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Dr. Reed received her medical degree from the University of Colorado
Medical School in 1968 and did her residency at the Department of Dermatology
at UCHSC from 1981-84. She is the author of over 15 scientific publications
and a number of essays on practice philosophy and problems of integrating
private practice in a managed care environment.
Dr. Reed's professional activities with the Academy include: Advisory
Board Alternate (1988-89) and member of the Committee to Review the Journal
of the American Academy of Dermatology (1996-97). She has lectured frequently
on the topic of "Pregnancy, Drugs and the Dermatologist."
Other dermatologic activities include: Secretary-Treasurer (1987),
Vice President (1988) and President (1989), Colorado Dermatologic Society.
Dr. Reed was also Chair of the Task Force on legislation of regulation of
tanning beds, which resulted in passage of HB 1169 in 1992. She chaired the
Skin Cancer Task Force for the Colorado Division of the American Cancer
Society (1989-93). She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the
Women's Dermatologic Society since 1992 and currently serves as the
President-Elect.
Dr. Reed has served as past president of the Denver Medical Society
(1994-95); and as a member of the Board of Directors (1996-present), Chair of
the Long Range Planning Committee (1997) and Alternate Delegate to the AMA
(1997), Colorado Medical Society (CMS). She also serves on the Board of
Copic, a physician-owned malpractice insurance company (1996-97). She is the
clinical representative to the Medical Board of University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center (1993-97).
In 1990, Dr. Reed received the Philpott Teaching Award for Teaching
Excellence from the Department of Dermatology, UCHSC.
 Candidates Statement
Being a dermatologist is a gift I almost didn't get. Before going
into dermatology in 1981, I was a medical director for a small company. When
I applied, ten years out of medical school, competition for dermatology
residencies was keen. I know I came close to never getting a chance to
practice dermatology.
I promised myself that, if given the chance to do what I loved, I
would give back to my profession.
Since finishing my residency, I have combined private practice with
my activities in medical politics. I was president of the Colorado
Dermatologic Society, which led to the opportunity to participate in drafting
and passing legislation on tanning bed regulation. I was president of the
Denver Medical Society, which offered the opportunity to build bridges with
the community. I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Colorado
Medical Society and an alternate delegate to the AMA from that group. This
provides me with strong links to those who are influential in forming policy.
I am on the board of a physician-run medical malpractice company, which
provides me with insights on factors influencing patient care from a
medicolegal standpoint.
I began practicing dermatology as a fee-for-service private
practitioner; my practice is now more than 50% managed care. I am well aware
of the problems encountered in this volatile managed care environment, by
physicians as well as our patients.
I see the important issues for the AAD as follows:
1. Marketplace devaluation of dermatologic skills. Much of
dermatology has been shifted to primary care clinicians; much of
dermatopathology has shifted to general pathologists. The result is delay in
diagnosis and treatment of melanomas, dysplastic nevi, non-melanoma skin
cancers, and rashes. Primary care clinicians are often poorly trained in
dermatology and do not understand when and how to biopsy. The AAD should make
patients aware of the difference in diagnostic and therapeutic skills of
dermatologists vs. primary care providers through an intense Public Relations
campaign promoting the diagnostic and treatment abilities of dermatologists.
2. Information gap. We obtain information which we do not collect and
analyze; we rely on our impressions of which drugs work best, and have not
subjected our results to cost-analysis. We have no standardization, no
agreement on what should be measured. When measurement occurs, often it is
process which is measured rather than outcome. There is a growing need for
information on individual patients and/or groups of patients regarding which
treatments produced the most cost-effective outcomes. Just as the AAD has
developed practice guidelines, efforts should now be directed at developing
outcome guidelines.
3. Teledermatology. Teledermatology is emerging as an electronic
means of practicing dermatology. The AAD must take a proactive stance on
teledermatology and formulate guidelines for its use.
4. Malpractice. As long as expenses in health care are being
critically analyzed, the cost of litigation must not be overlooked. The
current tort system provides no penalty to a patient for exaggerating or
concocting a pseudo-medical condition, often prevents patients from suing
managed care organizations, and actually financially rewards attorneys who
file frivolous suits. Managed care companies, which restrict availability of
dermatologists to patients, should be held liable for delayed or mistaken
diagnoses by physicians who are not trained in the specialties which they are
practicing. The AAD should aggressively pursue alternative systems to our
current tort system.
5. Ethics. In the midst of the barrage of changes we are undergoing,
we must not lose sight of our patient-based ethical principles. The AAD
should elaborate on the principles on which medical decisions should be
based, and identify a group of well-spoken ethical "watchdogs" who are
willing to respond, both publicly and privately, to violations of those
standards.
I am deeply honored to be nominated for the AAD Board of Directors.
Being elected would allow me a unique opportunity to fulfill my promise to
give back to my profession.
Response to the Nominating
Committee
The major force currently affecting dermatology is managed care.
Access to specialists, especially dermatologists, is restricted.
Financial disincentives are placed on primary care providers, who have had
little training in evaluation and treatment of skin disorders or skin cancer.
This results in both delayed diagnosis and delayed effective treatment.
Access to appropriate treatment options is restricted, a serious
problem for allergic patients, or those with complex diseases which do not
respond to medications included in the restricted formularies.
Pre-authorization for visits/procedures dramatically increases office
overhead and consumes time which should be devoted to formation of the
doctor-patient relationship.
Research money is severely restricted.
The AAD must respond to these challenging issues:
1. An intense public relations campaign should be initiated, illustrating why
dermatologists are best for the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases and
skin cancer. This will increase patient-initiated demand for dermatologists.
2. Using practice guidelines already in place, the AAD should prepare a white
paper on problems associated with restricting treatment options for the
complex patient.
3. The AAD should act as an information resource to members on issues of
re-styling our offices to become more efficient, and as a repository of
information on outcomes data, which will help us deliver cost-effective care
to patients.
4. Dermatology research must be promoted to augment our treatment repertoire
by aiding understanding of the pathogenesis of dermatologic disorders.
The AAD needs to take the high road - to guide us with a vision and provide
resources to lead us forward.
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