fact remains that diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension are partly preventable, and California's healthcare reformers have high hopes they can help.

This is the first article in a two-part series examining key medical group contracts. The second article will focus on physician employment agreements.

A carefully drafted buy-sell agreement is essential for a medical group's long-term well-being.  Here are seven key considerations.

   What draws generation after generation into medicine?
   Several Southern California doctors reveal just how and why their family trees are firmly planted in the medical field.
   Compelling role models and mutual understanding of the demands are just the start. A family tradition in medicine is based on love.

The California Medical Association's 33rd Annual Legislative Leadership Day drew physicians from all over the state to discuss health reform and the push for laws that doctors and patients like. Learn about the lobbying visits and read more on the high-stakes, practice-altering changes to come.

To understand California's current healthcare environment, it is first necessary to go back in time and learn how the concerns of three basic groups--patients, doctors and third-parties--developed, interacted and progressively evolved organized healthcare delivery. These lessons from history inform our future.

Human resources, operations, finance, customer service, business planning-the challenges of practice management are many and diverse. Who better to advise you than successful peers and consulting experts? Try these dos and don'ts to boost the performance of your practice.

You don't have to spend a fortune on technology to realize some efficiencies and economies. Try these tips and tools to better automate your practice.

Addressing language access issues and boosting cultural proficiency are critical parts of delivering high-quality medical care. Yet those challenges can seem especially daunting in Southern California. Read on for practical tools and useful resources to bridge communications gaps between doctors and patients.

Want to contract with managed care payers in a more productive fashion? Try these tips and tools to minimize frustration and maximize reimbursement. Collected from your peers and the professionals at the California Medical Association, these pointers will increase your negotiating power and improve your results.

With heavier patient loads than ever and a physician shortage looming, the demand for physician extenders is increasing. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are doing more than just filling the gap--they're adding tremendous value to the medical team. Expect continued changes as new laws pass to address the roles and responsibilities of physician extenders.

This modern, high-tech take on the historic morbidity and mortality conference can educate a wider audience of physicians and boost patient safety for all. An article by Leo Gordon, MD.

Emergency physicians, specialists and hospital administrators frequently debate fixes for a vexing problem in Southland emergency departments--call panels. Many have found ways to cover their ERs and others envision better solutions to come. Either way, the issue of call panels is rich with controversy.

Despite an increasingly hostile practice environment, physicians can still find enjoyment and satisfaction in medicine. Meet six doctors who reveal what keeps them motivated and moving forward. Then, try a few tips to salve your soul.

When you use an outside billing company, you are putting the financial health of your practice in another's hands. Here's how to make sure you're protected if the company fails to perform.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get valuable protection against malpractice liability. Simple risk-reducing tactics abound. If you're committed to staying out of the courtroom, commit to applying the common-sense ideas and information-rich resources shared here.

As traditional practice modes become more challenging and less rewarding, physicians are searching out new ways to be doctors. Meet four peers who have changed their approach to medicine and learn how they spend a typical day. See what their personal stories mean for the physician community overall.

Meet Norman Vinn, DO. A board-certified osteopathic physician, Dr. Vinn, 57, has an office without walls, but with wheels instead. As chief medical officer of Housecall Doctors Medical Group Inc. in Laguna Hills, he coordinates medical care on the phone from the black leather seat of his car. And when he sees patients, the walls of the exam room aren't his, but theirs. Dr. Vinn makes house calls, delivering examinations, diagnoses and treatments in the living rooms and bedrooms of Orange County's homebound.

Retiring physicians and practice management experts reveal the process for a successful practice succession. Discover how to make a graceful exit from your business and simultaneously leave your patients in goods hands. Read on for 40 tips and ideas.

As traditional practice modes become more challenging and less rewarding, physicians are searching out new ways to be doctors. Meet four peers who have changed their approach to medicine and learn how they spend a typical day. See what their personal stories mean for the physician community overall. Meet Jae Kim, MD. A board-certified internist with St. Jude Heritage Medical Group, Dr. Kim, 35, works as a hospitalist at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton. His service is limited to hospitalized patients under St. Jude Heritage Medical Group's brand-new Department of Inpatient Medicine launched in August 2006.

Organized medicine won't back down from the latest assault to physicians--the Schwarzenegger administration's proposed regulations to control billing practices for emergency services.

Doctors are fighting back in the legal and legislative arenas. Absent satisfactory resolution, some worry the changes will diminish patients' access to care and boost insurance company power.

Read on for details about the onerous regulations.

The California Medical Association's 150th anniversary is the perfect opportunity to highlight its many milestones and trailblazers. Here are facts from 1856 forward.

