September 2010 Dr. Leonard Klay wins Plessner Award from CMASCMA moves to new office; Open House on Oct. 27Blue Shield pulls out of Healthy Families in Sonoma and 14 other countiesRegistration still open for Latino Health Forum on Oct. 7Former Surgeon General to speak on Oct. 28What you need to know about ACOs and Medical FoundationsCMA offers free subscriptions to Practice Resources newsletterPEOPLEHOSPITAL/CLINIC UPDATESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMADr. Leonard Klay wins Plessner Award from CMA Former SCMA President Leonard Klay, MD, has won the 2010 Frederick Plessner Memorial Award, a prestigious honor granted each year by the California Medical Association to a physician who best exemplifies the ethics and practice of a rural practitioner. Klay, who has delivered more than 7,000 babies in Sonoma County since he began practicing here in 1971, is well known throughout the county for his medical expertise, community work and political activism. Klay will receive the Plessner Award on Oct. 2 at CMA’s annual House of Delegates, an event that he has attended for many years as a delegate from SCMA. In nominating his fellow former SCMA president for the award, Dr. Richard Powers noted, “SCMA is continually challenged to find adequate words to describe Dr. Klay’s popularity and the respect bestowed on him by his patients, friends, peers, SCMA and the community.” The nomination and letters of support cited Klay’s contributions to local medicine, his treatment of all patients regardless of their ability to pay, his work at local family planning clinics, his teaching at the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, his advocacy for smoking cessation programs, and his critical role in the RICO lawsuit against for-profit insurance companies. As Public Health Officer Dr. Mary Maddux-Gonzáles observed, “Dr. Klay is an extraordinary physician who has improved the health of countless individuals, families and our county as a whole through his many years of patient care, his remarkable work in physician training and with community and environmental approaches to health improvement.” book SCMA moves to new office; Open House on Oct. 27 SCMA has moved to a new office a half-block south of its old location. The new address is 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa 95403. Staff e-mail addresses remain the same, but some phone numbers have changed. Contact information is listed below. · Cynthia Melody, Executive Director, 525-4375, cmelody@scma.org · Rachel Pandolfi, Executive Assistant, 525-4375, rachel@scma.org · Steve Osborn, Communications Director, 525-0101 (new), sosborn@scma.org · Erika Goodwin, Regional Marketing Director, 548-6491, solanomedsoc@sbcglobal.net · Fax for all staff: 525-4328 To celebrate the move, SCMA will be holding an open house for members and their spouses or guests on Wednesday, Oct. 27. Invitations are forthcoming. book Blue Shield pulls out of Healthy Families in Sonoma and 14 other counties Effective Oct. 1, Blue Shield of California will no longer provide coverage for 15,000 Healthy Families patients in Sonoma and 14 other counties across the state. Patients were notified of these changes in July and were given the opportunity to select a new plan. If they did not select a plan by the Aug. 31 deadline, they were automatically transferred to a default plan, which in Sonoma County is Anthem Blue Cross EPO. Patients have until Oct. 31 to switch to another plan if they are dissatisfied with the default plan. Details about those plans (Health Net HMO, Kaiser Permanente and Partnership HealthPlan) are available at www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov/Plans_Providers. Physicians in Sonoma County are encouraged to verify their Healthy Families patients’ coverage status before submitting claims with dates of service on or after Oct. 1. Under state “continuity of care” laws, Blue Shield must continue to provide coverage for patients if a change in coverage would interrupt an ongoing course of treatment. Patients who might qualify include, but are not limited to, women who are pregnant, children under age 3, and patients with cancer or other chronic disease who are undergoing a regimen of care. To request or inquire about a continuity of care plan, patients should call the member services number on the back of their ID card, or they can obtain a copy of Blue Shield’s Continuity of Care form in the “download forms” section at www.blueshieldca.com. All other questions should be directed to Healthy Families at 866-848-9166. book Registration still open for Latino Health Forum on Oct. 7 All local physicians are encouraged to attend the 18th annual Latino Health Forum, to be held at the Flamingo Conference Resort in Santa Rosa on Thursday, Oct. 7. The forum, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., will focus on reducing the risk of chronic disease, and will include presentations and workshops on Latino health by several local and state experts. Registration is $75 before Sept. 17 and $100 thereafter. To register, contact Wanda Tapia at 953-8532 or latinohealthforum@gmail.com. Donations are also requested to fund registration for low-income high school and college students who are pursuing medical careers. The cost of sponsoring a student is just $50. book Former Surgeon General to speak on Oct. 28 Physicians in Sonoma County are invited to attend the Oct. 28 Marin Medical Society membership dinner, which will include an address by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona. Dr. Carmona, a UCSF graduate, trauma surgeon and public health expert, is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Arizona with appointments in public health, surgery and pharmacy practice. He will speak about the role of state and local medical societies in disaster preparedness from his experience as Surgeon General. The event, to be held at the San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere, begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7. Dinner choices include pork loin, sea bass or a vegetarian entree. Tickets are $45 per person. To RSVP and identify your dinner choice, contact Jessica Whittom at jessica@marinmedicalsociety.org or 924-3891. book What you need to know about ACOs and Medical Foundations Many physicians across the state are being approached by hospital systems about joining new hospital-physician organizations. These new entities contemplate being organized either through state law as 1206(l) Medical Foundations, or through Medicare as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which were recently authorized by Congress in the federal health care reform legislation. Some physicians are concerned that hospitals are forming these organizations to exert more control over physician practices and to better position themselves financially in an environment of scarce resources. Other physicians would like to join these organizations, but need to understand their rights. And some physicians are seeking to form their own ACOs. CMA is working to help physicians navigate these negotiations with their colleagues and possibly their local hospitals, and to plan a future where physicians have financial and clinical autonomy in the Medicare program and the private marketplace. To help physicians understand their rights and options, CMA is developing educational programs and materials, including legal and financial models to help them understand how to form these organizations, practical tips to assist physicians teaming up with hospitals, and policy to guide regulatory implementation advocacy. CMA's overarching goal is to provide the best possible information to help physicians make decisions about the best practice arrangement for their specific professional situation. Below are some of the resources currently available: Webinars. CMA has launched a series of webinars on ACOs, other payment models and the health care reform law in general to help familiarize physicians with the new law and the impact it will have on their