News
Epilepsy Update
Idaho is about to host a remarkable gathering of experts from across the country covering the breadth of managing Epilepsy. Faculty includes Drs. John J. Barry, W. Donald Shields, Mark S. Yerby, and David B. Wheeler among other thought leaders. The 1.5 day conference will be held June 16-17 at the Anderson Center, St. Luke’s RMC. Eleven Category I credits will be provided by ACMEC.The Epilepsy Update is for generalists and specialists which may benefit from sharing cutting edge information on managing epilepsy.
The conference will cost $180.00. Limited student scholarships are available. To register you may contact the Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho 344-4340.
AMA Trademarks Category I
In response to what has become an international seal of approval indicating quality CME, the AMA has now trademarked the phrase. As of July 1 of this year, CME that meets all guidelines will read "AMA PRA Category I Credit ™ ". The concept is to make this designation the same in New Deli and Boise.
Editorial Ideas?
After 18 years of writing "Mohr's Musings," Dr. John Mohr is wanting to cut back. At least at this date, he is still willing to do a few articles each year. That leaves ACMEC in a quandary, how to make best use of our monthly newsletter space and keep the column of interest to our medical community.To that end we ask your input. How best to structure a column that would provide insight to practicing medicine in Idaho. Some ideas the board has considered are asking Department Chairs to write on the issues they face, a state of our medical community leadership, or request articles from specific disciplines on hot subjects with a local perspective such as "West Nile Virus," or the specialization of medicine.
Please give the board your thoughts and ideas by e-mailing us at acmec@acmec.org. The Board of Directors will appreciate your interest.
What's Ahead
Idaho Medical Association Meeting, July 14-16, 2006
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Conference, July 18-19, 2006
Anderson Center - Wednesday, 8:00 a.m.
Mercy Medical Center - Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. - Winter Room
Centennial Room - Friday, 8:00 a.m.
CHEERS (Children's Hospital Education Enrichment Review)
MEMBERSHIP: The following members were approved:
Upcoming Events:
August 3 High School Sports Physicals, BSU Taco Bell Arena.
HOW TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LEVEL OF INSANITY:
July 2006
August 2006
Another new reimbursement scheme known as "Pay for Performance" in which physicians are financially rewarded for outcomes based on certain targets set by "experts" is sure to cause angst among us. Practices will be monitored to see if certain targets are met i.e. the number of female patients over 35 who had mammograms or the number of patients who smoke who have been offered cessation help. I can envision a host of protocols and paperwork to offer patients who fall into certain diagnostic categories. Procedures also will be measured regarding outcomes, indications, complications etc.
Much of this is driven by third party payers who put little value in time consuming assessments and counseling of individual patients.
All conscious physicians strive for error free care and the concept of improving quality in medical practices laudable. The idea that physicians need more reimbursement for "quality" care flies in the face of the contract made with patients when we ask "How may I help?". Implicit in this question is our obligation to place the patient's interest above our own; that we will honor the trust that illness forces on those who come to us for help.
Each patient is a unique individual and the doctor/patient relationship assumes decisions are made with that patient's best interest. This system tacitly assumes we wouldn't deliver quality care if it were not for the fact that we were being paid more. Physicians must not accept gratuities for doing what our covenant with patients requires us to do. To do so invites further corrosion of our profession in the eyes of the public.
John J. Mohr, M.D.
St. Luke's Regional Medical Center - Wednesday 8am, Anderson Center
Mercy Medical Center - Wednesday 12:30pm
VA Medical Center - Thursday 8am, AW Horsley Learning Ctr.
St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center - Friday 8am, Centennial Room
21 Kathleen Wyne, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center.
28 Robert Chilton, DO, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
21 Kathleen Wyne, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center.
28 Robert Chilton, DO, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
30 Howard Liebman, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine and Pathology, University of Southern California Medical Center.
Tumor Boards
Mercy Medical Center - Tuesday, 12:00 noon
Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center - Thursday, 12:00 noon
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
Meridian Tumor Board - 1st & 3rd Thursday, 12:00 noon
1st, 2nd, 4th, Thursday, 8 a.m., Anderson Center - Ada -2
Rejoined Member: Jeffrey Hartford, M.D.
July 14-16 IMA Annual Meeting & House of Delegates, Boise Centre on the Grove. The Ada County Medical Society is looking for delegates. If you are an ACMS member physician and would like to be a delegate this year, please contact the ACMS office at 336-2930. A $350 stipend is paid to all delegates.
THE ACMS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!
The ACMS will offer sports physicals to nearly 1300 high school athletes on August 3rd. and we can use your help! We are in need of physicians, PA's, NP's, nurses and PT's to help with physicals. If you or others in your office can volunteer for a 2 ˝ hour shift, contact the ACMS office at 336-2930.
ZEN SARCASM
Summer Schedule, No Conferences
Summer Schedule, No Conferences
7 Pediatric Fever, Perry Brown, MD
14 Nuts & Bolts of Chest X-Ray for Primary Care Physicians, Nirmal Charan, MD
21 Treatment Algorithm for Type II Diabetes, Kathleen Wyne, MD
28 Evidence Based Management of Hyperlipidemia, Robert Chilton, DO
7 Pediatric Fever, Perry Brown, MD
14 Nuts & Bolts of Chest X-Ray for Primary Care Physicians, Nirmal Charan, MD
21 Treatment Algorithm for Type II Diabetes, Kathleen Wyne, MD
28 Evidence Based Management of Hyperlipidemia, Robert Chilton, DO
8 TBA
15 TBA
22 TBA
29 TBA
2 Pre-participation Sport Physicals, Andy Gilbert, MD
9 Hyperbaric Medicine, Peggy Doucette, DO; Ray Otto, MD
16 Near Drowning, Kenneth Bramwell, MD
23 Management of Psychiatric Emergencies in the Primary Care Provider Clinics, Robert Weston, MD
30 Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia, Howard Liebman, MD
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