Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology It is great to have options. When you go to a store, you will find several brands of milk, butter, or chicken. If you go to a car dealer or a store with electronics, you can make a choice about what you want and what your pocket can pay for. It should also be a matter of choice when it comes to healthcare. It is a little trickier because we all as doctors must follow standards of care, which vary by specialty, but which still are the best way to protect patients with safety and good treatment. Standard of care is usually a policy established by the Specialty Board for every type of medical field. This means that an orthopedic doctor will follow his own specialty standard and a dermatologist his own. There are many procedures, like medical visits, which will overlap in terms of what and how much information needs to be collected and documented before the treatment is decided. The most challenging part is the fact that the insurance industry does not keep up with the medical standards. Depending on insurance, some treatments may or may not be covered even when they are established as a standard of care. What does it mean for you and how does it matter? It really depends on what medical problem you are dealing with. There are many medical problems that have many options, and your doctor may prefer this or that one as the optimal one for you. But if your insurance does not cover it, you may be forced to use a different treatment. The rule is that insurance will not cover the most novel and, hopefully, the most effective treatment, and will request that you utilize some older, established for years, options. In cases like that, you probably should ask your doctor about clinical trials. Clinical trials are just another option to seek treatment. If you do not like the concept, you do not have to be a part of it. But they do have some very significant benefits. One of the benefits is the fact that they do not involve any insurance or any cost. They are free and your insurance is not needed. You are a volunteer, and you will get paid a stipend for your participation. It is not a 'bribe' but rather compensation for your time. The second benefit is that you will have a chance to try a novel treatment for whatever your problem is. FDA does not allow duplicate treatments to be developed, so, more than likely, the newer drug will meet some standards of better safety level or effectiveness. The downside of clinical trials is the protocol of visits and procedures. You must follow that protocol for your own compliance with the study or you may need to be discontinued. On the other hand, having those visits timely provides a better level of safety as well. Patients in clinical trials are very well monitored for any changes in their health and, over the last 20 years, we accidentally caught many medical problems that were hidden and unknown to patients and did not even belong to dermatology. We have discovered at least 30 patients to have diabetes, for instance, which they did not know they had. Thanks to the discovery, they were able to receive medical assistance for their other problems. But, like different cares at the dealer, clinical trials are just an option. Good to have, but not mandatory for use. Please, ask us more questions to help you understand the options. 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 It is great to have options . When you go to a store , you will find several brands of milk , butter , or chicken . If you go to a car dealer or a store with electronics , you can make a choice about what you want and what your pocket can pay for . It should also be a matter of choice when it comes to healthcare . It is a little trickier because we all as doctors must follow standards of care , which vary by specialty , but which still are the best way to protect patients with safety and good treatment . Standard of care is usually a policy established by the Specialty Board for every type of medical field . This means that an orthopedic doctor will follow his own specialty standard and a dermatologist his own . There are many procedures , like medical visits , which will overlap in terms of what and how much information needs to be collected and documented before the treatment is decided . The most challenging part is the fact that the insurance industry does not keep up with the medical standards . Depending on insurance , some treatments may or may not be covered even when they are established as a standard of care . What does it mean for you and how does it matter ? It really depends on what medical problem you are dealing with . There are many medical problems that have many options , and your doctor may prefer this or that one as the optimal one for you . But if your insurance does not cover it , you may be forced to use a different treatment . The rule is that insurance will not cover the most novel and , hopefully , the most effective treatment , and will request that you utilize some older , established for years , options . In cases like that , you probably should ask your doctor about clinical trials . Clinical trials are just another option to seek treatment . If you do not like the concept , you do not have to be a part of it . But they do have some very significant benefits . One of the benefits is the fact that they do not involve any insurance or any cost . They are free and your insurance is not needed . You are a volunteer , and you will get paid a stipend for your participation . It is not a ' bribe ' but rather compensation for your time . The second benefit is that you will have a chance to try a novel treatment for whatever your problem is . FDA does not allow duplicate treatments to be developed , so , more than likely , the newer drug will meet some standards of better safety level or effectiveness . The downside of clinical trials is the protocol of visits and procedures . You must follow that protocol for your own compliance with the study or you may need to be discontinued . On the other hand , having those visits timely provides a better level of safety as well . Patients in clinical trials are very well monitored for any changes in their health and , over the last 20 years , we accidentally caught many medical problems that were hidden and unknown to patients and did not even belong to dermatology . We have discovered at least 30 patients to have diabetes , for instance , which they did not know they had . Thanks to the discovery , they were able to receive medical assistance for their other problems . But , like different cares at the dealer , clinical trials are just an option . Good to have , but not mandatory for use . Please , ask us more questions to help you understand the options . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net