Educational Needs

There is a need to obtain optimal and reproducible clinical photographs that can be used in patient care and for potential liability situations. There is a need for accurate documentation of procedures for patient care and liability reasons. There is a need for proper oversight of personnel performing laser procedures for optimal patient care. There is a need for using the Internet for ethical and effective communications about one’s practice.

Participants

This course is designed for practicing physicians with an interest in laser and energy surgery in the ambulatory setting as well as physicians entering the field.

Background Requirements

Basic understanding of digital photography in medical practice will help make the course more relevant for the participants.

Instructional Content and/or Expected Learning Outcomes

The course will consist of a series of presentations and panel discussions focusing on the optimal way to take digital clinical photographs; to properly integrate them into the practice electronic database; electronic marketing of the practice; to correctly and reproducibly document laser and energy procedures performed; to know the correct level of supervision of the laser and energy operators in the practice; and to know the liability implications of proper documentation and information retrieval. After attending this course, the participants will be able to 1) discuss the optimal techniques for taking clinical photographs, 2) market the practice through electronic media, 3) more accurately document laser and energy-based procedures, 4) understand the correct degree of oversight required when performing laser and energy-based procedures, and 5) integrate digital photographs into digital databases and digital retrieval systems.