WORD TO THE WISE Newsletter: August 2019 - Volume 19, No. 8

In this issue: PCMS Directory alert: Submit your contact information changes ASAP! PCMS to relaunch database of physicians who have closed practices PCMS Events: Save the date for PCMS events, report from atrial fibrillation event Other events: Public health insurance option meeting, CMS National Training Program, childhood vision screening training, human trafficking training, golf tournament, "The Sip" fundraiser Community resources: HPV CME, rural telehealth toolkit, opioid community reference toolkit, naloxone campaign News: Hospice medical director needed News from CMS: Register for the 2019 Annual Meeting in Denver News from AMA: AMA physician wellbeing boot camp

PCMS DIRECTORY ALERT

Don't forget! Make updates to your listing in the 2019 PCMS Directory The 2019 PCMS Medical Directory will be published on September 27. Please email directory@pueblocms.org any and all updated contact information such as practice name, office phone numbers (including fax), and an updated professional photo. You're also invited to place an advertisement. This exclusive opportunity gives you the chance to reach all PCMS members plus other medical professionals and patients throughout our region. View advertising rates here. Find more information on the PCMS website here.

PCMS SERVICES FOR YOU AND YOUR PATIENTS

Website to assist providers with patient medical records On average, PCMS receives two to three phone calls a week from doctors’ offices or individuals requesting assistance locating patient medical records. A majority of the phone calls are from rural communities, with some local and some from other states like one recently from Utah. A major reason for the inability to locate medical records appears to be doctors closing practices unexpectedly and not notifying patients beforehand, also known by the Colorado Medical Board as “patient abandonment.” While most of the doctors we’ve been able to locate have been diligently following the Colorado Medical Board’s policy for medical record retention and protection, some may need a refresher. To aid our providers and their patients, PCMS has now posted the Medical Record Retention and Protection policy on our website here and will offer a centralized online location for providers to post information where their patients can locate their medical records should the provider relocate, retire or close practice for any reason. Please use the Contact Us portal to let PCMS staff know if you would like to be added to the list and how your patients can access their records, and/or share this information with a provider who would like to be on the list and ensure patient medical records are easy to locate according to policy. Read more here.

PCMS EVENTS

Save the date for upcoming PCMS events in 2019 More details online at pueblocms.org/events ! Cannabis Forum - Aug. 8, 7 a.m.  Annual General Meeting - Sept. 24, 5:30 p.m. Symposium on Updates in Primary Care - Oct. 12, 8 a.m. Holiday Social - Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m.

Report: Atrial Fibrillation, where we’ve been and where we are going Our July 17th Atrial Fibrillation event was another great success! Guest speakers Kathleen Hayes Brown, MD, and Charles W. Stout, MD, spoke with 33 physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners about the new procedure for atrial fibrillation and the long-term use of Warfarin. This new procedure called the Watchman is a permanent implant that reduces the risk of stroke and the risk of bleeding that can come from the long-term use of Warfarin. Thanks to our sponsor Boston Scientific, another complimentary CME event was offered to PCMS members and guests. Medical professionals were once again updated about a new procedure and collaborations between attendees were formed or strengthened!

OTHER EVENTS

What should be Colorado's approach to creating a state option? Plan to attend the local stakeholder meeting held on Aug. 8 More than 40 physicians representing many specialties and geographic areas gathered at CMS headquarters on July 23 to discuss the state’s development of a public option for health insurance. PCMS was represented by Terry Lakin, DO, MPH. The physician leaders shared information, gathered perspectives, and considered opportunities for collaboration to influence the development of the plan. The group heard from special guests Kim Bimestefer, executive director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), and Michael Conway, commissioner of the Division of Insurance (DOI), and then held a facilitated group discussion to identify key takeaways and steps moving forward. Read more here. A regional meeting -- similar type of presentation as July -- is being held in Pueblo on Thursday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at CSU-Pueblo, to get local providers' feedback on the eligibility and population for whom the state option may be available, affordability considerations, and what the existing state health infrastructure means to you. Please plan to attend this very important meeting -- state officials want your ideas on key issues regarding the legislature-directed public option! RSVP for the Pueblo meeting here. Click here to view all the information about the issue including background information about the bill, stakeholder meetings throughout the state, and other information as it becomes available; and submit formal written comments, which will be posted online.

