September 2011 DocBookMD smartphone app is newest SCMA member benefitCalifornia urges feds to increase physician supplyPertussis immunization deadline extendedNominate your colleagues for SCMA awardsRegistration opens for Latino Health ForumSCMA physicians invited to Oktoberfest on Oct. 22Practice management workshop in Santa Rosa on Nov. 2PEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMADocBookMD smartphone app is newest SCMA member benefit SCMA has just added another benefit for its members: DocBookMD, a smartphone application that offers on-demand messaging, multi-media collaboration and fast look-up of your colleagues. The application, designed by physicians for physicians, will help you save time and prevent delays at point of care. DocBookMD is a secure, HIPAA-compliant app for your iPhone, iPad or Android device. It is being offered without charge to SCMA members thanks to funding from Norcal Mutual Insurance. For details on downloading your free copy, visit docbookmd.com/med_socs/sonoma. One of the key features of DocBookMD is the ability to send and receive high-resolution images, including X-rays, EKGs, or photos of wounds. All messaging is secure and fully HIPAA compliant. Not a member? The SCMA website at www.scma.org has details on DocBookMD and other member benefits, as well as an online application form. California urges feds to increase physician supply The California Assembly and Senate have passed a joint resolution urging President Obama and Congress to improve access to care in underserved areas by increasing the state’s supply of physicians. The resolution also recommends increasing the number of residency positions to keep pace with the growing need for physicians. In a statement, CMA President Dr. James Hinsdale noted, “With the baby boomers beginning to retire, national health care reform expanding coverage to millions of previously uninsured citizens, obesity rates hitting epidemic levels, and the repercussions of the national recession and California’s own severe budget deficit still playing out, it is more important than ever that we continue to assess, address and reform the obstacles facing California’s health care system. The most important of these obstacles, and one that is projected to grow substantially in the coming years, is ensuring sufficient and timely physician access for every Californian in need of a physician’s care.” The Council on Graduate Medical Education recommends that a state have 60-80 primary care physicians per 100,000 people. California has an average of 63 per 100,000, but 42 of the state’s 58 counties fall below COGME’s minimum recommendations. Sonoma County, however, has 69 primary care physicians per 100,000 people, well above the state average.Pertussis immunization deadline extended A recent amendment to California’s pertussis immunization law gives schools the option to extend the deadline for students to show proof of vaccination for up to 30 days beyond the first day of school. Depending on the school district, students may continue to present for Tdap boosters until mid-September. Pertussis continues to be widespread in California, with seasonal incidence highest during summer and fall. Physicians are urged to be prepared for a rush of last-minute Tdap appointments and to provide clear documentation of Tdap immunization that students can bring to school. For additional information and resources about the new Tdap law, visit www.shotsforschool.org. Nominate your colleagues for SCMA awards There’s still time to nominate your colleagues for SCMA’s Outstanding Contribution and Recognition of Achievement awards, to be presented at the annual awards dinner on Dec. 1. Nominations are needed by Sept. 15 for all four awards listed below: • Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Presented to an SCMA member whose work has benefited the community. • Outstanding Contribution to Local Medicine. Presented to an SCMA member who has improved local medical care. • Outstanding Contribution to SCMA. Presented to an SCMA member who has served the medical association beyond the call of duty. • Recognition of Achievement. Presented to a nonphysician who has helped advance local medicine. To nominate one of your colleagues, send the nominee’s name and a brief description of his or her accomplishments to Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or via fax to 707-525-4328.Registration opens for Latino Health Forum Registration for the annual Latino Health Forum, to be held at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa on Oct. 13, is now open. This year’s forum, titled “Raising Healthy Children,” features keynote speeches by the president of the California Primary Care Association and the director of the childhood weight assessment program at UCSF. Workshop topics include childhood mental health, cultural sensitivity, diabetes and oral health. Registration before Sept. 16 is $75; thereafter, it’s $100. To register, visit www.latinohealthforum.org.SCMA physicians invited to Oktoberfest on Oct. 22 SCMA physicians and their spouse or guest are invited to an Oktoberfest welcome party for new members on Saturday evening, Oct. 22, and the Wild Oak Saddle Club in Santa Rosa. The event, sponsored by the SCMA Alliance, features authentic German beer, food and music, extending even to dancing. Cost is just $55 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www.scmaa.org or contact Christine Beakes at chrisbeakes@msn.com or 799-0125. Zum wohl!Practice management workshop in Santa Rosa on Nov. 2 SCMA and the California Medical Association are cosponsoring “What Every Physician Needs To Know About Their Practice,” a two-hour workshop for physicians, administrators and office managers. The workshop--which runs from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa--will be conducted by Frank Navarro, the associate director of the CMA Center for Economic Services. Topics include finding and keeping qualified staff, controlling costs, and understanding your revenue stream. The cost is just $45 for SCMA members; nonmembers pay $95. To register, print the form attached below and fax to SCMA at 707-525-4328. You can also register by phone with a credit card by calling Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375. Registration deadline is Oct. 28. Practice Management Workshop registration formPEOPLE Dr. Joshua Weil, who has served as chief of the emergency department at Kaiser Santa Rosa for more than a decade, has been appointed assistant physician-in-chief for hospital operations. He has participated in disaster relief efforts around the globe and is active in local efforts to improve emergency medical services. A past member of the SCMA board of directors, he recently published an article on earthquake preparedness in Sonoma Medicine. Former SCMA President Dr. Jan Sonander, a Santa Rosa family physician, has been appointed to the Rules Committee for the 2011 CMA House of Delegates. He is one of just five physicians selected statewide for the committee, which reviews the rules for the annual meeting, resolves disputes and enforces the conflict-of-interest policy.MEDICAL FACILITIES The longstanding dispute between Sutter Health and the hospital