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March 7, 2008
eVoice®
AMA eVoice is your regular update on the most important health care issues and recent AMA activities.
The AMA is committed to communication. We encourage you to help us spread the word by forwarding AMA eVoice to your colleagues.
Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.
Faculty practice physician issues
1) Report: Cleveland Clinic co-sponsors 2008 Arab Health convention in Dubai
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender physician issues
1) Updated nondiscrimination statement available for download by physicians
2) New report released about LGBT families’ experiences in school
Group practice physician issues
1) Report: EHR adoption low among small physician groups
2) Had it with unfair/inaccurate physician profiling and ratings?
International medical graduate issues
1) In AMNews: Program helps Hispanic IMGs qualify for U.S. residencies
2) Last chance: AMA-IMG Section Governing Council applications due March 7
3) IMG physicians invited to take part in study about their work experiences
Medical school news
1) Join colleagues for interactive communications training
2) In AMNews: Program helps Hispanic IMGs qualify for U.S. residencies
3) In UCSF Today: Innovative faculty mentoring program
Medical student issues
1) Mark your calendar: Cover the Uninsured Week, April 27–May 3
2) AMA-MSS Chapter Project of the Week: “Faces of the uninsured” candlelight vigil
3) AMA announces exciting media rotation with Discovery Health
4) Apply now for AMA-MSS convention committees
5) Learn more about AMA Council on Medical Service
6) In VirtualMentor: Care for the incarcerated patient
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority physicians
1) New program covers language barriers with Hispanic/Latino patients
2) Award aims to help minorities with escalating cost of medical school
Organized medical staff issues
1) Just launched: New webcast on investigating health information transformation
2) View webcast on revised Standard MS.1.20
3) Check out most recent webcast on economic credentialing
4) Latest webcast explores future of health care
5) AMA-OMSS gearing up for its 2008–2010 Governing Council election
6) Now available: “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws”
7) Printable version of “Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship” available online
Resident and fellow issues
1) AMA-RFS seeking resident/fellow representative to AMPAC
2) Deadline extended to March 21 for AMA-RFS awards
3) Report: Annual health care spending projected at more than $4 trillion in 2017
Senior physicians issues
1) Tell us about your senior physicians group
2) Travel aboard Sea Cloud II to the Baltic’s Amber Coast
Women physician and women's health issues
1) In AMNews: Dual-doctor family in progress
2) SWHR seeks nominations for women’s health journal award
Young physician issues
1) Election information now available for AMA-YPS Governing Council positions
2) AMA National Advocacy Conference to include rally on Medicare payment
3) Mark your calendars for group practice Web conference programs
Your news interests:
Select news categories that interest you
General AMA news:
1) Medicare payment front and center at AMA National Advocacy Conference
2) New AMA webcast reveals complexities of EHR adoption
3) AMA Foundation awards research grants
4) Medicine and personhood constitute theme of this month’s Virtual Mentor
5) On Sermo: Solo practice reaps benefits of cash-only system
6) In JAMA: Women who have stopped estrogen plus progestin therapy may be at increased risk of cancer
Your news interests
Sign up to receive customized AMA eVoice messages.
Faculty practice physician issues
1) Report: Cleveland Clinic co-sponsors 2008 Arab Health convention in Dubai
The Cleveland Clinic and its partner in a new hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates are among the sponsors of the 2008 Arab Health convention in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, according to a report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Eight Cleveland Clinic doctors, including Cleveland Clinic Chief Executive Officer and President Toby Cosgrove, will speak at the event. Officials are expecting more than 50,000 health care professionals to attend and see products and services from more than 2,000 exhibitors from 65 countries. The Cleveland Clinic currently manages Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, which is considered one of the richest cities in the world. A ceremonial groundbreaking is planned soon for the full-service, 400-bed hospital in the capital to be called Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. The hospital is expected to open in 2011.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender physician issues
1) Updated nondiscrimination statement available for download by physicians
A report by the AMA Board of Trustees was adopted at the 2007 Annual Meeting to ensure inclusion in AMA policies for transgender physicians, medical students and patients.
