April 2011 CMS issues regulations for Accountable Care OrganizationsTickets still available for Medicare coding course Local breakthrough: MRI-safe pacemaker implanted in Santa Rosa womanNonprofit offers help with pediatric development and autism screeningsNew SCMA Physician Directories for saleBuck Institute study: Yellow dye extends lifespan in wormsPEOPLERESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMACMS issues regulations for Accountable Care Organizations On March 31, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued regulations implementing the Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Shared Savings Program. In conjunction with the regulations, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice issued guidance on antitrust policies related to ACOs. CMA is currently reviewing the regulations and will be working to ensure that ACOs are physician-led and patient-centered and consistent with the CMA Principles for Accountable Care Organizations. The medical association will continue to press upon CMS the need to provide start-up funding and resources to help those physicians who want to organize into ACO coordinated care models. Fact sheets and other materials about ACOs are available on the Physician Resources page at www.scma.org/resources. In addition, a May 7 conference at the Alamada-Contra Costa County Medical Association will address ACOs and other new models of care (see Resources section below). A New England Journal of Medicine article on ACOs by Medicare Administrator Dr. Don Berwick is available at www.nejm.org.Tickets still available for Medicare coding course “Coding and Medicare Updates 2011,” a valuable three-hour course for physicians and office staff, will be offered at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa on Friday afternoon, April 15. The course, developed by the Practice Management Institute, focuses on sweeping changes affecting your 2011 Medicare reimbursements. Participants will review major changes for 2011 coding, learn how to improve claim accuracy, and maximize reimbursement opportunities with Medicare incentive programs. Cost is $105 for SCMA members and their staff and $165 for nonmembers. To purchase tickets, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org.Local breakthrough: MRI-safe pacemaker implanted in Santa Rosa woman In a first for Sonoma County, cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Peter Chang-Sing implanted an MRI-safe pacemaker in a 50-year-old Santa Rosa woman in March. The new device avoids the serious complications that can ensue when traditional pacemakers are exposed to an MRI’s magnetic fields, such as unintended cardiac stimulation and damage to the pacemaker. “For many of our patients, as medicine advances and they live longer, they’re going to need an MRI to diagnose health-related problems,” said Dr. Chang-Sing, who directs electrophysiology services at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. “Now we have a device which allows these patients to take advantage of the MRI’s diagnostic capabilities and its lower risk of radiation exposure compared to other imaging tests.” An estimated 200,000 pacemaker recipients in the United States forgo MRI scans every year because of the safety risks. The new MRI-safe pacemaker, manufactured by Medtronic, was approved by the FDA in February.Nonprofit offers help with pediatric development and autism screenings The Early Learning Institute, a Rohnert Park nonprofit, has received a grant to provide free training and technical assistance in screening children 0-5 for developmental delays and autism. Following guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Institute can help implement screening protocols within any medical setting, train staff in the use of screening tools, and provide assistance with referrals. For more information, visit www.earlylearninginstitute.com or contact Michele Rogers, PhD, at 591-0170 or micheler@earlylearninginstitute.com.New SCMA Physician Directories 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 707-525-4375, or order online at www.scma.org/directory.Buck Institute study: Yellow dye extends lifespan in worms Researchers at the Buck Institute in Novato have discovered that Basic Yellow 1 dye (ThT) can extend the lifespan of nematode worms by 50% and slow disease processes. In a study published in the March 30 online edition of Nature, lead researcher Dr. Gordon Lithgow found that ThT supports protein homeostasis, a major contributor to longevity. “We have been looking for compounds that slow aging for more than 10 years,” said Lithgow,” and ThT is the best we have seen so far.” The Institute, which continues to grow rapidly, recently announced plans to launch a graduate degree program in biological sciences and build on-site housing for employees and students.PEOPLE Dr. Danny Arzanipour, a physiatrist from Kaiser Vallejo, has been appointed medical director of the acute rehab unit at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. A 2004 graduate of UCLA’s medical school, Arzanipour completed his internship and residency at the University of Pennsylvania, and a fellowship in traumatic brain injury at the Kaiser Foundation Rehab Center. Thirty-nine SCMA members from A to Z have received Excellence in Patient Satisfaction awards from the St. Joseph Health System. The awards were based on post-discharge patient surveys at Santa Rosa Memorial and Petaluma Valley hospitals. The winning physicians received kudos for showing concern and sensitivity to patient needs, answering questions about health, and explaining illnesses or treatments in a way that patients could understand.RESOURCES A free app from AMA that helps doctors find CPT codes is available at the iTunes store. The app, compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, helps doctors determine the correct E/M code for quick and accurate billing. In conjunction with the new app, the AMA has launched the 2011 App Challenge to find the next great medical app. Open to all U.S. physicians, residents and medical students, the Challenge runs until June 30. Participants