practices. Upcoming webinars are posted on www.cmanet.org/calendar. If you missed any recent webinars, they are available online for on-demand viewing. ACO/Payment Model Issue Briefs. CMA issue briefs on ACOs, medical homes and other topics can be found at www.cmanet.org/healthreform. Medical-Legal Documents. A new document explaining the 1206(l) Foundation Model has been added to CMA's online medical-legal library at www.cmanet.org/bookstore/cmaoncall. “Legal and Practical Considerations Concerning Medical Foundations” explains the legal requirements for these foundations, and practical considerations involved in the decision of whether to join one. Physician-Hospital Alignment Committee. CMA has formed a Physician-Hospital Alignment Technical Advisory Committee to advise the Board of Trustees on the development of future physician empowerment strategies, to guide CMA advocacy, and to oversee the development of documents, tools and models provided to CMA physician members. For more information, contact Samantha Pellon at 916-551-2872 or spellon@cmanet.org. book CMA offers free subscriptions to Practice Resources newsletter CMA Practice Resources, a monthly e-mail bulletin prepared by CMA’s Center for Economic Services, is full of tips and tools to help physicians and their office staff improve practice efficiency and viability. To sign up for a free subscription, visit www.cmanet.org/news/cpr. The current issue includes articles on unfair payment practices, upcoming Blue Cross policy changes, and claiming your share of the $350 million UnitedHealth settlement. If you have questions about medical economics, contact the Center for Economic Services at 888-401-5911 or economicservices@cmanet.org. book PEOPLE Four veteran Sonoma County physicians have joined or will soon join the Annadel Medical Group, along with three relative newcomers. The veterans include family physicians Drs. Gary Greensweig, Herbert Brosbe, Gary Johanson and Cynthia Morris, all of whom have practiced in Santa Rosa since at least the 1980s. The newcomers are Dr. Eki Abrams, an internist from New York City, Dr. Heather Iezza, a pediatrician from Palo Alto, and Dr. Jenny Marie Sullivan, a family physician at Kaiser Santa Rosa since 2007. The fast-growing Annadel Group, which is affiliated with St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare, now includes more than 20 local providers. Former SCMA President Heather Furnas, MD, has edited a new anthology, “The Business of Plastic Surgery,” with Dr. Joshua Korman, a professor of plastic surgery at Stanford University. The book, published by World Scientific, includes 24 articles on business aspects of plastic surgery by national experts, including physicians, lawyers and MBAs. Francisco Trilla, MD, an internist and emergency physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, has been named chief medical officer of Santa Rosa Community Health Centers. David Schneider, MD, a faculty member at the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, is giving four presentations at the upcoming Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians. His topics include a review of the thyroid, basics of heart failure, and acute coronary syndrome. Allan Bernstein, MD, a Sebastopol neurologist well known for his development of stroke care programs at local hospitals, has achieved yet more fame by stomping apples. His 14th annual Great Apple Stomp, promoted as an alternative to the Gravenstein Apple Fair, drew guests from far and wide to help Bernstein transform apples from about 40 trees on his rural property into apple juice. Bernstein noted that the juice was organic but not necessarily vegetarian because of occasional worms. Correction: An item about Jill Zechowy, MD, MS, in the August News Briefs listed an incorrect phone number. The correct number for her private practice specializing in women’s mental health is 515-6673. book HOSPITAL/CLINIC UPDATES Kaiser Santa Rosa has received a Gold Plus Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for meeting or exceeding evidence-based performance standards for stroke prevention. The award was reported in the recent “Best Hospitals” issue of US News & World Report. St. Joseph Health System plans to open an Urgent Care clinic in Windsor during November. The 4,500 square foot clinic will be open seven days a week and will offer walk-in care for urgent medical problems. Staff will include family physicians, physician assistants and nurses. St. Joseph already operates similar facilities in Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park. Sutter Health has received final approval from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to erect a $284 million hospital next to the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. The first phase of construction, which includes 80,000 square feet of medical office buildings, is scheduled to begin Oct. 1. book APPLICANTS Nicole Faro, MD, Pediatrics*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 566-5217, Fax 566-5292, nicole.m.faro@kp.org, UC Davis 2002 Derek Gong, MD, Internal Medicine*, Pediatrics*, 5900 State Farm Dr., Rohnert Park 94928, derek.p.gong@kp.org, Chicago Med Sch 1997 Sarah Gong, MD, Neurology, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 571-4255, Fax 571-3941, Chicago Med Sch 2006 Nandini Lee, MD, Psychiatry, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 571-3778, Fax 571-3799, Psychiatry, St. George’s Univ 2006 James McKeith, MD, Emergency Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4880, jmckeithmd@mac.com, Jefferson Med Coll 1992 Laurie Salameh, MD, Pediatrics*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Touro Univ 2006 * board certified book CLASSIFIEDS Two nurse consultants wanted full time One in Ukiah and one in Eureka, to provide clinical support for individuals with developmental disabilities. The successful candidates will have proven experience in clinical, wellness, advocacy and administrative responsibilities pertaining to health/well-being and will have demonstrated use of a person-centered/whole-person approach to their work. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: provide clinical consultation, support and education to agency staff, consumers, their families and community agencies/organizations; participate on interdisciplinary program planning teams; provide record/file review and interpretation of medical records; visit consumers to ensure that special health care needs are being met; help facilitate consumer access to health care services; help develop clinical policies and protocols; identify the need for specific clinical services/resources; and liaison with community agencies and organizations. The successful candidates will have knowledge of best practices in nursing, a Master’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree in nursing plus one year post-graduate experience, a current RN license and a Public Health Nursing Certificate. For more information see www.redwoodcoastrc.org. Please send letter of interest and CV to Human Resources, RCRC, 1116 Airport Park Blvd, Ukiah, CA 95482. Volunteers needed for free clinic Many patients have lost their medical insurance. The Jewish Community Free Clinic, free to all faiths, could use a little help. One volunteer shift every other month is not too little. 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. For questions, call Dr. Jerry Connell at 527-7754. To sign up for a shift, contact Deborah Roberts at deborah.roberts@sonoma.edu or 664-2945. Reimbursement specialist For faster payments and low claim rejections call Kathy for a FREE practice analysis. Revenue RN. 1-888-776-1578. www.revenuerecoverynetwork.com How to submit a classified ad To submit a classified ad for MMS News Briefs or Marin Medicine, contact Erika Goodwin at solanomedsoc@sbcglobal.net or 707-548-6491. The cost is one dollar per word. book 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 2010 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 book September 1, 2010 SCMA News Briefs September 2010 0 0 Comment Read More »
