WORD TO THE WISE
Newsletter: December 2018 - Volume 18, No. 12
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In this issue:
- President's corner: Happy holidays from your medical society
- Update from your CMS BOD rep: Serving others as a cure for burnout
- Renew your local dues today
- Events: Holiday party report and photos; PCMS representatives attend pro-bono breakfast
- Medical Topics: New opioid training for providers; Wellness corner: What is burnout?
- Upcoming events: Parkview chest pain summit
- Local news: Hepatits A, influenza and rabies all confirmed in Pueblo
- News from CMS: Renew your membership today
- News from AMA: CMS CEO receives AMA lifetime achievement award
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PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Happy holidays from your Pueblo County Medical Society
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On behalf of the Pueblo County Medical Society Board of Directors, I wish to extend warm holiday greetings to all of our provider members and your families. We have had a great year hosting and sponsoring collaborative, networking events for our members and disseminating information relevant to our patients, practices and community. I look forward to continuing to work with you all in the new year. I especially want to thank Cheryl Law, our tireless staff member recently promoted to chief executive officer, for all of her work to revamp the organization and keep us running smoothly.
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UPDATE FROM YOUR CMS BOD REP
Serving others as a cure for burnout
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I recently had a side conversation with our CMS president Dr. Deb Parsons about visiting the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. She mentioned she volunteered there and it was amazing to see a light turn on that lit up her whole face. It was clear she loved the time she spent there. Based on her recommendations my family and I had a wonderful time touring the museum.
In light of considering our upcoming year focusing on physician wellness, I can’t help but consider the wellness that comes from looking outside ourselves and serving our communities. As the discussion regarding how to handle burnout progresses we undoubtedly will talk about life balance and how long, grueling hours caring for others in health care settings can be taxing. No doubt it can. However I personally have found that, ironically, serving others in a volunteer capacity seems to treat burnout as well as anything else I have done. I am sure many of you have had similar experiences.
December, with the holidays celebrated, often seems to conjure up the best in us -- to reach out more and help those in need and remember the true joy of giving. As the New Year progresses I encourage us all to remember the joy of giving and thinking outside ourselves. As we do, it just may help our own feelings of burnout. Happy holidays and happy New Year!
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RENEW TODAY
PCMS membership dues are on their way; renew today!
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Don’t lose your connection with the only medical society in Pueblo! Please renew your membership today. To those who have renewed your membership, we
THANK YOU
for your generous support.
Your backing and devotion helps us continue to help you focus on what you do best -
deliver the highest quality of care to your patients!
If you're having doubts or need your questions answered, let’s talk. I’m so proud of the innovative work we’re doing together, and we’re looking forward to the new year, continuing our mission to facilitate meaningful collaborations of medical professionals in Pueblo County through social networking, education and advocacy.
Hope to see you at our events next year! Cheers, Cheryl
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PCMS members get thrown in “The Clink” for the holidays
By Les Nordman, PCMS volunteer
The evening of Friday, Nov. 2, 25 members of PCMS gathered together for a Holiday Social at The Clink in downtown Pueblo. The Clink, a customized, comfort-filled, lounge was created from the actual jail in the former station of the Pueblo Police Department.
From the aged meats with domestic and imported cheeses to an assortment of fruits and berries with yogurt and mint dipping sauces, PCMS members dined on Brues Alehouse best holiday hors d'oeuvres. Members enjoyed free drinks from the open bar including our signature drinks, Yule Mule and Apple Spice. Chatting into the late evening hours, members relaxed in front of a gorgeous fireplace that was the centerpiece of the grand ole place. Holiday lighting and folk rock music with a rhythmic style played in the background which made for a festive occasion.
Members ended the night by playing the Name Game with great enthusiasm and merriment. Dee Weber won the door prize for being the first to guess the name of her character and received a gift basket donated by Ent Credit Union filled with goodies from Kneaders in Colorado Springs.
All in all, members had a great time. PCMS would like to, once again, thank Ent Credit Union for their $500 sponsorship of our holiday event, and most generous sponsorship throughout 2018.
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PCMS representatives attend pro-bono breakfast
Representatives of PCMS attended the Pueblo Community Pro Bono Mental Health Program breakfast on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. Cheryl Law and Dr. Cheryl Walker, PCMS Director, represented the Society at this event, and PCMS donated $50 to the cause. The event was called “Heart of Pueblo Fundraising Breakfast.” It was held at the Depot and was well attended. This organization is extremely important to Pueblo, as it provides free mental health services to low-income individuals in Pueblo.