can visit www.amaidealab.org to submit their app idea and be eligible for up to $2,500 in cash and prizes. Background information on Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans has been posted at www.scma.org/resources. Like credit unions, CO-OPs allow physicians, hospitals and employers to provide health benefits to members. They are an alternative to government-run programs and for-profit insurance companies. AMA is hosting a free two-hour webinar on April 5 to help physicians learn more about medical and public health implications of radiation events. Topics will include different types of ionizing radiation, acute radiation syndrome, and preparing for radiation emergencies. To register for the webinar, which begins at 9 a.m. Pacific time, click the following link: AMA radiation emergency webinar A “listening” meeting on health information exchanges will be held from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on April 7 at Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastopol. The interactive forum, sponsored by the nonprofits Cal eConnect and Redwood MedNet, will allow physicians to learn more about HIEs and offer feedback about potential future services. Lunch is included. To RSVP, contact Alex Barrios at abarrios@caleconnect.org. CMA is offering two hour-long webinars on electronic health records on April 13 at 12:15 and 6:15 p.m. The webinars, which are free to CMA members, cover the basics of EHRs, the federal incentive programs, and meaningful use. They are intended for physicians and staff who are beginning to research EHRs. Cost for nonmembers is $100. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/calendar. SCMA members are invited to attend a free conference in Oakland on May 7 titled Strategies for Independent Physicians to Succeed in the Era of Health Reform. The conference—to be held at the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association (ACCMA), 6230 Claremont Ave.—will feature presentations by CMA staff attorneys on ACOs and other models designed to improve quality as part of health care reform. Topics include: • Business considerations for physician practices • Legal issues related to hospital affiliations • How improving quality can increase reimbursement The conference runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register, visit www.accma.org. On May 10-13, the Society for Hospital Medicine is hosting a four-day hospitalist conference in Dallas that offers up to 26.5 hours of CME. Education sessions cover a wide range of current topics. To register, visit www.hospitalmedicine2011.org. The annual SCMA Alliance Garden Tour is returning to Santa Rosa on May 13 and 14. Proceeds will be used to fund six local nonprofits that are working to improve access to healthy eating and to reverse obesity trends. The tour includes gardens at the fabled McDonald Mansion, as well as six other pastoral sanctuaries. Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for children 5 and older. The event includes a raffle, musical performances, and presentations by local artists and authors. To purchase tickets, visit www.scmaa.org. The next Smartphone Salon is scheduled for Thursday evening, May 19, at a location in Santa Rosa. The salon runs from 6 to 8 p.m., and participants are free to come late or leave early. Topics include favorite medical apps and time/project management. To RSVP and receive the location, contact Dr. Rachel Friedman at rscfriedman@gmail.com. Smartphone enthusiasts are also encouraged to visit www.imedsalon.com, a local website devoted to smartphone apps for physicians. APPLICANTS Natasha Bernard, DO, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, 303-3600, Fax 303-3611, Touro Univ 2009 Andrew Cunningham, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, 303-3600, Fax 303-3611, Univ Louisville 2008 Christine Hancock, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, 303-3600, Fax 303-3611, UC San Francisco 2010 Joshua Kucker, MD, Emergency Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4800, Fax 393-4741, Hahnemann Univ 2001 Francisco Trilla, MD, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, 303-8905, Fax 303-3635, Harvard Med Sch 1980 * board certifiedCLASSIFIEDS Physician wanted Physician wanted for ethical medical weight control. Part time. Pleasant conditions. No billing, no on-call. Short shifts. Perfect for semi-retired or someone looking for a little extra work. Locations in Vallejo and San Francisco. Please call 415-447-4200 or email info@californiaweightclinic.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. How to submit a classified ad To submit a classified ad for SCMA News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine, contact Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491. The cost is one dollar per word.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 April 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs April 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
March 2011 Famed family medicine researcher to speak in Santa RosaPhysicians invited to Smartphone SalonSCMA cosponsoring Medicare coding courseNominations needed for SCMA electionAct now to prepare for new Tdap booster lawRSVPs needed for Legislative Day in SacramentoPhysicians invited to dinner with CMA presidentPEOPLERESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMAFamed family medicine researcher to speak in Santa Rosa Dr. William Miller, a well-known researcher and consulting editor for the Annals of Family Medicine, will speak at the new Vista Family Health Center in Santa Rosa on Wednesday evening, March 23. He will discuss current research on practice development and patient centered medical homes. The event, which begins at 6 p.m., will also include presentation of the Sonoma Family Physician of the Year award. The winner will be announced at the meeting. Light refreshments will be served, and guests are welcome to attend. There is no charge. To RSVP, contact the California Academy of Family Physicians at cafp@familydocs.org or 415-345-8667. The health center is located at 3569 Round Barn Circle in northeast