districts representing Healdsburg Hospital and Sebastopol’s Palm Drive Hospital continues to simmer, even as construction of the new Sutter Hospital in Santa Rosa proceeds apace. In late August, the hospital districts appealed a court ruling that had allowed construction of the Sutter facility to begin. The appeal objects to the size and environmental impacts of the new hospital, but it also includes an offer to negotiate a settlement that would address payment for uncompensated care and several other medical and financial issues. Sutter said it would respond to the settlement offer at a later date. In addition to contending with Sutter (see above), Palm Drive Hospital has sent “requests for information” to potential partners, including the Marin Healthcare District, the St. Joseph Health System and five other state- and nationwide entities. The requests seek to determine how the potential partners might be able to help the hospital, which emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year. Money seems to be flowing at Healdsburg Hospital, which installed a $1.6 million CT scanner in August. The 64-slice scanner is part of a $6 million upgrade to the hospital’s imaging center that will eventually include new x-ray, fluoroscopy and ultrasound equipment. The St. Joseph Health System Foundation has granted more than $300,000 to five local nonprofit agencies for programs that improve health and quality of life. Recipients include the Redwood Empire Food Bank, the PDI Oral Surgery Center in Windsor, the Drug Abuse Alternatives Center, House Calls, and the St. Joseph Dental Clinics. The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Project, which combats obesity in low-income areas of Santa Rosa, has received a $1 million grant from Kaiser Permanente. The funds will be used to promote healthful choices and to prevent diabetes, hypertension and other obesity-related diseases. The HEAL Project is described in detail in a recent Sonoma Medicine article by Kaiser pediatrician Dr. Ari Hauptman. Community health centers throughout Sonoma County had a particularly active month in August. The Petaluma Health Center moved to a newly constructed 53,000 square foot facility, nearly triple the size of its old digs. A league or so away, the West County Health Centers opened a new Wellness Center in Forestville that will focus on preventive services. Meanwhile, the Santa Rosa Community Health Centers received a $650,000 federal grant to increase its services to homeless residents.RESOURCES Three hour-long CMA webinars will be held during September. All three begin at 12:15 p.m. “How to grow your practice” (Sept. 7) examines methods for increasing referral volumes and retaining current patients. “Medical billing standards for workers comp” (Sept. 15) gives an update on the newly adopted standards, which go into effect in October. “How to identify and stop unfair payment practices” (Sept. 21) covers claim submission deadlines, appeal rights and other factors affecting payment. All three webinars are free for CMA members; nonmembers pay $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events. A short course on elder mediation will be held at Sonoma State University on Sept. 10 and 17. The course, which offers 14 hours of CEU credit, trains physicians, lawyers and other professionals to mediate decision making and resolve conflicts with elders and their families. The class is taught by Jane Iddings, a Petaluma lawyer and elder mediator. Cost is $154. To register, call SSU Extended Education at 707-664-2394 or visit www.tinyurl.com/SSUregistration. Medicare is sponsoring a free ACO learning session in San Francisco on Sept. 15 and 16. The session will feature national experts on accountable care organizations and will focus on developing core competencies necessary for ACO success. For more details, and to register, visit acoregister.rti.org. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler is the featured speaker at an all-day Childhood Obesity Conference at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on Sept. 24. The conference, sponsored by Slow Food San Francisco, features presentations by physicians, nutritionists and chefs on solutions to the childhood obesity epidemic. Cost is $100. To register, visit www.slowfoodsanfrancisco.com. A free webinar on insulin management in type 2 diabetes will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Sept. 27. Presenter is Dr. Kimberly Buss, medical director of diabetes education for the Sutter Medical Foundation. To register, visit www.thecmafoundation.org. The Coastal Dermatology Symposium will be held at the Silverado Resort in Napa from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. The event offers up to 12.25 hours of Category 1 credit. Presenters from across the country will provide updates on the diagnosis and treatment of various skin diseases. Cost is $350. To register, visit www.coastalderm.org or call 502-569-1356. Doctors and nurses interested in a holistic approach to medicine and healing are invited to attend the second annual Healing, Mindfulness & Compassion Retreat at the Ratna Ling Center in northern Sonoma County from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. The retreat will explore integrating Western medical perspectives with traditional Tibetan practices. Cost is $375 and up, depending on lodging. To register, visit tibetanaidproject.org. A free cardiovascular health symposium will be held at the Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 22. The event begins at 1 p.m. with four hours of presentations (and CME credits) on cardiovascular issues, followed by a complimentary dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. RSVP by Oct. 14 to Kathy Ficco at kathy.ficco@stjoe.org or 707-547-4652.APPLICANTS Jessica Bruso, DO, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 3975 Old Redwood Hwy. #152, Santa Rosa 95403, 566-5807, Fax 566-5517, jessica.r.bruso@kp.org, Univ Texas Osteo Med Sch 2007 Jennifer Fresco, MD, Internal Medicine*, Pulmonary Disease*, Critical Care Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way, MOBE #190, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-2690, Fax 393-2046, jennifer.m.fresco@gmail.com, Stanford Univ 2005 Jarrod Holmes, MD, Medical Oncology*, Hematology*, Internal Medicine*, 3555 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, 528-1050, Fax 525-3874, jholmes@rrmg.com, Duke Univ 2000 Sarah Murphy, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95404, 303-3600, Fax 303-3611, Univ Washington 2010 Donald Pyskaty, MD, Pediatrics*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-2052, ym4djp@gmail.com, Columbia Univ 1993 Bradley Restel, MD, Diagnostic Radiology*, 121 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa 95405, 546-4062, Fax 525-4097, brestel@rrmg.com, Univ Texas 2005 Richard Turley, MD, Otolaryngology, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4064, richardturleymd@gmail.com, Univ Michigan 2006 * board certifiedCLASSIFIEDS Medical director/staff physician wanted Sonoma Valley Community Health Center is seeking a family practice physician for the Medical Director/Staff Physician position. This position provides medical supervision and direction to the Health Center’s clinical services, as well as direct patient care. Must work collaboratively and be willing to support and back-up the mid-level clinicians, and provide call coverage through group call services for peds and family practice. We are looking for an innovator, a change manager and a demonstrated leader. Must have a current CA physician’s license. Call 707-939-6075 to learn more about the position. Website: www.svchc.org. Shred-It On-site guaranteed service. Office console provided. Stay compliant. Free consultation. Contact Marie Anderson at 707-829-8668 or marie.anderson@shredit.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. SCMA members get free classified ads! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.ABOUT SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 September 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs September 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
