This article expands upon recent Dermatology World articles that touched upon the employment-related considerations that dermatology practices were likely facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the first part of this article, we take a look at the implications of employee contracts on the legal rights of employed dermatologists in the event of furloughs, salary reductions, and layoffs resulting from COVID-19. Dermatology practices that serve as employers will also find the guidance useful as they consider the possible need to cut hours, cut pay, and/or lay off physician staff. Read more in Dermatology World.
DW Insights and Inquiries: The profound dermatological manifestations of COVID-19 part VI — Going to the dogs
Compare your life now to what it was like six months ago. Could you ever
have envisioned wearing masks for every patient encounter? Having your
front desk staff behind plexiglass shields? Texting patients, informing
them in their car that they are ready to be seen?
Unquestionably your personal life has been upended and altered. When our Iceland adventure was canceled, my wife and I realized that, in all probability, we will not be traveling for some time. We are not alone in realizing that this is the perfect time to adopt a pet. Meet Marti — our Cockapoo puppy (age 9 weeks in the image)! Keep reading (to see the puppy)!
Young Physician Focus: When it rains, it pours
I think it’s fair to say that many of us would like a 2020 do-over. Like a children’s board game, we would like to send our game piece back home to start over. The practice of medicine is burdensome at baseline, and now with new challenges of personal protective equipment, patient screening, telemedicine, and concerns about falling ill, working in health care in the COVID era is a whole new level of stressful.Read more from DW Young Physician Editor Jenna O’Neill, MD.
Dermatologic concerns for transgender patients
A retrospective review published in JAAD showed that of 442 transgender patients at a single institution, 48% sought dermatologic care. In non-cis gender-assigned female at birth patients, acne and androgenetic alopecia were the primary concerns, which developed an average of 11 months after starting testosterone therapy. These patients also had infections, including candida intertrigo and tinea versicolor, presumed to be associated with chest-binding behaviors. Among non-cis gender-assigned male at birth patients, feminizing hormone therapy was associated with a new diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.
The authors conclude that dermatologic care is an essential part of the transition process for many transgender patients, and providers should be aware of common dermatologic disorders triggered by hormonal therapy.
Experts discuss cultural and medical competencies of providing care for transgender patients inDermatology World.
DW Weekly talks with Helen Raynham, MD, PhD, a dermatologist in private practice in Natick, Massachusetts, about her unique solutions for accommodating patients during the COVID-19 crisis.
DW Weekly: Many dermatology practices have had to quickly implement telehealth during the pandemic. How did your patients adapt to those changes?
Dr. Raynham: It took a long time for many of our patients to understand how to upload our new teledermatology platform, or even how to do FaceTime. It was especially frustrating for some of our older patients who could not get telehealth visuals to work at all.
DW Weekly: How were you able to accommodate patients struggling with or unsuited for telemedicine?
Dr. Raynham: We were able to secure a permit from the local Department of Public Health to set up a ‘drive-thru’ dermatology clinic in our office parking lot. We have a commercial grade tent set up there and have made it clear that this is not the same thing as going to Dunkin Donuts. Patients have to try telehealth options first, and if they are still struggling, then they have the option of the drive-thru. We want to flatten the curve, and that involves making sure that our drive-thru dermatology clinic is safe. Read more.
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