December 2013 Stat: RSVP for Awards Dinner by Nov. 27 Dr. Silver Chalfin to resign from Health Officer post Update or verify your Physician Directory listing by Dec. 15 Pay your dues by Jan. 15 and receive 5% discount Philippine Medical Society needs donations for typhoon victims SCMA Alliance Holiday Cocktail Party set for Dec. 7 Top stories from CMA Alert PEOPLE MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS RESOURCES CLASSIFIEDS APPLICANTS ABOUT SCMA Stat: RSVP for Awards Dinner by Nov. 27 The Dec. 5 SCMA Awards Dinner is just around the corner, but the RSVP deadline is even closer: Wednesday, Nov. 27. Tickets are free for SCMA members; spouses, guests and nonmembers are $50 each. Seating is limited, so time is of the essence. To RSVP, or to purchase tickets, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. Please indicate dinner choice: “duet” (chicken and fish) or stuffed portobello mushroom. The dinner, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 5, will be held at the Vintner’s Inn, 4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa. Outstanding Contribution awards will be presented to Dr. Robert Mims, a retired endocrinologist, Dr. Peter Brett, a medical oncologist, and Dr. Walt Mills, a family physician and former SCMA president. The Article of the Year award will be given to Dr. Ted Hard for “Into the Valley of Wolves,” which appeared in the Spring 2013 issue of Sonoma Medicine, and a Lifetime Achievement award will be presented to Dr. James Lowy, a longtime family physician. Finally, a special Recognition of Achievement will be bestowed upon the Northern California Center for Well-Being. For more details, click on the link below. SCMA Awards Dinner flyer Dr. Silver Chalfin to resign from Health Officer post Dr. Lynn Silver Chalfin, who became the Health Officer for Sonoma County early last year, is resigning her post in the first week of December. She will be replaced temporarily by Dr. Karen Holbrook, the current Deputy Health Officer, pending a nationwide search for a new Health Officer. In an email to the SCMA board of directors, Dr. Silver Chalfin wrote that she was leaving her post to “move on to new challenges,” but she didn’t give any specifics. She also thanked her colleagues for being such avid supporters of public health, writing, “The county is an extraordinary place, beyond its obvious physical beauty. The residents are engaged in trying to create a better community in a way I have not seen anywhere else I’ve lived. … SCMA is one example of that engagement. As a medical association, it places the well-being of the community on a par or higher than its many legitimate concerns for the well-being of the profession.” Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Silver-Chalfin served as the city’s assistant commissioner of public health fornearly a decade before moving to Sonoma County in 2012. She was actively involved in several of New York’s widely publicized health initiatives, including a trans-fat ban, a calorie labeling law for restaurants, and a salt-reduction effort. Dr. Silver Chalfin’s accomplishments in Sonoma County include mobilizing a $3.5 million community transformation grant for prevention, working to increase the healthfulness of the food supply, and launching a school-based dental sealant program. She also advanced “baby friendly” hospital policies to promote breastfeeding, launched a diabetes prevention program with the local YMCA, and required healthcare workers to get flu shots or wear a mask during flu season. Update or verify your Physician Directory listing by Dec. 15 The one-page verification form for the 2014 Sonoma County Physician Directory has been mailed to all local physicians and should be returned to SCMA by Dec. 15. The form allows doctors to update or verify their listing in the Directory, a standard reference guide used at medical offices throughout the county. Because the Directory is sold to the public and posted on the Internet, please do not list your personal phone number, home address or personal email address. SCMA strongly recommends that you list only your office phone, office address and office email. The Physician Directory, entering its 57th edition, features photographs and detailed listings for all SCMA members, including their specialty(s), special medical interest and medical training. Specialty, city and phone for nonmember physicians are included as well. If you’re a nonmember and want a more detailed listing, contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375 about joining SCMA. You can also join online at www.scma.org/join.asp. Pay your dues by Jan. 15 and receive 5% discount Invoices for 2014 were recently mailed to all SCMA members. If you want to receive a 5% discount, simply pay by Jan. 15, 2014. The discount is already calculated on the invoice, and you can pay by check or credit card. In addition to the standard dues, the invoice allows members to make additional donations to CMA’s political action committee (CALPAC) at a variety of levels. Donations can also be made to the MICRA Education Fund and the CMA Physician’s Issues Committee. For questions on your invoice, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. Philippine Medical Society needs donations for typhoon victims The Philippine Medical Society of Northern California is already providing medical care for victims of Typhoon Haiyan and is seeking donations for a medical mission to the Philippines in January. In addition to financial donations, the medical society is accepting sealed, unexpired pharmaceuticals. The society, a 501(c) charity (EIN #94-2922490) has coordinated annual medical missions to the Philippines for almost 30 years. To make a financial donation, write a check to the Philippine Medical Society of Northern California and put “Typhoon Haiyan Victims” on the memo line. Checks should be mailed to Dr. Peter Bretan, PMSNC President-Elect, 165 Rowland Way #303, Novato, CA 94945. Contributions will only be used for food, clothing, and medical and pharmaceutical supplies. Before donating pharmaceuticals, contact Dr. Bretan’s office at 415-892-0904 to see which drugs are needed. SCMA Alliance Holiday Cocktail Party set for Dec. 7 It’s beginning to look a lot like … the SCMA Alliance & Foundation Holiday Cocktail Party! Please join us at the home of Dr. Patrick and Karen Caskey in Santa Rosa on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. We’ll be serving “heavy hors