Santa Rosa.Physicians invited to Smartphone Salon Local physicians interested in improving their use of smartphones in clinical practice are invited to an informal Smartphone Salon in Santa Rosa on Thursday evening, March 24. The salon runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and participants are free to come late or leave early. Topics include best new medical apps for specialty care and HIPAA-compliant communication among physicians via smartphone. A “beginner’s corner” for doctors new to smartphones will also be available. To RSVP and receive the location, contact Dr. Rachel Friedman at rscfriedman@gmail.com.SCMA cosponsoring Medicare coding course In partnership with the Practice Management Institute, SCMA is cosponsoring “Coding and Medicare Updates 2011,” a three-hour course that focuses on sweeping changes affecting your 2011 Medicare reimbursements. Participants will review major changes for 2011 coding, learn how to improve claim accuracy, and maximize reimbursement opportunities with Medicare incentive programs. The course will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 15, at the Fountaingrove Inn, 101 Fountaingrove Parkway, Santa Rosa. Cost is $105 for SCMA members and their staff and $165 for nonmembers. To purchase tickets, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 525-4375 or rachel@scma.org.Nominations needed for SCMA election In preparation for the upcoming SCMA election, all members are urged to submit nominations for leadership positions by March 18. Nominees must be SCMA members in good standing. Nominations are requested for the following positions: • SCMA president-elect • Individual SCMA board representatives from Petaluma, Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa • Two CMA delegates • Two CMA alternate delegates All positions require a three-year commitment, beginning July 1. Nominations can be e-mailed to cynthia@scma.org, faxed to 525-4328, or mailed to SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Each nomination should include a brief statement about the nominee’s qualifications. For more details, contact Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or 525-4375.Act now to prepare for new Tdap booster law Under a new law, all California students in grades 7-12 will need proof of a Tdap booster shot before starting school next fall. Act now to ensure your adolescent patients are protected against the ongoing threat of pertussis by taking the following steps: View the free one-hour CME webcast, “Shots For School: Clinicians’ Role in California’s New Tdap Requirement,” available at www.uctv.tv/capertussis/. Send reminder and recall phone calls and notices to your patients who have not yet received a Tdap booster, including those who have received a dose of Td but not Tdap. Order enough Tdap vaccine to immunize your patients affected by the new law. Before ordering, ensure you have adequate storage in your vaccine refrigerator for your orders. In many clinics, multiple orders will be indicated. Immunize with Tdap now at every opportunity, including sports physicals and visits for mild illness or injury, and give other recommended immunizations: meningococcal conjugate, HPV, influenza, and any catch-up doses of varicella, MMR, and hepatitis B. Provide clear and accurate documentation about Tdap immunization for your patients and their schools. Vaccines have similar names and abbreviations, e.g., Tdap, Td, DTaP, DT—which can be confusing to school staff who will be keeping records for the new law. If you use the California Immunization Registry, consider printing out a copy of the Blue Card after Tdap has been given for the student to take to school. Have parents check with their child’s school about how they should provide the Tdap documentation. Post downloadable electronic banners on your practice’s website and in electronic newsletters to help notify your patients. For additional information on the new Tdap school requirement, visit www.ShotsForSchool.org.RSVPs needed for Legislative Day in Sacramento Local physicians interested in attending CMA’s free Legislative Leadership Conference in Sacramento on April 5 should RSVP by March 31. SCMA will be renting a van to travel to Sacramento, so reservations are requested. The annual conference, which last year drew more than 400 physicians and CMA Alliance members, allows doctors to meet with legislators and express their views on pending health legislation. The conference also includes a morning session featuring speakers from across the political spectrum. To RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 525-4375 or rachel@scma.org.Physicians invited to dinner with CMA president All North Bay physicians and their spouse or guest are invited to the Marin Medical Society’s spring membership dinner on April 12, featuring CMA President Dr. James Hinsdale, a Marin County trauma surgeon. The dinner, to be held at the Servino Ristorante in Tiburon, begins with a social hour at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 7. Tickets are just $45 per person. Dinner choices include petrale sole, flank steak and vegetarian pasta. To purchase tickets and indicate your dinner choice, contact Ashleigh Strasheim at 415-924-3891 or ashleigh@marinmedicalsociety.org.PEOPLE Dr. Roger Barron, an allergist in Sonoma County for more than 30 years, has retired. His longtime partner, Dr. Michael Martin, will continue to see their patients. Reflecting on his long career, Barron noted that his favorite part was “Having the opportunity to take care of so many wonderful patients and work with terrific colleagues.” He devoted much of his career to teaching patients and their families how to understand, manage and control asthma. In addition to founding the Redwood Empire Chapter of the Allergy & Asthma Foundation of America, he was president of the California Society of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. He and his wife, Peggy, will continue to live in Santa Rosa and to volunteer for Global Partners, a nonprofit organization based in Rohnert Park that funds medical, agricultural and scholastic projects