Editor’s Note: Check out the July/August issue of APMA News for an article on “CMS Guidelines and Using

A new survey found that most doctors frequently encounter patients influenced by medical misinformation—an issue that has grown significantly over the past five years—hindering care, fueling physician frustration and burnout, and highlighting the urgent need for better public health communication.

While physician signing bonuses and incentives are rising amid a highly competitive recruitment market, experts caution new doctors to look beyond financial perks and carefully weigh factors like workload, flexibility, practice setting and long-term career goals when evaluating job offers.

A new study shows that while a small percentage of physicians are leaving fee-for-service Medicare due to low payments and administrative burdens, most continue to participate, with experts cautioning that dropping Medicare can create major financial and practice challenges unless carefully analyzed against payer mixes and reimbursement data.

A new commentary from the Mayo Clinic argues that intentional, values-driven listening is a vital clinical skill that improves patient care, clinician well-being and organizational culture, making it as essential to healing as any medical intervention.

Nearly two-thirds of physicians report a shortage of qualified doctors to fill openings highlighting growing concerns that U.S. physician shortages, driven by burnout, practice consolidation and rising patient demand, will worsen over the next decade despite increased reliance on non-physician clinicians and foreign-trained doctors.

Walking barefoot in communal spaces like locker rooms, showers and pool decks exposes feet to fungi, bacteria and viruses, making shower shoes essential for preventing infections such as athlete’s foot, plantar warts and bacterial diseases.

Finding the right athletic shoes can be overwhelming, but experts say understanding four key traits—gait style, toe shape, foot width, and arch type—can help you choose footwear that supports comfort, fit, and long-term foot health.

 

Common foot problems such as bunions, corns, cracked heels, plantar fasciitis, and swelling not only cause pain and discomfort but can also signal underlying health issues, making proper footwear, podiatric care, and preventive treatment essential for long-term foot and overall health.