August 2011 SCMA gets $10,000 grant for Sonoma Specialty AccessDr. Maddux-González named medical director for RCHCContact info for Larry McLaughlin has changedNominations needed for SCMA awardsTown Hall meeting on health care reform set for Aug. 8Latino Health Forum needs donations for student scholarshipsPhysician volunteer needed for SCMA Scholarship CommitteeSCMA Alliance sponsors bike ride, picnicPEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMASCMA gets $10,000 grant for Sonoma Specialty Access SCMA has received a $10,000 grant from the Pacific Foundation for Medical Care to fund Sonoma Specialty Access, a project that gives under- and uninsured patients access to specialty care. The PFMC grant will be used to create a centralized database and website for coordinating specialty referrals. Over the past few years, several individuals and organizations have tried to improve specialty access for under- and uninsured patients in Sonoma County. One such effort is the dermatology clinic established at the Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg by SCMA President Dr. Jeff Sugarman. A referral system for orthopedic surgeons has been implemented as well. In 2008, SCMA and Redwood Community Health Coalition formed the Specialty Access Task Force to review access problems and devise solutions. More than a dozen SCMA physicians serve on the task force, which has recommended establishing a centralized database and website as a key step toward improving access. Both resources will be used to track participating specialists and gauge the services needed. Design and implementation of the database and website is expected to begin later this year. Dr. Maddux-González named medical director for RCHC Dr. Mary Maddux-González, the former Public Health Officer for Sonoma County, is the new medical director for the Redwood Community Health Coalition. The coalition includes 16 health centers in Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Yolo counties and serves nearly 200,000 patients, about 100,000 of whom live in Sonoma County. Almost 300 full- and part-time physicians work for the coalition, which offers medical services to under- and uninsured patients. Maddux-González will oversee the coalition’s physicians and will lead efforts to expand services at its clinics. She will also work on recruiting and retaining primary care physicians, who are expected to be in short supply once health care reform expands coverage to almost all local residents. A graduate of the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, Maddux-González served as Public Health Officer for more than a decade. Earlier this year, she published a study on local primary care capacity in Sonoma Medicine. The main findings were that Sonoma County has a low percentage of primary care physicians and that one-fifth (20%) are planning on retiring in the next five years.Contact info for Larry McLaughlin has changed Larry McLaughlin, Esq., who provides free legal advice to SCMA members, has moved his office to Sebastopol and has new phone and fax numbers. The new phone is 707-823-2134, and the new fax is 707-823-8089. Please expunge his old numbers from your address book, as they no longer work. His new office address is 121 N. Main St., Sebastopol 95472. Only his email remains the same: lwmclaughlin@juno.com. SCMA members are encouraged to contact McLaughlin for complimentary advice regarding medical records, patient rights, employment, health insurance contracting and other legal matters. Such advice is one of many benefits of SCMA membership.Nominations needed for SCMA awards SCMA is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Contribution and Recognition of Achievement awards, to be presented at the medical association’s annual dinner this fall. Nominations are needed by Sept. 15 for all four awards listed below: • Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Presented to an SCMA member whose work has benefited the community. • Outstanding Contribution to Local Medicine. Presented to an SCMA member who has improved local medical care. • Outstanding Contribution to SCMA. Presented to an SCMA member who has served the medical association beyond the call of duty. • Recognition of Achievement. Presented to a nonphysician who has helped advance local medicine. To nominate one of your colleagues, send the nominee’s name and a brief description of his or her accomplishments to Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or via fax to 707-525-4328.Town Hall meeting on health care reform set for Aug. 8 A press conference and town hall meeting on health care reform will be held at the Sonoma County Indian Health Project in Santa Rosa from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 8. Featured speakers, including Drs. Jason Cunningham and Mary Maddux-González, will discuss the impact of health reform on patient-centered health care. The meeting is free but limited to the first 250 guests. To register, contact Eliot Enriquez at eenriquez@rchc.net or 707-792-7900, Ext. 206. Sponsors include the California Primary Care Association, the Latino Coalition for a Health California, Healthy Kids Sonoma County and the Redwood Community Health Coalition.Latino Health Forum needs donations for student scholarships The 19th annual Latino Health Forum, to be held at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa on Oct. 13, will focus on raising healthy children, from preconception to adolescence. The forum attracts hundreds of participants every year, from local physicians to high school students contemplating health careers. Conference organizers are requesting tax-deductible scholarship donations for students who cannot afford the conference fees. Checks should be made payable to Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa and sent to Wanda Tapia, PO Box 722, Windsor, CA 95492. For more information, contact Wanda at latinohealth2011@aol.com or 707-953-8532. Details of this year’s conference are still pending. For updates, visit www.latinohealthforum.org.Physician volunteer needed for SCMA Scholarship Committee SCMA is seeking a physician volunteer to fill a vacancy on the Health Careers Scholarship Committee, which reviews scholarship applications from students interested in