in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. In late February, Santa Rosa cardiologist Dr. Sanjay Dhar performed a coronary angiogram by threading a cardiac catheter through the radial artery in a patient’s wrist—the first time such a procedure has been used in Sonoma County. The traditional approach is via the femoral artery, accessed through the groin. Dhar said the new procedure is widely used in Europe and Asia but has yet to catch on in the United States. Advantages include faster recovery, less bleeding and more patient comfort. “The convenience for patients is awesome,” observed Dhar. “Recovery is very rapid with this new approach.” Dr. Arnold Honick, a board-certified radiologist and family physician, has joined the staff at Sutter Pacific Women’s Health Center in Santa Rosa. He specializes in breast imaging and will provide a range of screening procedures. Honick was previously director of breast imaging at Inland Imaging in Seattle. He holds an MD from Georgetown University. Dr. Michael Star, a Santa Rosa orthopaedic surgeon, has been named director of the new Back and Neck Care Program at Santa Rosa Orthopaedics. The programs features a team approach to the prevention and treatment of back and neck problems.RESOURCES The 18th annual HIV/AIDS Review runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on March 12 at the Hilton Hotel, 3555 Round Barn Blvd., in Santa Rosa. This educational seminar, sponsored by the North Coast Area AIDS Education & Training Center, includes breakfast, lunch and 6 units of AMA PRA Category 1 credits. Cost is just $45. To register, call 527-6223. Palm Drive Hospital has begun offering weekly CME grand rounds with local pulmonologist Dr. James Gude. The rounds, valid for one hour of Category 1 credit, are presented every Wednesday morning from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Solomon Telemedicine Hub at the hospital, located at 501 Petaluma Ave. in Sebastopol. Cases from rural ICUs in Northern California are presented via robotic telemedicine. For more information, contact Jeff Dunbar at 326-5855 or jeff.dunbar@offsitecare.com. Physicians considering switching to electronic medical records can estimate savings and return on investment (ROI) by using the ROI Calculator, a new resource from CMA. To use the free calculator, visit www.cmanet.org/roi and answer a few basic questions about your practice. You will then be able to estimate your administrative savings, how much you qualify for in federal incentive payments, and what the overall ROI would be for converting to electronic health records. A complete schedule of CMA webinars for 2011 is available at www.scma.org/resources. These popular bimonthly programs cover all aspects of medical practice and are free to SCMA members. The webinars usually run from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., but some feature evening sessions from 6 to 7 p.m. Upcoming topics include: • March 16: Key financial ratios to increase profitability • April 6: Coding for medical necessity and quality care To register, visit www.cmanet.org/calendar or call 800-786-4262. Nonprofit health organizations in Sonoma County are encouraged to apply for Community Grants from the Pacific Foundation for Medical Care. The grants, generally in the $10,000 range, are awarded twice a year by the nonprofit foundation to support local projects that enhance health services. The application deadline for the next round of grants is April 2. For application materials, contact Kathy Pass at 525-4281 or kpass@rhs.org. For more information, visit www.pfmc.org.APPLICANTS Seena Davies, MD, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4104, Fax 393-4146, seenadavies@yahoo.com, Michigan State Univ 2003 Sahar Ghassemi, MD, Gastroenterology*, Internal Medicine*, Endoscopic Ultrasound, 1210 Sonoma Ave. #B, Santa Rosa 95405, 544-5093, Fax 528-8444, sghassemi@dhco.pro, Rush Med Coll 2001 * board certifiedCLASSIFIEDS Physician wanted Physician wanted for ethical medical weight control. Part time. Pleasant conditions. No billing, no on-call. Short shifts. Perfect for semi-retired or someone looking for a little extra work. Locations in Vallejo and San Francisco. Please call 415-447-4200 or email info@californiaweightclinic.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. How to submit a classified ad To submit a classified ad for SCMA News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine, contact Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491. The cost is one dollar per word.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 March 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs March 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
February 2011 CMA pushing for improvements to Affordable Care ActPreteen Vaccine Week begins Feb. 13Health Careers Scholarship deadline is Feb. 28Marin County seeking new Public Health OfficerEven busy doctors can join the iWALK ChallengePEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMACMA pushing for improvements to Affordable Care ActBy CMA Vice President Elizabeth McNeil Note: The following story is excerpted from Ms. McNeil’s Jan. 28 report to the CMA Board of Trustees. On Jan. 19, the House of Representatives passed HR 2, legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but the measure is not expected to pass the Senate nor gain the support of the White House. CMA did not take a specific position on HR 2. In fact, none of the major national health care organizations took a position on HR 2. CMA will be working vigorously to pursue improvements to the ACA, such as eliminating the IPAB (the non-elected board given broad new authority to govern Medicare), repeal of the Medicare SGR payment formula, increases in Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, augmenting graduate medical education, and improvements to quality reporting programs. CMA will continue to support provisions of the ACA that reform the abuses of the for-profit insurance industry, such as ending rescissions and coverage denials for pre-existing conditions, as well as forcing insurers to dedicate at least 80% of