ACMEC

News Visiting Lectures ACMS Society News On The Lighter Side
What's Ahead Mohr's Musings Weekly Conferences Seminars
Past Issues of the ACUMEN Newsletter Return to the ACMEC Home Page
 

June 2004 News

  ACMEC Re-Accreditation

ACMEC sits for re-accreditation once every four years. This years re-application was measured by pounds and inches of documentation. Documentation for the Winter Clinic meeting alone was about four inches. Four years of data revealed a few interesting facts. In the past four years, ACMEC accredited some 3000 hours of Category I CME for physicians and with hospitals, medical associations, healthcare associations, state government, health districts, and federal government. Approximately 1400 individual physicians have participated and some 35,000 hours of education have been recorded for area physicians.

This years state providers meeting for CME accredited providers in Idaho (all 9 of us) hosted Murray Kopelow, M.D., executive director for the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Dr. Kopelow was exposed to the Idaho issues of small staff, great distances, and limited resources. Dr. Kopelow expressed concern for the increasing bureaucratic regulation and the drying up of industry resources. He predicts there will be no industry support of medical education in 10-15 years. The challenges far out number the solutions. The term "muddling through" was used on more than one occasion.

At the end of the dat ACMEC received approval for four more years to "muddle through". Thanks to Dr. William Bourquard, Board Chairman, for hanging in for a long day of rules and regulations.

  St. Luke's Meridian Alert!

The on again, off again saga of video conference connections at St. Luke's Meridian is over. New equipment has replaced flawed equipment and so far so good. The conference is tied into St. Luke's Grand Rounds every Wednesday at 8:00 a.m in the Lemhi Room.

  New ACMEC Board Member

Welcome to Al Hsaio, M.D. to the ACMEC Board of Directors. Dr. Hsaio will be representing the Mercy Medical Center medical staff. Dr. Hsaio is Medical Director of Emergency Services at Mercy.

  Wilderness Medicine Conference

Boise State University will be the site of this years Rocky Mountain Wilderness Medicine Conference. The conference will be held June 21-24. A unique selection of topics and a dynamic set of speakers have been recruited by conference organizer, Rob Hilvers, M.D. The conference will offer up to 25.5 hours of Category I CME. Call Dana at 327-0641 for more information.

  2004 CME Planner

July 22-24 Idaho Medical Association Meeting, Sun Valley
September 23-25 Idaho Orthopedic Society, Sun Valley

 

  Anderson Center - Wednesday, 8:00 a.m.

 2 Steve Bierman, MD, Founder and President of NAPPSI (National Alliance for the Primary Prevention of Sharps Injuries) and Founder of Venetec International, makers of StatLock safety securement devices.

30 Stephen Dorman, M.D., Core Privileging, Credentialing Consultant JCAHO, Physician Surveyor JACHO, Anesthesiologist.

  Mercy Medical Center - Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. - Winter Room

 2 Steve Bierman, MD, Founder and President of NAPPSI (National Alliance for the Primary Prevention of Sharps Injuries) and Founder of Venetec International, makers of StatLock safety securement devices.

30 Stephen Dorman, M.D., Core Privileging, Credentialing Consultant JCAHO, Physician Surveyor JACHO, Anesthesiologist.

  McCleary Center - Friday, 8:00 a.m.

25 Michael Callahan, MD, Infectious Disease Consultant CDC, Atlanta GA


  Tumor Boards

Mercy Medical Center - Tuesday, 12:00 noon
St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center - Friday, 7:00 a.m.
Breast Care Panel - Saint Alphonsus RMC - Tuesday, 7:00 a.m.
St. Luke's Regional Medical Center - Tuesday, 12:00 noon
Breast Tumor Board - St. Luke's RMC - Thursday, 7:00 a.m.
MSTI Pediatric Tumor Board - 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 12:00 noon


 

Welcome Don Bich as the new ACMS executive director! Dawn Hall has gone to the Governor's Office Division of Financial Management. Don Bich hails from the American Heart Association and the Western Idaho Fair as well as bringing a wealth of other experience. Please take the time to call and introduce yourself to Don. The ACMS contact information remains: phone 336-2930, email: director@adamedicalsociety.org and fax of 336-3294.