Transgender individuals face complex medical, psychological and social issues, often beyond their control. As a result, they can view themselves or be perceived by others as the most marginalized sector of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, and are uniquely at risk for adverse health outcomes. It is important that physicians continue to work to make all patients feel comfortable in the office or clinic setting.
The AMA has produced a sample nondiscrimination statement—inclusive of all patients—for physicians to frame and display in their offices. Download the sample statement at no charge. This small—but important—step ensures a greater level of comfort for all patients entering the physician’s office.
2) New report released about LGBT families’ experiences in school
The first comprehensive report on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families’ experiences in education—released Feb. 28 by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, in partnership with the Family Equality Council and Children of Lesbians & Gays Everywhere—has found that LGBT parents are more likely to be involved in their children’s kindergarten through 12th grade education than the general parent population. These parents are more involved in school activities and are more likely to report consistent communication with school personnel. In addition, both LGBT parents and children of LGBT parents often report harassment because of their family structure.
View a copy of the report.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Group practice physician issues
1) Report: EHR adoption low among small physician groups
The rate of electronic health record (EHR) adoption remains low, especially among physicians in solo or small group practices, according to the latest report from a nationwide survey in Modern Healthcare. The survey, containing responses from 2,548 physicians, found that 14 percent of physicians had adopted a “minimally functional” EHR or a system that can only record prescription orders, capture clinical notes and perform other basic functions. The EHR adoption rate was 36 percent among physician groups with 10 or more, compared with 6 percent for solo practitioners. The survey also indicated that 30 percent of multispecialty practices had adopted a basic EHR system, compared with 10 percent of single-specialty groups.
2) Had it with unfair/inaccurate physician profiling and ratings?
Pay for Performance (PFP) and other programs using physician profiling can be a plus when they promote effective, safe health care and adhere to the AMA’s principles and guidelines for PFP. Unfortunately, many programs are poorly constructed and often focus primarily on finding ways to save money—not to improve care. The AMA, in conjunction with the Kentucky Medical Association and several other medical societies, created co-branded posters pointing out the truth about many of these poorly constructed programs.
AMA members can view (PDF, 118KB) and download a copy of the poster. If you would like a hard copy, visit the Web site to order one. This poster is free to all AMA members for patient display and education.
>>Return to your news interest contents
International medical graduate issues
1) In AMNews: Program helps Hispanic IMGs qualify for U.S. residencies
An article in the March 3 issue of American Medical News (AMNews) looks at a University of California, Los Angeles course designed to prepare IMGs who speak English and Spanish for family medicine residency by coaching them through the multistep U.S. Medical Licensing Exam and giving them clinical observerships.
View the AMNews story.
2) Last chance: AMA-IMG Section Governing Council applications due March 7
The AMA-IMG Section Governing Council is seeking candidates to fill one AMA-IMG resident/fellow position and two physician positions for its 2008 election. Nomination applications are due March 7, and candidates will be elected in mid-April by AMA-IMG Section members. All candidates must submit an application, curriculum vitae and high-resolution electronic photo. Endorsements and letters of support from medical associations are optional.
Those interested in the resident/fellow position must apply to the AMA Resident and Fellow Section first. Send an e-mail for instructions on how to apply for the resident/fellow position.
Download (Word, 68KB) a nomination form.
3) IMG physicians invited to take part in study about their work experiences
A Robert Wood Johnson clinical scholar at Yale University School of Medicine is requesting the participation of international medical graduate physicians in the Connecticut, New Jersey and New York areas who currently work in the fields of general internal medicine, pediatrics or family practice. Participants will be part of a study designed to understand the work experiences of IMG physicians in primary care settings in the U.S. health care system. Participation in the study consists of an in-person interview, lasting 30 to 45 minutes and conducted at a time and place most convenient for you, and completion of a one-page demographic survey. All interviews will be anonymous, with no individually identifiable information, and participants will be free to terminate the interview at any time for any reason.