their revenue to direct patient care. While a full repeal of the ACA is not expected to be successful, many predict that Congress will adopt some changes to the law on a bipartisan basis. For instance, both Democrats and Republicans have agreed to eliminate the Form 1099 new reporting requirement that requires businesses, including physician offices, to report certain payments. AMA, CMA and the federation will be pushing legislation (The Medicare Patient Empowerment Act) to allow physicians to privately contract with Medicare patients. CMA was actively involved in crafting the bill, and several Republican leaders appear to be interested in introducing the legislation. The AMA and many other state medical associations are pushing for federal medical liability reform that mirrors the successful laws in California and Texas. There will be several liability bills introduced and moved through the House, but passage of liability reform will be much more difficult in the Senate. CMA’s first priority will be to protect MICRA to ensure that federal law does not weaken California law. Preteen Vaccine Week begins Feb. 13This year’s Preteen Vaccine Week begins shortly before Valentine’s Day, a fitting reminder of the need for vaccinations amid an outbreak of kissing. The goal of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness of the new Tdap vaccine requirement for incoming students in grades 7-12, also known as “The New Rule: Shots Before School.” All students in those grades will need proof of a Tdap booster shot before starting public or private school in the fall. In addition to Tdap, the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that 11- and 12-year-olds receive meningococcal, varicella, HPV and annual flu vaccines. Complete details about Preteen Vaccine Week, including brochures, posters and multilingual materials, can be found on the California Department of Public Health website at www.cdph.ca.gov.Health Careers Scholarship deadline is Feb. 28Do you know a high school, college or reentry student who’s interested in pursuing a medical career? If so, encourage them to apply for a Health Careers Scholarship sponsored by SCMA and the SCMA Alliance. The application deadline for the scholarships, which are administered by the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, is Feb. 28. Applications are available at www.sonomacf.org. Children of physicians are not eligible for the scholarships. Applications are reviewed by the SCMA Health Careers Scholarship Committee, which is co-chaired by Virginia Merwin and Dr. Jackie Senter. Last year the committee awarded $24,000 in scholarships to a dozen students, and this year even more money will be awarded, thanks in part to a $10,000 grant from the Pacific Foundation for Medical Care. For more details, visit the SCMA Alliance website at www.scmaa.org or contact Virginia Merwin at vmerwin@earthlink.net or 321-4558.Marin County seeking new Public Health OfficerMarin County is seeking a new Public Health Officer to replace Dr. Fred Schwartz, who has retired. The filing deadline is Feb. 4, so time is of the essence. The Officer plans, organizes and directs public health programs, and enforces public health laws and regulations. Responsibilities include serving as county spokesperson on public health issues, advocating for disease prevention and health promotion, and developing public health policy. Salary range is $166,000 to $201,000 per year. Application forms and instructions are available at www.co.marin.ca.us/jobs. Physicians with questions or suggestions should contact HHS Director Dr. Larry Meredith at lmeredith@co.marin.ca.us or 415-499-6924.Even busy doctors can join the iWALK ChallengeEven if you’re a busy doctor, the iWALK Challenge could motivate you to step away from the computer and get some exercise. All you have to do to participate in this 90-day event is to commit to getting at least 150 minutes of exercise each week. That's just 30 minutes a day, five days a week. The iWALK Challenge begins Feb. 7 and walks, runs, swims or hikes until May 7. It’s 90 days of making exercise a priority. Do what you enjoy. You can go it alone or recruit your colleagues to join the movement. To register, visit www.iwalksonoma.org and click on the iWALK Challenge button. There you can download the Personal Fitness Tracker to keep track of your minutes, and you'll also be entered in a weekly drawing to win cool iWALK stuff and Sonoma County Parks passes. SCMA is a community partner in the iWALK project.PEOPLEFamily physician Dr. Doug Pile, a fixture in the Healdsburg medical community since 1974, has retired. The son of Santa Rosa family physician Dr. Duane Pile, he attended medical school at UC San Francisco and completed his family medicine residency at Community (now Sutter) Hospital in Santa Rosa. He was in a group practice for one year before going solo in 1975. Twenty years later, he cofounded Healdsburg Primary Care with Drs. Dave Anderson, Locke Wilson and Paul Marguglio. “Doug’s strange sense of humor endeared him to his patients,” recalled Marguglio, who gave Pile much of the credit for the continued survival of Healdsburg Primary Care. Pile, a diabetes expert, noted that his biggest accomplishment was “empowering my diabetic patients to learn about their illness, and to feel that they had control over their outcomes based on choices they could make regarding lifestyle, medication and working together with their health educator.” In retirement, he plans to continue his longstanding interests in woodworking, photography and playing the clarinet. His brother, Dr. Tim Pile, continues to practice family medicine at Kaiser Santa Rosa. SCMA President Dr. Catherine Gutfreund, a family physician at Kaiser Santa Rosa, will chair a newly formed CMA committee that will investigate strategies for strengthening the alignment between CMA and county medical societies, including SCMA. About a dozen physicians from around the state will serve on the committee, along with SCMA Executive Director Cynthia Melody and four other county medical society directors. Marin Medical Society president Dr. Peter