August 2010 Six resolutions from North Bay physicians advance to CMA HouseLocal doctors putting iWALK into actionNorth Bay medical societies begin administrative regionalization effortCMA offers updates on Accountable Care OrganizationsMedicare simplifies Meaningful Use requirements for EHRsPOLST kit now available in SpanishPEOPLEHOSPITAL/CLINIC UPDATESEVENTSAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMASix resolutions from North Bay physicians advance to CMA House Six resolutions from North Bay physicians will be submitted to the CMA House of Delegates at its annual meeting this fall. Depending on what action the House takes, the resolutions may become part of CMA’s legislative agenda for the coming year. In their current form, the resolutions: · Request that CMA help local medical societies and physician group practices develop Accountable Care Organizations and/or medical foundations (Dr. Bretan). · Ask CMA to form a Technical Advisory Committee to investigate strategies for strengthening the alignment between CMA and its component medical societies (Dr. Bretan). · Recommend that CMA convene a Marijuana Technical Advisory Committee to determine the appropriate DEA Classification Schedule for marijuana (Drs. Bedard and Rogan). · Urge CMA to endorse Proposition 19, also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Marijuana Act (Drs. Bedard and Rogan). · Request that Medi-Cal cover osteopathic manipulative treatment (Drs. McCaffrey and Zaphiris). · Seek to prevent unlawful disclosure of personal health information to ERISA entities, such as insurance companies and third-party administrators (Dr. Jutila). Any CMA member is welcome to submit resolutions for consideration by the House of Delegates. Resolutions approved by the House become official CMA policy, and many are subsequently enacted into law by the state legislature. book Local doctors putting iWALK into action Sonoma County physicians have begun implementing walking programs for their patients as a way to encourage good health and prevent obesity. One example is Sonoma pediatrician Dr. Jerome Smith, who has led monthly walks for local residents for the past year. “Anyone is welcome to go,” said Smith, who said the number of participants for the Saturday morning walks has ranged from five to 30. The walks last about 45 minutes and cover two miles, often through scenic vineyards or historic sites. Like every other physician in the county, Smith received an iWALK prescription pad from SCMA earlier this summer. “I have one in my jacket pocket,” he said, noting that he’s just started to use them. “More and more families are telling me that they’re walking together as a family,” he added. “This program has really raised awareness of walking as a physical activity.” Additional copies of the iWALK prescription pads are available for download at scma.org/resources. The pads give different options for taking brisk 30-minute walks five times a week. The goal is to walk 150 minutes per week. book North Bay medical societies begin administrative regionalization effort In collaboration with CMA, medical societies in Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino, Lake, Napa and Solano counties have begun an administrative regionalization effort to streamline operational systems and realize greater efficiencies. Most notably CMA is pooling its employees with county medical society staff to optimize payroll services and produce significant savings through an Administrative Services Agreement. In addition, administrative regionalization will allow the county medical societies to share an online database and computer network to better utilize existing staff and increase administrative capacity. Many outsourced services will be brought in-house, eliminating redundancies and improving collaboration between the various North Bay medical societies. As part of the regionalization effort, SCMA has hired Erika Goodwin as a part-time advertising representative. Goodwin, who also works for the Napa and Solano medical societies, will sell display and classified advertising for both Sonoma Medicine and Marin Medicine magazines, as well as the News Briefs newsletters and the annual county physician directories. Physicians and others interested in placing display or classified ads in North Bay publications should contact Goodwin at 707-548-6491 or solanomedsoc@sbcglobal.net. book CMA offers updates on Accountable Care Organizations CMA has begun distributing information on Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), a component of the new health reform legislation that is intended to encourage greater coordination of care under Medicare. An ACO is a collection of physicians who join together to coordinate care, share clinical information and report on quality measures. An initial CMA document, “The Basics About ACOs,” has been posted at scma.org/resources. Sample questions and answers appear below. Why create an ACO? ACOs that meet spending benchmarks will receive bonus payments. These payments will be based on the percent of Medicare Part A hospital savings and Part B physician savings in the community served by the ACO. The idea behind the policy is that greater coordination will improve quality of care, prevent costly hospital visits and ultimately produce a more cost-effective health care system. What is allowed to be an ACO? ACOs can be networks of individual physician practices, such as solo and small group physicians; an Independent Provider Association (IPA) or a large medical group; or a fully integrated physician-hospital system, but an ACO does not have to involve a hospital. Most IPAs, medical groups and physician organizations would qualify as ACOs as they currently exist. How do you set up an ACO? That is still to be determined. The health care reform bill only provides general terms for the creation of ACOs. Before ACOs are actually implemented, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will issue detailed regulatory guidelines. Where can I get more information about ACOs? CMA will be providing regular updates, as regulations take shape, and offer members legal and administrative guidance on how to set up and qualify as an ACO. Sign up at legalinfo@cmanet.org. book Medicare simplifies Meaningful Use requirements for EHRs In response to comments from CMA and others, Medicare has greatly simplified the Meaningful Use criteria for electronic health record systems. The final EHR rule, released by Medicare in July, also gives physicians more flexibility to choose measures that apply to their specialty. In addition, there are protections for physicians practicing in areas lacking health information technology (HIT) infrastructure, such as health information exchanges and immunization registries. A summary of the final Meaningful Use rule is available in the HIT resource center at cmanet.org/hit. book POLST kit now available in Spanish Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) last year became a legally recognized document, similar to the widely used “do not resuscitate” (DNR) orders. The POLST form, used for patients with a serious illness or whose life expectancy is a year or less, outlines a plan of care reflecting the patient’s wishes concerning medical treatment and interventions at life’s end. The POLST form complements an advance directive by turning a patient’s treatment preferences into actionable medical orders. CMA’s POLST kit includes legal forms and wallet identification cards, and answers frequently asked questions about end-of-life issues. The kits are available in both English and Spanish and can be purchased from CMA’s online bookstore at cmanet.org/bookstore. Single copies are $5 for members or $6 for nonmembers. Significant discounts are available on bulk purchases. Order 10 kits and members pay $2.13 each. Order 100 and pay just $1.53 per kit. (To receive your member discount, be sure to log in before you place the items in your shopping cart.) For more details, contact Samantha Pellon at 916-551-2872 