Physicians Practice Renews Education Program for Dermatologists

Baltimore, Maryland — March 28, 2005 — Physicians Practice today announced the 2005 availability of its free continuing medical education (CME) practice management program for dermatologists and other healthcare professionals, The Patient-Centered Dermatology Practice.

Available to all healthcare professionals who register for the program, The Patient-Centered Dermatology Practice provides data and advice on how to improve practice management within a dermatology practice. The program is endorsed by the Association of Dermatology Administrators / Managers (ADA/M) and supported by an educational grant from Galderma Laboratories, L.P.

“During the program’s first year of research and education, we met so many frantic dermatologists who felt overwhelmed by sheer volume,” said Pamela L. Moore, PhD, CPC, senior editor for Physicians Practice®, The Business Journal for Physicians. “With so many patient visits, dermatologists miss spending quality time with patients”

In response to participant surveys and continued needs assessment, the 2005 program will place special emphasis on physician-staff relationships to help healthcare professionals in the field of dermatology better manage their time, scheduling, telephones, technology and other practice management issues.

Dermatology is a high volume, fast-paced specialty. The median number of ambulatory encounters for dermatologists is 5,222. Many physicians conduct nearly 8,000 patient visits a year, according to the Medical Group Management Association's Physician Compensation and Production Survey: 2003 Report Based on 2002 Data.

“We are pleased to partner with Physicians Practice to offer this program, and we encourage our members to take advantage of this multi-faceted CME curriculum,” said Fran Parrish, president of the ADA/M, which recommends The Patient-Centered Dermatology Practice to its members as a value-added benefit.

Healthcare professionals who sign up for the complimentary Patient-Centered Dermatology Practice will receive the following specialty information:

• Audioconferences – A series of 60-minute audioconferences featuring expert speakers and Q&A sessions on how to run a more patient-centered dermatology practice.
  
  
• Local Seminars – Practical advice and tips on how to improve practice management for better patient care, offered at regional seminars across the country.
  
  
• Newsletters – Published quarterly with easy-to-implement tips and content based on research and interviews with dermatologists, practice management experts, and practices across the country.
  
  
• Web Cast – One-hour program featuring tips on how to identify and recruit a winning team, how to develop patient-focused employees, and how to develop processes and procedures to build collaboration among team members.
  
  
• Web Site – Electronic versions of The Patient-Centered Dermatology Practice: Research and Findings Paper, and archived issues of newsletters and audioconferences, available online at www.PatientCenteredPractice.com.