Letter to the Editor: More Work to Be Done
Gene Shelby, MD, past president of the Arkansas Medical Society wrote the following letter to the editor, which appeared in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on September 29, 2019. It was also signed by Patrice Harris, MD, president of the American Medical Association. More Work to Be Done…
SVMIC Launches New RiskView Tool
State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company (SVMIC) strives to find new, creative ways to provide guidance and education regarding the most current areas of liability. There is a growing need for accessible and easy-to-use options for navigating office-based patient care and the administrative responsibilities associated with running a medical…
What Have We Done For You Lately: New Law in Effect on ID Cards
A lot of attention is focused on AMS successes during each legislative session, usually on big bills with big impact. What doesn’t always get the attention they deserve are AMS bills that try to address some of the smaller hassles of practicing medicine and running a practice. A…
Cochran Receives AMS Student Membership Award
Each year, AMS awards the Student Leadership Award to a medical student in good standing who is in the first, second, or third year of medical school. This student embodies the values of the medical profession through leadership, service, excellence, integrity, and ethical behavior, and also encourages other…
Becoming Social: A Discussion on Using Social Media in Medicine
Post. Share. Like. Follow. These are the simple commands of social media that dominate our world, and today’s physician must make an informed decision about his or her professional and personal use of social media. Having an online presence as a doctor may afford you the power to…
Resident Physician Shortage Addressed in Grant Funds and Legislation
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has received a $4.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve access to quality health care in rural Arkansas by expanding efforts to train and retain primary care physicians. “Retaining physicians to provide primary care…
Severe Pulmonary Disease Among Those Who Report Vaping
UPDATE: The FDA has created a Consumer Update to provide information for consumers to help protect themselves, as well as a new Lung Illnesses Associated with Use of Vaping Products webpage to provide an overview of these incidents and FDA’s actions to date, as well as recommendations for…
A New Battle in an Old War: Smoking Gives Way to Vaping
New delivery system. Same old tobacco stain. Those of us who lived through Big Tobacco’s undoing in the 90s may not want to believe it. As physicians, you especially may be growing weary to see another tobacco-related health crisis reemerging as alternative forms of nicotine delivery have become…
Take a Look Inside Correctional Medicine in Arkansas
"I tell new hires or interviewed applicants that it's like working in a third-world country," said Nannette Vowell, MD, of her work as medical director of the Ouachita River Correctional Unit's Special Needs Hospital. “It’s basic medical care, with basic equipment and dedicated staff. If you approach it…
Physician Outreach Update by Tereasa Holmes
Accepting AFMC/AMS Physician Outreach Specialist position is one of the highlights of my professional career. I have gone full circle as I began my career over 25 years ago with a leading insurance carrier. This path has taken me from provider educator, clinic administrator, educator, advocate for the…
Patient Safety at Risk: Safe Surgery Arkansas Seeking Signatures to End Optometry Eye Surgery Act
Safe Surgery Arkansas, a coalition of medical doctors with years of extensive surgical training, announced the formation of a ballot question committee to coordinate a statewide referendum challenging Act 579 of 2019. The coalition includes members from the Arkansas Ophthalmological Society and the Arkansas Medical Society. To suspend…