Roundup: National Autism Month and a Cultural Shift in Medicine

The New York Times posted an interesting article recently that touches on one of the many reasons more and more new physicians are opting out of private practice and primary care: lifestyle. Another interesting point is that the next generation of doctors may want professional lives that stimulate them with a pace and variety that previous generations didn’t yearn for.

April brings a couple of noteworthy events, one being National Autism Month. Since autism is increasingly common -- an estimated one out of 110 children in the US is affected -- a number of parents would likely appreciate recognition of this in health care facilities. You also might be interested in passing the word on that in recognition of National Autism Month, AMC Theatres will be showing Wretches and Jabbers, a documentary film that follows two men with autism. Look for local show times at a theater near you.

Additionally, the first week of April saw the FDA finally fulfill a requirement outlined in the Food Safety Modernization Act with the launch of a remodeled recall search engine. While the search engine page indicates that it covers recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts, the site is predominantly for recalls; safety information, such as the MedWatch alert issued by e-mail for Kaletra in early March aren’t included. Hopefully, as time goes on, this situation will be rectified.