d’oeuvres” prepared by culinary students from Healdsburg High School, along with a full bar and other beverages. Please RSVP by Monday, Dec. 2 to Sally Ebrahim at 318-458-0955 or events@scmaa.org. You will receive the address after you RSVP. Top stories from CMA Alert Here are the top stories from the latest CMA Alert, the California Medical Association’s biweekly email newsletter. For a free subscription, visit www.cmanet.org/cma-alert. CMA calls for improvements to the new Medicare SGR reform proposal New MICRA brochure available for patients Covered California leads the nation in exchange enrollment CMA files amicus brief to protect patient privacy in CURES prescription data CMA Medi-Cal Survival Guide helps physicians understand numerous program changes PEOPLE Dr. Chuck Meltzer, an otolaryngologist, has been appointed assistant physician-in-chief for outside services at Kaiser Santa Rosa. Dr. Meltzer, who joined Kaiser San Francisco in 1990 and transferred to Santa Rosa in 2004, has held several leadership positions, including chief of head-and-neck surgery, chief of health information management and Medicare lead for specialty services. Dr. Jaime Molden, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist, has joined Fountaingrove Cardiology in Santa Rosa. He was previously medical director of electrophysiology at the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah. Operation Access, which arranges medical care for uninsured patients, has given its annual Spirit Award to Dr. James Harwood, a Santa Rosa surgeon, and its Champion Award to Dr. Gary Barth, a Santa Rosa ophthalmologist. MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS The Redwood Community Care Organization has received permission from Medicare to form an accountable care organization (ACO) to serve about 7,000 Medicare patients at federally qualified health centers in Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Yolo counties. The ACO will enable the health centers, all of which belong to the Redwood Community Health Coalition, to receive financial rewards from Medicare’s “shared savings” program, which encourages providers to improve quality of care and patient experience while reducing costs. The new ACO is the second to be formed locally; the first was established earlier this year by the Meritage Medical Network. Three local hospitals--Kaiser Santa Rosa, Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa and Sonoma Valley Hospital--have been recognized as Top Performers on key quality measures by the Joint Commission. All three received top marks for pneumonia and surgical care. Kaiser and Sutter garnered additional accolades for treating heart attacks and heart failures. Healdsburg District Hospital plans to lay off 30 employees in both direct-care and support staff positions. The layoffs will reduce the hospital’s 360-person workforce by 8%. In a statement, hospital CEO Nancy Schmid wrote, “These changes are being made to ensure the long-term strength of our hospital and our ability to serve this community.” RESOURCES Physicians needing help with substance abuse, stress, depression and other mental health issues are urged to contact the Physicians’ and Dentists’ Confidential Line. This longstanding service, sponsored by CMA and the California Dental Association, connects callers to a physician or dentist with extensive experience in helping health professionals cope with these pressing issues. Callers receive the support and referrals needed to better manage their situation. All calls are completely confidential. The number is 650-756-7787. A free oncology workshop for both doctors and nurses is being offered at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco on Saturday, Dec. 14. The topic is “contemporary strategies for management of solid tumors.” For more details, or to register, visit www.med-iq.com. The workshop has been approved for Category 1 credit. CMA has added two website resources at www.cmanet.org. The Exchange Resources page provides a wealth of information for physicians about Covered California, the state’s new health insurance exchange. The MICRA page tracks the latest developments in CMA’s campaign to defend California’s landmark Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act. Other resource pages on the website cover the Affordable Care Act, health information technology and accountable care organizations. The following CMA webinars are scheduled for December. Webinars, which are typically worth one CEU credit, begin at 12:15 p.m. and run until 1:15 or later. To register, visit www.cmanet.org. Seminars are free for CMA members and their staff; cost for nonmembers is $99 per person. ICD-10 Documentation for Physicians: Part 1 (Dec. 5) Updates on Key Developments Within California's Health Benefit Exchange (Dec. 10) ACA and the Insurance Impact on You as a Small Business Owner (Dec. 11) ICD-10 Documentation for Physicians: Part 2 (Dec. 12) ICD-10 Documentation for Physicians: Part 3 (Dec. 19) CLASSIFIEDS Primary care/immediate care physicians needed Physicians and MD medical director needed for new primary care/immediate care facilities located in Pittsburg/Antioch and San Rafael. Ideal for semi-retired MDs or if part time work desired. 6 hr shifts--7 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1-7 p.m. Prior supervision of NP/PAs and Medi-Cal existing provider credentialing a plus. Send CV and inquires to MD@practiceconsultants.net. FOR SALE: SF Boutique-Style Family and On-Call/Urgent Care Practice Average revenue $407,000; very high profit margin. No third-party plans; all cash. Strong growth potential. The practice is approximately half urgent care and half primary care. Real estate also available. Practice Consultants, info@PracticeConsultants.com or 800-576-6935. SCMA members get free classifieds! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Linda McLaughlin at Linda@scma.org or 707-525-4359. APPLICANTS Omar Ferrari, DO, Emergency Medicine, 1165 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa 95405, Touro Univ 2013 Jeffrey Kuhn, MD, Anesthesiology*, 837 Fifth St., Santa Rosa 95405, Univ Chicago 1985 Emily Wilkinson, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, Univ Arizona 2013 * = board certified; italics = special medical interest 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. © 2013 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 December 1, 2013 General, SCMA News Briefs scma 0 0 Comment Read More »