pursuing health careers. The committee meets just once or twice a year; most of its work is done via email. If you are interested in serving on the committee, contact Cynthia Melody at 707-525-4375 or cynthia@scma.org. The committee has been in existence since 1971 and has awarded scholarships to more than 750 students, several of whom are now practicing medicine in Sonoma County.SCMA Alliance sponsors bike ride, picnic The SCMA Alliance is sponsoring an informal two-hour bike ride in Santa Rosa on Thursday evening, Aug. 4. The group will meet in the parking lot by the Howarth Park tennis courts at 6 p.m. and then head east. For more information, contact Nancy Sumida at 707-537-7728 or nsumida7@gmail.com. Later this month, the Alliance is holding a family picnic at the Wikiup Swim and Tennis Club in Santa Rosa. The picnic, which runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28, features games for children, swimming and plenty of food. Picnickers should bring their own drinks (no alcohol). Cost is just $11 per person. To RSVP, contact Meta Lightfoot at mldlight@sonic.net or 707-526-9748 by Aug. 14.PEOPLE An interview with SCMA President Dr. Jeff Sugarman, a Santa Rosa dermatologist, appears in the July 25 issue of the North Bay Business Journal. The interview highlights Sugarman’s efforts to expand access to specialists for under- and uninsured patients, as well as the challenges faced by physicians in private practice. High-tech behemoth Google has agreed to sponsor the Green Flight Challenge, a $1.65 million competition funded by NASA and organized by the CAFE Foundation, whose president is Santa Rosa ophthalmologist Dr. Brien Seeley. During the competition, to be held at the Sonoma County Airport from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, experimental aircraft need to fly at least 100 miles per hour while getting at least 200 passenger miles per gallon on a 200-mile flight. For more details, visit www.cafefoundation.org. Dr. Bradley Restel, a diagnostic radiologist with a subspecialty in musculoskeletal radiology, has joined Redwood Regional Medical Group. His particular interest is in diagnosing sports injuries, and he is conducting research on whether MRI of the lumbar spine in upright position improves diagnosis compared to the conventional supine position. A graduate of the University of Texas, he completed his residency and fellowship at Duke University.MEDICAL FACILITIES The Breast Care Center at Kaiser Santa Rosa has been accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. After measuring how well the local center met standards in leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement, the NAPBC awarded the facility a full 3-year accreditation. Dr. Loie Sauer, a breast cancer surgeon who works at the center, noted that its offerings include early detection and screening, comprehensive cancer services, data collection, clinical research and survivorship services. Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital has received approval from the St. Joseph Health System to resume a $15 million renovation of its emergency department. The project, which was postponed at the beginning of the 2008 recession, will start up again in early 2012. The plan will increase the department’s square footage by almost 50% and will add 26 private rooms. “We’ll be able to get patients into beds more quickly,” said Dr. Ed West, the hospital’s director of emergency medicine. Every day, about 100 patients receive treatment at the facility, which is one of only 21 Level II trauma centers in California. For the third year in a row, Healdsburg District Hospital has received an Exceeding Patient Expectations award from Avatar International. The award was based on surveys finding that more than 90% of the hospital’s would return for future care and would recommend the hospital to others. “We encourage residents of northern Sonoma County to continue to think locally for quality, accessible healthcare,” said Evan Rayner, the hospital’s CEO.RESOURCES A short course on elder mediation will be held at Sonoma State University on Sept. 10 and 17. The course, which offers 14 hours of CEU credit, trains physicians, lawyers and other professionals to mediate decision making and resolve conflicts with elders and their families. The class is taught by Jane Iddings, a Petaluma lawyer and elder mediator. Cost is $154. To register, call SSU Extended Education at 707-664-2394 or visit www.tinyurl.com/SSUregistration. An hour-long CMA webinar on developing and adopting medical policies for Medicare will be held at 12:15 and 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10. Dr. Arthur Lurvey of Palmetto GBA will discuss how to understand and use coverage decisions; how to respond to requests for records; how and where to appeal claim denials; and the difference between denials and rejections. The webinar is free for SCMA members; nonmembers pay $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events. The Coastal Dermatology Symposium will be held at the Silverado Resort in Napa from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. The event offers up to 12.25 hours of Category 1 credit. Presenters from across the country will provide updates on the diagnosis and treatment of various skin diseases. Cost is $350. To register, visit www.coastalderm.org or call 502-569-1356. Physicians switching to electronic health records are encouraged to visit the CalHIPSO website at www.calhipso.org. CalHIPSO is a nonprofit that helps clinical providers navigate through the complex world of EHR implementation. The organization can help physicians qualify for Meaningful Use incentives and select an EHR system appropriate for their practice. CalHIPSO also sponsors webinars on privacy and security, vendor selection and other topics. SCMA members can activate their CMA web account by visiting www.cmanet.org and clicking on “Activate Web Account” at the top of the page. Once the account is established, members can get free access to a wealth of materials on the newly redesigned website, including an extensive medical-legal library and scores of other publications. One particularly useful newsletter is Practice Resources, a monthly bulletin full of tips and tools to help physicians and their office staff improve practice efficiency and viability.APPLICANTS Timothy Brennan, MD, Family Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4300, Fax 393-4558, Univ Cincinnati 1992 James Driscoll, MD, Pulmonary Disease*, Critical Care Medicine*, Sleep Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-2960, Fax 393-2046, james.a.driscoll@kp.org, Univ Texas 2000 Maya Land, MD, Internal Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4000, Fax 393-4144, maya.m.land@kp.org, Dartmouth Med Sch 2000 Scott Siegner, MD, Ophthalmology*, Retinal Surgery, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 566-5913, Fax 566-5229, scottsiegner@yahoo.com, Wayne State Univ 1992 * = board certified; italics = special medical interestCLASSIFIEDS Shred-It On-site guaranteed service. Office console provided. Stay compliant. Free consultation. Contact Marie Anderson at 707-829-8668 or marie.anderson@shredit.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. Medical volunteers needed Local physicians are invited to join the “refill of the month club” by volunteering one day a month at the Jewish Community Free Clinic in Rohnert Park. You can refill your soul monthly by helping those that most need your services. Volunteers are needed for the family clinic on Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30, and for the pediatrics clinic on Tuesday afternoons, 2:30 to 5. Specialist consults in your office for uninsured patients are also helpful. For questions, call Dr. Jerry Connell at 707-527-7754. To sign up for a shift, contact Deborah Roberts at deborah.roberts@sonoma.edu or 707-664-2945. SCMA members get free classified ads! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.ABOUT SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 August 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs August 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
