Clark County Medical Society

County Line

Newsletter 71      December 05

 

Contents

 

President’s Message

Malpractice Filings Against Health Care Providers, Jan 2001 – Oct 2005

New Members

Membership Applicants

“Dear Doctor” Info

Medicare News

Allscripts Electronic Prescribing Program

Cultural Competency (Re) Licensure Mandate in Our Future

Clark County Health District Report

Alliance Message

Minutes Synopsis

Classified Ads

CME Calendar

Clark County Health District Disease Statistics – October 2005

County Line Advertisers

 

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President’s Message

By Ron Kline, MD, 2005-2006 CCMS President

 

May you live in interesting times...

 

I recently had the chance to attend the 2005 Wellpoint West Region Leadership Conference as a representative of the Clark County Medical Society.  The experience felt a little like being behind enemy lines, but one must know your enemy if you are to battle him effectively.  I learned a lot of new words at the conference.  I always thought I was a doctor taking care of patients, but I learned that I was a part of an ISD (that is an Integrated Delivery System to the uninitiated) taking care of covered lives.  I met administrators of small healthcare networks and CEO's of physician IPA's.  The network administrators were trying to figure out a way to make a living off the inefficiency and complexity that is our current health care system (crumbs from the pie), while the CEO's were trying to figure out ways to keep their physician groups financially viable in the increasingly consolidated health insurance industry.  

 

A few themes kept reappearing throughout the conference that I wanted to share with our physician members so that we can all plan for the changes that lie ahead in medicine.  Dr. Samuel Nussbaum, the CMO of Wellpoint cited data showing large variations in cost and outcome across a variety of high dollar medical procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafts.  The data has a great deal of scatter, with both high cost, low quality providers, as well as low cost, high quality providers spread across the Wellpoint network.  The obvious inference is that patients will increasingly be directed to the low cost, high quality providers.  Dr. Nussbaum made the point several times that the quality of care was not necessarily related to volumes. 

 

Several speakers also referred to data published in the New England Journal of Medicine that cited a 55% rate of appropriate care (using evidenced based guidelines) given to hospitalized patients for various diseases.  This data was the premise for discussions about the need for "pay for performance" (P4P) in both government and private health insurance systems.

            “Disease management" will also increasingly become a fact of life for physicians.  Statistics repeatedly thrown about at this meeting referred to the fact that 1% of patients are responsible for 25% of health care costs and 5% were responsible for over 50% of costs.  Pilot studies from Wellpoint showed a 10% cost savings when nurses and other ancillary health personnel were involved in the process, providing a 400% return on investment with a 97% patient satisfaction rate.  Wellpoint has now taken the unusual next step of placing nurses in physician's offices (at their cost) to help in disease management.  Medicare in California has just begun a demonstration project that assigns 120 high risk patients to a single physician, whose only job is the efficient management of these patients, including house calls and transportation to the ED.

 

It is fair to be skeptical when profit-driven insurance companies talk about quality, since what they are usually referring to is cost.  I was impressed, however, that the data presented on cardiac surgery used risk stratification parameters and guidelines for the assessment of complications developed in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

           

Clearly there is a strong push on the part of both government and insurers to measure and publish outcomes data and to make this information widely available to the public.  As physicians we can either fight to prevent the collection and publication of this data, or accept that it will be published and work collaboratively with government and insurers to ensure that this complex task is carried out correctly, and that quality outcomes data is, in fact, quality data, and not simply economic credentialing. 

 

It must also accurately take into account the expected poorer outcomes of high-risk patients.  Nothing could be worse than to have high risk patients not receive necessary care because they might adversely affect someone's "numbers."  All of us as physicians (and hospitals) think we are doing as good a job taking care of our patients as our peers (maybe better).  None of us intends to provide a lower quality of care.  The truth is, however, that we simply don't know.  Outcomes data will allow those of us who are not doing as good a job as we thought, to improve, and to adopt the best practices of our peers.  Hopefully, outcomes data will be used as an inducement to help all of us (including hospitals) improve, rather than as a club with which to beat us down.  If done correctly, this has the possibility to be a win for our patients, ourselves, and healthcare as a whole.  But we must participate to make sure that it is done correctly and that the ultimate goal is good patient care.  

 

Our own data from respected peer-reviewed journals shows that often we are not providing the care that evidence based guidelines say we should.  Undoubtedly, the reasons for this are complex and multifactorial.  P4P, although insulting at one level has the potential to improve medical care by providing financial incentives to follow evidence based guidelines.  As objective physicians, we must acknowledge the data presented in our own journals, and accept changes that will move the system as a whole towards the provision of quality care to all of our patients.

 

Our primary duty is to our patients, and we must never lose sight of that responsibility as we go through our days.  If the changes coming down the road are a "win" for the quality of medical care in the United States, then we should accept them, even if they mean changes in our practice patterns, learning to navigate complex electronic medical records, or sharing the management of our patients with insurance company paid "disease management specialists."  If it is all about making more money for the insurance industry, or if it will harm our patients, then we should fight them with every ounce of energy we have.