Contact Peggy Guey-Chi Chen, MD, by e-mail or (203) 785-2478 if you are willing to take part in this study, which has been approved by the Yale University School of Medicine Human Investigation Committee Protocol #0802003505. Please note that this study is not an AMA study and is not endorsed by the AMA.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical school news
(Brought to you by the AMA Section on Medical Schools)
1) Join colleagues for interactive communications training
Physicians interested in improving their message delivery should consider attending the 28th Annual AMA Medical Communications Conference, April 16–18, in San Diego. Learn from top-level medical communicators, journalists and other experts about how to identify and define the perspective of news media, deliver medical and health care news more effectively and evaluate the efficacy of emerging technologies as vehicles for disseminating information. Participants will get hands-on experience, including practice on-camera and compelling discussions among peers and panel experts. Register by March 21 for a discounted rate; AMA members get an additional discount.
Visit the Web site to register.
2) In AMNews: Program helps Hispanic IMGs qualify for U.S. residencies
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has developed a one-of-a-kind program that may start a trend among medical schools serving large Hispanic populations, according to an article in the March 3 issue of American Medical News (AMNews). The goal of UCLA’s innovative course is to increase the number of Spanish-speaking physicians for California’s underserved. The pilot program prepares international medical graduates who speak English and Spanish for family medicine residency by coaching them through the multistep U.S. Medical Licensing Examination and giving them clinical observerships.
View the AMNews article.
3) In UCSF Today: Innovative faculty mentoring program
The first cohort of mid-career faculty members completed an innovative, six-month course in mentoring as part of the Mentor Development Program sponsored by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and the Faculty Mentoring Program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), according to an article in the Feb. 6 issue of UCSF Today. The mentoring program was established in 2006 with the goals of supporting the recruitment and retention of the highest-quality of faculty, increasing faculty diversity through improved mentoring of underrepresented faculty and improving faculty career satisfaction and success.
View the UCSF Today article.
Learn more about the mentoring program.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Medical student issues
1) Mark your calendar: Cover the Uninsured Week, April 27–May 3
The AMA, along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a wide array of national organizations, will kick-off Cover the Uninsured Week (CTUW), April 27–May 3, to increase awareness of and promote discussion on the nation’s 47 million uninsured Americans. This weeklong series of national and local activities will take place in an effort to sensitize the public and opinion leaders to the plight of the uninsured.
CTUW will launch with a national event in Washington, D.C., followed by a week of events—including town hall meetings, on-campus educational events and numerous health fairs with free health screenings and services—in communities across the country.
The AMA-MSS is a national supporter of CTUW.
Learn more about how to get involved and plan an event in your area.
Send an e-mail to the AMA-MSS at-large officer, Meltem Zeytinoglu, or the AMA-MSS community service chair, Xin She, for more information.
Chapter involvement grants (CIGs) are available to AMA-MSS chapters to help put student projects and recruitment events into action. Chapters are eligible for up to $1,000 per academic year, with a maximum of $500 per event. Apply for a CIG at least 30 days before your event if your chapter has a project that it would like to get started.
2) AMA-MSS Chapter Project of the Week: “Faces of the uninsured” candlelight vigil
On March 25, medical students from the Emory University School of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia and Mercer Schools of Medicine will lead a coalition of health professionals at a poster viewing and candlelight vigil for the uninsured. Students will design posters of stories and pictures collected from uninsured individuals at various local clinics in Georgia. The posters will be viewed at the candlelight vigil and at multiple medical and health professional schools. This project will inform the public in Georgia about the need for the improvement of access to care for uninsured individuals.
Send an e-mail to Kari Schneibel for more information regarding this project, funded by an AMA-MSS Chapter Involvement Grant (CIG). Learn more about CIGs.
3) AMA announces exciting media rotation with Discovery Health
The AMA, in conjunction with Discovery Health, is offering an exciting four-week opportunity to AMA medical student and resident/fellow members. As part of the AMA/Discovery Health internship, one AMA medical student and one AMA resident/fellow will work to develop a medical education program that will air on the Discovery Health Channel. This exciting opportunity gives the student and resident/fellow hands-on experience in the translation of rigorous scientific data into an entertaining and informational program. The student and resident/fellow will work primarily at Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., but will also travel to relevant on-site and studio shoots for the program. A stipend of $3,000 will be provided to cover living expenses. While summer dates are strongly preferred, dates and length of the rotation are flexible. Applications are due April 17.
