A time for thanks
From the Editor
Dr. Schwarzenberger is the former physician editor of DermWorld.
By Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, FAAD, November 1, 2022
When I was a child, November seemed to be a frustrating placeholder between the excitement of Halloween and the many joys of the Christmas season. At this more mature and hopefully more thoughtful time of life, I relish the quieter nature of this month as we move into the darkness of winter. 2022 has not been an easy year for many of us. The COVID noise has quieted down, but it is not gone and the emergence of monkeypox reminds us that we may not be far from the next epidemic. Our hearts go out to our colleagues in Puerto Rico and Florida, who are hopefully safe and starting down the long path of rebuilding their lives after devastating natural disasters this fall. Mother Nature is truly one tough mother. Political and economic unrest have touched us all. We have sadly lost colleagues and friends.
My goal for this month is to remind myself of the many blessings in my life. I am fortunate to have a wonderful extended family (and an amazing husband who somehow puts up with me). And I am so incredibly lucky to have friends. My best friends are all dermatologists, and I believe this says something about our specialty. We attract the best and the brightest, but also some of the kindest, most generous, and most loyal people I know. We are fortunate to be joined in our work by amazing people who help us in our daily and professional lives to do all that we do. It is a privilege being part of this group and I appreciate the AAD for bringing us all together. For this and many other reasons, I give thanks.
We have lots to highlight this month in DermWorld! Our monthly columns, as usual, are right on point, highlighting “What’s Hot,” updating us on AADA advocacy efforts, coding, and legal issues. There’s information about HIPAA you do not want to miss. Assistant Managing Editor Allison Evans does a wonderful job updating us on the treatment options for actinic keratoses. I thought I knew everything there was to know about this common condition that we treat every day; however, I still managed to learn something new.
Patient portals are another hot topic. Love them or hate them, they seem to be here to stay. In theory, the idea of granting our patients electronic access to us seems ideal. Portals do allow for two-way communication that is secure, involves fewer human “touches,” and allows us to accurately record what goes on between us and patients. Portal communication is very convenient, as messages can be left at any time of day or night. Unfortunately, as with many technologic advances, there are downsides, some of which we probably could have predicted, others perhaps not. If managed well, use of a portal can potentially increase office efficiency, decrease patient calls, and potentially even improve access. Some of our members share their positive experiences with portals, and you may find their suggestions to be helpful. However, what happens when staffing is short? Who is left answering the emails? There are also potential ethical questions involving portals, some of which have yet to be answered. Not all our patients have access to computers or phones; others may have limited or no ability to use electronic media. Do portals give some patients special access, offering an unintended opportunity to “jump ahead in line” for access? These are questions we may need to consider as our paradigms shift.
In the meantime, I give thanks to all of you for being part of this wonderful AAD family.
