|
|
|
|
January 6, 2010
| Vol. 17, No. 1
|
A new year brings new changes to the Medical Society of DC - among them, how we reach out to our members. In an effort to better serve physicians in the District, we are moving our monthly printed Newsline publication to a bi-weekly electronic newsletter: eNewsline.
Much can happen in a month's time. Sending shorter e-newsletters more frequently will keep you informed more effectively without using tediously lengthy e-mails you don't have time to sit down and read. You can expect each eNewsline to feature articles and information on a variety of topics ranging from the DC Council to National Health System Reform to what's happening in fellow physicians' lives.
Feel free to share your thoughts on eNewsline at any time. The Medical Society's communications are designed to be fluid and flexible to fit your style - all you have to do is let us know. The eNewsline editor, Chris Lee, can be reached at lee@msdc.org and (202) 355-9414.
|
|
2009-2010 Board of Directors
|
Stuart F. Seides, MD
At-Large; Chair of the Board
Peter E. Lavine, MD
President; AMA Alternate Delegate
Frederick C. Finelli, MD
President-Elect
Joseph Gutierrez, MD
Treasurer; AMA Delegation Chair
Robert W. Keisling, MD
At-Large; Secretary
Carlos A. Silva, MD
AMA Delegate
Laura L. Tosi, MD
At-Large; AMA Alternate Delegate
James C. Cobey, MD
At-Large
Julian R. Craig, MD
At-Large
John W. Larsen, MD
At-Large
Joan B. Loveland, MD
At-Large
Reginald Robinson,MD
At-Large
K. Edward Shanbacker
Executive Vice President
|
MSDC Staff
|
K. Edward Shanbacker
Executive Vice President
Barbara Allen
Director of Member Services
Rose Smith
Controller
Christopher W. Lee
Associate Director of Membership and Communications
|
Contact the MSDC Office
|
1115 30th Street, NW
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 466-1800 (phone)
(202) 452-1542 (fax)
info@msdc.org
www.msdc.org
|
Forward this issue of eNewsline on to a fellow physician!
|
|
From Highmark Medicare Services:
| - Want to
avoid making CERT errors? Examine the list of Common CERT Errors available
at our CERT Center!
- Each quarter Highmark Medicare Services provides
you with a list of the types of services that are causing problems. You
can use this information to perform your own audit so that you prevent
making the same mistakes.
https://www.highmarkmedicareservices.com/cert/index.html
- Need to
order a duplicate Standard Paper Remittance (SPR) or find earnings to
date?
- All of this and more is available through the
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System!
You have three options available under the Checks IVR
option. This is where you would go to find check status, earnings to date, or
to request a duplicate paper remittance.
Ordering a duplicate paper remittance is a feature that was
recently added at the request of our customers. Use this option any time that
you need a duplicate paper remittance.
- UPDATE:
REVISED Wage Index Pension Cost Spreadsheet
- The Office of the Actuary within CMS has REVISED
their spreadsheet to assist hospitals and FI/MACs in determining the
annual allowable defined benefit pension for the FY 2011 wage index.
https://www.highmarkmedicareservices.com/bulletins/all/news-11242009.html
|
H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Update:
| The best way to receive timely information regarding H1N1
vaccination updates and seasonal influenza updates are through e-mail. Be sure to provide the Medical Society with an accurate e-mail address by
contacting Barbara Allen at allen@msdc.org.
The
Department of Health has opened vaccinations to all patients. Please encourage each of your patients to get
the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations this winter to protect themselves and
those close to them from exposure.
For more information, visit the Medical Society's
homepage at www.msdc.org.
|
|
Introducing the DCRx Prescription Drug Discount Card Program
|
As
a physician of Washington, DC, you and
your patients have access to a FREE Prescription
Drug Card program. The Medical Society is
pleased to offer the DC
Rx CARD. Your patients can save up to 75% on prescriptions, selected eye-wear, vitamins
and other products. The card is accepted in pharmacies in the District, Maryland and Virginia.
The Medical Society of DC has received a shipment of these cards and have 250 cards available to each Society member who requests them. Please e-mail Chris Lee at lee@msdc.org and ask for the cards for your patients.
|
Can You Defend the Actions of Your Medical Assistants?
| | Physicians are held responsible for their own actions, but
can also be held responsible (i.e., vicariously liable) for the actions of
staff they supervise and/or employ. Assessing staff competency in performing
clinical tasks is both a good
patient safety and risk management tool. The
question of competency may be
raised if a problem occurs as a result of patient
care provided by office staff (often by medical assistants or "MAs"). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 62
percent of MAs work in physician offices. MAs perform a variety of clinical and
administrative tasks that vary from office to office. Common
tasks include
taking medical histories, recording vital signs, preparing patients for exams,
instructing patients about medications or diets, and performing basic
laboratory tests.