Learn more (PDF, 155KB) and apply.
Learn more about other AMA-MSS opportunities.
4) Apply now for AMA-MSS convention committees
Are you interested in becoming more involved in the AMA-MSS? If so, we encourage you to apply for one of the various AMA-MSS convention committees which serve to expedite the conduct of business at each meeting of the AMA-MSS Assembly. Positions are available on the AMA-MSS Community Service Project Committee, AMA-MSS Logistics and Resources Committee, AMA-MSS Reference Committee, AMA-MSS Hospitality Committee and many more.
Apply for these convention committees that will serve at the 2008 AMA-MSS Annual Assembly Meeting in Chicago. Applications are due April 2. The Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates will be held June 12–14 in Chicago.
5) Learn more about AMA Council on Medical Service
Medical student members of the AMA are appointed to serve as liaisons to the seven AMA councils. Rachelle Klammer, a student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is the current AMA student representative to the AMA Council on Medical Service (CMS). The AMA CMS is a 12-member group that reports directly to the AMA Board of Trustees and studies and evaluates the social and economic aspects of medical care policy to enhance the practice environment for physicians.
Send an e-mail to learn more about CMS.
Learn more about CMS’ current activities.
6) In VirtualMentor: Care for the incarcerated patient
Last month’s Virtual Mentor cases take a look at care for incarcerated patients. A case summary deals with a prison inmate who needs psychiatric evaluation due to repeated bouts of psychosis and violent behavior against other inmates. However, he doesn’t wish to be sent to the local inpatient psych unit. Is it ethical for the prison doctor to send him to the unit against his will? The law states that prisoners are to be afforded the same level of care that should be available in the community, and ordinary citizens can be forcibly sent to a psychiatric hospital if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. This patient fits the criteria, and the stay will allow him to be treated and given a therapeutic regimen that will alleviate his symptoms.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Minority health issues and professional concerns of minority physicians
(brought to you by the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium)
1) New program covers language barriers with Hispanic/Latino patients
The AMA’s new online continuing medical education (CME) program addresses strategies to improve communication with Hispanic/Latino patients. Developed in conjunction with the AMA Foundation and supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Inc., this free program covers the skills—readily transferable to all patient interactions—needed to effectively communicate with a low-literate, Spanish-speaking population. These skills focus on clarity, cultural humility and message confirmation, all of which are important to patient care.
Visit the Web site to learn more, complete the program and obtain CME credit.
Accreditation statement
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation statement
The American Medical Association designates this education activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
2) Award aims to help minorities with escalating cost of medical school
The AMA Foundation, in collaboration with the AMA-MAC and with support from the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, is currently accepting applications for its Minority Scholars Awards. Interested students should contact their medical school dean—either the Office of the Dean or the Dean’s Designate—to submit nominations to the AMA Foundation for these scholarships.
Learn more about the awards.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Organized medical staff issues
1) Just launched: New webcast on investigating health information transformation
Facing the current national enthusiasm for electronic health records (EHR), the AMA-OMSS created a webcast that will help physicians identify their individual electronic record requirements. This webcast analyzes the strengths and possible pitfalls of current electronic history and physical designs and functionality, as well as offering potential remedies for identified problems. It also provides measures and benchmarks for evaluating a system’s ability to meet medical practice needs for quality care, compliance, usability, efficiency, data integrity and productivity. Finally, it provides a protocol and assesses the realistic manpower needs for the EHR transformation.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
2) View webcast on revised Standard MS.1.20
The AMA-OMSS launched a new webcast on revised Standard MS.1.20 that addresses how medical staffs can successfully implement the revised Joint Commission Medical Staff Bylaws Standard MS.1.20 and provides an overview of the recently adopted revisions. Compliance with this standard by July 2009 is critical to preserving medical staff self-governance.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
3) Check out most recent webcast on economic credentialing
Learn how to implement strategies to address the potential implementation of economic credentialing with the newest webcast from the AMA-OMSS. In addition, this webcast assists medical staffs in understanding legal issues involving economic credentialing policies and accessing physician/hospital rights and remedies and developing other methods for addressing physician/hospital disputes.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
4) Latest webcast explores future of health care
What is the fundamental driving force affecting value in health care? A new webcast launched by the AMA-OMSS discusses and defines this question by exploring trends in their component parts (cost, access, quality and security of benefits) and describes future scenarios for health care, examining the implications for all health care stakeholders, including hospitals, physicians and local communities.