 

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Clark County District Court Medical Malpractice Filings

Against Health Care Providers, Jan 2001 – October 2005

                        2001     2002    2003    2004    2005

Jan                   39        33        108      61        41

Feb                  20        14        98        72        63

Mar                  35        30        169      123      64

Apr                  37        34        111      81        70

May                 37        35        126      65        14

Jun                   27        24        103      90        65

Jul                    19        100      114      45        66

Aug                  54        51        76        67        33

Sep                  20        65        105      79        36

Oct                  37        83        110      59        26

Nov                 38        184      59        78

Dec                  9          170      67        47

Sum                372      823      1246     867

 

 

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New Members

Congratulations and Welcome to the Clark County Medical Society New Members –

October 2005

 

  • Reuel Aspacio, MD – Dermatology, 911 N Buffalo Dr 113, Las Vegas, NV 89128
  • Iulia C Ionitoaia-Chaudhry, MD, Internal Medicine, 7373 Peak Dr 160, Las Vegas, NV 89128
  • Jerry J Marty, MD – Anatomic/Clincial Pathology, 4230 Burnham Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89119
  • Mark R Parson, MD – Dermatology, 801 S Rancho Dr D-1B, Las Vegas, NV 89128 NV 89109
  • Randell E Yee, DO – Orthopaedic Surgery, 9280 W Sunset Rd 422, Las Vegas, NV 89148

 

 

 

Reinstated Members

  • Daniel H Kim, MD, Otolaryngology
  • William R Wise, MD, Urology
  • Demeterios Mavroidis, MD, Thoraci Surgery
  • Darlina K Manthei, DO, Family Practice

 

 

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Applicants To Go Before Credentialing Committee

If you have any pertinent information about the following membership candidates, please contact: 

Clark County Medical Society, 2590 E. Russell Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89120

 

·        Munira Dubhbhai, MD, OB-Gyn

·        Farida Khan-Sewani, MD, Internal Medicine/Critical Care

·        Jon L Siems, MD, Ophthalmology

·        Robert H Wang, MD, OB-Gyn

 

For information on becoming a member of the Clark County Medical Society, call Marlaina Burns at 739-9989.

 

***New Member Special***  $390 New members can join for half price their first year.

 

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 “Dear Doctor”

 

The Clark County Medical Society's Community Health/Community Relations Committee is developing a weekly column called "Dear Doctor" with the Las Vegas Review-Journal.  We encourage any interested physician members to submit a brief article on a mainstream health topic of your choice. If you would like to submit an article for publication in our new "Dear Doctor" column with the R-J, please submit it to the Clark County Medical Society.

 

Specifications:  Articles should be of 750 words or less. The articles should be placed in the form of a Question/Answer and printed for legibility.

 

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Medicare News

MEDICARE TAKES KEY STEP TOWARD

VOLUNTARY QUALITY REPORTING FOR

PHYSICIANS

 

            Medicare will make it easier for physicians to participate in a voluntary program to report evidence-based, consensus quality measures, an important step toward supporting higher quality physician care, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., announced today.

            "Physicians are in the best position to know what can work best to improve their own practices and ultimately the quality of care available to all patients," Dr. McClellan said.  "Through these voluntary reports by physicians on evidence-based quality measures, we can take an important step together to help them improve care, and ultimately to help make sure that they are adequately compensated for that care."

            The action today creates the Physician Voluntary Reporting Program.  In the first phase of the program, beginning in January 2006, Medicare will enable physicians to voluntarily report information to CMS about the quality of care they provide to Medicare beneficiaries.  The 36 evidence-based measures to be reported in the first phase of the program are a result of collaborative efforts with physicians, physician organizations and other experts involved in the review of the quality of the nation's health care. 

            The new voluntary reporting system comes as Medicare physicians face payment rates reductions for the next seven years, triggered by a statutorily imposed payment formula.

            "Medicare remains dedicated to preserving access to quality care and avoiding unnecessary costs and that requires finding better ways to support quality care instead of simply adding more dollars into a system that focuses on volume," Dr. McClellan said.

            To help support better health outcomes for people with Medicare at a lower cost, CMS is working closely and collaboratively with medical professionals and Congress to consider changes to increase the effectiveness of how Medicare compensates physicians for providing services to Medicare beneficiaries, while avoiding increases in overall Medicare costs. 

            As part of this effort, the Physician Voluntary Reporting Program will begin to phase in voluntary reporting of performance measures developed in collaboration with physicians and physician organizations, as well as other stakeholders. The work by the National Quality Forum (NQF), the Ambulatory Care Quality Alliance, the AMA Physician Consortium for Quality Improvement, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and RAND provided the basis for the selection of these measures.

CMS relied heavily on measures that had either completed or were close to completing the NQF's review process because the NQF is a primary consensus-development body for health care quality measures.  Additional quality measures are under development now and may be phased in during the year. 

            As part of the first phase, CMS will begin to collect the information through the use of a dedicated set of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes, called G-codes, which will supplement the claims data doctors currently submit to CMS with clinical data.  This clinical data will then be used to measure the quality of services provided to Medicare patients.  CMS anticipates that these G-codes will serve as an interim step until the electronic submission of data through electronic health records replaces this process, and CMS expects to collaborate with participating physicians to develop such electronic data submission methods.

            CMS will provide feedback to the physicians who submit the data by the summer of 2006 about the level of their performance based on the submitted data.  The goal is to use this feedback to assist physicians in improving their data accuracy, reporting rate, and clinical care. CMS will also seek input from participating physicians on ways to improve the ease of reporting and usefulness of the quality measures, such as by promoting reports and analysis through electronic medical record systems.

