News
ACMEC Credit Application On-Line
ACMEC is now accepting applications for co-sponsorship on-line. ACMEC co-sponsors hundreds of hours of CME credit from 30+ providers annually. The number of trees killed in the name of CME should be significantly reduced. You may go to acmec.org and click on the on-line application to begin the process. Hard copy applications will continue to be accepted.REMINDERS: The ACUMEN Newsletter can be accessed at acmec.org. We are now sending the hard copy newsletters only to dues paying members.
Weekly Grand Rounds are now archived and available for your review on-line at acmec.org.
CME Recommendations from IOM
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended the following "A new system of funding accredited continuing medical education should be developed that is free of industry influence, enhances public trust in the integrity of the system and provides high-quality education". It calls for CME accrediting bodies including the Accreditation Council for CME, certification boards and others to develop consensus on a new funding system that will meeting IOM's stated goals within 24 months.While many wanting to get industry influence out of CME welcome the recommendation it remains unclear as to where the resources will come from to support CME. A coalition of American College of Cardiology, Radiology, Emergency Physicians and some eight additional specialties in a joint statement have raised concern. "Without continued external support from industry our societies will be unable to provide the same level of outstanding education that has advanced the quality of patient care in this country".
Industry support for ACMEC is down 90% over a two year period. The issue may be moot if there is no funding from industry to be found. And a public funding source in the current environment seems a pipe dream
Upcoming Meetings
John Butler Lung Conference, October 2, 2009 - Boise, Idaho
Humphrey's Diabetes Update, October 9, 2009 - Boise, Idaho
Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. - Anderson Center
Wednesday, 12:15 p.m. - Winter Room
Friday, 8:00 a.m. - McCleary Auditorium
St Luke's RMC
Tumor Board - Tuesday, 12:00 noon
Anderson Center - Ada -2; CHEERS (Children's Hospital Education Enrichment Review) - 1stThursday, 8 am; MATCH 2nd Thursday, 8 am
MEMBERSHIP:
Upcoming Events:
November 2009
December 2009
(Wednesday, 8:00am/St. Luke's RMC; Wednesday, 12:15pm/Mercy Medical Center; Friday, 8:00am/Saint Alphonsus RMC)
I'm egalitarian when it comes to healthcare. I'll not get into whether it's a right or a privilege but a nation as wealthy as ours should offer care to its citizens. No nation though can afford to offer all things for everyone. There has always been a level of rationing in healthcare; the rich are able to buy things others can't. Society must decide what level of care meets it moral obligation to its citizens. Physicians should always be their patients advocate.
Any new program in congress will have significantly increased cost. To think that most of the funding can be accomplished by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse from Medicare and Medicaid I believe is naive. Taxes must surely increase or services must be curtailed. Medicare and Medicaid already are in fiscal collapse; who believes that a new government run program could be "budget neutral"?
Tort reform must be addressed. No one knows the dollars spent for defensive medicine though it must be enormous. Any thoughtful physician worries about being sued and if it occurs it changes forever ones approach to medicine.
We must address medicine's manpower needs. If primary care is to be its capstone then medical education that advocates for primary care must be increased. Presently too much of our care is fragmented without continuity. Electronic medical records should help this but no one knows the cost savings from its implementation. Reimbursement for primary care also needs to be evaluated.
Preventive care should be stressed but I believe won't save significant dollars in the short term. Everyone knows the risks associated with smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and excessive alcohol intake; but to pay physicians extra to point this out to patients seems wasteful.
Evidence based medicine and outcome based reimbursement are all the rage but one can't forget there is an art to medicine. No two patients or their diseases are exactly alike and rigid guidelines may result in over treatment for some and under treatment for others. For certain conditions "skillful neglect" is still the treatment of choice. The doctor/patient relationship must be protected. Already there is too much intrusion into this relationship. When we ask a patient "how may I help" we enter into a sacred contract which obligates us to stay true to the values which made our profession great.