or spellon@cmanet.org. book PEOPLE In a July 26 interview with the North Bay Business Journal, SCMA President Catherine Gutfreund, MD, discusses a range of issues affecting physicians in Sonoma County, from low Medicare reimbursement rates to immunization challenges. Publication of the interview in the Business Journal—which has a print circulation of almost 9,000 as well as many online readers—enhances the visibility of the medical association and its leadership team. The Summer issue of Sonoma Medicine also includes an interview with Dr. Gutfreund. The Sebastopol Community Health Center has announced that general surgeon Allan Hill, MD, will be joining their staff on a part-time basis. The health center is also negotiating with an orthopaedic surgeon to join their staff, and hopes to attract a cardiologist, psychiatrist and neurologist in the coming months. The addition of specialists is part of a growing trend to improve specialty access for health center patients on a permanent basis. Jill Zechowy, MD, a faculty member at the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, has opened a private practice specializing in women’s mental health. Her services include counseling, patient education and psychopharmacologic management. Her office is located at 725 College Ave. in Santa Rosa. For more information, call 515-4473 or visit womensmentalhealthmd.com. Novato urologist Peter Bretan, MD, president of the Marin Medical Society, has opened a satellite office at the Palm Drive Medical Center, 6800 Palm Ave. #D, Sebastopol. Bretan is a kidney transplant surgeon and also maintains a general urology practice. His phone is 415-892-0904. Five of the 12 graduates of the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency have accepted employment offers in Sonoma County. Drs. Veronica Jordan, Rebecca Katz, Nicole Mohlman, Michele Reynolds and Elise Sullivan will be working at community health centers in Petaluma, Sebastopol and Sonoma. Four other graduates are still in the county, and only three have left. The high retention rate for this year’s class offers another encouraging sign that physicians who train in the residency are deciding to stay. book HOSPITAL/CLINIC UPDATES Sonoma Valley Hospital may soon be treating acute-care patients from Napa State Hospital, pending the outcome of negotiations between the two entities. The influx of patients from the state facility could increase Sonoma Valley’s patient volume by 10% and bring additional revenue. Sonoma Valley is also negotiating with the Marin Healthcare District about a possible partnership. The West County Health Centers will be holding a 37th birthday celebration and open house from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 13, at the Russian River Health Center, 16319 Third St., in Guerneville. All local physicians are invited to attend the event, which will celebrate the growth of the health centers from a single clinic to a network of five health centers across the west county serving 12,000 patients. To RSVP for the open house, call 869-5977, Ext. 3313. book EVENTS Save the date: North Bay membership dinner on Oct. 28 Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona is the featured speaker at the combined North Bay medical societies’ membership dinner on Thursday, Oct. 28. The event, to be held at the San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere, begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7. Dr. Carmona, a highly respected trauma surgeon and public health expert, served as surgeon general from 2002 to 2006. He will speak about the role of state and local medical societies in disaster preparedness. Save the date: Medical volunteers honored on Nov. 18 A celebration of medical volunteers for Operation Access and the Specialty Access Coalition will be held in Novato on Thursday evening, Nov. 18. The event—which includes wine, hors d’oeuvres, music and mingling—will recognize medical volunteers in Sonoma and Marin counties. Invitations are forthcoming. book APPLICANTS Pankaj Arora, MD, Internal Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-2589, Fax 393-2163, pankaj.x.arora@kp.org, Gandhi Med Coll 1997 Roberto Azcarraga, MD, Family Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4300, Fax 393-4558, roberto.r.azcarraga@kp.org, UC San Francisco 1993 Christine Kaiser, MD, Internal Medicine*, Pediatrics*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4008, Fax 393-4775, christine.c.kaiser@kp.org, Univ Minnesota 2002 Samer Kanaan, MD, Surgery*, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #303, Santa Rosa 95405, 251-1850, Fax 226-1502, Northwestern Univ 1997 * board certified book CLASSIFIEDS Office space Small suite available for reasonable rent. Reception and three rooms, southeast Santa Rosa. Call Connie, 707-525-0211. Reimbursement specialist Need help with office inefficiencies? Revenue RN provides outsourced billing, coding and revenue cycle services: www.revenuerecoverynetwork.com. How to submit a classified ad To submit a classified ad for MMS News Briefs or Marin Medicine, contact Erika Goodwin at solanomedsoc@sbcglobal.net or 707-548-6491. The cost is one dollar per word. book 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 2010 3033 Cleveland Ave. #104 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 book August 1, 2010 SCMA News Briefs August 2010 0 0 Comment Read More »
July 2010 Public Health urges physicians to increase pertussis vaccinationsSCMA Survey: Local doctors still favor public option and single payerRep. Thompson honored by North Bay physiciansDr. Gutfreund begins term as SCMA presidentSix-month Medicare patch takes effectTwelve new physicians begin residency training in Santa RosaPhysician volunteers needed for Neighbors in Health on Aug. 1Doctors need to verify their Medicare PECOS enrollmentMBC signage requirements now in effectSave the date: North Bay membership dinner on Oct. 28HOSPITAL/CLINIC UPDATESPEOPLECLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMATO UNSUBSCRIBEPublic Health urges physicians to increase pertussis vaccinations The California Department of Public Health is urging physicians to increase their Tdap vaccinations because of the current statewide pertussis epidemic. To protect infants who are too young to be vaccinated, anyone with potential infant contact should be immunized. CDPH is making additional Tdap vaccine available at no charge to eligible hospitals, so that they can immunize postpartum women and their close household contacts. For more information, visit www.cdph.ca.gov. Health care providers are also urged to get Tdap vaccinations to protect themselves and their patients. Effective Sept. 1, the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Disease Standard requires all hospitals, outpatient medical facilities and other employers covered by the Standard to offer Tdap immunization to their employees who may be exposed to pertussis. Employees who choose not to be vaccinated will be required to sign a declination form. Pertussis infection rates in California have increased four-fold this year, compared to the same time period in 2009. If current trends continue, the state could experience a 50-year high in pertussis cases, despite wide availability of the Tdap vaccine. So far this year, five California infants less than three months of age have died of the illness. Physicians are reminded that pertussis immunity from previous infection or vaccination wanes over time. Even fully immunized children become susceptible to pertussis by adolescence. Additionally, because pertussis vaccine for adolescents and adults was not available until 2005, immunization rates in these populations remain low. book SCMA Survey: Local doctors still favor public option and single payer Nearly 80% of Sonoma County physicians still favor the public option, and two-thirds still favor a single-payer system. Those were among the key findings of a health reform survey the SCMA sent to more than 1,000 Sonoma County doctors in May, including both members and nonmembers. Almost 