July 2011 Nonmembers receiving Sonoma Medicine for SCMA recruitment campaignNominations needed for SCMA awardsRegister now for July 8 Coding and Medicare UpdateHealth Information conference in Santa Rosa July 14-15Dr. Jeff Sugarman is new president of SCMASCMA/Alliance award $27,000 in medical scholarships to local studentsLocal resolution requiring “opt in” for prescribing data advances to CMA HouseReminder: Adolescents need Tdap booster before school begins in fallStudy finds inequities in Medicare's geographic payment formulaPEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMANonmembers receiving Sonoma Medicine for SCMA recruitment campaign Nonmember physicians in Sonoma County will be receiving the next few issues of Sonoma Medicine, SCMA’s award-winning quarterly magazine, as part of a recruitment campaign for SCMA. Reading the magazine should help nonmember physicians see the value of SCMA membership and encourage them to join, which they can do at www.scma.org/join.asp or by contacting Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org and requesting an application form. Most of the physicians in Sonoma County already enjoy the benefits of SCMA membership, which were recently expanded to include free classified ads for members in Sonoma Medicine and SCMA News Briefs. Members can also get a 15% discount when placing display ads in Sonoma Medicine. To download an ad rate sheet for the magazine, visit www.scma.org/resources. To place a classified ad, contact Erika Goodwin at 707-548-6491 or erika@scma.org. The summer issue of Sonoma Medicine, which was mailed to all Sonoma County physicians on June 30, features an interview with new SCMA President Jeff Sugarman, MD, a Santa Rosa dermatologist. The focus of the issue is disaster planning, with articles by local physicians on earthquake scenarios, preparedness efforts and contingency plans. An online version has been posted at www.scma.org/magazine.Nominations needed for SCMA awards SCMA is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Contribution and Recognition of Achievement awards, to be presented at the medical association’s annual dinner this fall. Nominations are needed by Sept. 15 for all four awards listed below: • Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Presented to an SCMA member whose work has benefited the community. • Outstanding Contribution to Local Medicine. Presented to an SCMA member who has improved local medical care. • Outstanding Contribution to SCMA. Presented to an SCMA member who has served the medical association beyond the call of duty. • Recognition of Achievement. Presented to a nonphysician who has helped advance local medicine. To submit a nomination, contact Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or 525-4375.Register now for July 8 Coding and Medicare Update There’s still time to register for the July 8 Coding and Medicare Update, to be held at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa. Sponsored by SCMA, this three-hour class from the Practice Management Institute covers the Version 5010 standards, “meaningful use,” physician incentive payments, private payer policies, and much more. Even if your office doesn’t serve Medicare beneficiaries, many insurance carriers follow Medicare’s lead, and your reimbursement will be impacted by Medicare policies. To register for the class, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m., contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. Cost is $105 for SCMA members and their staff, $165 for nonmembers.Health Information conference in Santa Rosa July 14-15 The fifth annual “Connecting California to Improve Patient Care” conference will be held at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa on July 14 and 15. The conference, which is organized by the nonprofit Redwood MedNet and cosponsored by SCMA, will focus on clinical informatics and electronic health information exchanges. Conference presenters include physicians and other experts in medical information technology. The conference begins on the afternoon of July 14 with workshops on health information privacy and security. The cost of the workshops is $75. The Friday session begins with a keynote address by Dr. Carol Diamond, followed by a full day of presentations. Cost for the full day is $250. To register, and for more details, visit www.redwoodmednet.org.Dr. Jeff Sugarman is new president of SCMA Jeff Sugarman, MD, PhD, a Santa Rosa dermatologist and pediatric dermatologist, is the new president of SCMA. He will serve until June 2012. Sugarman, who is well known for his efforts to expand specialty access for the uninsured and underinsured, hopes to establish a specialty referral database during his presidency. He discusses his plan and many other topics in a wide-ranging interview in the current issue of Sonoma Medicine. Joining Sugarman on the SCMA board of directors are several newly elected leaders and representatives, including Dr. Walt Mills (president-elect), Dr. Ed Chang (treasurer) Dr. Stephen Steady (secretary), Dr. Robert Neid (TPMG representative), and Drs. Brad Drexler and Jan Sonander (CMA delegates). The remaining board members were elected or appointed in previous years. They include Drs. Rebecca Katz, Leonard Klay, Marshall Kubota, Anthony Lim, Francesca Manfredi, Mark Netherda, Greg Rosa, Phyllis Senter and Francisco Trilla.SCMA/Alliance award $27,000 in medical scholarships to local students A dozen local students have received a total of $27,000 in scholarships from SCMA and the SCMA Alliance to study medicine at colleges and universities throughout the United States. The recipients include five high school students and seven students who are already enrolled in undergraduate or graduate medical programs. The awards range from $1,000 each for the high school students to $5,000 for students enrolled in graduate programs. SCMA is seeking one physician to fill a vacancy on the Health Careers Scholarship Committee, which selects students for the awards and meets just twice a year at lunchtime. If you are interested in serving on the committee, contact Cynthia Melody at 525-4375 or cynthia@scma.org. The committee has been in existence since 1971 and has awarded scholarships to more than 750 students, several of whom are now practicing