John J. Mohr, M.D.
Rebuttals are encouraged (400 word limit). You may e-mail to acmec@acmec.org or mail to 305 W. Jefferson Street, Boise, ID 83702
Anderson Center, St. Luke’s RMC, Wednesday 8:00 a.m.
Winter Room, Mercy Medical Center, Wednesday 12:15 p.m.
AW Horsley, VA Medical Center, Thursday 8:00 a.m.
McCleary Auditorium, Saint Alphonsus RMC, Friday 8:00 a.m.
7 Stephen Clayson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine
21 Barry Stults, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine
28 Barry Make, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine
7 Stephen Clayson, MD
21 Barry Stults, MD
2 Robb Glenny, MD. Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington School of Medicine
OTHER REGULARLY SCHEDULED CONFERENCES
Breast Tumor Board - Thursday, 7 a.m.
MSTI Pediatric Tumor Board - 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 12 noon
Meridian Tumor Board - 1st & 3rd Thursday, 12 noon
Mercy Medical Center; Tumor Board - Tuesday, 12 noon
West Valley Medical Center; Tumor Board - Monday, 12:30 pm
Saint Alphonsus RMC; Tumor Board - Thursday, 12 noon, Breast Care Panel, Tuesday, 7:00 am
Christopher Wyatt, M.D.; John Pidgeon, M.D.; William Madland, M.D.; Brian Moss, M.D.; Shelley Ringo, M.D.; Brea McQuillan, M.D.
October 16, 2009 ACMS Annual Meeting and New Physician Dinner, Boise Doubletree Riverside Hotel; 6:00 P. M.
November 17, 2009 ACMS Legislative Night, Red Lion Downtowner Hotel, Boise; 6:00 P.M.
December 3, 2009 Winter Lights A Glow, Idaho Botanical Gardens
February 25-28, 2010 ACMS Winter Clinics, Shore Lodge, McCall
4 TB Update, Clay Roscoe, MD
6 Psychiatry and Cinema, Alex Reed, PsyD, MPH
11 Idaho Health Data Exchanged, Julie Foote, MD
13 Critical Care Case Conference, Denise Wurth, MD
18 St. Luke's Children's Hospital, Grand Rounds, Newborn Screening, Cory Harding, MD
20 Spine Conference, Primary Care Issues for Foot and Ankle, Christopher Hirose, MD
25 NO CONFERENCE
27 NO CONFERENCE
2 Management of DVT, Thomas Pendleton, MD
4 Idaho Health Data Exchange, Julie Foote, MD
11 Surgical Options for Pain Management, Phillip Berryhill, MD
18 Neuro Surgery Overview, Ann Marie Yost, MD
25 NO CONFERENCE
30 NO CONFERENCE
7 Mechanical Circulatory Support, Therapies for Patients with Advanced Hart Failure, Stephen Clayson, MD
14 Influenza 2009-2010, Thomas Coffman, MD
21 Resistant HTN, Barry Stults, MD
28 Update on COPD, Barry Make, MD
7 Mechanical Circulatory Support, Therapies for Patients with Advanced Hart Failure, Stephen Clayson, MD
14 Influenza 2009-2010, Thomas Coffman, MD
21 Resistant HTN, Barry Stults, MD
28 Group Care Model/Pregnancy, Tara Erbele, MD
8 TO BE ANNOUNCED
15 TO BE ANNOUNCED
22 TO BE ANNOUNCED
29 TO BE ANNOUNCED
2 Diagnosis and Therapeutic Approach to Venous Thrombo Embolism, Robb Glenny, MD
9 Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes, J. Antonio G. Lopez, MD
16 Alcohol Addiction Medicine: Therapy - Management, Andrew Saxon, MD
23 Musculoskeletal Radiology for the Primary Care Physician, Shane McGonegle, MD
30 Trauma Rounds, Topic TBA, George Munayirji, MD
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