The official e-newsletter of the Maricopa County Medical Society  

Volume 9 | Issue 14| August 3, 2015 
In This Issue
Apply to Serve on the MCMS Board of Directors
Physician-owned Practices Still Dominate Medical Marketplace
Ineffective Communication and Cognitive Bias Result in Fatalities
Do Cell Phones Belong in the Operating Room?
How Does the ACA Impact You? Share Your Opinion with MCMS
You're Invited to a Night Out with Native Health
Midwestern University Promotes Dr. Sean Reeder
AZ Geriatrics Society Annual Summer Conference
ICD-10 Implentation Resources
Medical Liability Damages Cap Upheld
Physician Groups Band Together to Address Opiod Crisis
Southwest Behavioral & Health Services Appoints Four to Leadership
BROADWAY EAST MEDICAL CENTER
MEDICAL SPACE AVAILABLE 
Leasing medical space at Broadway & Sossaman, Mesa, near the 60 & 202.

Anchored by primary care practices. Located between 3 E. Valley hospitals. Incentives & tenant improvements.

Call 602-339-1860.
Please Volunteer Your Time at the 2015 ACT Kids Health Fair

MEDICAL OFFICE SUITE TEMPE-MESA AREA
For lease in beautiful garden office complex. Includes covered doctor parking. Excellent location with easy access to 101 & 60 freeways & close to Desert Samaritan & Tempe St. Luke's Hospitals.

Contact 602-625-6298.
LOT FOR SALE IN PINETOP, ARIZONA
BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME!

BEAUTIFUL OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE WITHIN EXISTING SUITE
Atrium building in N. Scottsdale near 101 & Raintree.

Perfect for
Psychiatrist or other mental health professional looking for space without having to rent a suite.

Rent by the day or month.

Call 480-483-8986.
New Valley Fever Reference Booklet for Physicians
The Valley Fever Center for Excellence has produced a new reference booklet for physicians and healthcare professionals. Valley Fever, which is endemic to the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico, results in an estimated 150,000 infections annually.

The booklet is available through the Maricopa County Medical Society. Please email us with your full name, practice/facility name, and mailing address and we will mail you a complimentary copy.
MLN Connects National Provider Call: Countdown to ICD-10

Thursday, August 27, 2015, 2:30-4 pm ET   

 

Register at MLN Connects Event Registration  >> 

 

Don't miss the August 27 MLN Connects Call - five weeks before ICD-10 implementation on October 1, 2015.

 

Sue Bowman from the American Health Information Management Association and Nelly Leon-Chisen from the American Hospital Association will provide coding guidance and tips, along with updates from CMS.

Arizona State Physicians Association (ASPA) to Hold Annual Health Plan & Vendor Fair 
Mark your calendars and attend the fair on Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 10 am - 3 pm.

Great opportunity for physicians, office managers, practice administrators and other healthcare providers to network with vendors who offer products and services designed to make your job a bit easier!
   

The event will be held at the AZ Biltmore Resort, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, 85016.

 

(PDF) Informational flyer and registration form >> 
ICD-10 is in 70 days. Are you ready?

Less than 70 days remain until our nation makes the transition to ICD-10 for coding medical diagnoses and inpatient hospital procedures on October 1, 2015.  

 

To jumpstart your efforts, begin with the Quick Start Guide. Providers can also go to the Road to 10 tool to create customized action plans.

 

For more information and other resources visit cms.gov/ICD10.    

Desert Cove Land 

Desert Cove Land

for sale in Scottsdale's Cure Corridor at Loop 101 and Shea Blvd near Scottsdale Shea Medical Center.  

 

Retail, restaurant amenities, hotel and child care facilities in the vicinity.

 

Call Marina, Tracy or Autumn at Ensemble Real Estate Solutions, 602-277-8558.

Volunteers Needed for Path to Wellness Screening 
Two Path to Wellness  screening events are scheduled for the remainder of calendar year 2015:

Saturday, September 19th at the Indo American Cultural Center, Phoenix

Saturday, December 5th at the First Institutional Baptist Church, Phoenix

Technical and general volunteers are needed. Technical volunteers will draw blood samples and/or operating Point of Care Testing Devices; general volunteers will greet and register participants, answer general questions, and other misc. tasks.    

 

Volunteer agreement for 2015 >> 

  

The completed form can be faxed to James Ivie at (602) 845-7955 or scanned and returned as an e-mail attachment.
Are You Interested in Serving on the MCMS Board of Directors? 

The Maricopa County Medical Society Board of Directors serves as an advisory group that oversees the activities of the Society. The Board's primary role is to ensure that the Society's mission is being upheld and to oversee implementation of our strategic plan through various committees. The time commitment is minimal, and does not interfere with your practice, typically meeting once per month for less than two hours. 