            "Reporting clinically valid quality measures is a proven approach to making significant improvements in clinical care," Dr. McClellan said.   "We have been working closely with health professionals and other stakeholders on these measures, with the goals of making sure that we have low-cost and effective ways to report on quality and to help doctors use this information to improve care."

            The Physician Voluntary Reporting Program is similar to previous CMS quality initiatives such as the hospital voluntary reporting program, which, after an initial collaborative process of evaluating and refining hospital data submission, resulted in the launch of www.HospitalCompare.hhs.gov in April, 2005. 

 

            HealthInsight, the Quality Improvement Organization for Nevada and Utah will work with physicians in support of this voluntary effort. For more information, visit www.healthinsight.org.

 

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Allscripts Electronic Prescribing Program

By Weldon (Don) Havins, M.D., Esq., CEO, Special Counsel

           

            Recent publicity regarding a new CCMS benefit to members has generated calls to the Society inquiring about the Allscripts electronic prescription program.  For CCMS members who intend to run the program from one PC in their office, the program can be implemented now.  The software is free to CCMS members for 10 years.  The monthly maintenance fee of $20 is free to CCMS members for two years from the date of implementation of the program in their office.

 

Technical requirements

            The hardware requirements are a standard desktop PC (or PC notebook computer) with at least 733 MHz processor speed, 256 MB RAM and 1 GB of hard disk space available.  The program operates with Windows XP, Windows 2000 sp4, or Windows 2003.  Peripheral hardware requirements are a CD-ROM, Network card 10/100, 800 x 600 resolution monitor, Fax Modem and Analog phone line (used to fax prescriptions).  A high-speed Internet connection of at least 512 kbps is necessary.  If you have purchased a PC computer with Windows within the last few years and you are connected to the internet via a cable modem or high speed phone line, you likely have all the computer hardware you need to get started.  Macintosh computers are not supported and cannot be used by this program at this time.  A printer connected to the PC is required because Schedule II controlled pharmaceuticals must be printed and signed by the prescribing physician.  Prescriptions, with the exception of Schedule II medications, can be faxed or electronically submitted to the patient's pharmacy directly, or can be printed at the patient's request.

 

Security

            The database infrastructure is hosted by Allscripts who has contracted with Quest Telco Corporation in Norfolk, Virginia.  Security and encryption are provided by Allscripts and Quest Telco.  All public network traffic is encrypted using 128-bit encryption.  Physical safeguards are in place to ensure security.  All data in the Allscripts Data Hosting Center is backed up daily and stored off site.

 

Accessing the software

            The software for the program can be downloaded from the internet at www.touchscript.net/nevada or can be

ordered in CD format (after registration) to be shipped to the physician's office.  The "eRx software license" is free for 10 years to all Nevada physicians.  Those wishing additional information on obtaining the program software can call 866-235-2953. 

 

Technical support

            For anyone having a problem with the installation or operation with the program, technical support is available Monday thru Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM (PST).  The phone number for support is 847-680-3515 or 800-654-0889, option 6, then option 3.  Emergency after-hours support is available via pager Monday thru Thursday from 6 PM to 8 AM, Fridays from 6 PM to midnight, and all day (24/7) on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.  The number for the emergency after-hours support pager is 847-680-3515 or 800-654-0889, option 7.  For those totally computer challenged physicians, Allscripts is partnering and certifying local software computer companies which will be available for a fee.  These local providers will bill around $150 per hour with the installation and training to take, on average, two to three hours. 

 

Utility of the program

            A recent demonstration of the operation of this program convinced the attendees of the utility and functionality of electronic prescribing.  Southwest Medical Associates 235 providers implemented this program a couple years ago.  SMA reports over a million dollars in transcription cost savings with substantially greater convenience and satisfaction by physician and patient alike.  Patients' convenience is facilitated because they can have their filled Rx ready for them when they arrive at their chosen pharmacy.  Michael Kriemelman, phone number 314-359-1863, is the Allscripts executive in charge of this Nevada program.

            Utilization of electronic prescribing reduces chart pulls and turnaround time for prescription renewal requests.  Virtually all retail pharmacies are incorporated into the database.  Illegible prescription handwriting, and the associated mistaken medication errors, is eliminated.  The program contemporaneously provides warnings of medication conflicts or replication of drugs prescribed in the same category.  Formulary and non-formulary medications for each payor are indicated along with a selection of generic equivalent medications, when available.

 

What if I need additional hardware?

            For physicians without a PC readily available, Allscripts has a program with HP for a market desktop PC (dc5000 Small Form Factor) computer which sells for $665 (list price $829).  For those physicians who wish to utilize a server, and use wireless communication devices in patient exam rooms, Allscripts offers the HP ProLiant Entry Level Server-ML110 for $929.00.  There is no requirement to purchase any of these products.  Wireless systems, as well as any compatible server, can be obtained from any vender.  Many physicians will elect to implement the program with their current office PC.  Others may additionally employ wireless technology to communicate with their PC.  This will permit electronic prescribing from exam rooms.  Those with established electronic medical record programs can purchase compatibility software from Allscripts which will permit incorporation of the electronic prescription program into their current EMR system.

            The Board of Trustees of the Clark County Medical Society is please to make this program available as a membership benefit.  There is no obligation to utilize the program.  There is no obligation to remain in the program after the program is implemented.  After two years use, CCMS members will be required to pay the monthly maintenance fee that other utilizing physicians are paying.  This is currently $20 per month. 

