28 days
From the Editor
Dr. Schwarzenberger is the former physician editor of DermWorld.
By Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, February 1, 2021
February is short this year. Kind of seems unfair that our extra February day happened in 2020, probably the one year none of us wanted extended, even if only by one day. Hopefully by now, most of you have already been vaccinated, and with any luck, your friends and family who are not health care workers will be given the same opportunity soon, if they haven’t already. As I see it, a short month puts us closer to spring, with longer days, more sunshine, and the promise of more time outdoors. I usually spend February putting together my talks and getting ready for the Annual Meeting. Unfortunately, once again, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the AAD to cancel the meeting. As was the case last year, I will miss the joy of getting together with so many of you; however, the Scientific Assembly Committee is hard at work as we speak putting together another exciting virtual VMX meeting for you to enjoy in April. Stay tuned for more information!
This month, we thought we’d look into a topic most of us probably don’t think about very often: office ergonomics. Ergonomics falls into the same category as sunscreen and life insurance: things you really should think about when you are young, but often fail to appreciate until you are older. By the time you realize how important they are, it may be too late. Musculoskeletal disorders are common among dermatologists, and some of them result from the very movements that we do every day. Bending over to do that skin biopsy or reaching over the table to do surgery may not be uncomfortable as a young physician; however, over time, repetitive motions, particularly those which involve leaning forward or extending the neck or other extremities can damage the spine or other joints. The end consequences can be extremely painful and, in some cases, may necessitate a career change. Fortunately, there are interventions that can be done now to help prevent problems down the line. I encourage you to read contributing writer Ruth Carol’s excellent article in which she speaks with some of our colleagues who have experienced musculoskeletal problems at work. Check out your office and your practice style to see where you might be getting into trouble and see what modifications you can make now that may protect you in the future. Your back will thank you later for it!
There are many iterations of the saying “with every crisis, there is opportunity,” and the COVID-19 crisis is no exception. From PPE price gouging (and let’s not even mention the toilet paper) to overt billing fraud, the COVID pandemic has been a busy time for dishonest opportunists. This became personal for me last year when someone filed an unemployment claim in my name; fortunately, the state contacted my employer to confirm my “unemployment” prior to paying out on the claim and the process was halted. Other physicians have reported similar activities and worse, with cybercrime increasing daily in medicine. Read this important article and be sure you are aware of potential threats to you and your practice.
February is, of course, the month in which we celebrate Valentine’s Day. More than just the patron saint of lovers, Saint Valentine’s spiritual responsibilities reportedly include beekeeping, epilepsy, and the plague. Perhaps we could ask him to add COVID-19 to the list? I wonder if Hallmark has a card for that?