 

We are looking for fresh ideas and welcome new additions to the Board. No experience is necessary as an interest in protecting the practice of medicine is all you need! Please consider a position on our Board of Directors and complete the brief application using the link below.      

 

If you have any questions or concerns prior to applying, please contact Jay Conyers, PhD, Executive Director, by email at jconyers@mcmsonline.com.

 

We hope to see you on the Board next year!

 

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eb7xml4qibjmv0t2/start
Physician-owned Practices Still Dominate Medical Marketplace
A new AMA report looked at both short- and long-term changes in physician practice arrangements using data from the most recent AMA Physician Practice Benchmark Survey, finding that growth in hospital ownership has been slow while most physicians still provide care for patients in small practices.

The number of physicians in small practices with 10 or fewer physicians remained the majority at 60.7 percent. And 56.8 percent of physicians worked in practices wholly owned by physicians, only a slight decrease from 2012, when 60.1 percent of physicians worked in physician-owned practices.

Read the full article >>
Ineffective Communication and Cognitive Bias Result in Fatalities
Judy Avery, BSN, RN
By Judy Avery, Risk Management, Education Coordinator, Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (MICA) 
 
A 37-year-old female in her 32nd week of an uncomplicated first pregnancy presented to the ED at 9:00 p.m. complaining of rapid onset of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and severe right upper quadrant pain. Her husband reported she complained of severe headache but the information was not documented. Her blood pressure at admission was 128/88 and she reported abdominal tenderness to palpation. The ED physician diagnosed gastroenteritis from food poisoning, ordered blood tests and administered Demerol for abdominal pain.

The patient's hematocrit was 40 and platelets 118,000. After a period of observation with no symptom improvement, the ED physician contacted the patient's obstetrician. The OB concurred with the diagnosis of gastroenteritis and agreed to admit the patient to a medical floor for hydration and observation. The OB would later claim that he was not told of the platelet count, blood pressure or RUQ pain.

While the patient was waiting for a room, other blood test results noted elevated liver enzymes but the ED physician took no action. At about 1:00 a.m. the ED nurse reported the patient's BP was 172/86 and expressed concern that the patient might have pre-eclampsia. The ED physician responded "it's not pre-eclampsia, it's food poisoning." The physician stated later that she assumed the elevated BP was an isolated reading and assumed the nurse would recheck the BP. The BP was not rechecked.

Read the full case study and lessons learned >>
Do Cell Phones Belong in the Operating Room?

By Shefali Luthr, Kaiser Health News

Originally posted July 14, 2015


Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a nonprofit national health policy news service.

 

Next time you're on the operating table and you have one last look around as the anesthesiologist approaches, don't be too sure that that person in scrubs looking at a smartphone is pulling up vital health data. He or she might be texting a friend, or ordering a new carpet.

 

Cellphone use is not generally restricted in the operating room, but some experts say the time for rules has come. In interviews, many described co-workers texting friends and relatives from the surgical suite. Some spoke of colleagues who hide a phone in a drawer and check it when they think no one is watching.

"Sometimes it's just stuff like shopping online or checking Facebook," said Dwight Burney, an orthopedic surgeon from Albuquerque. "The problem is that it does lead to distraction." This can result in medical errors or lax safety procedures, such as forgetting to check a patient's identity, he said.

In one 2011 incident, a Texas anesthesiologist was accused of sending text messages and e-mails while monitoring a patient. Her oxygen levels dropped, which the anesthesiologist allegedly didn't notice for close to 20 minutes, and she died in surgery. The woman's family sued the anesthesiologist. The case was settled before going to trial.

Read the full article >>

How Does the Affordable Care Act Impact You? Share Your Opinion with MCMS
We want to know your thoughts on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). How has it impacted you personally and/or professionally? Positively? Negatively? Not at all?

Share your thoughts with MCMS in 350 words or less by
clicking here. 

Responses will be edited for length, grammar and format, and published in the September issue of Round-up Magazine. You can choose to have your comments published anonymously by checking the appropriate box on the submission form.

FULL OR PART TIME MEDICAL OR OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN needed for physical medicine, physical therapy, neuropathy and chiropractic clinic in Southwest Phoenix.
Responsibilities include primary care, neuropathy treatment and evaluating patients for various physical medicine treatments. Neuropathy and physical medicine experience not necessary.

Current medical doctor retiring so position is available immediately. Fun, energetic place to work.

Patients are cooperative and appreciative. Staff is bi-lingual, well-trained, motivated, professional, and sincere.

Please contact us with any questions or provide resume to drmaher@arizonahealthpros.com
Laughter IS the Best Medicine!
You're Invited to a Night Out with NATIVE HEALTH
Saturday, September 19, 2015 | 5 pm

You're invited to Native Health's 2nd Annual Laughter is the Best Medicine: A Night Out with NATIVE HEALTH fundraiser, Saturday, September 19, 2015, at the Embassy Suites Phoenix-Scottsdale in Phoenix, AZ. The featured entertainment will be Navajo comedians James and Ernie!