There's still time to sign up for the golf tournament and to be an IMA delegate. Contact Don for more information or to sign up.

  Upcoming events:

June 3 High School Physicals
June 18 Golf Tournament at Boise Ranch
July 22-24 IMA Annual Meeting in Sun Valley
Oct. 12 Annual Meeting and New Physician Dinner

  The following members were voted in:

Full Membership: Dr. Michael Ross, Dr. Roman Schwartsman, Dr. Rebekah Haggard, Dr. David Anderson


 

The Dysfunctional Section of a Hallmark Store

  1. I always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love. And now that you've come into my life... (Inside card) - I've changed my mind.
  2. I must admit, you brought religion to my life. (Inside card) - I never believed in hell until I met you.
  3. As the days go by, I think how lucky I am. (Inside card) - That you're not here to ruin it for me.
  4. Congratulations on your promotion. Before you go. (Inside card) - Will you take the knife from my back? You'll probably need it again.
  5. Someday I hope to marry... (Inside card) - Someone other than you.
  6. Happy Birthday! You look good for your age. (Inside card) -Almost lifelike.
  7. When we were together, you said you'd die for me. (Inside card) - Now we've broken up, I think its time to keep your promise.
  8. We've been friends for a very long time (Inside card) - What do you say we stop?
  9. I'm so miserable without you... (Inside card) - Its almost like your still here.
  10. Congratulations on your new bundle of joy. (Inside card) - Did you ever find out who the father is?
  11. You are such a good friend. If we were on a sinking ship and there was only one life jacket. (Inside card) - I'd miss you terribly and think of you often.
  12. Your friends and I wanted to do something really special for your birthday. (Inside card) - So we're having you put to sleep.
  13. Looking back over the years we've been together, I can't help but wonder. Inside card) - What was I thinking.
  14. Congratulations on your wedding day. (Inside card) - Too bad no one likes your husband.


 

Upcoming Calendar

July and August 2004 - SUMMER SCHEDULE - NO ACMEC CONFERENCES


 

Dr. Mohr is off this month sharing in his son's graduation from the University of Nebraska and his induction into the armed forces. We are going to give him time off and re-run an article he may like.

Another Year of Musings

I've been looking ahead at the coming years programs Dave and his staff set up for CME so I mused on the following possible topics.

Civility in medicine... common courtesy has become less frequent among colleagues as competition for patients becomes more acute.

Increasing advertising and its effect on medicine...which reflect the growing reality of the business ethos which has over taken much of the practice of medicine.

Prescription drug coverage for medicare patients...now a hot political item. It is just another form of government largess or an idea whose time has come. I daily see needy elderly patients who would benefit from this but also have many affluent medicare patients who could do without more medicare benefits.

Insurance and managed care...how it has changed the practice of medicine. In many instances it has driven a wedge in the doctor/patient relationship and created more obstacles for us to be true advocates for our patients.

Medicare documentation...how we've become automatons of medical minutia forced on us be well meaning bureaucrats bent on ferreting out fraud and abuse in medicine.

The projected nursing shortage...given the aging nursing population and how it will affect patient care as the general population ages in the new millennium. Thank goodness I'm married to a nurse.

Retirement of colleagues...many are younger than myself, how one can preserve one's passion for the practice of medicine without becoming cynical and burned out.

New requirements for ordering laboratory tests...how documentation efforts to reduce unnecessary testing has increased the cost of medical care, forcing us to order individual tests, i.e. potassium level rather than a chemistry screen. These automated screens were truly one of the best deals in medicine. I mused about the increasing popularity of alternative medicine and "natural products" by seemingly intelligent people who accept testimonials as scientifically valid. Why have those of us in mainstream medicine failed to satisfy the needs of so many patients.

My son going off to college...at the University of Nebraska this fall and if I should cheer for the Huskers or the Iowa Hawkeyes when they meet in football this fall.

John J. Mohr, M.D.


Return to the top of the ACUMEN Newsletter or Return to the ACMEC Home Page