Gov. Snyder appoints MOA President-Elect, Lawrence Prokop, DO, to the Board of Speech Language Pathology
Gov. Rick Snyder has announced the appointment of Lawrence Prokop, DO, of Mason to the Board of Speech Language Pathology.
The 11-member board assists the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs with regulating the licensure and practice of speech-language pathologists.
"I thank Lawrence for his commitment to presiding over speech-language pathologists in Michigan," said Snyder.
Dr. Prokop is the director of the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Clinic and an associate professor for the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is the president-elect of the Michigan Osteopathic Association and previously served on the Advisory Committee on Pain and Symptom Management.
Dr. Prokop holds bachelor's degrees from both Western Michigan University and Ferris State University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He will represent physicians and replace Melissa Pynnonen.
Prokop will serve the remainder of a four-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2020. His appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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Opioid Commission Releases Acute Pain Prescribing Recommendations for Health Professionals
"The recommendations are intended to provide alternatives to opioids and controlled substances for the treatment of acute pain," said Judge Linda Davis, chair of the PDOAC and founder of
Families Against Narcotics (FAN).
"The recommendations are a result of collaboration between multiple stakeholders working relentlessly to combat the opioid epidemic in Michigan."
The step-by-step recommendations will assist health professionals prepare for appointments, suggest alternative acute pain therapies for patients, and provide post-procedural guidelines to treat acute pain. The recommendations also remind registered health professionals to check the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) prior to patient visits if possible.
"The commission is tasked with looking at the opioid epidemic from a holistic statewide perspective that includes both prevention and treatment," said Dr. Rebecca Cunningham, professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of the Injury Center at the University of Michigan. "Providing health professionals with accessible education materials related to pain management will increase awareness about the crisis while potentially curbing opioid prescriptions."
The PDOAC was created by an executive order by Governor Rick Snyder in June 2016 based on the
Report of Findings and Recommendations for Action
released by the Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Task Force. The 17-member PDOAC -- made up of health professionals, law enforcement officers, substance abuse treatment providers, government officials and citizens -- serves in an advisory capacity to the Governor and the Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
Link:
MDHHS LARA announcement
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Healthology Symposium 2018: HCPM Report
The Michigan Osteopathic Association along with its new healthcare provider organization, Healthcare Partners of Michigan, were proud to be a sponsor of the Healthology Symposium 2018, a two-day event held on the grounds of Oakland University in conjunction with the School of Health Sciences on April 17-18, 2018.
The Healthology Symposium 2018 "where science, practice, and social interests meet" titled "Better Upstream Health Downstream Care," provided a culminating focus for faculty, students and community partners to celebrate impactful research and scholarship that affect health outcomes. Health care leaders and providers gathered to discuss the importance of addressing the "upstream" social determinants of health in achieving better "downstream" care and called for public awareness and professional action on addressing social determinants of health.
The event began with a public forum led by prominent TEDTalk speaker, Rishi Manchanda, M.D. MPH, president and founder of Health Begins, and an "upstreamist".
On April 18, the program continued with panel discussions, breakout sessions for developing professional action, and closing remarks from Paul Grundy, M.D., MPH, FACOEM, FACPM, founding president of the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative.
Presenting on panels were Kathy Forzley, MPA, Director Oakland County Health and Human Services;
Detroit physician leader Herb Smitherman, MD, MPH; and healthcare transformation executive and advocate, Marianne Udow-Phillips, MHSA.
The program included welcoming remarks by Kevin Arthur Ball, PhD, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and was moderated by Lila Lazarus, MA, an award-winning journalist who has anchored television news in Michigan, Maryland and Massachusetts.
It was a full day for participants including a working lunch, two panel discussions and three concurrent breakout sessions, a poster session and networking. Attendees agreed it was a major success with the topic being timely in today's healthcare environment. Planning is already underway for Healthology 2019.
Link:
Oakland University Healthology Symposium
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Join us for the
119th Annual Spring Scientific Convention
as the MOA will offer educational opportunities with compelling sessions and information on issues affecting your practice and profession.
Thursday, May 17 - Sunday, May 20, 2018
The Westin Southfield Detroit - 1500 Town Center,
Southfield, MI 48075
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Spring Convention Session Highlight:
Join the Women of Excellence as they mark their 3rd anniversary with a guest speaker and a reception to follow. All are welcome as the group celebrates and promites women in leadership.
Women of Excellence Reception
| 6 pm | Room: Charlevoix A-B
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Road Condition Updates:
For the last 118 years springtime for DO's in Michigan has meant gathering for the Spring Scientific Convention. But since the advent of automobiles and roads spring can also mean construction projects that can cause delays. For the latest on road conditions, visit the MDOT MiDrive website. The site offers up-to-the-minute information construction and incidents that may affect your drive time.
Link:
MiDrive website
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The Drug Enforcement Agency
National Drug Take Back Day is
Saturday, April 28.
Encourage your patients, family and friends to safely dispose of prescription drugs. Help avoid unused or unwanted prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands.