AMA members can view the webcast at no charge.
5) AMA-OMSS gearing up for its 2008–2010 Governing Council election
Interested in holding a leadership position within the AMA-OMSS? The AMA-OMSS Governing Council election for the 2008–2010 term will be held at the 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting in June.
Download an application. Applications are due May 14 to the attention of Kathleen Cole. Send an e-mail to Kathleen Cole or a fax to (312) 464-5845 with your application in order to be included in the online version of the 2008 AMA-OMSS Annual Assembly Meeting handbook. The online handbook will be available May 22; hard copies will be passed out at the meeting.
Visit the Web site for more information on AMA-OMSS Governing Council leadership opportunities and responsibilities.
6) Now available: “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws”
Because medical staff bylaws are considered a contract and are legally binding in most states, it is extremely important that they are well-designed and well-written. The fourth edition of the “Physician’s guide to medical staff organization bylaws” contains practical guidance on bylaws development, model bylaw language, information on emerging issues and recent trends in medical staff re-engineering. The guide will be especially helpful to medical staffs as they update their bylaws to align with the revised Joint Commission Standard MS.1.20.
AMA members can view (PDF, 996KB) the guide at no charge. Non-AMA members will be able to purchase the guide in the coming weeks.
7) Printable version of “Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship” available online
A printable version of the “Principles for strengthening the physician-hospital relationship,” developed by the AMA-OMSS and adopted by the AMA House of Delegates, is now available online.
View (PDF, 90KB) and download this resource. These principles are designed to improve the working relationship between physicians and hospitals, and ultimately foster better patient care and increase patient safety.
Send an e-mail to order a poster of the principles to post in your medical staff lounge.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Resident and fellow issues
1) AMA-RFS seeking resident/fellow representative to AMPAC
The AMA-RFS is seeking a resident/fellow representative to serve a two-year term on the AMA Political Action Committee (AMPAC). This 12-member committee was created by the AMA in 1961 to strengthen the cause of organized medicine by making campaign contributions to medicine-friendly candidates running for seats on the U.S. House or Senate.
Visit the Web site for more information and an application.
2) Deadline extended to March 21 for AMA-RFS awards
The AMA-RFS is extending the application deadline for the following awards:
- Jordan Fieldman, MD, Award for residents who are interested and active in advocacy issues
- Paul Ambrose Award for Leadership Among Resident Physicians
Award recipients will receive money to fund their travel to the June Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates in Chicago, where the award will be presented.
Learn more about these awards and apply. Applications are due March 21.
3) Report: Annual health care spending projected at more than $4 trillion in 2017
According to a report released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, spending for U.S. health care is expected to increase by 6.7 percent per year for a decade. This would project U.S. health care spending at more than $4 trillion by 2017, which will mostly stem from higher prices, an increased demand for care and an aging population. Due to current and projected increases, lawmakers are proposing ways to slow health spending.
Read more about the report.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Senior Physicians issues
1) Tell us about your senior physicians group
The AMA-SPG has been a part of the AMA for more than 30 years. However, in the last two years, the AMA-SPG Governing Council has led the group in a new direction, and has worked to actively engage senior physicians in the policymaking process to give them a more significant voice in the AMA. As part of this effort, the AMA-SPG Governing Council has spearheaded a project to develop a national network of senior physicians’ groups.
Learn more about the network, which includes more than 35 groups representing approximately 2,500 senior physicians. If you are involved in a senior physicians group not listed on the Web site, please send an e-mail to Alice Reed with your contact information, or call (312) 464-5523.
