ANY WONDER WHY DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE IS NOT GAINING TRACTION WITH MDs?

This was published in the Science section of the New York Times on May 2, 2011.

To the Editor:

I am correctly cited in Ms. Brody’s article stating that I would not get routine dental X-rays, as there is little evidence to support them in asymptomatic patients. The situation for mammography is completely different. Randomized clinical studies have shown mammography saves lives. It is unlikely to impact thyroid cancer, and the benefits of mammography clearly outweigh any risks. So, the message is clear: Get your mammogram and skip the “routine” dental X-ray if you do not have symptoms.

Carolyn D. Runowicz, M.D.

Miami

I contend we have a real problem here. Any comments?

The $20,000 Phone Call

I don't even have to write today's blog ' Seth Godin did it for me:

The $20,000 phone call

When a homeowner decides to put his house on sale and calls a broker...

When he calls the moving company...

When a family arrives in town and calls someone recommended as the family doctor...

When a wealthy couple calls their favorite fancy restaurant looking for a reservation...

Go down the list. Stockbrokers, even hairdressers. And not just people who recently moved. When a new referral shows up, all that work and expense, and then the phone rings and it gets answered by your annoyed, overworked, burned out, never very good at it anyway receptionist, it all falls apart.

What is the doctor thinking when she allows her neither pleasant nor interested in new patients receptionist to answer the phone?

Snoring Isn't Sexy provides telephone conversation recording so members can listen to (and act on) phone calls that are costing them patients.