Last fall's Take Back Day event collected a record-setting 912,305 pounds of prescription drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration first launched its Take Back Day in 2010, and since then has collected more than 9 million pounds of medicine from the public.
In our own state, Michigan OPEN is a valuable resource. The Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN) was launched in October 2016 with support from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) Value Partnerships, and the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan. Michigan OPEN was founded in an effort to develop a preventive approach to the opioid epidemic in the state of Michigan by tailoring postoperative and acute care opioid prescribing.
Look for the Drug Take Back message on social media through the rest of the week.
Hashtags include:
#SaveOurCommunities
#DEATakeBack
#BeRxSAFE
Links:
Drug Take Back Collection Site Locator
Drug Take Back Day website
DEA Drug Disposal Information
Michigan-OPEN website
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How much money doctors are making in 2018
Physician salaries continue to rise, though pay gaps by gender and race persist, according to Medscape's 2018 Physician Compensation Report.
For the seventh straight year, average physician compensation has increased, rising from just over $200,000 in 2011 to about $300,000 in 2018, reports Medscape in its 2018 Physician Compensation Report.
However, the report also found pay gaps by gender and race, noting that male primary care physicians earn, on average, $36,000 more than female primary care docs.
Among male and female specialists, the gap was even higher: $95,000. In general, African-American, Asian and Hispanic physicians of both genders all reported earning less than white physicians; Medscape listed age, choice of specialty and possible bias as factors that may be contributing to the discrepancy.
Here are the average reported annual salaries for physicians in the top five highest- and lowest-earning specialties:
Highest-earning specialties
- Plastic surgery, $501,000
- Orthopedics, $497,000
- Cardiology, $423,000
- Gastroenterology, $408,000
- Radiology, $401,000
Lowest-earning specialties
- Public Health & Preventive Medicine, $199,000
- Pediatrics, $212,000
- Diabetes & Endocrinology, $212,000
- Family Medicine, $219,000
- Internal Medicine, $230,000
For the report, Medscape surveyed more than 20,000 physicians across 29 specialties. To learn more, see the full report at
Medscape.
Link:
The DO article
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REMINDER:
LARA requirement for prescribing delayed
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) requirement to establish a "bona fide prescriber-patient relationship" prior to prescribing any controlled substances, which was part of the recently enacted opioid and prescribing legislative package, will be delayed pending the Governor's signature. As passed by the Legislature, House Bill 5678, sponsored by Rep. Bronna Kahle (R-Adrian), extends the effective date to March 31, 2019 or upon the promulgation of rules if prior to March 31, 2019. This requirement was originally slated to take effect at the end of this month.
Delaying the effective date gives the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) and a coalition of stakeholders the opportunity to work with LARA through the rules promulgation process to address several concerns with the definition of "bona fide prescriber-patient relationship." The current definition severely restricts the ability to provide quality care to established patients in emergent situations, when another prescriber is providing care when the primary prescriber is unavailable, when another licensed member of the health care team has been delegated to provide care, and during transitions of care such as from a hospital to a nursing home or hospice.
The MOA met with leadership within LARA in making sure this requirement did not take effect without appropriately addressing these unintended consequences. MOA appreciates Rep. Kahle for agreeing to use her bill as the vehicle to accomplish this and Sen. Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake), Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee, for shepherding the final compromise through to its resolution.
Links:
MOA Opioid Alert page (MOA member login)
Includes Opioid legislative FAQs, analysis of the new regulations and a list of the original bills with their legislative history.
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The Disappearing Doctor: How Mega-Mergers Are Changing the Business of Medical Care
Big corporations - giant retailers and health insurance companies - are teaming up to deliver medical care
Link:
New York Times article
Has the opioid pendulum swung too far?
Finding the balance between pain and addiction
"If I take pain medication away from a patient who is properly taking it for the right reasons, it means they hurt more," said Dr. Kenneth Choquette, a Coordinated Health pain management specialist and a physician for three decades. "So, are they dependent on the medication?" he said. "Absolutely. "But are they addicted to opioids?
Link: The Morning Call article - Lehigh Valley
Doctors' Humor Helps Boost Patient-Provider Relationships
Doctors looking to improve the patient-provider relationship can look to one simple strategy: make patients laugh.
Link:
Patient Engagement HIT article
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January 26, 2018, saw the passing of Henry F. Marcus, DO
Click here for a local obituary
January 23, 2018, saw the passing of Edward A. Loniewski, DO, FACOS, FAOAO
Click here for a local obituary
January 9, 2018, saw the passing of David A. Kellam, DO
December 26, 2017, saw the passing of Lawrence "Larry" Abramson, DO
June 3, 2017, saw the passing of Charles Alan Slagle, DO
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The MOA Pulse connects our DO family with our partners, followers and the healthcare communities of Michigan. If you have any news or events you would like to us share, or if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact:
Todd Ross
Manager of Communications
Michigan Osteopathic Association
517/827-0615
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