News in brief - Feb. 23, 2004

Calif. physician's summary suspension overturned - Medical schools, teaching hospitals help fuel U.S. economy - Ohio Rx monitoring bill raises concerns - California board honors pediatrician

Calif. physician's summary suspension overturned

The California Medical Assn. says a hospital had no right to summarily suspend a physician who was on a voluntary leave of absence and wasn't admitting or treating patients at the hospital.

In a friend-of-the-court brief filed on behalf of internist Penny Pancoast, MD, the CMA argues that summary suspension is reserved for times when a physician poses an "imminent danger" to the health and safety of identifiable patients and that doctors have a right to a fair peer review hearing.

"Because of the draconian ramifications, 'summary suspensions' should not be utilized routinely to deal with concerns arising from a physician's medical practice or behavior," the CMA said in its brief. "Normal peer review channels with pre-suspension hearing procedures are tailored to handle these cases appropriately and expeditiously."

The trial court sided with Dr. Pancoast and ordered that Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego restore her privileges. The hospital has asked the California Court of Appeal Fourth Appellate District Division One to overturn that decision.

Medical schools, teaching hospitals help fuel U.S. economy

Allopathic medical schools and teaching hospitals had a combined economic impact of more than $326 billion in 2002, says a report by the Assn. of American Medical Colleges.

One key finding of "The Economic Impact of Medical College and Teaching Hospital Members of the Assn. of American Medical Colleges" report was that AAMC medical schools and teaching hospitals are major employers. These academic medical centers employed one out of every 54 wage-earners in the U.S. labor force, accounting for 2.7 million jobs directly or indirectly in 2002.

AAMC medical schools and teaching hospitals also generate significant revenue in state income taxes, despite their generally nonprofit status. In 2002, AAMC medical schools and teaching hospitals produced $14.7 billion in state government revenues.

The AAMC represents 126 allopathic medical schools and some 400 major teaching hospitals.

Ohio Rx monitoring bill raises concerns

The Ohio State Medical Assn. believes that a bill to create a prescription-monitoring database could help reduce the problem of "doctor shopping" by prescription drug abusers, but several concerns keep the organization from endorsing the legislation.

The bill would allow the state pharmacy board to decide which prescriptions will be monitored, but OSMA Director of Government Relations Bill Byers called this "too broad" and said OSMA would prefer monitoring to be limited to prescriptions for schedule II, III and IV narcotics.

Patient privacy is a big concern. "The bill would allow an officer to pull every prescription for OxyContin," Byers said. "We just think that might let law enforcement go on a fishing expedition without probable cause."

Other worries include concerns that doctors would be held liable for any problems if they failed to consult the database before writing a prescription. OSMA also is concerned over duplication of reporting for doctors who are also licensed pharmaceutical distributors.

Supporters of the bill say it's needed to reduce incidences in which residents of neighboring Kentucky, where prescription monitoring is in place, come north to acquire multiple prescriptions from Ohio doctors.

"We see the value in a program like this to reduce doctor shopping," Byers said. "We're not necessarily neutral because we raised concerns, but we may not be opposed if our concerns are addressed."

California board honors pediatrician

Fremont, Calif., pediatrician Jacob Eapen, MD, recently was honored with the Physician Recognition Award by the Medical Board of California. The award honors physicians who strive to improve access and to fill gaps in health care for underserved populations in California.

Dr. Eapen works for Alameda County Health Services, where he treats children and juveniles detained in the county's detention center. Previously, he taught and practiced in Nigeria, and worked as the United Nation's health adviser to the Philippines, where he worked with refugees.

He served as director of international affairs for Stop AIDS Worldwide, and he was director for research and public health programs at International Health Services in Mountain View, Calif.