200 physicians responded to the survey, which included a range of multiple-choice and open-ended questions about health reform. Neither the public option nor single payer appeared in the final health reform legislation signed by President Obama in March, but many local physicians continue to support both proposals. Sixty-two percent were strongly in favor of the public option, for example, and 16% were somewhat in favor. In contrast, only 34% were strongly in favor of the final legislation, with 39% somewhat in favor. When asked about specific aspects of the new legislation, physicians were nearly unanimous (91%) in supporting increased Medicaid pay for primary care physicians, but they had mixed feelings about the new Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board, which will regulate Medicare spending. Almost half the respondents favored the board, but about one-fourth were opposed, and one-fourth were neutral. Feelings were similarly mixed for reducing Medicare payments for certain diagnostic imaging services. Complete survey results appear in the Summer issue of Sonoma Medicine, which was mailed to SCMA members in early July. Results can also be read online at www.scma.org/magazine. book Rep. Thompson honored by North Bay physicians Congressman Mike Thompson, whose district includes several North Bay counties, received the 2010 Legacy Award at the annual CMA District 10 caucus in Santa Rosa on June 26. Thompson was honored for his efforts to promote the health and well-being of California residents. Among many accomplishments in his long career, Thompson wrote landmark legislation while serving in the California State Senate that required health insurance providers to offer all children comprehensive preventive care. Now, as chair of the Blue Dog Coalition’s health care task force, Thompson leads efforts in Congress to correct low Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians and to implement a comprehensive telemedicine initiative. CMA District 10 includes medical societies in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties, representing more than 2,300 physicians in all specialties and modes of practice. At their annual caucus, delegates from the North Bay societies vote on resolutions to be presented at the CMA House of Delegates in the fall. book Dr. Gutfreund begins term as SCMA president Catherine Gutfreund, MD, a family physician at Kaiser Santa Rosa, began her one-year term as president of SCMA on July 1. A native of the Midwest, she received her MD from the Medical College of Georgia in 1987. Before moving to Sonoma County in 2000, she worked as a primary care physician at the Wiesbaden Air Base in Germany and completed her family medicine residency at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. She was in private practice in both Santa Rosa and Sebastopol before joining Kaiser. In a wide-ranging interview in the current issue of Sonoma Medicine, Gutfreund discusses the new health reform legislation and the need for further changes. She also describes her plans to focus on women’s health and young physicians while president of SCMA. The interview can be read online at www.scma.org/magazine. book Six-month Medicare patch takes effect The new Medicare legislation signed by President Obama in June retroactively raises physician payment rates by 2.2%, effective June 1. The new rates apply only through November, however. If Congress fails to intervene, Medicare cuts mandated by the sustainable growth rate (SGR) will take effect on Dec. 1. Physicians who submitted June claims with charges less than the 2.2% update amount will need to contact their local Medicare contractor to request an adjustment. Charges on claims cannot be altered without a request from the physician or provider. CMS has directed physicians not to resubmit claims already submitted to their Medicare contractor. The new legislation does not include the California geographic payment (GPCI) fix, which would have provided $400 million so that 14 currently underpaid counties, including Sonoma, would be reimbursed based on more accurate geographic practice costs. CMA will pursue that provision in other legislation. book Twelve new physicians begin residency training in Santa Rosa A dozen graduates from the nation’s top medical schools entered the Santa Rosa Family Residency in July. Selected from more than 500 applicants, the new residents have already established impressive records in academic achievement and community service. Between them, they speak 11 different languages, and all but one are fluent in Spanish. “Health care is changing in this country, and the old models of family medicine, where a physician sits in the office and waits for patients to come to them, are outdated,” said Dr. Jeff Haney, the residency’s program director. “[We] 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.” The new residents are scheduled to graduate in 2013. If past history is any indication, many will stay in Sonoma County, where about half the family physicians currently in practice attended the residency. book Physician volunteers needed for Neighbors in Health on Aug. 1 Doctors from all specialties are encouraged to volunteer for Neighbors in Health, an annual event that provides a day of free health care to uninsured children and teenagers. Volunteers are needed for pediatric and teen clinics, and for immunizations. Slots are available for morning or afternoon shifts. The event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 1, at the Kaiser Permanente Stein Medical Campus, 3925 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa. To volunteer, visit www.unitedwaywinecountry.org/nih or call Christine Goodenough at 528-4485, Ext. 121. About two dozen physician volunteers are still needed for the event, which draws hundreds of uninsured children and teenagers from across the county. book Doctors need to verify their Medicare PECOS enrollment Physicians who have not updated their Medicare enrollment information in the past five years may need to fill out another application or risk facing payment problems for ordered or referred services. Under new rules that took effect in July, Medicare is authorized to reject claims if an ordering or referring physician is not identified in Medicare’s Internet-based PECOS enrollment system. Thousands of otherwise acceptable Medicare claims could go unpaid merely because they were submitted by providers who enrolled in Medicare before the PECOS database was developed. Don’t know if you’re in PECOS? CMA has developed a step-by-step guide to walk physicians through the process, from determining if they are already in PECOS to helping them navigate the Internet-based PECOS enrollment system. This guide is available to members at www.cmanet.org. A previously recorded PECOS enrollment webinar is also available for viewing. Nonmember physicians can call CMA at 800-786-4262 for more information. book MBC signage requirements now in effect California physicians are now required to inform their patients that they are licensed by the Medical Board of California, and to provide patients with the board’s contact information. CMA has prepared a number of resources to help physicians comply with these new regulations, including downloadable posters and customizable patient notices. The materials are available to members at www.cmanet.org. Nonmember physicians can call CMA at 800-786-4262 for more information. According to the medical board, physicians, not facilities, are responsible for compliance with this regulation. In group settings, only one sign must be posted (should that option be chosen), but it must be posted in a location where it can be seen by all patients. book Save the date: North Bay membership dinner on Oct. 28 Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona is the featured speaker at the combined North Bay medical societies’ membership dinner on Thursday, Oct. 28. The event, to be held at the San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere, begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7. Dr. Carmona, a