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| Current Arkansas Medical News |
National Soda Tax Proposed
Patterned After Arkansas, Idea of Popping Pops Gains Attention
Would a national tax on soft drinks be useful in fighting the war against obesity? A group of healthcare experts pushing the notion say a one cent-per-ounce tax on drinks with sugar could raise nearly $15 billion for health initiatives.
LYNNE JETER |
Going Digital
Challenges Faced When Switching to Electronic Records
Clinics across Arkansas are still wrestling with the question of when and how to adopt an electronic medical records system. According to the Arkansas Medical Society's director of practice management as well as staff members with two of the state's larger systems, buy-in, support and training are critical to making EMR work – and even then, it's going to be difficult.
STEVE BRAWNER |
Lessons Learned
MGMA Online Guide Walks Through Operational Essentials
At the beginning of this year, Medical Group Management Association's Center for Research, with funding from United Health Foundation, began rolling out chapters of an online resource guide that outlines essential financial know-how for running an efficient practice. "Lessons for Financial Success" is open to everyone through the MGMA Web site (www.mgma.com) and takes the reader through valuable operational information in five chapters, the last of which has just been published.
CINDY SANDERS |
| Best Business Practices Focus |
Jerry Stewart, MD
FORT SMITH—Jerry Stewart, MD, described working as a "soda jerk" at Bush Drugstore in downtown Benton, Ark., during the early 1950s "a great laboratory on life experiences."
"A personal observation of community business men and women," he said, taught him that "chances of success in life were increased by education (formal or seasoned experience), objective analysis (detached from emotional subjective efforts), tenacity, work and effort."
LYNNE JETER |
Partly Retired
These days, an ongoing project that's close to the heart of Jerry Stewart, MD, involves taking time to improve his photography skills and organize decades of family photographs and family history for his children and grandchildren. Fortunately, the Stewarts' three children and five grandchildren reside nearby. "They all considered living and working elsewhere, but came to Fort Smith to live, work and as they like to tell me," he joked, "be sure I get a good nursing home."
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Balancing Act
Throughout his career, Jerry Stewart, MD, admittedly struggled with time management—balancing work, family, community service and other commitments.
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