Pediatric Dermatology

Q I billed Medicare for the following services. All of the Mohs procedures were denied. Patient was in a 90-day postoperative period for a flap that was done 20 days earlier. Tell me how I should have coded to avoid the denials of my Mohs services?

Hire, train and properly supervise a physician assistant.

By Beth Gilbert

New Orleans — A new plasma-based system (Plasma Skin Resurfacing/PSR, Gyrus Medical) appears effective for repeated treatments using nonablative energy parameters.

National report — Children infected with herpes simplex virus can be safely treated with valacyclovir — an antiviral commonly prescribed to treat adult herpes infection, according to research by Richard F. Jacobs, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Philadelphia - The emergence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and new approaches to treatment of various bacterial illnesses are capturing the interests of dermatologists.

Chicago — The use of dermoscopy can improve dermatologists' accuracy in diagnosing pigmented lesions, but only if it is done properly.

Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia — According to Robert Sidbury, M.D., two of the most important pediatric studies published this year investigated the alleged connection between isotretinoin and depression, thoughts of suicide and even suicide itself among some teenage users being treated for acne.

There is a significant variation in the age of sufferers, just as there are various forms of acne.

St. Louis — A recent study shows that isotretinoin has the potential to improve depressed mood among adolescent users much more often than to cause it, as the package insert warns.

There is a significant variation in the age of sufferers, just as there are various forms of acne.

Proper application consists of placing a "fingertip unit" of medication at each of 10 spots on the face — two on the mid-forehead (left and right), one each on the tip of the nose and chin, two spaced across each cheek, and one on each side of thelower face at a location that is approximately mid-distance between the spots on the cheek.

Preferably, PDL treatment should be initiated within the first two to four weeks after scar development.

What effect, if any, has the new bankruptcy act had on physician's asset protection plans? In short, the answer is "a significant one." In this article, we will explain exactly what this effect has been and why it is so important for all physicians to re-examine their planning because of it.

To make patient visits as efficient as possible, Dr. Greenbaum recommends establishing up-front what's reasonable to accomplish in the allotted time.

Typically, you will be completely dependent on your high-speed Internet connection, and may not be able to function without that connection.

If you inquire regarding (a carrier's) policy regarding PAs supervising staff, always get the advice in writing.

After exposure to UV, "Keratinocytes send out immune suppressing signals [the cytokine IL-10] and antigen presenting cells are chased out of the skin," Dr. Yarosh explains.

In addition to using pure products suitable for human injection, Dr. Jones says physicians must adhere strictly to the microdroplet serial puncture technique.

With these OTC products, one observes superficial frosting that can last for seconds to a few minutes, but its relevance is debatable.

Chicago — New skin treatments are becoming increasingly specialized to treat the immune system in specific ways, Neal Bhatia, M.D., tells Dermatology Times.

Dermatologists use a variety of medications to treat common ailments.

Dr. Dave saw a patient with a biopsy-proven atypical nevus that required further excision.

Washington--The Food and Drug Administration has notified Barrier Therapeutics that it has deemed as a complete response the company's submission to address the FDA's May "not approvable" letter for Zimycan, a diaper-dermatitis ointment that contains miconazole nitrate.

Increasingly, clinicians may use biologic agents in addition to phototherapy to maximize results in their patients, notes Dr. Lui, and reduce the overall number of treatments.

The dermatologic surgeon's goal in aesthetic reconstruction should be to camouflage scars and restore the patient's normal appearance as closely as possible.

The appropriate depth for undermining varies by body area.

Washington — "We now understand at the molecular level how MRSA (methicillin-resistant staph aureas) resistance manifests itself, " Shahriar Mobashery, Ph.D., told the 230th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society here.

The Royal Navy asked him what specialty he wanted to study. He chose dermatology.

The business of cleaning up big business is still largely unfinished.