Bretan, who has a satellite office in Sebastopol, will also serve on the committee, which is expected to make recommendations on alignment strategies and performance standards before next fall’s meeting of the CMA House of Delegates. Five more local physicians have joined the Annadel Medical Group, the physician network affiliated Santa Rosa Memorial and Petaluma Valley hospitals. Internists Drs. George Bisbee, Catherine Davis, and Robert Schaefer will have offices in the main Annadel building at 500 Doyle Park Drive in Santa Rosa. Family physicians Drs. David Sisler and Paul Umino will continue to work at 24 W. El Rose Drive in Petaluma. The fast-growing Annadel group now includes 27 primary care physicians and hospitalists.MEDICAL FACILITIESThe American College of Radiology has accredited the Breast MRI and MRI Biopsy programs at Redwood Regional Medical Group. “We are very proud to tell the community that our Breast MRI and MRI Biopsy programs have achieved this designation,” said RRMG president and radiologist Dr. Mark Popovich. RRMG is the only facility in the North Bay to have achieved the designation, which involves a thorough review of physician and staff qualifications, quality control and assurance, MR safety policies, and image quality.RESOURCESA complete schedule of CMA webinars for 2011 is available at www.scma.org/resources. These popular bimonthly programs cover all aspects of medical practice and are FREE to SCMA members. The webinars usually run from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., but some feature evening sessions from 6 to 7 p.m. Upcoming topics include: • Feb. 2: Embezzlement—Don’t be a victim • Feb. 9: How to enroll in the EHR incentive programs • March 2: E&M coding: Don’t leave money on the table To register, visit www.cmanet.org/calendar or call 800-786-4262. Palm Drive Hospital is presenting a CME on Fever of Unknown Origin from 8 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9. The presenter is Sonoma County pulmonologist Dr. James Gude, and participants will receive 1 hour of Category 1 credit. The event will be held in the hospital’s Solomon Telemedicine Hub. For more details, contact Jeff Dunbar at 326-5855 or jeff.dunbar@OffSiteCare.com. Physician leaders are encouraged to attend the IMQ/PACE Platinum Training Program for Physician Leaders, to be held March 10-12 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. The program covers the practical knowledge and skills needed to lead medical staffs and offers an interactive forum to empower physicians and reinforce learning. For more details, or to register, visit www.imq.org or call Leslie Anne Iacopi at 415-882-5167. Nonprofit health organizations in Sonoma County are encouraged to apply for Community Grants from the Pacific Foundation for Medical Care. The grants, generally in the $10,000 range, are awarded twice a year by the nonprofit foundation to support local projects that enhance health services. The application deadline for the next round of grants is April 2. For application materials, contact Kathy Pass at 525-4281 or kpass@rhs.org. For more information, visit www.pfmc.org. Physicians who enjoy flying planes are invited to attend an Electric Aircraft Symposium in Santa Rosa on April 29-30. The event, sponsored by the Santa Rosa-based Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency (CAFE) Foundation, features presentations by scientists from NASA and Lawrence Livermore Lab, among others. For more details, or to register, visit cafefoundation.org.APPLICANTSRuchi Arora, MD, Family Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4443, Fax 393-4866, Ruchi.x.arora@kp.org, Gandhi Med Coll 1997 Raymond Conway III, MD, Vascular & Interventional Radiology, Diagnostic Radiology*, 121 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa 95405, 546-4062, Fax 525-4097, rconway@rrmginc.com, Jefferson Med Coll 2003 Paul Doemeny, MD, Diagnostic Radiology*, 121 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa 95405, 546-4062, Fax 525-4097, pdoemeny@rrmginc.com, Georgetown Univ 2003 Ernesto Morales, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery, 1144 Sonoma Ave. #109, Santa Rosa 95405, 544-7077, Fax 544-7309, ejmoralesmd@sbcglobal.net, Univ Nicaragua 1955 Raymond Severt, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery*, Surgery of the Hand*, 131B Stony Cir. #2000, Santa Rosa 95401, 546-1922, Fax 578-5578, UC Los Angeles 1986 Steven Smith, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery*, 121 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa 95405, 525-6620, Fax 546-2309, ssmith@rrmginc.com, Washington Univ 1980 Thomas Warr, MD, Internal Medicine*, Medical Oncology*, Hematology*, 1312 Prentice Dr., Healdsburg 95448, 433-3383 Fax 433-7210, twarr@nscd.org, Vanderbilt Univ 1981 * board certifiedCLASSIFIEDSPhysician wanted Physician wanted for ethical medical weight control. Part time. Pleasant conditions. No billing, no on-call. Short shifts. Perfect for semi-retired or someone looking for a little extra work. Locations in Vallejo and San Francisco. Please call 415-447-4200 or email info@californiaweightclinic.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. How to submit a classified ad To submit a classified ad for SCMA News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine, contact Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491. The cost is one dollar per word.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. © SCMA 2011 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 February 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs February 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