highly respected trauma surgeon and public health expert, served as surgeon general from 2002 to 2006. He will speak about the role of state and local medical societies in disaster preparedness. book HOSPITAL/CLINIC UPDATES Sonoma Valley Hospital has hired a new CEO, Kelly Mather, the chief executive at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport for the last eight years. She replaces Carl Gerlach, who has guided Sonoma Valley into the black despite the economic downturn. Earlier this summer, the hospital signed a $23 million contract for seismic upgrades and a new wing. Petaluma Valley Hospital has cut average door-to-doctor wait times nearly in half this year. During January and February, the average was 35 minutes. That time was reduced to just 18.5 minutes in March and April. The national average is one hour, according to the CDC. “The quicker we can see patients, the quicker we can ease their suffering,” said Dr. Randeep Singh, chief of staff at PVH. The hospital recently pledged to begin care within 30 minutes or less of arrival. The American College of Radiology has designated the Redwood Regional Medical Group as a “Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.” The designation is the result of peer-review evaluations of all the breast imaging modalities offered by the medical group. RRMG is the first imaging center in Sonoma County to receive the designation. Kaiser Santa Rosa has received a “certificate of occupancy” from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development for its new hospital wing, scheduled to open this fall. The 146,000 square foot expansion will double the size of the emergency department and increase the total number of licensed beds in the hospital from 117 to 167. For the numerically inclined, the projected opening date is 10/10/10. The long approval process for the new Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa hospital may be nearing an end. The county Planning Commission has approved the environmental report for the hospital, leaving the final decision up to the Board of Supervisors in August. The new hospital, to be located near the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, must begin construction by the fall to meet various state requirements. book PEOPLE Dr. Douglas Abbott, an orthopaedic surgeon in Santa Rosa, is closing his office and joining an orthopaedic group in Oregon. Dr. Abbott’s patients will transition to Santa Rosa Orthopaedics. Dr. Brad Drexler, a Healdsburg obstetrician and gynecologist, is opening a satellite office in Santa Rosa, at Spring Creek Family Practice, 1144 Sonoma Avenue, Suite 119. The phone is 707-545-0717. Dr. Drexler has practiced in Sonoma County for 19 years and offers full ob-gyn services including high-risk obstetrics care, advanced laparoscopic surgery, infertility, tubal reversal, and gyn urology. Steve Osborn, longtime editor of Sonoma Medicine and SCMA News Briefs, is now directly employed by SCMA as its communications director. He previously worked for Redwood Health Services. The move comes as SCMA assumes responsibility for all aspects of its publications, including editorial services, graphic design and advertising. Osborn will continue to edit the magazine and newsletter, in addition to administering the SCMA website and handling public relations. His e-mail is still sosborn@scma.org, but his phone has changed to 707-540-5096. His old phone at RHS is no longer active. book CLASSIFIEDS Reimbursement specialist Need help with office inefficiencies? Revenue RN provides outsourced billing, coding and revenue cycle services: www.revenuerecoverynetwork.com. Office space Small suite available for reasonable rent. Reception and three rooms, southeast Santa Rosa. Call 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 solanomedsoc@sbcglobal.net or 707-548-6491. The cost is one dollar per word. book 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 2010 3033 Cleveland Ave. #104 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 book TO UNSUBSCRIBE You are receiving SCMA News Briefs because you are a physician or an affiliated medical professional in Sonoma County. If you wish to unsubscribe, contact Steve Osborn at sosborn@scma.org or 707-540-5096. book July 1, 2010 SCMA News Briefs July 2010 0 0 Comment Read More »
June 2010 Primary care survey could improve local Medicare reimbursementsHouse passes Medicare fix; all eyes on SenateSCMA Health Reform Survey results being compiledPublic Health issues pertussis, rabies alertsDr. Jeff Sugarman confirmed as SCMA president-electResolutions for CMA House of Delegates needed by June 26Reminder: New physician signage regulations take effect June 27FTC delays Red Flag Rule until end of yearGet to know new CEO of CMALEGAL NOTESPHYSICIANS IN THE NEWSHOSPITAL UPDATESEVENTSVOLUNTEERS NEEDEDAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMATO UNSUBSCRIBEPrimary care survey could improve local Medicare reimbursements Results of a survey being e-mailed and faxed today to all local primary care physicians could lead to enhanced Medicare reimbursements in Sonoma County. Data from the survey will be used to designate local Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Physicians who provide services in HPSAs are eligible for bonus payments from Medicare. All primary care physicians are encouraged to complete the survey, which is being conducted by SCMA and Health Action, a partnership of community leaders and organizations committed to improving the health of all Sonoma County residents. The main purpose of the 17-question survey is to assess how well physicians are meeting the primary care needs of county residents. The questions, which take only a few minutes to complete, measure primary care capacity, access, and the degree to which practices have adopted patient-centered care innovations in order to become medical homes. The deadline for returning the survey is Friday, June 11. Current, accurate information on primary care services is critical to obtaining federal funding for local physicians and the entire community. The survey is the main vehicle for obtaining such information, and the goal is 100% participation. For questions regarding the survey, contact Dr. Mary Maddux-González, Sonoma County Public Health Officer, at mmaddux@sonoma-county.org or 565-4418. book House passes Medicare fix; all eyes on Senate Despite House passage of a bill to stop Medicare SGR cuts and fix the GPCI payment formula, the Senate has left physicians in the lurch once again. This time, senators adjourned for a week-long Memorial Day Recess just as they were poised to take up the bill. As a result, the long-threatened 21% Medicare physician payment cut will go into effect June 1, and the earliest senators can consider a solution is June 7. In anticipation of the cuts, Medicare has instructed its contractors to hold physician claims for 10 business days. The hold, which will only affect claims with dates of service on or after June 1, gives Congress additional time to act before claims are processed at the lower rate. The House bill would stop the Medicare SGR (sustainable growth rate) cuts for 19 months. In lieu of the scheduled 21% cut, the bill would implement a 2.2% payment increase for the remainder of this year, and a 1% increase for 2011. The bill also includes a California GPCI (geographic practice cost index) fix, which provides $300 million so that currently underpaid counties, including Sonoma, can be reimbursed at higher rates. Because the House bill is just another short-term fix of SGR, rather than a repeal, physicians could end up facing a 33% SGR cut in 2012. "As a physician, I am outraged by Congress's inability to protect health care for senior citizens and provide stable funding for Medicare," said CMA President Dr. Brennan Cassidy. "This is a recurring nightmare for seniors and the doctors who serve this vulnerable population." CMA continues to advocate for a permanent repeal of the Medicare SGR. Congress has known