            We think our members will find this electronic prescribing program beneficial to their practices. 

 

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Cultural Competency (Re) Licensure Mandate in Our Future

By Weldon (Don) Havins, M.D., Esq., CEO, Special Counsel

 

            A few states have taken steps to "reduce health care disparities" and ensure that physicians are more responsive to cultural and language differences among their patients.  The Federation of State Medical Boards (of which the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners is a member, as are all state medical boards) president, Dale Austin, apparently favors mandating "cultural competency" for medical licensure and relicensure.  He indicates that "the population in our country is changing and evolving, and that means, as health care practitioners, we have to change also to meet the needs of that population".

            New Jersey passed the first state law (on March 23, 2005) mandating physicians to obtain cultural competency training before they can be licensed by the state medical board.  The 30,000 New Jersey physicians currently licensed will have to complete cultural competency training to renew their licenses.  S. Manzoor Abidi, MD, president of the New Jersey Medical Society argued that "you really don't teach people cultural competency in a classroom - you learn it in the lap of your grandmother".  The New Jersey medical board will determine how much training will be required and the specific date of implementation of the requirements.  (The lap of your grandmother is not likely to be an approved CME training site.)  Like Nevada, New Jersey relicenses physicians every two years, at the first of July of odd numbered years.  Thus, New Jersey physicians will likely be required to have completed this mandated, but not yet defined, training before June 30, 2007.

            The New Jersey legislature, in the body of the Bill, referenced a New England Journal of Medicine article which indicated that physicians were far less likely to refer blacks and women (than white men), with identical complaints of chest pain, to heart specialists for cardiac catheterization.  The authors of this study suggested that the difference in referral rates stemmed from racial and sexual biases.  The Surgeon General of the United States stated that this study by Georgetown University represented to date the best attempt to document the racial attitudes of physicians as a factor in the poorer health of African Americans.  The New Jersey legislature concluded that cultural awareness and cultural competence are essential skills for providing quality health care to diverse patient populations.  The law states the curriculum of New Jersey medical schools "shall include instruction in cultural competency designed to address the problem of race and gender-based disparities in medical treatment decisions". 

            California passed a voluntary program in 2003, in a bill entitled the Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Physicians Act.  That Act provided for a program for physicians to learn a foreign language and cultural beliefs.  The California Legislature apparently was not satisfied with the voluntary nature of the law, and has now passed a bill mandating cultural competency training for licensure and relicensure.  The California Medical Association president, gastroenterologist Anmol. S. Mahal, MD, opposed the bill, stating that "continuing medical education is best left to the choice of the physician".

            A California law, (AB 1195) passed October 4, 2005, requires that CME courses on or after July 1, 2006 "include curriculum in the subjects of cultural and linguistic competency in the practice of medicine".  Accreditation associations are required to develop standards for this curriculum before July 1, 2006.  The law specifies that, except for "courses dedicated solely to research or other issues that does not include a direct patient care component, and CME courses not offered in [California]", "all continuing medical education courses shall contain curriculum that includes cultural and linguistic competency in the practice of medicine". (underlining emphasis added) The California Legislature specifies that in order to satisfy these requirements, "CME courses shall address at least one or a combination of the following":

            (1) Cultural Competency … meaning a set of integrated attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enable a health care professional or organization to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups and communities which, at a minimum, is recommended to include the following:

                        (a)  applying linguistic skills to communicate effectively with the target population.

                        (b)  utilizing cultural information to establish therapeutic relationships.

                        (c)  eliciting and incorporating pertinent cultural data in diagnosis and treatment.

                        (d)  understanding and applying cultural and ethnic data to the process of clinical care.

            (2) Linguistic Competency which means the ability of a physician and surgeon to provide patients who do not speak English, direct communication in the patient's primary language.

            (3)  A review and explanation of relevant federal and state laws and regulations regarding linguistic access, including, but not limited to, the federal Civil Rights Act (42 USC 1981, et. Seq.), Executive Order 13166 of August 11, 2000, of the President of the United States, and the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Service Act (California Government Code, commencing with Section 7290).

            Three other states have cultural competency bills moving through their legislatures:  Illinois, New York, Arizona.  The Illinois bill (SB 522) creates a Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Physicians program to be operated by local medical societies of the Illinois State Medical Society and monitored by the Department of Professional Regulation.  This program is voluntary and shall consist of educational classes designed to teach physicians (1) a foreign language at the level of proficiency that initially improves their ability to communicate with non-English speaking patients, (2) understanding and application of the roles that culture, ethnicity, and race play in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care, and (3) awareness of how the attitudes, values, and beliefs of health care providers and patients influence and impact professional and patient relations.  The Bill, if passed, would be effective immediately. 

            New York's Bill, A03751, contains a substantial justification for the proposed law.  "The history of hospital care and access to health care has usually mirrored the educational, social and ethical issues confronting American society at any point in time of our history.  Current advances in medical technology have increased the complexity of care, and research has shown measurable differences in access to medical procedures based on race and culture.  Thus, African American patients are far less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and bypass graft surgery.  They also undergo fewer invasive, diagnostic and therapeutic coronary procedures after myocardial infarction. Similar differences have been noted in decisions about discretionary surgery, surgical treatments for breast cancer, and prostate cancer treatment.  Research also shows that African American patients with peripheral vascular disease are more like to receive amputations than white patients, and patients suffering from sickle-cell disease, which disproportionately affects African Americans, have been misdiagnosed by health professionals as being drug addicts and denied needed treatment.  Some of these differences can be attributed to differences in income, insurance coverage and resistance to treatment. However, even after discounting for these variables, there are disparities that are clearly rooted in racial and cultural misperceptions and stereotypes.  This legislation seeks to address these issues. 