January 2011 Survey: 20% of county’s primary care doctors plan to retire by 2015Public Health Update: flu vaccines, new pertussis lawWanted: 100 iWALK employersOffice of Administrative Law rejects regulations for discount health plansGov. Brown's proposed budget would cut health and human servicesPEOPLERESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMASurvey: 20% of county’s primary care doctors plan to retire by 2015 One in five local primary care physicians plans to retire during the next five years, according to a comprehensive survey released on Jan. 10 by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. “Even as demand for primary care increases with the growth and aging of our population,” said Public Health Officer Mary Maddux-González, MD, “many primary care physicians are approaching retirement and fewer medical students—the next generation of physicians—are entering primary care.” The survey, which had a 100% response rate from local primary care physicians, was conducted during the summer and fall of 2010. Cosponsors included Health Action, the Redwood Community Health Coalition and SCMA. An article about the survey appears in the current issue of Sonoma Medicine, available at www.scma.org/magazine. The complete report can be found at www.sonoma-county.org/health/ph/data. The survey measured both physician and practice characteristics. Among the key findings: • Of the 1,071 physicians in Sonoma County, 46% are primary care physicians (PCPs)—a much higher percentage than the rest of California, where only 34% of physicians are PCPs. • About two-thirds of local PCPs are family physicians. The rest are general internists, pediatricians and geriatricians. • Almost half the local PCPs (47%) are female, again a much higher percentage than the rest of California. • Almost half the local PCPs (45%) are older than 55. • Only 4% of local physicians are Latino, but Latinos comprise nearly one-fourth of the local population and 42% of its births. • More than two-thirds of local PCPs (68%) work in large or very large practices, such as Kaiser, Sutter and community health centers. Ten percent work in medium-sized practices, and 22% are in solo or small practices. • More than three-fourths of local PCPs (76%) use electronic health records. Survey results have already been submitted to the federal government, which will use them to identify any Health Professional Shortage Areas in the county. Results will also be used to assess local primary care capacity.Public Health Update: flu vaccines, new pertussis law By Deputy Public Health Officer Mark Netherda, MD Although influenza activity has been low in Sonoma County and nationally so far this flu season, reported cases have increased in the past several weeks. Flu season in Northern California typically peaks during January and February, so more cases are anticipated in the coming weeks. Clinicians are encouraged to keep vaccinating throughout the flu season—it is never too late to vaccinate. Handy CDC references regarding testing, treatment and prevention of influenza during the 2010-11 flu season are listed below. • Guidance for clinicians on the use of rapid influenza diagnostic tests.www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/diagnosis/clinician_guidance_ridt.htm • Antiviral drugs for seasonal flu.www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/antiviral.htm • Interim guidance on the use of influenza antiviral agents.www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/guidance/ • Influenza antiviral drug resistance.www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/antiviralresistance.htm • Seasonal flu vaccine safety and pregnant women.www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/qa_vacpregnant.htm • Updated recommendations for obstetric health care providers.www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/avrec_ob2011.htm Under a new law (AB 354), California middle and high school students must be vaccinated against pertussis. Beginning July 1, all students entering 7th through 12th grades in both public and private schools will be required to show proof of receiving a Tdap booster vaccination before starting school. Many families are unaware of this new law and will need to be encouraged by their clinicians to get their children vaccinated ahead of the July 1 deadline. No vaccine shortage is anticipated, but physicians and parents are urged to vaccinate ASAP to avoid a potential backlog of children needing immunizations. “With more than 7,800 confirmed cases and the deaths of 10 infants [in 2010], California experienced its worst outbreak of Pertussis in more than 50 years," said California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Mark Horton. "Protecting the health of California’s youth is one of our most urgent priorities. This new legislation will help us achieve our goal.” For more information, visit www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Documents/EarlyAlertToProviders-AB354.pdf.Wanted: 100 iWALK employers Physicians are always telling patients to get more exercise, but what about their own staff? Now doctors can walk the talk by becoming iWALK employers and promoting a culture of fitness in the workplace. Any doctor’s office in Sonoma County can sign up for iWALK by visiting www.iwalksonoma.org/iWALKEmployer. The goal is for employees to get at least 150 minutes of walking or other exercise per week. Employers can organize weekly walking groups or sign up for the iWALK Challenge, a 90-day effort that culminates in the Human Race on May 7. More details are available at www.iwalksonoma.org. iWALK, which is cosponsored by SCMA, is the exercise initiative within Health Action, a coordinated effort to combat obesity and other health problems in Sonoma County.Office of Administrative Law rejects regulations for discount health plans The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has rejected regulations that would have legitimized “discount health plan” referral services. CMA vigorously fought these regulations, and has opposed a number of legislative attempts to legitimize these illegal referral services. The Department of Managed Health Care proposed the regulations in February 2010, but OAL sided with CMA, ruling that the regulations are inconsistent with an opinion issued by the California Attorney General that concluded discount health plans are illegal. Discount health plans charge patients a monthly membership fee in exchange for a list of physicians whose services they can supposedly access at a discounted rate. The promised discounts are often illusory, and