From the desk of: Wendy Young, Executive Director
(and the entire Team from the Sonoma County Medical Association
and Mendocino|Lake County Medical Society)
(707) 525-4141 | exec@scma.org
Protect access to quality health care;
Oppose the new MICRA measure

Defending MICRA... AGAIN.
We need your help. We can't do it alone.

A ballot measure being pushed by a wealthy out-of-state trial attorney is heading to the November 2020 ballot. If passed, it would substantially raise health care costs for all Californians, reduce access and exploit patients for profit.

The so-called “ Fairness for Injured Patients Act ” is the latest trial lawyer-funded statewide ballot measure scheme to end California’s long-standing liability reform law — the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA).

This measure will limit patient access to care, vastly increase the number of lawsuits filed in California and further divert
resources for patient care to the legal system. It would effectively eliminate the cap on non-economic damages for medical malpractice awards and hold physicians and others personally liable to pay medical malpractice awards.

If it passes, the measure will have a chilling effect on the health care profession and have a trickle-down effect that would be born primarily by low-income patients, who would face higher costs and restricted access to care.

SCMA WHITE COAT INVESTORS DINNERS
SCMA Financial Literacy Series: Designed for SCMA's Newest physician investors (residents and physicians practicing 10 years or less).

Two dates | same presentation:
Thursday, March 19 | 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
and/or
Thursday, March 26 | 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Location: Miso Good Ramen
507 4th Street, Santa Rosa

Topic:   Simplify Your Spending and Saving Strategies

This workshop is designed to help you sharpen your spending and saving strategy. We will discuss the basics of budgeting and the importance of managing credit and debt. Join financial advisor Russell Van Sistine to learn tips and techniques to improve your money habits, explore key principles of saving and investing and learn some specific strategies to help you reach your long-term financial goals. 

No cost! Includes dinner | RSVP: (707) 525-4375 | rachel@scma.org

Monthly Networking Lunch
Send your practice manager and/or professional administrative team!
Date: Wednesday , March 18, 2020
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Partnership HealthPlan
495 Tesconi Cir, Santa Rosa
Brown Bag Lunch
RSVP: (707) 525-4375
Mendocino & Lake County Physicians:
Join us for a Food and Wine Social!
Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Location: Campovida Winery
13601 Old River Road, Hopland

Co-Hosted by: Operation Access sharing details about their expanded service coming to Lake, Ukiah and Mendocino Counties!

Come enjoy wine, food, and connect with this great community of physicians. Bring your colleagues! Everyone is invited!

(707) 525-4375
Arequipa Sanatorium:
Life in California’s
Lung Resort for Women
Written by: Lynn Downey
BOOK REVIEW:
By: David Lightfoot, MD

This is the story of the Arequipa Sanatorium, a unique tuberculosis hospital that was specifically designed to treat working class women from the Bay Area.

It existed in Marin County from 1911 until 1957. The site is now the Northern California Girl Scout Council’s Marin Day Camp at Arequipa. ... By the dawn of the 19th century, tuberculosis, or consumption, had killed one in seven of all people who had ever lived. .... Click here to see the full review
Saturday, March 28, 2020 at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
Key Note Speaker:
David J. Grelotti, MD, Medical Director
University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research;
Cannabis and Cannabinoid-based Medicine: What Every Clinician Should Know
Job Opportunities:

St. Joseph Health Medical Group is seeking a Spanish-speaking physician to lead and develop a new clinic in northwest Santa Rosa. For details, see display ad in this newsletter or posting on the SCMA website.

Mendocino County is recruiting for a County Health Officer, annual salary $164,548 to $200,012. Functions as the chief health strategist, assisting and leading cohesive, multi-sectorial work to ensure the health and well-being of the people of Mendocino County. Open until filled. For more information and to apply: www.mendocinocounty.org/jobs. EOE

Annual Care of Cardiovascular Conditions Live Course | AAFP
July 8-11, 2020 | St. Louis, MO

Augment your knowledge of cardiovascular diseases and their treatments by attending this annual live CME course from the American Academy of Family Physicians!

Topics include heart failure, arrhythmias, hyperlipidemia guidelines, treatment of resistant hypertension, angina, Cardiovascular Pharmacogenomics, Heart Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease, and more. Nationally known speakers including our own Dr. Dave Schneider of the Sutter Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency presenting on July 11th. See you in St Louis!  For information and to register click for details.

Shopping Discount for you!

Columbia Sportswear Company would like to extend an exclusive invite to SCMA|MLCMS to access our private Employee Store . It is not open to the public due to the employee pricing (40-50% below retail). The store is stocked with current season products from our family of brands – Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, SOREL, and prAna. To gain store access, please bring this invite along with your proof of employment in the medical industry to our store in Richmond, CA March 1– 31, 2020. Store location and hours are listed on the invite. 

Have an item to submit for the News Briefs Bulletin Board? Free for SCMA and MLCMS members; $1 per word for nonmembers. Contact Susan Gumucio at 707-525-0102 or susan@scma.org .
St. Joseph Health Medical Group
(SJHMG)

Gregory Ackroyd, MD
Kurtis Birch, MD
Dale Britt, MD
Deborah Britt, MD
Frederick Drach, MD
Gregory Houghton, MD
Patrick Lally, MD
Zachary Lewton, MD
Gregory Sacher, MD
Austin Sue, MD
Ye Thu, MD

Laws and Trends Impacting
California Physicians
 
In its commitment to help all physicians run safe and successful medical practices, the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP) invites you to download and read the latest edition of its quarterly publication, Physician Today magazine. Penned by CAP and associated industry experts, each article in Physician Today offers valuable takeaways to help you stay in the know, and out of the courtroom. 
 
Inside the latest issue, you will find:
 
  • Current trends and legislative updates impacting California physicians
  • California legislation on discharge planning for the homeless population
  • The #MeToo movement’s potential impact on business owners
  • The ins and outs of purchasing life insurance
  • Tips on discussing informed refusal with your patients
  • And much more!
 
 
Find out how much you can save by switching your medical malpractice coverage to CAP.  Request an  instant quote   on our website or call 800-356-5672.
In collaboration with our many community partners, Cradle to Career is excited to announce the launch of the Equity in Education Initiative at the upcoming Latino Family Educational Summit on March 28, 2020 at Sonoma State University. The Equity in Education Initiative is an exciting, multi-year project led by Cradle to Career partners to advance equity in education locally.

Joining us in the Allies Track at the Latino Family Educational Summit. Register HERE
Let us help you with your 2020 marketing and business development plan and budget!
SCMA offers a number of ways for local businesses to connect with physicians and the local medical community, one of which is our comprehensive Business Partnership Program.

The program provides local physicians with vetted and committed professional and personal business resources. We ask our partners to commit to a benefit or pricing structure that is unique to SCMA members. [Click the cover brochure to the left to view the partnership details.]