            The New York bill would require the state board of medicine to develop regulations mandating a curriculum “in every New York college of medicine to include one or more cultural competency courses which are designed to address the problem of race and gender-based disparities in medical treatment decisions….”   These courses would be developed in consultation with the Association of American Medical Colleges or another nationally recognized organization which reviews medical school curricula.

            The Arizona bill (SB 1468) would amend Arizona law to require, "In consultation with a nationally recognized organization that reviews medical school curricula, establish a curriculum and designate a course at each school of medicine in cultural competency that addresses the problem of race and gender based disparities in medical treatment decisions.  The Board [of Medical Examiners and Osteopathic Medicine) shall require successful completion of this course as a condition of receiving a diploma.  The Board shall require that medical schools make this course available to applicants for initial licensure or relicensure.

            There appears to be substantial evidence, at least in some parts of the United States, of racial and gender bias by some physicians in the provision of medical care.  The above laws and legislative bills appear to conclude that the offending physicians' race and gender biases can be ameliorated by taking a class in medical school, taking a CME course, or becoming competent to converse in a foreign language.  Studies seem to imply that white, male physicians are the offending culprits.  One may infer, therefore, that non-white physicians and female physicians are not the source of the problem.  If that is the case, why not subject only the "problem-maker" white, male physicians to the selected "solution" of cultural competency training?  Is the "right question", how can white, male physicians be cured of racial and gender biases in the provision of medical services to minority blacks (but not other minorities?) and women?  Is that question best addressed by the "solution" of "cultural competency training" for all physicians? 

            November 12, 2005, the Las Vegas Review Journal contained the obituary of Professor Peter Drucker of the Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California.  Professor Drucker was 97 years of age and was still teaching one class a semester at this advanced age.  Recently, Dr. Peter Drucker, an Austrian by birth, a lawyer by education, was presented with the Medal of Freedom by the President of the United States for his preeminent contributions to the field of management science.  Professor Drucker imbued his students with several critical approaches to management problems.  The first of the principles is to "define the problem" by "asking "the right question" - the premise being that if one doesn't ask the right question (properly define the problem), the chance of selecting a workable solution is remote.  The second fundamental is how does one measure the problem?  "If you can't measure it, you can't manage it," he would reiterate.  The third fundamental was to select the most likely solution to the defined problem, measure the problem before and after a predefined reasonable period of time, and conclude whether the solution sufficiently addressed the problem.  If it did not, then one was to start all over again by correctly defining the problem (asking the right question), etc.  This wonderful teacher would likely be disappointed in the analysis of the problem and at the cavalier "solutions" taken by some of our state legislatures to cure some discrepancies in the medical care rendered to our minorities and women.

            Our legislators and regulators would do well to heed this approach to problem analysis and problem resolution.  Their current well intentioned approach will not resolve the problem and is fraught with potential adverse unintended consequences. 

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Clark County Health District Report

 

By Donald Kwalick, MD, MPH, Chief Health Officer

 

Effective use of volunteers during an emergency

 

          Following Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Surgeon General asked the Medical Reserve Corps to provide volunteers. In response, more than 170 volunteers from MRC units were activated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including three volunteers from our local unit.

            These volunteers included two RNs, Kathy McGonigle and Patty Murphy, who were assigned to set up and assist with staffing a clinic aboard the MS Holiday, a Carnival cruise ship used to house evacuees. Additionally, a local MRC veterinarian, Jon Pennell responded to requests by Louisiana State University and the National Veterinary Response Team to assist with animal care. (To learn more about their experiences access the Medical Reserve Corps Newsletter at http://www.cchd.org/med_reserve.htm.)

            Volunteers play an integral role in a disaster response. However, coordinating well-intentioned volunteers who self-deploy in times of need can be an overwhelming task for local emergency management personnel.

            This is why it is important for health care professionals to be aware of the systems already in place for recruiting, credentialing and managing volunteer personnel. Established mechanisms for deploying volunteers provide for a better coordinated relief effort and ensure volunteers are afforded protections from liability and appropriate reimbursement.

            The Medical Reserve Corps is one such mechanism to ensure volunteer efforts are effectively coordinated. Another established system is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). The EMAC was ratified by Congress in 1996 and is the cornerstone of mutual aid agreements between states and U.S. territories.

            Using EMAC, a state impacted by a disaster can receive assistance from other member states in a timely manner. EMAC is deployed at a state level - after the Governor of the state has declared an emergency. EMAC is administered by the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), a professional association of state emergency management directors and is an affiliate organization of the Council of State Governments.

            All member states are required to ratify the language of the compact in statute. By operating under this compact, assisting states are afforded protection from liability because requesting states assume responsibility for the volunteers deployed under the compact. Additionally, by agreeing to a standard legal process, member states are guaranteed reimbursement for all eligible assistance provided through EMAC.

            It is also important to keep in mind the relief and recovery activities associated with events such as Hurricane Katrina are long-term efforts. When requested by other states, state and local emergency management agencies will call upon local volunteers with needed expertise (health care professionals, animal control, etc.) to respond to a disaster in another state. By volunteering through established organizations and systems we help ensure a better coordinated response and the optimal use of available resources.