medicine in Sonoma County.Local resolution requiring “opt in” for prescribing data advances to CMA House In response to the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing pharmaceutical wholesalers to sell physician prescribing data to drug companies, delegates at the June 24 CMA District 10 caucus approved a resolution that would require physicians to “opt in” to any program that sells their prescribing data. The resolution, by Healdsburg ob-gyn Dr. Brad Drexler, notes that use of the current “opt out” option has been negligible, and that drug companies are denying samples to physicians who do opt out. The “opt in” resolution will advance to the CMA House this fall, along with several other resolutions approved by District 10. One resolution, by Santa Rosa pediatrician Dr. David Smith, would require that medical marijuana be dispensed in child-proof containers. Another, by Sebastopol urologist Dr. Peter Bretan, asks CMA to design a template for organizing physician volunteers to help with disaster preparedness and in delivering care to the indigent and uninsured.Reminder: Adolescents need Tdap booster before school begins in fall Physicians are reminded that a new state law requires all adolescents to have a Tdap booster for pertussis before school begins this fall. Pertussis is widespread in California, and more than 1 million of the state’s adolescents may not yet have received a Tdap booster. Doctors should keep track of which patients have or haven’t received Tdap and should send patient reminders now. All adolescents will need clear documentation of Tdap immunization to enroll in school this fall. For more information, visit www.shotsforschool.org.Study finds inequities in Medicare's geographic payment formula The data that Medicare relies on to adjust for geographic variation in costs to pay physicians and hospitals is flawed and leads to inaccurate payments, according to a report recently released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The finding represents a huge victory for CMA and will go a long way toward ensuring that California physicians are reimbursed accurately for the differences in geographic practice costs. CMA has for years been urging Congress to reform the flawed and outdated geographic payment regions. CMA testified before the IOM last fall, showing that the costs of running a physician's practice differ substantially across the country. Failing to take that variance into account in Medicare payments is a big mistake that harms senior citizens’ access to care, CMA said in its testimony. Geographic adjustments to Medicare payments are intended to cover regional variations in wages, rents and other costs incurred by physicians and hospitals. The IOM study found, however, that almost 40% of hospitals have been granted exceptions to how their adjustments are calculated, strongly suggesting that the mechanisms underlying the adjustments are inadequate. The IOM study concluded that the rationale for fine-tuning Medicare payments based on geographic variations in expenses is sound and should be continued. However, the report urges fundamental changes to the data sources and methods used to calculate the adjustments and increase the accuracy of the payments. One such change recommended by the study would be to place physicians and hospitals into the same Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), which reflect regional costs more accurately than the outdated payment localities that are currently used to determine reimbursement. In California, for example, the physician payment localities haven't been updated in more than 12 years, leaving many recently urbanized counties, such as Sonoma, inappropriately grouped into payment localities with lower-cost rural counties.PEOPLE Dr. Amy Shaw, who has practiced family medicine in Sonoma County for almost two decades, has been named medical director of the Primary Care Oncology and Survivorship Program at Redwood Regional Medical Group. The program provides long-term follow-up care for cancer patients. Shaw previously served as chief of staff at Sutter Medical Center and as medical director of the Sutter Women’s Health Resource Center. A graduate of the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, she worked for many years at the Doyle Park Family Medicine group in Santa Rosa. Drs. Rajesh and Rajina Ranadive, a married couple who are both internists in Petaluma, have joined the Annadel Medical Group, the physician organization affiliated with the St. Joseph Health System. Rajesh is chief of medicine at Petaluma Valley Hospital, and Rajina serves on the hospital’s Medical Executive and Physician Well-Being committees. Their signing brings the total number of physicians in the Annadel group to 32. Dr. Laurel Warner and Dr. Tiffany Camarillo have joined the staff at Kaiser Santa Rosa. Warner, an infectious-disease specialist, was previously in private practice in Santa Rosa. Camarillo, a graduate of UC Davis, is a pathologist. Dr. Steve Olson, a family physician, has been appointed assistant physician-in-chief for service at Kaiser Santa Rosa. Prior to joining Kaiser in 2006, Olson was in private practice in Santa Rosa for almost 20 years. Patricia Hunstock, a past president of the SCMA Alliance, has been named president of the CMA Alliance. It is her second term as president of the statewide organization of medical society alliances. The SCMA Alliance and Foundation has also named new officers for 2011-12. Meta Lightfoot is president of the Alliance and John Gnam is president of the Foundation. Membership in the Alliance is open to all physicians and spouses. For more information, visit www.scmaa.org.MEDICAL FACILITIES Sutter Health has cleared yet another hurdle in its efforts to build a new hospital in Santa Rosa. In mid-June, Superior Court Judge René Chouteau denied several legal challenges to the new hospital filed by the healthcare districts representing Healdsburg and Palm Drive hospitals. Chouteau found that the healthcare districts did not have the legal standing to file the challenges. Meanwhile, construction continues on the new hospital, located next to the Wells Fargo Center. Palm Drive Hospital is exploring an affiliation with Adventist Health to ensure its continued survival in a competitive marketplace. Talks between the two entities are ongoing. The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County has received a $3 million challenge grant from the Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation to renovate the imaging center at Healdsburg District Hospital. The hospital will use the funds to buy a 64-slice digital CT scanner and several other pieces of new imaging equipment.RESOURCES Two one-hour CMA webinars are scheduled for July. “Collections--Get Paid Now,” begins at 12:15 p.m. on July 6, and “Writing Effective Appeals,” begins at 12:15 p.m. on July 20. The webinars are free for SCMA members; cost for nonmembers is $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/calendar.CLASSIFIEDS Shred-It On-site guaranteed service. Office console provided. Stay compliant. Free consultation. Contact Marie Anderson at 707-829-8668 or marie.anderson@shredit.