for years about the inadequacies of the SGR formula, but it has not fixed the problem. CMA is lobbying Congress to replace SGR with a payment system that automatically keeps up with the cost of running a practice and is backed by a stable funding formula. Physicians are an important part of that lobbying effort. Your senators need to hear from you! Call Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer today at 800-833-6354 to let them know the impact the SGR cuts will have on your practice. You will be connected to their offices via the AMA Grass Roots Hotline. book SCMA Health Reform Survey results being compiled Results from the SCMA Health Reform Survey, designed to measure physician attitudes toward recent health reform legislation, will be compiled during June and published in the Summer issue of Sonoma Medicine. Nearly 200 local physicians—about 20% of the total number practicing in Sonoma County—responded to the survey. In addition to answering a series of multiple-choice questions, almost all respondents wrote comments in response to the open-ended questions at the end of the survey. The survey was distributed to all local physicians via e-mail and first-class mail on May 6, and it closed two weeks later, on May 21. While merging the e-mail and handwritten surveys will take some time, a few preliminary demographic results are available. The responses came from across the spectrum, with roughly equal numbers of primary care and specialist physicians. All ages were represented as well, ranging from physicians less than 40 years old to those older than 70. Likewise, all modes of practice were represented, with significant numbers of self-employed, salaried and production-based physicians. SCMA would like to thank everyone who responded to the survey. If you have any questions about the survey, contact Steve Osborn, SCMA publications director, at sosborn@scma.org or 525-4325. book Public Health issues pertussis, rabies alerts Public Health has issued two Health Alerts in recent weeks. The first, dated May 13, notes that pertussis is on the rise in Sonoma County, with 19 confirmed cases and eight probable ones so far this year, compared to only one confirmed case at this time last year. The actual number of cases is probably higher. Because pertussis is vaccine-preventable, physicians are reminded to review vaccination records with patients and families to ensure that all household members are up to date. A vaccine booster (Tdap) is now available for teens and adults and should be offered when appropriate. For more details on vaccines and treatments, visit the Public Health website at www.sonoma-county.org/health/ph/. The second alert, dated May 27, confirms that a wild fox recently killed in the Windsor area had rabies. The fox was the first animal in Sonoma County to test positive for rabies since 2008. While the rabid fox does not mean that rabies is increasing in Sonoma County, physicians should remind their patients to avoid contact with wild animals, including the county’s many feral cats. All dogs and cats, as well as some livestock, should be vaccinated against rabies, and any bites from animals should be treated promptly. For more details on rabies precautions, visit www.sonoma-county.org/health/ph/. book Dr. Jeff Sugarman confirmed as SCMA president-elect Dr. Jeff Sugarman, a Santa Rosa pediatric dermatologist, has been confirmed as SCMA president-elect by a vote of SCMA members. He will serve as president-elect from July 2010 to June 2011. The current president-elect, Dr. Catherine Gutfreund, a Santa Rosa family physician, will become president on July 1, succeeding Dr. Richard Powers. The election, which concluded May 31, also confirmed Drs. Jan Sonander and Peter Sybert for the SCMA board of directors, and Drs. Dan Lightfoot, Don Van Giesen, Clinton Lane, Katherine McNally and Richard Powers as members of the CMA delegation. book Resolutions for CMA House of Delegates needed by June 26 Resolutions for the CMA District 10 caucus are due by June 26. The caucus is the first stop on the way to the CMA House of Delegates, which meets this fall to consider resolutions from around the state. Any SCMA member can submit a resolution to Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or 525-4375, or to a member of the CMA delegation (see below). Resolutions can cover almost any aspect of medical care, including health reform, medical practice, health facilities, quality of care, medical ethics, legal issues, and public health. The CMA delegation consists of delegates and alternate delegates. The delegates are Drs. Brad Drexler, Jan Sonander, Leonard Klay, Phyllis Senter, Dan Lightfoot, Don Van Giesen, and Clinton Lane. The alternate delegates are Drs. Edward Chang, Brien Seeley, Lela Emad, Catherine Gutfreund, Katherine McNally, and Richard Powers. book Reminder: New physician signage regulations take effect June 27 California physicians will soon be required to inform patients that they are licensed by the Medical Board of California, and to provide patients with contact information for the MBC. The new regulations, which take effect June 27, require physicians to provide the MBC notice by one of three methods: · Prominently posting a sign in an area of their offices that is conspicuous to patients, in at least 48-point type in Arial font. · Including the notice in a written statement, signed and dated by the patient or patient’s representative, and kept in that patient’s file, stating the patient understands the physician is licensed and regulated by the MBC. · Including the notice in a statement on letterhead, discharge instructions, or other document given to a patient or the patient’s representative; the notice must be placed immediately above the patient’s signature line in at least 14-point type. Regardless of which method you choose, the notice must read as follows: NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: Medical doctors are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California, (800) 633-2322, www.mbc.ca.gov. According to the MBC, physicians, not facilities, are responsible for compliance with this regulation. In group settings, only one sign must be posted (should that option be chosen), but it must be posted in a location where it can be seen by all patients. A sample MBC sign is available at scma.org/resources. For more information, visit www.mbc.ca.gov. book FTC delays Red Flag Rule until end of year The Federal Trade Commission has delayed the compliance deadline for the Red Flag Rule until the end of 2010. In late May, the AMA filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to prevent the FTC from extending the Red Flag Rule to physicians. “The latest extension to the compliance date is a promising sign,” said Dr. Cecil Wilson, AMA president-elect. “We call on the FTC to exempt physicians from the rule completely.” book Get to know new CEO of CMA Golf, shyness, marriage, Bob Dylan and the future of CMA. What do they all have in common? They define CMA’s new CEO, Dustin Corcoran. The full story is contained in a 9-minute video posted on YouTube and Vimeo. For more details, contact Ron Lopp at 916-551-2042 or rlopp@cmanet.org. book LEGAL NOTES By SCMA Legal Counsel Larry McLaughlin Physicians are often asked to give testimony involving one of their patients, sometimes at a trial, but most often at a deposition. I’ve frequently given advice as to what fees a physician may charge in such a circumstance. The answer may depend on what type of witness the doctor will be, and how badly his or her testimony is needed. There are two basic types of physician witnesses: percipient and expert. An “expert” witness is one who is asked to render a present opinion about the patient. Such physicians are normally hired specifically for that purpose, and they are entitled to the fee that an expert would charge, generally a substantial one. Only a few physicians, however, are asked to give such testimony. A “percipient” witness is one who testifies only as to what they saw or did at a time in the