            If you are interested in signing up as a Medical Reserve Corps volunteer, contact Paula Martel at 759-0877.

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Alliance Message

 

By Shanila Choudhury, 2005-06 CCMS Alliance President

            This month the Membership Committee, headed by Estela Hansen has been working very hard to get out our yearly directory.  She, Peggy Ho, Cheryl Samlaska, and Andrea Yu put a lot of effort into the design and content.  Those who attend our next lunch at the Capital Grille will be receiving it. I want to commend them for their efforts.

     The Greeting Card Project needs your support so please send in your request letters with your donation so we can fulfill our goals of offering ten Nursing School awards as well as donating to the Nevada Benefits Society.  We will be having a get together at Annette Mohs' home on Thursday, December 1 at 9:00 am to get the cards ready to mail to the community.  If you would like to help, please call Annette for directions at 592-7854.  I would like to thank Kim Watson, Lisa Gollard, Annette Mohs, Julie Leon for their hard work on this project.

     We are excited about our upcoming Fashion Show at Caesars Palace on Tuesday, March 14, 2005. We are happy to have Paula Francis as our host and are continually adding more to make this the most grand event.  Please make your reservations early to Shanila Choudhury at choud@aol.com or call 355-2019.  Tickets will be $100 for those who have paid in advance. 

     Please join us at our next meeting which will be a breakfast at the elegant Bouchen Restaurant in the Venetian Hotel.  We will have a morning meeting from 8:30 to 11:00 am so we can continue on and Christmas shop at the Venetian.  I would like to thank Ercy Rosen for picking some very unique meeting venue's this year.  Come join us at any meeting and find out more about the Clark County Medical Society Alliance at our website at ccmsa-lv.org.  We are here to support physician spouses and families.

 

 

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Nevada State Medical Association’s 102nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Session

 

Mark Your Calendars! April 27-30, 2006 at the Alexis Park Resort in ***Las Vegas, Nevada***

 

This is the first time in years that this meeting will be held in Las Vegas.  We need Delegates.  We hope to have the best attendance ever.  The number of Delegates we are allowed is based on a percentage of our membership.  Last year we could have had 36 Delegates and we only had 11.  This annual meeting determines the policies and programs of the Association.  Listed below is a sample of what happens at the annual event: 

            1. A half day Scientific Session

            2. President’s Luncheon (usually has an interesting speaker)

            3. Very Informative Governmental Affairs Meeting

            4. Reference Committee meetings where resolutions are discussed and perfected to become policy

            5. Dinner and Awards ceremony where the NSMA and NSMAA Presidents are inaugurated

 

This year the Delegation Chair for CCMS is Dr. Marietta Nelson.  Please call Dot Freel at 739-9989 to sign up or get more information.

 

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Minutes Synopsis

CLARK COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY

Executive Council MEETING

Tuesday, October 18, 2005; 6:00 P.M.

Minutes Synopsis

 

The minutes for the September meeting were approved unanimously.

 

Compilation of Financial Statements

Richard Bowler, CPA from Piercy, Bowler, Taylor, & Kern reported his firm compiled the financial statements, as they have done for the past 4 years.  This year his firm also compiled the financial statements for MedPac. 

 

Credentials Committee

Five applicants were recommended for active membership: Reuel M Aspacio, MD, Dermatology; Iulia C Ionitoaia-Chaudhry, MD, Internal Medicine; Jerry J Marty, MD, Anatomic/Clinical Pathology; Mark R Parson, MD, Radiology; and Randall E Yee, DO, Orthopaedic Surgery.  There were 2 student member applicants approved, both from the University of Nevada: Angela K Weiner and Jonathan H Gifford. 

 

There were 4 reinstatements: Daniel H Kim, DO - Otolaryngology; William R Wise, MD -Urology; Demetrios Mavroidis, MD - Thoracic Surgery; and Darlina K Manthei, DO - Family Practice. 

 

Nevada AMC Report

Dr. Kline reported the Chancellor gave the Dean of the School of Medicine 30 days to determine a vision or plan regarding the Medical School and an AMC.  

 

Financial Report

Revenue was $70,084.98 for the first 3 months of the new fiscal year which is down about $30,000 from last year at this time.  Expenses were less than those at this time last year.  The bank account balance at the end of the last month was $268,264.58.  

 

Membership Report

There were 433 dues paid members, a decrease from the 536 paid members last year at this time.  At this time there are total of 558 members, which includes the dues exempt members.

 

Staff was directed to send a letter to the malpractice insurance companies, not currently offering a discount, asking them to offer CCMS members a 5% discount on PLI insurance premiums.

 

Community Health Committee

Work continues on the "Dear Doctor" project.   They have 20 articles and more coming in.  The Review Journal wants to put two articles in the Sunday papers, and hopes to have readers send in questions.  Dr. Jameson hopes to have this start in November.  She stated the committee wants medical care service opportunities added to the website on an ongoing basis.

 

Access Health Info

Dr. Jameson explained the Access Health program.    Nancy Whitman, the director of the program, and Dr. Jameson are to write an article for the County Line, and to put a link on the CCMS website to Access Health. 

 

Bylaws, Policies and Procedures Committee

After discussion, the revisions were approved and staff was directed to send these changes to the membership in the spring at the usual time.    