2) Travel aboard Sea Cloud II to the Baltic’s Amber Coast
The AMA-SPG is pleased to offer a trip this summer through Academic Arrangements Abroad, a leader in educational travel, presenting cultural excursions with an inside look into a country through a network of academic community leaders and museum curators. This year, seniors can travel aboard Sea Cloud II, July 5–16, visiting cities from St. Petersburg, Russia to Copenhagen, Denmark on a sailing ship modeled after Marjorie Merriweather Post’s legendary Sea Cloud. An optional excursion is offered to St. Petersburg for three nights.
View a brochure about the various trips for 2008. To receive a hard copy of the brochure or for more information, send an e-mail or call Alex Gunn at (312) 464-4539.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Women physician and women's health issues
(brought to you by the AMA Women Physicians Congress)
1) In AMNews: Dual-doctor family in progress
A Feb. 25 American Medical News (AMNews) article looks at a mother and son who are working toward medical degrees at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
Read the AMNews article and learn more about this family who share common career goals.
2) SWHR seeks nominations for women’s health journal award
The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) is seeking nominations for its 2008 Women’s Health Research Journalism Awards, which honor work published in 2007.
Visit the Web site if you know of an exceptional journalist in the area of women’s health research and would like more information. Nominations must be postmarked by April 4.
>>Return to your news interest contents
Young physician issues
1) Election information now available for AMA-YPS Governing Council positions
On March 17, the AMA-YPS will begin accepting nominations for leadership positions on the AMA-YPS Governing Council. Download (PDF, 19KB) a nomination form. Nomination forms received by April 14 will be available for viewing on the AMA-YPS Web site beginning April 15. After this date, nominations will be posted to the Web site as they are received by AMA-YPS staff.
Nominations will be accepted by fax or e-mail to the AMA-YPS until June 2, but following this date, nominations will only be accepted from the floor at the AMA-YPS Annual Assembly Meeting on June 13.
Elections for the following AMA-YPS Governing Council positions will be held during the June 13 AMA-YPS Annual Assembly Meeting:
- Chair-elect, who will serve a three-year term: one year as chair-elect, one year as chair, and one year as immediate past chair
- Speaker, who will be elected to a one-year term in 2008 (beginning in June 2009, the speaker will be elected to a two-year term)
- Delegate, who will represent the AMA-YPS in the AMA House of Delegates for a two-year term
All terms of office will begin at the close of the 2008 Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates.
Learn more about AMA-YPS Governing Council positions and duties.
2) AMA National Advocacy Conference to include rally on Medicare payment
Unite with your colleagues to make a “house call” on Congress on April 2 to hold lawmakers accountable for their promises regarding payments in the Medicare program. The white coat rally will be part of the AMA National Advocacy Conference, April 1–2, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C. At the conference, hear from insiders about the political climate on Capitol Hill and get the latest on medicine’s legislative priorities. Former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow will deliver the keynote, and veteran television journalist Forrest Sawyer will serve as master of ceremonies at the Dr. Nathan Davis Awards for Outstanding Government Service gala and celebration.
Visit the Web site for more information.
3) Mark your calendars for group practice Web conference programs
The AMA is hosting the following Web conferences during 2008:
- April 24—“Getting paid what you deserve: Strategies for reimbursement and payer contracting”
- July 31—“Denials management, winning the battle of low pays, no pays and stall tactics”
- Oct. 2—“Leveraging your electronic medical records and practice management system technology: Making it worth the investment”
Each program will run 90 minutes and is approved for 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Visit the Web site for more information.
>>Return to your news interest contents
General AMA news
1) Medicare payment front and center at AMA National Advocacy Conference
On July 1, Medicare physician payments will be cut 10.6 percent unless Congress passes new legislation. That is why the AMA and hundreds of physicians from across the country will join together on April 2 to make a “house call” on Congress at Upper Senate Park in Washington, D.C. Take part in the rally and press Congress to provide Medicare payments that reflect increases in your medical practice costs.
Prior to the rally, physicians and medical students will gather April 1–2 at the Grand Hyatt Washington for the AMA National Advocacy Conference. At the conference, attendees will hear from insiders about the political climate on Capitol Hill and get the latest on medicine's legislative priorities. Former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow will deliver the keynote address and veteran TV journalist Forrest Sawyer will serve as master of ceremonies at the Dr. Nathan Davis Awards for Outstanding Government Service gala and celebration.