past. An example would be a witness to an auto accident testifying about what they observed. In the “medical” sense, the percipient physician witness will be asked about the diagnosis and treatment of the patient at the time the patient was seen. A good way to imagine such testimony would be the reading of the medical record into evidence. Physicians will usually be a percipient witness. The law provides that a percipient witness can be compelled to testify for a very low statutory fee plus mileage—less than $100. In my experience, however, most attorneys will agree to compensate doctors for their actual time in preparing the testimony and attending the deposition. This payment is voluntary, and a matter of negotiation. The physician or office manager should contact the attorney’s office and come to an agreement ahead of time, and then follow it up with a letter confirming the arrangement and the details of the testimony (e.g., when, where, how long). A minimum advance fee should be requested, as doctors sometimes have trouble collecting the fee afterwards. Unfortunately, there is no “standard” fee for percipient testimony. The fee is whatever will compensate the doctor for his or her time, and possibly “what the market will bear.” In short, the fee is a matter of negotiation. In the event of an impasse, however, the physician should bear in mind that they could be forced to testify for the minimum statutory fee. Physicians with questions, or who are experiencing difficulty in recovering their fee after testifying, should contact me at 707-579-4523 or lwmclaughlin@juno.com. book PHYSICIANS IN THE NEWS Dr. James Devore, a longtime Santa Rosa family physician, has published White Coat Wrinkle, a 342-page book subtitled “The patient power guide to getting the best care from every doctor, every visit.” Co-authored with corporate consultant Debra Skinner, the book gives patients a behind-the-scenes look at how doctors practice medicine and describes the many different ways doctors communicate with their patients. It includes case studies, anecdotes and personality tests, and is intended to help patients choose the right doctors for their particular needs. book HOSPITAL UPDATES Based on results from a “return on investment calculator” devised by researchers at Harvard Medical School, the St. Joseph Mobile Health Clinic offers a return of $28 for every dollar invested in operations. The calculator is intended to measure the value of preventive services offered by mobile health programs throughout the United States. According to the device, the average return on investment is 20:1. Last year, the St. Joseph mobile clinic provided 3,734 office visits to more than 1,500 patients, with an emphasis on preventive and primary health care and education. Palm Drive Hospital is considerably smaller than Kaiser Santa Rosa, but the two are the only local hospitals to be certified as Primary Stroke Centers. Palm Drive was certified by the American Osteopathic Association in late May after demonstrating that it exceeded national standards for the treatment of stroke patients. “This means the high quality of our stroke care has been certified by a national organization, something no other small hospital in Sonoma County has achieved,” said neurologist Allan Bernstein, MD, medical director of Palm Drive’s stroke center. book EVENTS An all-day conference titled Connecting California to Improve Patient Care will be held at the Vineyard Creek Hyatt in Santa Rosa on Friday, July 9. Sponsored by Redwood MedNet, a local nonprofit health information exchange, the conference features presentations by more than a dozen regional and national experts on electronic health records, Recovery Act funding, and related topics. Cost before July 1 is $150. To register, visit redwoodmednet.org. An hour-long CMA webinar on POLST Essentials will begin at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 3. The online presentation will review the essential components of an effective Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment and discuss implementation of POLST in clinical practice. Other upcoming CMA webinars include: · “The Art of Training, Evaluating and Retaining Qualified Personnel for Today’s Medical Practice” (12:15 p.m., June 9) · “Medical Foundations, Accountable Care Organizations and the Bundling of Services” (6 p.m., June 9, and 12:15 p.m., June 15) · “Implementation of EHR: Practical Considerations” (12:15 p.m., June 22) To register for CMA webinars, visit cmanet.org/calendar. book VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Many patients have lost their medical insurance. The Jewish Community Free Clinic, free to all faiths, could use a little help. One volunteer shift every other month is not too little. 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. For questions, call Dr. Jerry Connell at 527-7754. To sign up for a shift, contact Deborah Roberts at deborah.roberts@sonoma.edu or 664-2945. Physician volunteers are needed for Neighbors in Health, an annual event that provides a day of free health care for uninsured children and teenagers. This year’s event is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 1, at Kaiser Permanente’s Stein Medical Campus, 3925 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa. Doctors are needed in the pediatric clinic, teen clinic and immunization areas. Many shift options are available. To volunteer, visit www.unitedwaywinecountry.org/nih. book APPLICANTS Bryn Duffy, MD, Internal Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4187, Fax 393-4554, brynduffy@gmail.com, Texas Tech Univ 2006 Anthony Lim, MD, Family Medicine, 3320 Chanate Rd., Santa Rosa 95404, 547-2220, Fax 303-3318, anthlim@gmail.com, Boston Univ 2010 book CLASSIFIEDS Physician consultant needed Physician Consultant needed in Ukiah 20 hours per week under contract to provide consultative and interpretive medical services related to assessments and program planning for individuals with developmental disabilities in Mendocino and Lake Counties. Responsibilities include: participate as a member of the agency’s eligibility team; provide medical consultation regarding requests for services; provide education for consumers, their supporters, agency staff and service providers; participate in various agency committees and processes; act as a liaison between the agency and the medical community; and assist with the development and advocacy of medical care for individuals with developmental disabilities in the community. There are no direct patient care responsibilities. Successful candidate will be able to perform as a team member; exercise sound clinical judgment; render timely and appropriate decisions; possess thorough follow-up skills; work independently with minimal supervision; and have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Experience in providing care for individuals with developmental disabilities, preferably in pediatrics, is desirable. Send cover letter and resume to Director of Clinical Services, 525 2nd Street, Suite 300, Eureka, CA 95501, or to pokey@redwoodcoastrc.org. Reimbursement specialist Get paid faster, save money. Claims processing, patient payment plan, help with Medicare compliance, coding. www.revenuerecoverynetwork.com. Medical office space Small suite available for reasonable rent. Three exam rooms, southeast Santa Rosa. Call Connie, 707-525-0211. How to submit a classified ad To submit a classified ad for SCMA News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine, contact Nan Perrott at nperrott@rhscommunications.com or 707-525-4226. The cost is one dollar per word. book 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 2010 3033 Cleveland Ave. #104 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 book TO UNSUBSCRIBE You are receiving SCMA News Briefs because you are a physician or an affiliated medical professional in Sonoma County. If you wish to unsubscribe, contact Steve Osborn at sosborn@scma.org or 707-525-4325. book June 1, 2010 SCMA News Briefs June 2010 0 0 Comment Read More »