This event will help raise funds for NATIVE HEALTH's Emergency Assistance Program. Native American residents from rural communities, who experience significant health crisis or serious injuries are often transported to Phoenix to access appropriate levels of medical care, but face unexpected travel expenses. The NATIVE HEALTH Emergency Assistance Program may be utilized to access shelter, food, personal care items, and other necessities during a medical emergency.

Tickets are $75 (plus fees), and includes dinner and entertainment. The NATIVE HEALTH Board of Directors hopes you will attend and support this festive event. A pleasurable night is planned, including musicians, exceptional food, a silent auction, socializing and comedy, all for an important cause. For more information please call (602) 279-5262, ext. 3117.

Purchase tickets >>

Midwestern University Promotes Dr. Sean Reeder to Medical Director, Multispecialty Clinic, and Assistant Dean of the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sean Reeder, DO

Kathleen H. Goeppinger, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Midwestern University, is pleased to announce the promotion of Sean Reeder, DO, to Medical Director of the Midwestern University Multispecialty Clinic and Assistant Dean of the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM).

 

Dr. Reeder joined Midwestern University as a Clinical Instructor in 1998 and served as a preceptor to AZCOM students at his private family medicine practice until 2013, when he accepted an appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Multispecialty Clinic.

   

Dr. Reeder received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from Kansas City, Missouri's University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to joining Midwestern University, Dr. Reeder worked in Phoenix as a family physician in private practice for 11 years.

Mark Your Calendars and Register for the Arizona Geriatrics Society Annual Summer Geriatric Interprofessional Conference


Friday, August 21, 2015
High Country Conference Center in Flagstaff, AZ

 

The Arizona Geriatrics Society will present its Annual Summer Geriatrics Interprofessional Conference on "CANCER AND OLDER ADULTS" on August 21 in Flagstaff. This conference promises to enlighten and inspire when it comes to one of the most difficult diagnoses in medicine: cancer. Come and hear from some of the best speakers in Arizona on topics as diverse as the complex cancer patient and palliative care, breast cancer, and nurse navigation, as they help to demystify and provide guidance for you and your patients as they face cancer. Targeted cancer therapies and genetic counseling will also be explored and a panel of cancer survivors will share their personal perspectives and insights.  

 

For more information, download the conference brochure visit http://www.arizonageriatrics.org/2015-annual-summer-conference or call the AzGS office at 602-265-0211.  

ICD-10 Implementation Resources
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides many resources for physicians and their staff to assist with preparation for the conversion from ICD-9 to ICD-10 in October.

One of those resources is a provider e-newsletter called MLN Connects. The Thursday, July 30 issue contained many helpful articles, which we encourage you to read. To access this edition, click on the following link: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/FFSProvPartProg/Downloads/2015-07-30-eNews.pdf or visit the CMS ICD-10 website and Roadto10.org for the latest news and resources to help you prepare.
Medical Liability Damages Cap Upheld

Originally published in the AMA Advocacy Update
July 30, 2015

The nation's leading medical liability reform law has been upheld yet again in a California court of appeal, with the court finding that the state's cap on noneconomic damages is constitutional. It's another victory to ensure physicians can afford to stay in practice and continue to provide care to the patients in their communities.

In Chan v. Curran, the plaintiff attempted to prove that the non-economic damages cap under Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA), California's historic tort reform law, should be struck down. The cap is set at $250,000.

Read the full article >>  

Physician Groups Band Together to Address America's Opioid Crisis
Opioid abuse is a serious public health problem that has reached crisis levels across the United States, with 44 people dying each day from overdose of opioids, and many more becoming addicted. Recognizing the urgency and serious impact of this issue on the health of hundreds of thousands of patients across the country, on July 29th the American Medical Association (AMA) Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse announced the first of several national recommendations to address this growing epidemic.

The AMA Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse  is comprised of 27 physician organizations including the AMA, American Osteopathic Association, 17 specialty and seven state medical societies, as well as the American Dental Association, that are committed to identifying the best practices to combat this public health crisis and move swiftly to implement those practices across the country.

Read the full article >>
Southwest Behavioral & Health Services Strengthens Leadership Team with Four Key Appointments
Southwest Behavioral & Health Services has promoted four employees to its leadership team, overseeing the areas of Medical Administration, Crisis & Opioid Services, Out-Patient Services and Compliance & Risk Management. Holding those position are: Dr. Raquel Balderas, Heather Genovese, MC, LISAC, Shar Najafi, PhD, and Tiffany Zid, MS, LPC, CRC, CPRP.

 

To learn more about these individuals and Southwest Behavioral & Health Services, click here >>  

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InforMed Society is published by the Maricopa County Medical Society
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