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Biomedical subjects

E E Stewart

Publications and source records attributed to E E Stewart.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Ascorbate inhibits edema in brain slices.

Ascorbate is an essential antioxidant in the CNS, localized predominantly in neuronal cytosol. Slices of mammalian brain rapidly lose ascorbate, however, when incubated in ascorbate-free media; brain slices also take up water and swell. Here we investigated water gain in coronal slices of rat forebrain incubated with and without ascorbate for 1-3 h at 34 degrees C. Slices progressively gained water in ascorbate-free media, with a significant 12% water increase after 3 h at 34 degrees C, compared with the water content of slices after a 1-h recovery period at 24 degrees C, immediately following slice preparation. Inclusion of 400 micro M ascorbate in the medium led to an increase in tissue ascorbate content and prevented water gain at 34 degrees C. By contrast, water gain was not inhibited by isoascorbate or thiourea, which are antioxidants that are not accumulated in brain cells. The oxidant H2O2 enhanced water gain, whereas a cocktail of NMDA and non-NMDA receptor blockers inhibited edema formation to the same extent as ascorbate. These data demonstrate that brain edema, linked to glutamate-receptor activation, can result from intracellular oxidative stress and that this can be prevented by ascorbate.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

OIG offers guidance on the legality of telemedicine arrangements.

Telemedicine increasingly is being used to enable patients in rural areas to gain access to specialists. At the same time, concerns have arisen about the legality of certain telemedicine applications. To date, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued two advisory opinions stating it would not impose sanctions on two specific telemedicine arrangements, where potential violations of the antikickback statute could exist. These opinions, while applying only to the specific arrangements in question, provide physicians with clues to the OIG's thinking on various arrangements they may wish to initiate.

Community Networks↗
PubMed1999

A record-retention program can protect group practices.

Group practices can benefit from having a systematic record-retention program that includes a formal record-retention policy. While state and Federal laws require the retention of some types of business records, many other records should be retained in the event of an audit or litigation. Having a record-retention program in place can help group practices respond cost-effectively and efficiently when called upon to produce documentation. The record-retention program should include a policy that stipulates not only which records should be kept but also for how long. Group practices should retain records relating to patient care, taxes, payroll, and contracts.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1998

Group practices need to ensure year 2000 compliance of their electronic systems.

In a group practice, the year 2000 date problem can affect accounting, payment, and billing systems, as well as medical equipment. With the turn of the century drawing closer, group practices should ensure that all the electronic systems that affect their businesses will be year 2000 compliant. Group practices should develop a plan to address all of the possible year 2000 issues that can affect their electronic systems. A three-step procedure that will help group practices implement such a plan comprises creating an inventory of all systems that could be affected, investigating each system's compliance, and getting written assurance of year 2000 compliance from all relevant third parties.

Ambulatory Care Information Systems↗
PubMed1997

Detecting and detering employee theft.

Physician group practices can limit their vulnerability to employee theft by taking steps to detect theft when it occurs and to deter future occurrences. Steps for detecting theft include being wary of an employee's refusal to take earned time off, conducting periodic credit checks on employees, rotating employees' duties, and conducting impromptu reviews of the practice's finances. Steps for detering theft include routing the practice's checks to a lock box; reviewing cash reports; reconciling check with deposit statements; separating employees' duties; reviewing bank, credit card, and ATM statements; setting the tone for prudent financial management; and reporting cases of theft when they occur.

Accounting↗
PubMed1997

Negotiating a sound physician office lease.

Physician group practices that lease office space should consider several issues before signing a lease. These issues include whether to hire a broker to assist in the search for office space, negotiating lease provisions that pertain to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; confidentiality of patient records; proper disposal of medical waste and other hazardous materials; compliance with occupational safety standards; quiet enjoyment; and utility use. In addition, physician group practices that lease office space from other healthcare providers must ensure that the lease terms conform with antifraud and abuse safe harbor regulations.

Air Conditioning↗
PubMed1996

Medicare risk contracting places new demands on physician group practices.

Physician group practices new to Medicare risk contracting face unfamiliar financial and practice imperatives. Financial imperatives include accepting capitation and the risks associated with it. Practice imperatives include adhering to critical paths and admission and discharge criteria. By familiarizing themselves with the risks and rewards of Medicare risk contracting, physician group practices can make more informed decisions about entering into such arrangements.

Capitation Fee↗
PubMed1996

Drafting a sound physician employment agreement.

Group practices that employ physicians on a contractual basis face a number of risks. Among these risks are the possibility of employee-physicians engaging in competitive activities; the practice's potential liability for outside services its physicians may perform; and the possibility of breaches of patient and practice confidentiality. By drafting employment agreements that include provisions that minimize such risks, practices can strengthen their market position and protect themselves from potential losses.

Catchment Area, Health↗