the physicians are often listed without their consent or knowledge.Gov. Brown's proposed budget would cut health and human services Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2011-12 budget proposal includes major cuts to health care, in an attempt to close a projected $25.4 billion shortfall. The proposal would close the deficit through a mix of spending cuts, revenue increases, and other solutions (such as taking money from special funds). The spending cuts total $12.5 billion, with $1.7 billion slashed from Medi-Cal alone. Of particular interest to physicians are proposals to: • Cut Medi-cal provider rates by 10% ($720 million) • Control Medi-Cal utilization ($217 million) • Impose Medi-Cal copayments ($557 million) • Contain costs in the Healthy Families program ($39 million) Medi-Cal currently covers 7.7 million Californians and is expected to add up to 2 million more after full implementation of federal health reform. Even at current rates, most physicians lose money treating Medi-Cal patients. As a result, it is nearly impossible to find physicians accepting new Medi-Cal patients in certain specialties. When Medi-Cal patients can’t find a doctor, many will end up in the emergency room, the most costly and least efficient venue for receiving treatment. “With California's Medi-Cal rates already among the lowest in the nation, California's health care safety net cannot sustain these drastic cuts,” said CMA President Dr. James Hinsdale. “CMA will continue to fight for physicians and work to preserve access to care for California's low-income populations.”PEOPLE A front-page profile of former SCMA president Dr. Leonard Klay in the Jan. 3 Press Democrat described the many accomplishments of his long career, including delivering more than 7,000 babies, serving as a plaintiff in the successful RICO lawsuit against health insurers, and winning the 2010 Plessner Award from CMA. The full text of the article is available at www.pressdemocrat.com. Orthopedic surgeons Dr. Briant Smith and Dr. Steven Smith have joined the Redwood Regional Medical Group. Dr. Briant Smith, who used to practice at Kaiser Santa Rosa, specializes in joint replacement. Dr. Steven Smith, formerly in private practice, specializes in adult reconstructive surgery.RESOURCES A presentation on the XMRV retrovirus and its relationship to cancer will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 17, at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, conference room B. The event is free but is only open to licensed medical professionals. RSVPs are required and should be directed to Susan Friedl at 396-5835 or susan@gordonmedical.com. The presenter is Judy Mikovits, PhD, a cell biologist. A free one-hour webinar on embezzlement will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 12:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. This CMA webinar is for physicians only; no staff members will be approved for participation. Presenter Debra Phairas, president of Practice & Liability Consultants, will discuss measures doctors can take to prevent embezzlement, which is estimated to affect one in six physicians at some point in their careers. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/calendar. Nonprofit health organizations in Sonoma County are encouraged to apply for Community Grants from the Pacific Foundation for Medical Care. The grants, generally in the $10,000 range, are awarded twice a year by the nonprofit foundation to support local projects that enhance health services. The application deadline for the next round of grants is April 2. For application materials, contact Kathy Pass at 525-4281 or kpass@rhs.org. For more information, visit www.pfmc.org. A four-day course on difficult headache patients will be held in Rancho Mirage on President’s Day Weekend, Feb. 18-21. The course is sponsored by the Diamond Headache Clinic and includes 20.5 hours of Category 1 credit. To register, visit www.dhc-fdn.org. A one-day seminar on pediatric orthopedics will take place at the Shriners Hospital in Sacramento on Saturday, March 5. The course, valid for 5 hours of Category 1 credit, includes presentations by several noted orthopedic surgeons. To register, contact 916-453-2041 or ncal.education@shrinenet.org. The latest issue of CMA Practice Resources includes articles on EOB disclosures, timely access regulations and Blue Cross contract amendments. For a free subscription, visit www.cmanet.org/news/cpr. The OMSS Advocate is a quarterly newsletter for members of the CMA Organized Medical Staff Section. To read the current issue, visit www.cmanet.org/news.APPLICANTS George Bisbee, MD, Internal Medicine*, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #G04, Santa Rosa 95405, 303-8344, Fax 303-8345, Univ Iowa 1970 Catherine Davis, MD, Internal Medicine*, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #303, Santa Rosa 95405, 303-8300, Fax 303-8301, UC Los Angeles 1989 Hong Luo, MD, Anatomic & Clinical Pathology*, Gyn Pathology, PO Box 1676, Sebastopol 95473, 829-5883, Fax 829-5895, Tianjin Med Univ 1988 Robert Schaefer, MD, Internal Medicine*, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #G03, Santa Rosa 95405, 303-8344, Fax 303-8345, Pritzer Univ 1969 Seema Shah, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #103, Santa Rosa 95403, 579-1102, Fax 579-1386, Jefferson Med Coll 2002 David Sisler, MD, Family Medicine*, 24 W. El Rose Dr., Petaluma 94952, 763-9891, Fax 762-2311, Univ Minnesota Paul Umino, MD, Family Medicine, 24 W. El Rose Dr., Petaluma 94952 , 763-9891, Fax 762-2311, Creighton Univ 1970CLASSIFIEDS Office Space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. How to submit a classified ad To submit a classified ad for SCMA News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine, contact Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491. The cost is one dollar per word.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. © SCMA 2011 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 January 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs January 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