 

Health District Report

Dr. Kwalick was unable to attend the meeting but sent a report to the Board on current Health District concerns.

 

Scholarship Report

Dr. Ellerton reported he is re-negotiating with the University system because they want scholarship donations to go through the various university Foundations.  Dr. Ellerton will call a meeting of the Scholarship Committee to discuss this request.

 

NSMA Report

Larry Matheis stated they are in the process of getting the legislative strategy developed.  He passed out packets to each Board member regarding Medicare Part D.

 

Delegates

Dr. Nelson reminded everyone that the NSMA Annual meeting will be in the spring and she asked each Board member to work on bringing one additional person to be a Delegate.  She suggested the Board consider giving each Delegate $100 for participating, and asked this issue be on the agenda for the next meeting.

 

President's Report

Dr. Kline stated the AMA News is going to run a story on Allscripts and CCMS.   

 

New Business

The NAWBO nominees were presented to the Board members.  Dr. Carol Vanderharten was chosen as CCMS' nominee. 

 

The Board decided that articles and items submitted for publication in the County Line will be determined based on space available.  If space is available, the priority of the articles or items will be determined by the CCMS CEO, CCMS Office Manager, or the CCMS president.

 

Future Meetings

The next BOT meeting will be on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 6 pm. 

 

Adjournment                                    

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

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Classifieds

 

skiing; xmas to ny-day; 52%off room:  In Park City, on Main Street (amongst shops, restaurants, entertainment, etc.), across street from ski-lift.  Marriott timeshare: Studio, sleeps 4 (King + sofabed), kitchenette.  $1,050 (Marriott charging $2,232.44), advance payment.  ddmkmmk@aol.com; cellular 858-2292.

 

HOUSE FOR RENT: Located inside Red Rock Country Club, 3 bedrooms, 31/2 baths, 3 car garage, custom landscape, view of water, golf course mountains, easy access to I-215. Available Dec 05, call 813-1470.

 

mEDICAL OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT.  Great location, currently renting half/full days, 1100 sq ft, 3-exam rooms/lab/Drs. Office, large check in/out. Fully furnished. Del Webb building/adjacent to Siena Hospital. Please contact Gayle at (702) 454-6226.

 

New Office Space: Near Southern Hills Hospital.  4,000 sq.ft. to share with established Family Practice Primary Care or specialty OK.  Available 03/06.  Call 951-3400 or 612-2111 (cell).

 

FOR SALE: Rosenthal China - Bettina pattern.  Service for 20, includes some serving pieces.  Retails at $3,500.  Yours for $1,500 or best offer,  call Joan at 255-3545. 

 

LOOKING FOR BOARD CERTIFIED PHYSICIANS: in Hematology, Nephrology, Neonatology, Emergency Medicine, Thoracic/CV Surgery, Rheumatology, and Transplants to do chart reviews.  URAC accredited Independent Review Organization.  Hourly rate.  Fax CV to Neva at (702) 385-1312.

 

physician turned author: death by any means By Leonard Kreisler, MD www.durbanhouse.com (publisher) Available at Barnes and Noble, Walmart.com, Target.com OR inscribed from the author: $14.95 + $3.00 S&H (Total $17.95) to Leonard Kreisler, MD, 2512 Silverton Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89134.

 

Spanish villa for Sale, costa del sol spain: 2,000sq meters of land, 350 sq meter house, 3 levels, 4 bedrooms, 1 office, 4 baths, olympic size swimming pool, 1 car garage, tropical garden, magnificent view for $635,000.  Call Beata Kwiatkowska, MD (702) 228-4483 ext 267 or cell (702) 401-6420.

 

For Lease:   4000(+/-) sq ft, W Charleston frontage, one story, ample parking, located between Rancho & Campbell.  Close to Valley & UMC hospitals and freeways.  Call 804-4736 or cell 232-3344.

 

LAS VEGAS FAMILY PRACTICE FOR SALE:  Well-established, very successful private practice, near west side.  All furnishings and equipment included.  Yearly collections $500K with potential growth.  Over 5,000 active charts.  Owner retiring from private practice but will transition.  Phone (702) 364-2044 for more information.

 

HOUSE FOR SALE: Southwest, gated, 5584 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 7 baths,  pool, 3 car garage. View at www.circlepix.com (virtual tour #MK4EYB) $1,350,000.  Call Jody Lenzie/Century 21 - (702) 499-9494 or (702) 289-2835.

 

Physician Reviewers Needed: HealthInsight, the Quality Improvement Organization for the Medicare Beneficiaries of the state of Nevada, NEEDS Physician Reviewers. HealthInsight works in partnership with health care providers to improve the quality of healthcare in our state.  If interested, please contact: Dr. Shreck at (702) 385-9933.

 

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CME CALENDAR

Bechtel Nevada     295-0208

 

NV Chapter AACE 434-8400

 

Pri-Med Institute     (877) 4PRI-MED

 

Sierra Health Services 242-7735

12/8 - “Hand and Arm Problems from the Neurologist’s Perspective”

1/12 – “Diabetes Update”

2/9 – “Updates on Viral Hepatitis (Hepatitis A-E)”

 

Southern Nevada AHEC     318-8452

 

Southwest Medical Associates   242-7735

 

Summerlin Hospital     233-7572

 

Sunrise Hospital     731-8210

 

UMC     383-2604

 

Valley Hospital     388-4847

12/13 - “Chemodenervation: Pros and Cons

 

Only CME Activities held at the Clark County Medical Society office are specifically endorsed by CCMS.