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. Medical volunteers needed Local physicians are invited to join the “refill of the month club” by volunteering one day a month at the Jewish Community Free Clinic in Rohnert Park. You can refill your soul monthly by helping those that most need your services. Volunteers are needed for the family clinic on Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30, and for the pediatrics clinic on Tuesday afternoons, 2:30 to 5. Specialist consults in your office for uninsured patients are also helpful. For questions, call Dr. Jerry Connell at 707-527-7754. To sign up for a shift, contact Deborah Roberts at deborah.roberts@sonoma.edu or 707-664-2945. Have you made decisions about multiple fetal gestations? The National Perinatal Association is sponsoring research on multiple gestations. Dr. Anita Catlin, a perinatal ethics researcher, is conducting a study to investigate the lives and decision making of women who become pregnant with multiple fetuses as a result of reproductive interventions. Catlin is particularly interested in how women make decisions on whether to reduce high-level multiple gestations to potentially healthier numbers. She would like to hear the circumstances of reduction and advice from women to the healthcare providers who cared for them during this critical time. Interviews will be conducted in the following locations and dates. Additional locations can be added dependent upon responses. • Sonoma County: July 25-26 • San Francisco: Aug. 7-8 To arrange for an interview, contact Dr. Catlin at catlin@sonoma.edu. SCMA members get free classified ads! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.ABOUT SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 July 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs July 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
June 2011 All local physicians invited to SCMA Wine & Cheese ReceptionSCMA members get 15% ad discount and free classifiedsCMA offers free EHR Desk Reference to all physiciansHealth Information conference set for Santa RosaReminder: Medicare electronic prescribing deadline is June 30Cast your vote in the annual SCMA election by June 30Sonoma County Physician Directory available for salePEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMAAll local physicians invited to SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception Local physicians and their spouse or guest are invited to attend SCMA’s 11th annual Wine & Cheese Reception on Tuesday evening, June 14. The reception, to be held at the Kunde Family Estate in Kenwood, is a great place to gather with your colleagues in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. Please join us for informal conversation and a sampling of fine wines, cheeses and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are free for SCMA members and their spouse or guest. For nonmembers, tickets are $35 per person. To RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. For directions and more details, download the SCMA Wine & Cheese 2011 flyer at www.scma.org/resources.SCMA members get 15% ad discount and free classifieds SCMA members who place display ads in Sonoma Medicine or the Sonoma County Physician Directory can now get a 15% discount, thanks to a new policy approved by the board of directors. Members can also place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. To qualify for the discount or the free rate, the ad must be placed by an individual SCMA member or by a group that has 100% SCMA membership. Groups with less than 100% membership are not eligible for the discount. The ad rate sheet for Sonoma Medicine is posted at www.scma.org/resources. The rate sheet for the 2012 Physician Directory will be posted later this summer. To place an ad, contact Erika Goodwin at 548-6491 or erika@scma.org.CMA offers free EHR Desk Reference to all physicians The 2009 federal economic stimulus package provided funding for physicians to purchase and use electronic health records (EHR) systems. Qualifying Medicare providers stand to receive up to $44,000, and Medi-Cal providers stand to receive as much as $63,750. The promise of the federal EHR incentives is causing a wide range of reactions among California physicians. There is excitement about the financial benefits, but there is also confusion about issues such as how to get started, how to select the right system, and what does “meaningful use” mean? To help physicians through this process, CMA and the CMA Foundation have published a comprehensive guide called the EHR Desk Reference. The reference was funded by a generous contribution from the Physicians Foundation and is available free-of-charge to any physician. The EHR Desk Reference brings together information, tools, and resources from many sources into one comprehensive guide to help physicians and their practices make the transition to EHR. It can help both specialists and primary care physicians in all modes of practice and at any stage of the EHR implementation process. Some of the topics covered in the guide include: • Understanding the federal incentive programs • Selecting the right EHR for your practice • Talking to your patients about your EHR • HIPAA compliance • Meaningful use In conjunction with the release of the Desk Reference, CMA staff and physicians will be traveling the state distributing copies and speaking about EHR adoption. If you would like to schedule a speaker at your hospital medical staff meeting, medical group, or other gathering, contact the CMA member helpline at 800-786-4262. To download your free copy of the EHR Desk Reference, visit www.cmanet.org/hit.Health Information conference set for Santa Rosa The fifth annual “Connecting California to Improve Patient Care” conference will be held at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa on July 14 and 15. The conference, which is organized by the nonprofit Redwood MedNet and cosponsored by SCMA, covers the latest developments in health information policy, clinical informatics and health information exchanges. Presenters include physicians and other experts in medical information technology. The conference begins with a workshop on privacy and security on the afternoon of July 14, followed by a full day of presentations on July 15. Cost is $200 before July 1 and $250 thereafter. To register, and for more details, visit www.redwoodmednet.org.Reminder: Medicare electronic prescribing deadline is June 30 Physicians who don’t implement and employ a qualified electronic prescribing (eRx) system by June 30 will face a 1% penalty from Medicare in 2012. The penalties increase to 1.5% in 2013 and a 2% in 2014. Medicare has excluded physicians who have fewer than 100 cases in the first half of 2011 containing an eligible ambulatory care visit code. Physicians may also be exempt if fewer than 10% of total allowed Part B charges are comprised of these codes. Covered physicians who wish to avoid the 1% penalty in 2012 must report via claims their use of an eRx system for at least 10 patient visits before June 30. New and repeat patient visits qualify for the program. A patient visit in which the patient is given several prescriptions counts as one eRx. For more information, get the CMA document “Medicare electronic prescribing overview: Payment incentives and payment reductions” at www.cmanet.org/resource-library or visit the Medicare website at www.cms.gov/ERXincentive.Cast your vote in the annual SCMA election by June 30 Now is the time for SCMA members to cast their votes for SCMA officers and board representatives, and for representatives to the CMA House of Delegates. Please indicate your approval or disapproval of the candidates listed below. You can vote by either: • Sending an email with your preferences to cmelody@scma.org or • Downloading the SCMA Ballot at www.scma.org/resources and returning to SCMA by fax or mail. SCMA President-Elect: Walt Mills, MD: Yes___ No___ SCMA Treasurer: Ed Chang, MD: Yes___ No___ SCMA Secretary: Stephen Steady, MD: Yes___ No___ SCMA Board, Petaluma: Stephen Steady, MD: Yes___ No___ SCMA Board, Santa Rosa: Jeff Sugarman, MD: Yes___ No___ SCMA Board, TPMG: Robert Neid, MD: Yes___ No___ CMA Delegates (vote for two) • Brad Drexler, MD: Yes___ No___ • Jan Sonander, MD: Yes___ No___Sonoma County Physician Directory available for sale The 2011 edition of the Sonoma County Physician Directory, which was distributed free to SCMA members in March, is now available for sale to nonmember physicians and the general public. The directory offers alphabetical and specialty listings for all Sonoma County physicians, along with detailed entries for SCMA members. Cost is $40 for nonmember physicians, or $35 each when ordering five or more copies. Members can purchase additional copies for just $30. To order over the phone with a credit card, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 525-4375, or order online at www.scma.org/directory.PEOPLE The Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency has selected eight women and four men from more than 500 applicants for its three-year residency program. The new resident physicians are top graduates from medical schools in California, Michigan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, Arizona and Washington, DC. Residency program director Dr. Jeff Haney noted, “We have emphasized the development of leadership skills and innovation in the course of residency training and have actively recruited students who want to lead in creating new models of primary care that make patient-centered medical homes a reality across the socioeconomic spectrum. From our recruiting results this year, we believe we have been very successful.” Dr. Misty Zelk, a board-certified internist and pediatrician, has joined the Palm Drive Medical Center in Sebastopol. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, she served in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 and is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard.MEDICAL FACILITIES Sonoma Valley Hospital and the Marin Healthcare District, which operates Marin General Hospital, have signed a formal agreement that will allow the healthcare district to provide both management and medical services to Sonoma Valley. The agreement will give Sonoma patients access to specialty services at Marin General. “The synergies between the Marin and Sonoma communities make this an ideal partnership to benefit Bay Area residents,” said cardiologist Dr. Joel Sklar, chief medical officer at Marin General. Healdsburg District Hospital is among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for joint replacement care, according to a study by HealthGrades. The study, which analyzed millions of Medicare hospitalization records from 2007 to 2009, also found that Healdsburg was the top hospital in Sonoma County for joint replacement and total hip replacement. CEO Evan Rayner noted, “We are proud of this team accomplishment and plan to build and enhance the program with additional orthopedists, equipment and facility modifications.”RESOURCES CMA is offering two one-hour coding webinars during June. The first, which begins at 12:15 p.m. on June 1, covers ICD-10 coding. The second, beginning at 6:15 p.m. on June 8, covers E&M coding. For more details or to register, visit www.cmanet.org/calendar. Webinars are free for SCMA members and their staff. Marsh, the insurance carrier sponsored by SCMA and CMA, is offering members a new long-term care insurance program through Long Term Care Resources. For details specific to SCMA members, visit the LTCR website at www.myltcplan.com/scma. The new CMA website is loaded with a suite of digital tools that will help you get the most from your membership. All members will need to activate their new web account in order to access the full suite of members-only tools and resources. Existing passwords from the old website were not carried over for security reasons. The process of activating your account is quick and easy. Simply: 1. Click on “activate web account” at the top of the page. 2. Enter your first and last name to locate your record in the database. Click on your name. 3. Verify your date of birth, enter your email address (this will be your username), and then select and verify your password (passwords must be at least 6 digits long). If you have any questions, contact CMA's member help center at 800-786-4262 or memberservice@cmanet.org. The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium is sponsoring a two-day Critical Care Program at Sutter Santa Rosa on June 30 and July 1. While the program is designed for nurses, physicians are welcome to attend. Registration is by mail only. For more details, download the ELNEC Critical Care Program Brochure at www.scma.org/resources. Can you donate a stethoscope or make a $10 donation to WorldScopes? This global philanthropic initiative collects and distributes stethoscopes to doctors around the world who do not have ready access to this basic medical instrument. To date, almost 9,000 stethoscopes have been collected and distributed in more than 50 countries. All shipping costs are paid by the American Medical Association, which sponsors the program. For instructions on how to ship a stethoscope or make a financial donation, visit the WorldScopes website at www.ama-assn.org.CLASSIFIEDS Shred-It On-site guaranteed service. Office console provided. Stay compliant. Free consultation. Contact Marie Anderson at 707-829-8668 or marie.anderson@shredit.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. Medical volunteers needed Local physicians are invited to join the “refill of the month club” by volunteering one day a month at the Jewish Community Free Clinic in Rohnert Park. You can refill your soul monthly by helping those that most need your services. Volunteers are needed for the family clinic on Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30, and for the pediatrics clinic on Tuesday afternoons, 2:30 to 5. Specialist consults in your office for uninsured patients are also helpful. For questions, call Dr. Jerry Connell at 707-527-7754. To sign up for a shift, contact Deborah Roberts at deborah.roberts@sonoma.edu or 707-664-2945. SCMA members get free classified ads! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.ABOUT SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 June 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs June 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
