Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology How About No New Year Resolutions? It does sound a little different than my normal year-end reflection. But, after many years of wishes and thoughtful planning, I realize that there are very few resolutions that are up to me. So, I decided to make just one promise: I will always focus my attention on my patients. This is not my new resolution. I have been repeating it for many years and I hope I fulfill it promptly. Is this too little? Perhaps. I wish I could promise more and keep my promises. But I want to be honest and thus, I can only keep the promises that are entirely up to me. The world has been changing a lot for the last few years. It is almost hard to keep up with all the changes. I just look at our community and medical field because these are close to my eyes and to my heart. The community has been obviously influenced by the State and the country. Policies issued for these larger entities control the community we live in. Some of them are very positive and I support them. Some others, not so much. I always support choices in medicine, and anything related to medicine. So, women's rights protections are very important to me. Policies confirming return to normal schooling and children and youth's activities are extremely significant, so it is another positive policy. Contrary to these two, I see continuing attempts to misguide seniors about their benefits under Medicare. Choices and options of medical insurance are a good trend, but it is only good when all the truth is told. What I see instead is a lot of advertising by private insurance companies calling themselves Medicare, while they are nothing compared to the true Medicare. The main difference is that Medicare is a federally issued and protected insurance for 65+ community and private insurances are private for-profit companies who act exactly like private corporations. I have seen too may disappointed seniors who were misled into these programs and could never recover from their mistake. One of the major issues directly influencing my clinic and operations is childcare. As you all know, we have a lot of young clinical and administrative staff. They have families and almost every year we welcomed someone's baby into the team. All my employees-parents want to come back after their maternity leave and continue working. We support their 'gradual return, with limited hours first, so that they can organize their new lifestyle. Childcare is the most challenging problem they face. It is very competitive and often places are full and unable to accept more children. It is extremely expensive, and many individuals wonder if it makes sense to work and spend a fortune to cover childcare expenses. Children who get sick, even with a simple cold, may not attend nurseries. Which, down the flow, means that their parents, one of them, must stay home. For me, for the clinic, this means staffing problems. And I could continue my list of items that I would love to promise and commit to, but I know it is not realistic. I can only continue dreaming of some changes in the future. Therefore, my dedication and focus are now only on my direct influence on my patients. That I can promise, and it will be my repeated resolution for this upcoming year and every year in the future. I will continue the topic of the changing medical field in upcoming weekly columns. Soon coming: changes in research and challenges of business in medical industry. Have a healthy and safe New Year. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology How About No New Year Resolutions ? It does sound a little different than my normal year - end reflection . But , after many years of wishes and thoughtful planning , I realize that there are very few resolutions that are up to me . So , I decided to make just one promise : I will always focus my attention on my patients . This is not my new resolution . I have been repeating it for many years and I hope I fulfill it promptly . Is this too little ? Perhaps . I wish I could promise more and keep my promises . But I want to be honest and thus , I can only keep the promises that are entirely up to me . The world has been changing a lot for the last few years . It is almost hard to keep up with all the changes . I just look at our community and medical field because these are close to my eyes and to my heart . The community has been obviously influenced by the State and the country . Policies issued for these larger entities control the community we live in . Some of them are very positive and I support them . Some others , not so much . I always support choices in medicine , and anything related to medicine . So , women's rights protections are very important to me . Policies confirming return to normal schooling and children and youth's activities are extremely significant , so it is another positive policy . Contrary to these two , I see continuing attempts to misguide seniors about their benefits under Medicare . Choices and options of medical insurance are a good trend , but it is only good when all the truth is told . What I see instead is a lot of advertising by private insurance companies calling themselves Medicare , while they are nothing compared to the true Medicare . The main difference is that Medicare is a federally issued and protected insurance for 65+ community and private insurances are private for - profit companies who act exactly like private corporations . I have seen too may disappointed seniors who were misled into these programs and could never recover from their mistake . One of the major issues directly influencing my clinic and operations is childcare . As you all know , we have a lot of young clinical and administrative staff . They have families and almost every year we welcomed someone's baby into the team . All my employees - parents want to come back after their maternity leave and continue working . We support their ' gradual return , with limited hours first , so that they can organize their new lifestyle . Childcare is the most challenging problem they face . It is very competitive and often places are full and unable to accept more children . It is extremely expensive , and many individuals wonder if it makes sense to work and spend a fortune to cover childcare expenses . Children who get sick , even with a simple cold , may not attend nurseries . Which , down the flow , means that their parents , one of them , must stay home . For me , for the clinic , this means staffing problems . And I could continue my list of items that I would love to promise and commit to , but I know it is not realistic . I can only continue dreaming of some changes in the future . Therefore , my dedication and focus are now only on my direct influence on my patients . That I can promise , and it will be my repeated resolution for this upcoming year and every year in the future . I will continue the topic of the changing medical field in upcoming weekly columns . Soon coming : changes in research and challenges of business in medical industry . Have a healthy and safe New Year . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net