As traditional practice modes become more challenging and less rewarding, physicians are searching out new ways to be doctors. Meet four peers who have changed their approach to medicine and learn how they spend a typical day. See what their personal stories mean for the physician community overall. Meet Marcy Zwelling-Aamot, MD. A triple board-certified internist and founder of Choice Care Inc., Dr. Zwelling-Aamot, 53, works as a concierge physician providing personalized medical care to nearly 500 patients. Each patient pays her an annual fee of about $1,500, which includes all doctor visits and an extensive physical.

A growing number of physicians are using smart phones, PDAs, tablet PCs and online tools to streamline their practices and deliver better care to patients. Discover how six doctors are saving time and money through cutting-edge technology.

As traditional practice modes become more challenging and less rewarding, physicians are searching out new ways to be doctors. Meet four peers who have changed their approach to medicine and learn how they spend a typical day. See what their personal stories mean for the physician community overall. Meet Jeanine McNeill, MD. A board-certified radiologist with Renaissance Radiology Medical Group, Dr. McNeill, 49, works occasionally at the practice's outpatient imaging center, Parkview Community Hospital and Riverside County Regional Medical Center. But about two thirds of the time, she works from home, enjoying the benefits of the growing telemedicine trend.

Southern California physicians in academic medicine share what drew them to the university setting and describe its unique challenges. Most doctors who teach doctors say the rewards are personal. A UCI professor says: "It's something innate. It's something you love to do."

Ensuring your patients understand you may require choosing different words. Health literacy experts share how to improve communication in physician practices using simple tools and practical strategies. Learn six steps to improve patient care and nine words to use.

Medical coding, billing and collections are cornerstones of practice profitability. Without those functions, doctors can't remain in the business of healthcare delivery. Here, experts share how physicians can maximize their revenue and tell where to find valuable reimbursement resources.

Ideas and images captured from the California Medical Association Ninth Annual California Healthcare Leadership Academy. While no one thinks radical health reform is possible, learn the solutions proposed by top healthcare economists; leaders in business, labor and insurance; and an expert in health disparities.

Patients depend on hospitals and medical staffs to work together to build better healthcare delivery systems. But years after medical staffs were recognized as legal entities, where do these sometimes sensitive partnerships with hospitals stand? Hear what physicians have to say and learn how to strengthen the links in healthcare.

Now the nation's top advocate for doctors, Dr. Plested was once a local surgeon, having practiced in Southern California for more than 30 years. Learn his plans for political action and act on his imperative: "Stand up and take responsibility for your profession."

Struggling with the challenges of running a practice? You're not alone. Doctors are looking for prescriptions to fix what ails their businesses. Meet six physicians who reveal the practice management strategies that keep their operations and employees growing and efficient. Get ideas from EMR to phone systems.

Doctors fight for HMO reform and a Medi-Cal reimbursement increase at the CMA's Annual Legislative Leadership Day.

The economic divide between specialists and general practitioners is real, but physicians don't take out their financial angst on each other. Insurance plans and government payers get the blame for ratcheting down reimbursement. Still, salary considerations are changing who practices what, as medical students move away from primary care. Take a closer look at the salary rankings for 30 practitioner types. On the cover is Kristin Santangelo, MD, a Ventura urologist. She says, "I hear a generalized gripe about more work for less pay."

Physician-authors share why the want to write and what subjects are most important to them. Meet Patricia Salber, MD; Robert Kotler, MD; Howard Murad, MD; Anton Hasso, MD; and Peggy Fritzsche, MD.

Although physicians are frustrated with the lack of diversity in the healthcare workforce, they are determined to change it. Doctors are discovering ways to improve the numbers, address minority health issues and make an impact.

Southern California Physician interviews Dr. Cady during his late January visit to the Inland Empire. Learn what he thinks is next in the Medicare program, how the AMA is changing and why you can ask for more from the organized medicine powerhouse.

Southern California Physician interviews physicians just getting settled in medicine. Generally, they like their work (and their time off), have warmed to managed care and see opportunity in technology. Meet the new generation of medical leaders.

Emergency medical services experts have a lot to say about California's overall readiness for a natural or manmade disaster. But in many ways, preparedness comes down to you. Get ready for emergencies now to keep your practice open, your employees safe and your family secure.

In the final installment of the series, meet Andre Berger, MD, and learn about the operation of Beverly Hills-based Rejuvalife Vitality Institute.

Physicians don't have to get sued to get smart about malpractice liability. Riverside and San Bernardino County doctors are learning by doing case reviews. And many physicians are gaining insight about the role their staffs play in lawsuits. When it comes to malpractice, knowledge is power.

The arrival of the new prescription drug benefit is making headlines everywhere, and doctors have a role in discussing patients’ options. Here are the basics about the program, some helpful resources and ways to answer seniors’ questions more effectively.

There’s some mystique surrounding spa practices and spa patients. So here are four stories straight from physicians about their backgrounds and their customers.