MDNews - Greater Kansas

The University of Kansas is among many institutions nationwide that receive NIH research funding. PSYCHIATRIST MATTHEW MASTERSON, DO, JOINS STORMONT VAIL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Stormont Vail Health is proud to announce that Matthew Masterson, DO, has joined its medical team and will practice as a psychiatrist with a subspecialty in pediatric and ado - lescent psychiatry. His practice will be located at Stormont Vail Behavioral Health, 3707 SW 6th St., in Topeka. Dr. Masterson has always had a strong interest in science and helping others. He had a deep respect for the physicians that worked in the town where he grew up, he saw them as knowledgeable, caring, helpful individuals, and he aspired to be like them. "I was determined to pursue a career in medicine, with a goal of serving the com - munity where I lived and promoting the health of others," says Dr. Masterson. "I am passionate about what I do, and I find great satisfaction in helping others work through issues while working toward wellness and health." Dr. Masterson received his degree in osteopathic medicine at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1998. He com - pleted a psychiatry residency and a fellow- ship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Tripler Army Medical Center, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dr. Masterson also has a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Idaho State University, in Pocatello, Idaho, and an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree in Pre-Medicine from Ricks College, in Rexburg, Idaho. What sets Dr. Masterson apart from others in his field is his wide range of practice experience that comes from working in multiple locations and different environments throughout his career. His focus is on a holistic approach to men - tal health wellness, taking into account medical, social, environmental and mental health issues. His patients describe him as caring, compassionate, easy to engage and knowledgeable. Dr. Masterson is now accepting new pa - tients. ■ A STUDY IN THE JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE FOUND THAT A HANDSHAKE "NOT ONLY INCRE A SES THE POSITIVE EFFECT TOWARD A FAVOR ABLE INTER ACTION, BUT IT ALSO DIMINISHES THE IMPACT OF A NEGATIVE IMPRESSION." IN AN IDE AL WORLD, PATIENTS WOULD SHOW UP ON TIME FOR APPOINTMENTS OR GIVE AMPLE NOTICE THAT THE Y CANNOT ARRIVE A S SCHEDULED. IN THE RE AL WORLD, WELL ... ACCORDING TO THE researchers, shaking hands prior to social interactions often can mitigate pos- sible misunderstandings. Physicians and patients benefi t from the com- mu n icat ion a h a nd sh a ke fos t er s , say s Ma rk Fourre, MD, an emergency physician with Maine- based LincolnHealth. "With the right connection, it is much easier to gain the information, both verbal and nonverbal, that leads to the right diagnosis and e† ective treatment," Dr. Fourre writes in the Boothbay Register. "Without it, nothing goes smoothly." To prevent the spread of infection from shaking hands, he follows this routine: "I use foam or gel to disinfect my hands ... . Then, while rubbing my hands together in plain view, I introduce myself and shake hands while my hands are nearly dry, again confi rming that they have been disinfected. This ritual helps me establish a therapeutic relation- ship by showing my patient and their family members that I am concerned for their safety. It also helps establish a more human connection through a form of touch that is not only culturally understood in positive ways, but has even been shown to help build trust and cooperation on a neurological level." ■ Building a Stronger Practice on a Handshake BY STEVE BARRETT Working around No-shows BY STEVE BARRETT WHILE THERE IS no perfect solution to patient no-shows, clinicians from around the country recently told Medscape about some practices that have mitigated the problem. "When you get a text, you're much more likely to act on it," says David Kaelber, MD, Medical Informatics O" cer at Cleveland-based MetroHealth. If necessary, patients can easily cancel upon receiving texted appointment reminders, he says. Some practices have used this strategy to help decrease no-shows by as much as 20 percent. Other physicians are incorporating software that reviews a patient's records and overbooks during the patient's appoint- ment time if he or she has a propensity for not showing up. A $50 fee for a missed appointment — a long w it h termination from the practice after a minimum of three missed visits — is an e† ective method for one ophthalmolo- gist who reached out to Medscape. However, the provider waives the fee if the patient consequently makes and keeps another appointment. Recognizing new patients as frequent no-shows, a pain management specialist recommends charging new patients prior to their fi rst appointment. An OB/GYN had a similar idea: "Like hotels, the best solution by far is a $50 credit deposit, which is lost if a patient cancels less than 24 hours before an appointment." ■ 3 0H O S P I TA L R O U N D S Matthew Masterson, DO

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