Learn more and register for the conference.
>>Return to your general news contents
2) New AMA webcast reveals complexities of EHR adoption
There are many questions to consider when making the transition to an electronic health record (EHR) system: Will it work for me? How much will it cost? Will my income go down? What if it doesn’t work?
The AMA Organized Medical Staff Section has created a webcast to help physicians identify their requirements for electronic medical record systems. It covers the strengths and weaknesses of the current designs and functionality for history and physical elements, and offers potential remedies for problems. The webcast also provides measures and benchmarks for evaluating a system’s ability to meet physicians’ needs relating to quality measurement, compliance, usability, efficiency, data integrity and productivity. The presenter also outlines ways to assess realistic manpower needs for a medical practice’s transition to EHR.
The webcast is part of a series offered to all AMA members. Each program includes streaming video and audio of featured experts’ remarks accompanied by slide presentations on each topic. Other topics include “Implementation of the new Joint Commission Bylaws Standard MS.1.20,” “The future of health care: The quest for value for all Americans” and “Economic credentialing: What medical staff leaders need to know.”
AMA members can view these webcasts at no charge.
>>Return to your general news contents
3) AMA Foundation awards research grants
The AMA Foundation recently awarded grants to 47 medical students and resident and fellow physicians to conduct small basic science, applied or clinical research projects. The $2,500 grants were awarded to those conducting research in cardiovascular/pulmonary diseases, HIV/AIDS, leukemia, neoplastic diseases and secondhand smoke.
The AMA Foundation’s Seed Grant Research Program encourages medical careers in research. Due to increasingly limited options for research funding and support, fewer young physician scientists have been able to pursue careers as researchers. This year’s program is partially supported by the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute.
“We are excited to be able to help young physician investigators with their research endeavors,” said AMA Foundation President Barbara Rockett, MD. “The AMA Foundation is committed to supporting the discoveries and professional development of scientists at the start of their careers.”
View (PDF, 38KB) this year’s recipients.
Learn more about the program.
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4) Medicine and personhood constitute theme of this month’s Virtual Mentor
A patient undergoes a profound personality change after a traumatic brain injury. Question: Is he the same person as he was before the accident? Can he undo decisions he previously made? Can this new personality claim to speak for the past and future patient?
This situation is one of many discussed in the March issue of Virtual Mentor, the AMA’s online ethics journal, which explores the relationship between the mind, body and brain and the connections between them. Questions such as “Are all humans persons?”, “When does personhood begin and when does it end?” and “Is one view of personhood enshrined by scientific medicine?” are all central to medical practice and are discussed in this issue.
Other topics covered include mental capacity and contracts, evaluating sources of clinical knowledge and personhood in multicultural health care settings.
View this month’s issue as well as past issues of Virtual Mentor. Check back in April for the next issue on medical care for U.S. immigrants.
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5) On Sermo: Solo practice reaps benefits of cash-only system
A physician on Sermo recently transitioned his suburban solo practice to a cash-only system. After two months, he conducted an analysis to compare this year’s financial numbers to last year.
Although results showed a decrease in patient volume, there was a significant increase in revenue. In addition, his work hours stayed the same—though less hectic—and time per patient and availability increased. “I have set up my practice with a fee structure that works as good for the uninsured as the insured,” the physician said.
Currently, physicians on Sermo are discussing possible explanations for these results and other questions relating to the transition. Is this merely beginner’s luck or the wave of the future?
Visit the Web site to join in the discussion, view full results of the analysis, and take a poll on this subject.
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6) In JAMA: Women who have stopped estrogen plus progestin therapy may be at increased risk of cancer
A follow-up study of women who stopped taking the hormone therapy of estrogen plus progestin after this intervention was discontinued as part of a clinical trial indicates that these women may have an increased risk of cancer, compared to women in the placebo group, according to a study in the March 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Cardiovascular disease and fracture risks were similar between the two groups, but women who took hormone therapy had an overall higher global risk index reflecting the balance of risks and benefits from a number of endpoints combined, including deaths.
Preview the study.
View the JAMA report on this study.
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