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  • Presentation

The Future of Dermatology: Focused Advocacy and Private Equity

Description

The speaker emphasizes the importance of focused advocacy in dermatology, urging attendees to engage and take leadership roles, regardless of prior intentions. Through storytelling, they share personal experiences of advocating for dermatology's respect and recognition, particularly after facing attempts to regulate office-based surgical procedures without data. Key examples include demonstrating patient safety in dermatology, addressing issues with the utilization of Mohs surgery, and critiquing the role of private equity in healthcare. The speaker recounts success stories where data collection and collaboration among dermatologists led to retaining surgical autonomy and ensuring appropriate utilization. They advocate for developing benchmarks to improve practices and maintain quality standards in dermatology while highlighting the risks of private equity that may compromise patient care for profit. Ultimately, they encourage aspiring advocates to identify problems, utilize available data, and work collectively for the betterment of the specialty and its patients, stressing that effective change does not require permission but a commitment to addressing issues directly.

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Conclusions

  • Becoming a focused advocate is essential for dermatologists to address challenges in the specialty.
  • Leadership in advocacy is a skill that can be developed through integrity, devotion, and service to others.
  • Selflessness is a crucial trait for effective advocacy; it is not about personal credit or financial gain.
  • Dermatology must be perceived as valuable, safe, high-quality, and necessary to counteract trivialization.
  • Focused advocacy involves identifying problems and targeting key individuals or tipping points to effect change.
  • Personal experiences highlight the impact of advocacy in shaping regulations and perceptions about dermatologic practice.
  • Engagement with professional organizations can significantly alter regulations that affect patient care.
  • Utilization reviews and appropriate use criteria can help optimize dermatologic procedures and reduce unnecessary interventions.
  • Data transparency among peers can lead to improved practices and significant cost savings for healthcare systems.
  • The intrusion of private equity in dermatology can compromise patient care and professional integrity.
  • Establishing benchmarks for procedural rates can help maintain quality and ethical standards in dermatology practice.
  • Advocating for patient safety and effective practice standards is a critical responsibility for dermatologists.
  • Gladwell, M. (2000). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Little, Brown.
  • Donaldson, M. R., & Coldiron, B. M. (2012). Mohs Micrographic Surgery Utilization in the Medicare Population. Dermatologic Surgery, September 2012.
  • McCary, M. (2019). Evaluation of a Peer-to-Peer Data Transparency Intervention for Mohs Micrographic Surgery Overuse. JAMA Dermatology, 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.1259.
  • Hafner, K., & Palmer, G. (2017). Skin Cancers Rise, Along With Questionable Treatments. The New York Times.