by Rod Nowakowski, OD, PhD Genetic & Advanced Diagnostic Testing It is possible that genetic testing may reveal genetic conditions or predispositions unrelated to the original purpose of the test. These are called incidental findings. The American College of Medical Genetics has specified 59 genes in which incidental findings may have significant, treatable morbidity and hence, are considered "medically actionable." Those 59 genes are not among those that are typically investigated in most genetic tests for eye disease, but one test exception is a whole exome sequence (WES) in which the entire exome is sequenced. Recall that the exome includes all the genes that code for protein (about 22,000 of them). The 59 genes reside within the exome; medically actionable gene variants may be discovered anytime you order a WES. It is also possible to find abnormalities not related to those 59 genes that are still medically actionable in the sense that it is important knowledge for future health care. Here are three examples of incidental findings from patients seen recently at VisionAmerica:
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6/25/2018 0 Comments This Patient is How Old?!For many doctors, one of the more challenging patients to examine is a child.
They don't listen, their parents can drive you crazy, and communication can be difficult. Sure, strictly working with children isn't for everyone, but most all of us encounter children in the office on a weekly basis. Dr. Calah Ray is going to help make this easier on everyone! Not only does she truly love working with kids, but she is also speaking to both the doctors and technicians at this year's VisionAmerica Summer Conference. We sat down with Dr. Ray to briefly discuss what she loves about working with children and get a sneak peek into her two lectures at the upcoming conference. Symptoms
A 20-year-old female presented with a complaint of blurry vision temporally in the left eye for the past two days. She had suffered blunt trauma to the left brow two days prior after a fall and required sutures to a laceration on the forehead. She experienced no loss of consciousness at the time of the accident. You may not have heard, but the 2018 VisionAmerica Summer Conference will take place on Friday and Saturday, August 10th and 11th, at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Prattville, Alabama.
We put so much energy and effort into this conference because we have seen the impact it has had on the attendees. In a world that is rapidly progressing toward technological communication, there is something special about sitting down face-to-face with industry peers and talking through challenges and learning together. We hope to see everyone there! But for those of you on the fence, we wanted to offer you 5.25 benefits of attending conferences as a little extra persuasion. New Ideas and Inspiration Managing and working in a medical practice is a grind. Day in and day out, there are consistent challenges and hurdles to jump over. It's true that we all signed up for this, but it is easy to get worn down over the 52 weeks of the calendar year. There are few things that combat fatigue for a professional like new ideas and inspiration. A conference is an opportunity to be inspired by industry peers and subject matter experts. Light bulbs went off across the room last year as we heard and discussed information on billing, MIPS, and even how to provide customer service like Disney. A conference provides rare fuel that is needed to take the next steps in your practice in order for it to reach its potential. As you step in your office on a Monday following a conference, you will have new ideas and approaches that will make you more effective and efficient as a doctor. Networking Opportunities The camaraderie of a conference is something that can't be duplicated in Facebook groups or on Zoom calls. There is just something about being in the room together. As you sit and listen to subject matter experts, eat meals, and golf or hang out with industry peers, common professional bonds and lifelong friendships are formed. There really is no substitute for a like-minded individual in your profession that you can call on when you have a new idea, need advice, or are going through a tough time. One benefit of conference networking that is often overlooked is what you can learn and implement from someone practicing in a different location. It is not uncommon to learn new best practices or even pick up referrals from industry peers met at conferences. Meeting New Vendors and Suppliers In addition to industry peers, vendors are almost always available to show off new equipment or treatments that might benefit your patients. Many people try to avoid the exhibit hall at conferences because they believe they are full of pushy salespeople. This is rarely ever the case, though. These industry suppliers are some of the most important people for you to get to know! They likely understand developing industry trends and can fill you in on what is coming next. Whether their product is right for your business or not, they will also help educate you on the current industry trends and tell you what is going on in other regions. One of your goals at a conference should be to turn a few vendors into close friends that you can reach out to if a need ever arises. Being on a first name basis with a few strategic vendors and suppliers can pay off when you least expect it. Self Investment Few things encompass all the facets of self investment like a conference. Think about it. You are taking a break from the office, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, learning, enjoying recreational activity, and eating good food. After spending hours on end serving your patients, taking time to pour into yourself is much deserved. Taking the time to invest in yourself as a professional will also benefit your team. You will further position yourself as an expert in the office and be able to pass along valuable information to the people that serve in your practice. It's Fun If you are going to conferences and not having a good time, you aren't doing it right! This should be an enjoyable time of relaxation and learning. Our goal at the VisionAmerica Summer Conference is to provide you with engaging speakers that take some of the monotony out of continuing education. Once you mix quality speakers, recreation and great company together, you have the recipe for a good time. An Opportuning to Hang with Dr. Jim Marbourg We know you've been wondering what could possibly constitute .25 of a benefit. How about a rare opportunity to hang out with Dr. Jim Marbourg? (Clearly not something offered at your run of the mill conference!) This is something that doesn't happen every day! Dr. Marbourg will be at the conference and open to brief conversations, photo opportunities and autographs. Check out some of the feedback from last year's conference below. We are looking forward to seeing you there! "Enjoyed the program. Great mix of topics and lectures." "Great speakers, food and entertainment." "Thank you for providing pertinent, clinically relevant, interesting, and affordable CE. Much appreciated!" "Quickly becoming my favorite CE meeting." "Excellent program." "You've hit a home run." "Best meeting I attend every year." 6/7/2018 0 Comments June Photo of the MonthMacula Off Detachment Right Eye
The patient presented with visual acuity of Finger Counting at 1'. At three weeks post op, the patient is back to 20/60 and will hopefully continue to improve. Note the two retinal breaks temporal to the macula with fluid extending through the macula and approaching the optic nerve. by Paul Batson, O.D.
Center Director VisionAmerica of Birmingham I spent about two hours yesterday reviewing the 2018 MIPS guidelines and requirements. The longer that I spend walking through these topics, the more frustrating it becomes. Who in their right mind would create such a complex system of reimbursement? The hoops that we jump through for things like MIPS are just one of the many complexities of practice that lead folks to want to "throw in the towel." I've talked with more and more folks lately that feel the same way. As I thought about it, my mind wandered to the topic of how we avoid burnout. |
AuthorThe staff and doctors at VisionAmerica are committed to providing relevant information for you, your patients and your practice. We hope you find the information in our blog post helpful. Archives
August 2019
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