MAs also perform many administrative duties. They answer
phones, handle scheduling, arrange admissions and lab services, and assist with
correspondence. Often, the MA serves as a link between the physician and the
patient and must have excellent communication skills.
Training and Certification
Many MAs are trained on-the-job; however, many are also
certified by various organizations. The most commonly recognized certification
is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through the American Association of
Medical Assistants (AAMA). The American Medical Technologists offers a
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification. Both certifications require
candidates to graduate from an accredited medical assisting program, pass a
certification examination, and recertify every five years.
Another organization, the National Healthcareer Association,
offers certifications through home study programs. The Certified Clinical
Medical Assistant (CCMA) focuses on clinical skills, while the Certified
Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) focuses on administrative skills.
Assessing Competency
Physicians may be (and have been) asked to confirm an MA's
competency in defense of a professional liability claim-whether the MA received
on-the-job training or graduated from an accredited medical assisting program.
Assessing specific competencies of all staff upon hire (whether nurses, MA's,
lab technicians, etc.), and periodically thereafter, should help provide such
confirmation.
The American Association of Medical Assistants' Educational Competencies for the Medical
Assistant provides a tool to help physicians and practice managers assess
competency. This document lists 61 entry-level competencies and suggests
evaluation methods for each competency. The document lists not only administrative competencies (e.g.,
scheduling and managing appointments, organizing and filing medical records,
bookkeeping procedures, processing insurance claims, etc.), but also clinical competencies including:
- Fundamental procedures (e.g., hand washing and
sterilization techniques, disposing of biohazardous materials, standard
precautions, etc.);
- Specimen collection (e.g., venipuncture,
capillary puncture, patient instruction for urine and fecal specimens, etc.);
- Diagnostic testing (e.g., electrocardiography,
respiratory testing, CLIA waived tests);
- Patient care (e.g., obtaining and recording
vital signs and patient histories, preparing patients and assisting with
examinations and procedures, maintaining medication and immunization records,
screening and follow-up on test results, etc.).
Lastly, the document lists professional competencies which include professional
communications, legal concepts (e.g., ethical and confidentiality issues,
proper documentation, etc.), patient instruction, and operational functions
(e.g., inventorying and routine maintenance of equipment). To access the AAMA
competencies document, please click here.
Copyright © 2009 ProAssurance Corporation
Author: Julie Brownell, PhD, CPHRM, ARM, Senior Risk Management Consultant
|
American Lung Association of DC Launches New Website to Help Physicians Encourage Patients to Quit Smoking
| The American Lung Association of DC (ALA-DC) has created a
new website to support the "DC Tobacco-Free Families" (DCTFF) Campaign. The DCTFF website has a wealth of information
directly from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to assist
healthcare providers in helping their patients quit smoking, with links
directly to the resources offered by the PHS Guideline. You will also find
links to websites offering CMEs for online training in treating tobacco
dependence.
A helpful one-sheet and additional information can be accessed here and through www.dctff.info.
|
DC Medicaid Responds to MSDC's Call to Add Needed Drugs to the Formulary
| As a result of persistent and
persuasive work by Dr. Robert Keisling, a local psychiatrist with Pathways DC
and current MSDC Board member, DC Medicaid has added two drugs, Invega
Sustenna and Risperidone Consta, to the formulary as of February 1,
2010.
These two drugs are long-lasting
injectible anti-psychotic drugs. The time-release capability is desperately needed to treat
mentally ill homeless patients. That
population is historically difficult to treat effectively due to low compliance
rates. The two recently added drugs are
injected once every 30 days by a trained provider, which significantly improves
the success of treatment for patients, including the homeless.
Thank you for your commitment to your patients and
community, Dr. Keisling!
|
Meet the MSDC Staff for 2010!
|
The wonderful staff at our Medical Society of DC have a
combined 105 years working in organized medicine. 63 of those years have been at MSDC, serving
you - our member physicians - and your patients.
Our staff
is fully dedicated to our mission, originally developed in 1817:
"Ensure
the well-being of physicians in metropolitan Washington and their
patients. We advocate on behalf of our
member physicians of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds; we promote high
standards of character and professionalism; and we make certain that physicians
are and are recognized as the primary professionals who define and guarantee
high quality, appropriate, and cost-effective medical care. Above all, we aggressively defend the highest
principle of all: the integrity of the physician-patient relationship."
(Caption: Chris Lee,
Rose Smith, Barbara Allen and Ed Shanbacker)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