This organization began in 2011 and has seen exponential growth since. In 2018 alone, Pueblo Pro Bono Mental Health Services Program provided:
- Over 800 hours of free mental health counseling
- Free mental health counseling to over 350 individuals
- Girls who have experienced severe trauma are members of the Daisy Club
- Began MOTO-Vate, a club for young boys who have experienced severe trauma
- Coffee Chats program, an informal type of counseling for senior citizens, is operating at two housing authority residences
- Crisis intervention for organizations that experienced trauma in the workplace
- Mental health education for the Pueblo community
- Family of Addicts Support Group
- The Points of Light Volunteer Management Training Series (VTMS) to local volunteer organizations
- Monthly column on mental health in two local newspapers
- A monthly e-newsletter providing education and opportunities
- Provided eight therapists in Pueblo City Schools and District 70
There are many ways to get involved in this organization if you are interested. Please contact Betty Nufer at
BNufer@SparktheChangeColorado.org
or call 719-821-2982.
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New opioid training for providers – Dosing and Titration of Opioids: How Much, How Long, and How and When to Stop?
Do you have questions about how to safely dose, titrate, and taper opioids? Complete the CDC module,
Dosing and Titration of Opioids: How Much, How Long, and How and When to Stop?
to learn about best practices for dosing opioids. This module is the sixth in CDC’s series of interactive online trainings that health care providers can use to gain a better understanding of when to start, continue and stop opioids. In this module, health care providers will explore how to weigh the benefits and harms, including comorbidities, unpredictable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and determination of total morphine milligram equivalents when making clinical decisions on initiating, continuing and tapering opioids.
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Wellness corner - Physician burnout: A public health crisis
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What is burnout? Burnout is a work-related syndrome involving emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of reduce personal accomplishment and effectiveness.(1) It often arises from chronic stress associated with emotionally intense work demands, particularly when the resources to address those demands are inadequate. Rates of burnout are markedly higher among physicians than people in other careers, even after adjusting for work hours and other factors.(2-3) In fact, recent national studies in the U.S. of both physicians-in-training and practicing physicians find rates of burnout symptoms reaching epidemic proportions – approaching or exceeding 50%.(3-5)
Read more in this article from the UC Denver Behavioral Health and Wellness Center bi-monthly newsletter (second article in link).
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UPCOMING EVENTS
We strongly encourage all members and spouses to consider volunteering on a committee to plan a future PCMS event. Contact Cheryl at
cheryl.law@pueblocms.org
to volunteer or add your event to our upcoming event calendar.
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Register today for Parkview’s annual chest pain summit – Feb. 8-9
Parkview will host its annual Dr. Matthew Sumpter Memorial Chest Pain Symposium on Feb. 8-9, 2019, at the Pueblo Convention Center.
Register here
and view the complete agenda. Attendees can earn up to 8
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits
and 1 COPIC point.
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Alert: Hepatitis A in Pueblo County
CDPHE’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response along with the Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology Division have alerted those in El Paso and Pueblo counties of an evolving hepatitis A issue. Since the beginning of September, there have been eight cases of hepatitis A reported in the two counties. Of these cases:
- 4 are among people experiencing homelessness
- 5 are among people who use street drugs, including 3 people who report IV drug use
In the last two years multiple states have experienced outbreaks of hepatitis A in these high-risk populations. These outbreaks have grown rapidly, involved hundreds of individuals, and have been protracted, often lasting more than a year. Significant state resources have been required and, in some cases, have resulted in state or local public health emergency declarations. CDPHE is using lessons learned from these outbreaks in other states to aggressively respond to the current outbreak in El Paso County and prepare for a statewide outbreak. As part of this response, the CDPHE Department Operations Center was activated at a level 4 activation (virtual) on Nov. 28.
For more information on Hepatitis A, please review the links below.
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Influenza confirmed in Pueblo County
As of early December, public health officials in Pueblo announced the first confirmed influenza “flu” case in Pueblo County; the individual is a child.