 

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Clark County Health District Disease Statistics* - October 2005

 

CLARK COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT

DISEASE STATISTICS* - October 2005

DISEASE                                                           CASES REPORTED     YEAR TO DATE

                                                                        Oct 2004  Oct 2005        2004     2005

VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES

DIPTHERIA                                                                   0          0          0          0

HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZA                                          1          0          6          11

HEPATITIS A                                                                 0          3          6          8

HEPATITIS B                                                                 6          1          46         20

INFLUENZA                                                                   0          0          53         119

MEASLES                                                                    0          0          0          0

MUMPS                                                                        0          0          0          1

PERTUSSIS                                                                  3          3          7          29

POLIOMYELITIS                                                            0          0          0          0

RUBELLA                                                                     0          0          0          0

TETANUS                                                                     0          0          0          0

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

AIDS                                                                             15         18         216       169

CHLAMYDIA                                                                 253       161       4012     4502

GONORRHEA                                                               146       71         2087     1967

HIV                                                                               25         29         250       217

SYPHILIS (Early Latent)                                                 1          4          9          22

SYPHILIS (Primary & Secondary)                                    4          2          32         83

ENTERICS

AMEBIASIS                                                                  3          2          12         13

BOTULISM-INTESTINAL                                                 0          0          0          1

CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS                                               10         14         77         75

CHOLERA                                                                     0          0          0          0

CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS                                                  0          0          2          6

E. COLI O157:H7                                                           6          1          16         11

GIARDIA                                                                       8          13         59         59

ROTAVIRUS                                                                  50         7          553       406

SALMONELLOSIS                                                         17         20         99         117

SHIGELLOSIS                                                               12         4          44         40

TYPHOID FEVER                                                          0          0          1          0

VIBRIO                                                                         0          0          4          0

YERSINIOSIS                                                                2          0          2          1

OTHER

ANTHRAX                                                                     0          0          0          0

BOTULISM INTOXICATION                                             0          0          0          0

BRUCELLOSIS                                                              0          0          0          0

COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS                                                6          5          47         50

ENCEPHALITIS                                                             0          0          1          3

HANTAVIRUS                                                                0          0          0          0

HEMOLYTIC UREMIC (HUS)                                          0          0          0          0

HEPATITIS C                                                                 1          0          3          0

HEPATITIS D                                                                 0          0          0          0

INVASIVE STREPTOCOCCAL                                        0          6          1          9

LEGIONELLOSIS                                                           0          3          4          14

LEPROSY                                                                     0          0          1          0

LEPTOSPIROSIS                                                          0          0          0          0

LISTERIOSIS                                                                 0          0          5          0

LYME DISEASE                                                            0          0          0          0

MALARIA                                                                      0          0          5          0

MENINGITIS, ASEPTIC/VIRAL                                        10         9          74         69

MENINGITIS, BACTERIAL                                              5          1          15         10

MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE                                        0          1          4          7

PLAGUE                                                                       0          0          0          0

PSITTACOSIS                                                               0          0          0          0

Q FEVER                                                                      0          0          0          1

RABIES (HUMAN)                                                         0          0          0          0

RELAPSING FEVER                                                      0          0          0          0

ROCKY MTN SPOTTED FEVER                                     0          0          0          0

RSV                                                                             12         28         1047     1311

TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME                                           0          0          2          3

TOXIC SHOCK SYN                                                       0          0          2          2

(STREPTOCOCCAL)

TUBERCULOSIS                                                           6          6          61         75

TULAREMIA                                                                  0          0          0          0

UNUSUAL ILLNESS                                                       0          0          2          1

WEST NILE VIRUS                                                        0          2          12         3

 (ENCEPHALITIS)

WEST NILE VIRUS (FEVER)                                          2          0          7          2

 *Numbers include confirmed and probable cases.

 

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County Line Advertisers

Brazill Team/Remax…204-6191… www.TheBrazillTeam.com

Business Funding Solutions ….. 248-3016 ….. www.businessfundingsolutions.net

CB Richard Ellis…369-4800… www.cbre.com

Colonial Bank ….. 304-3770 ….. www.colonialbank.com

Consultants in Marketing….944-2464

DMSL Medical Management & Billing Service ….. 558-2326

Machabee Office Environments…260-0555… www.machabee.com

Mason Medical Management …..458-2455….. no website

Mass Media……..433-4331…..www.massmedia.com

Medical Group Management Association ….. 697-5471 ext. 134

Medical Liability Association of Nevada (MLAN) ….. 804-7333 ….. www.mlan.org

Nevada First Bank ….. 310-4000 ….. www.nevadafirstbank.com

Nevada Mutual Insurance Company ….. 798-6001 ….. www.nevadamutual.com

Priority One Commercial ….. 228-7464 ….. www.priorityonecommercial.com

Protrans ….. 877-6333 ….. www.protranslv.com

Red Rock Medical Billing….942-4117

Red Rock Radiology ….. 731-2888 ….. www.redrockradiology.com

Rose-Glenn Group….Nevada State Bank ….775-827-7311

Schadler Kramer Group …933-3000…. www.skglasvegas.com

United Blood Services ………228-4483

 

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