“This first hospitalized flu case confirms flu is circulating in the Pueblo community,” said Jody Carrillo, division director at the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment. “Now is a good time to get the flu vaccine as the vaccine takes about two weeks for protection to set in,” Carrillo added.
“It is important for high-risk individuals with health problems, elderly or babies under six months old to avoid public events and crowds in order to decrease exposure to the virus,” Carrillo emphasized.
Physicians should encourage patients to receive the flu vaccine. If not provided at your practice, flu vaccine is available to all individuals 6 months and older through the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment by appointment. Patients can also seek out the flu vaccine at a local pharmacy.
Hospitalized flu cases in Pueblo
2016-2017 - 173
2015-2016 - 72
2014-2015 - 145
2013-2014 - 75
2012-2013 - 32
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Rabid skunk confirmed in Pueblo
In early December, the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed a skunk tested positive for rabies in the area of City Park in Pueblo. Public health officials warn individuals to stay away from all wild animals, and to keep screens on windows and doors in good condition to prevent wild animals from entering your home.
“It is unusual for animals to test positive for rabies this late in the year. However, rabies has been found in wild skunks, bats, and other animals throughout Pueblo County.” stated Jody Carrillo, Environmental Health and Emergency Preparedness division director of the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment. Carrillo added, “Wild animals, including skunks are to be left alone and not touched.”
Skunks need to be tested for rabies if they come into contact with humans or pets. Immediately remove yourself and your pets away from the wild animal, and contact Pueblo Animal Services at 544-3005 press “0” or the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment at 583-4307.
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NEWS FROM THE COLORADO MEDICAL SOCIETY
Stronger together: Maximize your membership by renewing with both PCMS and CMS
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Membership with the Colorado Medical Society and the Pueblo County Medical Society is more than just belonging to a consortium of physicians. It means legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy, connectivity with your peers outside of where you work, and personalized support at every stage of your career. We fight the battles facing your profession so you can focus on caring for patients. Renew today by responding to your renewal notice or contacting
Cheryl Law
or
Krystle Medford
.
Not a CMS member? You’re missing out on information and support to make practicing medicine easier.
Central Line
is your real-time connection to the more than 7,000 CMS physician members across all specialties, practice settings and regions. Engage through Central Line with your physician peers and help set CMS policy on the issues you care about. Current proposals under consideration involve setting policy on marijuana, out-of-network charges and exemptions for childhood vaccinations.
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NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
CMS CEO Alfred Gilchrist awarded AMA Lifetime Achievement Award
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The American Medical Association (AMA) honored Alfred Gilchrist, chief executive officer of the Colorado Medical Society (CMS), with the Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors a medical association executive who has contributed substantially to the goals and ideals of the medical profession.
Gilchrist earns the Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award for his 39 years of executive leadership in Colorado and Texas – a period in which he has guided, grown and advocated for the medical profession daily.
During his years of leadership at the CMS, Gilchrist has used his ability to form strong relationships and partnerships to secure numerous legislative victories in Colorado, while advancing the whole organization. In addition to his critical work on Medicaid expansion and insurance mergers, Gilchrist also designed the nation’s first standardized managed care contract law, requiring oversight of payer profiling and rating of physicians. He also played a critical role in securing grants and funding to improve care and ensure public health, including $1.5 million for pandemic flu preparedness.
The AMA presented the award to Gilchrist during the 2018 AMA Interim Meeting. We extend our most sincere congratulations to Alfred!
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MISSION:
Fa
cilitating meaningful collaboration of medical professionals in Pueblo County through social networking, education, and advocacy!
VISION:
To
c
reate a medical society that serves as a venue for collaboration for the betterment of healthcare in Pueblo County, and improve the practice of medicine and life of medical professionals, locally.
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Board Officers:
President: Thomas Greidanus, MD; President-Elect: open position; Secretary: Marcel Junqueira, MD; Treasurer: Robert Tonsing, MD; Past-President: Alfredo Vargas, MD; CMS Representative: Brad Roberts, MD |
Directors:
Julie Newburg, MD; Ross Patrick, MD; Cheryl Walker, DO; Kevin Weber, MD | Chief Executive Officer
:
Cheryl Law, MA, MNM
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This newsletter is intended for the members and interested persons of the Pueblo County Medical Society. If you have received this and wish to opt-out call 719-281-6073 or use the “unsubscribe” link below.
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