2019 federal CMS National Training Program Workshops - July, August and September Registration for the 2019 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services National Training Program (NTP) workshops is open. The cities and dates for the workshops are listed below; attend at the location and days of your choice to meet your schedule and learning needs. There is no fee to attend. Register here. San Francisco, CA: Aug. 6-8 Chicago, IL: Aug. 13-15 Arlington, TX: Aug. 20-22 Providence, RI: Sept. 10-12

RMEC's to host Childhood Vision Screening Awareness event - Aug. 10 Rocky Mountain Eye Center will host a training for health care practitioners and early intervention specialists on Aug. 10 to improve technical skills of early childhood vision screenings and tips on identifying visual problems in children. Age group focus: 0-3 infants, and 3-7 children. It will be held at 27 Montebello Rd in Pueblo and will comprise two sets of concurrent sessions starting at 10 a.m. Refreshments provided at noon followed by open discussion. Registration is not required.

Human trafficking training for providers - Aug. 12 Health care providers can play a critical role in identifying and referring people who may have been trafficked and are integral to post-trafficking care. Join the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking in partnership with the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment for a special two-part training on the impact human trafficking is having in our region and state and what health care professionals can do to respond. It will be held 3 - 6:15 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12 at PDPHE, 101 W. 9th St. in Pueblo. Find more information here.

Registration is open for the 4th Annual Partners of Youth in Ag Golf Tournament - Aug. 23 The 4th Annual Partners of Youth in Ag Golf Tournament will be held the opening day of the Colorado State Fair, Friday, August 23rd at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo. The tournament is a 4-person scramble and a $100 per player entry fee. Entry fee includes green fees, cart rental, range balls, refreshments, breakfast, lunch, and a goodie bag. Check-in begins at 7 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers. Proceeds from the tournament aid in the Colorado State Fair Foundation's ongoing efforts to support our mission. Click here for more information and to register.

"The Sip" fundraiser benefitting the Colorado State Fair Foundation - Oct. 19 Join the Colorado State Fair Foundation for "The Sip" on Saturday, Oct. 19 to support youth experiences at the Colorado State Fair, all while enjoying an evening of tasting from some of Colorado's finest wineries, breweries, and distilleries, amazing food, live music, a live auction of several very unique "experience" packages at a truly unique western venue. The Sip will be held at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy, located at 101 Pro Rodeo Dr. in Colorado Springs. We hope that you join us as we honor the 2019 Outstanding Service Award recipients. Find more information here; registration opens soon.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Free CME self-study guide: "Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Safety" The National AHEC Organization presents a free CME self-study guide to help physicians and other providers learn more about HPV vaccination safety. Take the course now to earn up to 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ hour for physicians, 1 ANCC contact hour for nurses or 1 ACPE contact hour for pharmacists. The speaker is Julianne Gee, MPH, of the Immunization Safety Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After completion, participants will have a better understanding of the background of HPV vaccine, vaccine safety systems and findings, cite effective communication messages on HPV vaccine safety, provide care and counsel for patients and families. Read more on PCMS's educational and training events page of the website.

Access the rural telehealth toolkit for help developing and expanding telehealth programs The Rural Telehealth Toolkit, developed by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) on behalf of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), is designed to help rural communities identify and implement telehealth programs. The toolkit compiles evidence-based models and resources to support organizations in identifying and implementing telehealth programs to address common challenges experienced in rural communities across the United States. Access the toolkit here.

New edition of opioid consortium's "Community Reference" toolkit is online The 2019 edition of "Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention: A Colorado Community Reference" has been completely revised to provide a better look at the current state of the opioid crisis in Colorado – and to reflect feedback on what tools and information people and organizations around the state need to fight the epidemic in their communities. Read and download the Community Reference here.

Encourage Coloradans to "Bring Naloxone Home!" The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention asks you to help spread the word about naloxone, the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. The consortium launched the Bring Naloxone Home campaign on Aug. 1. The campaign focuses on the message that opioid overdoses occur in all kinds of settings across Colorado, impacting citizens of every socio-economic level, age range, and community. It will feature digital and social media ads, a website, billboards, transit ads, and media outreach. See more information about the campaign on the consortium's website.

NEWS

Interim Healthcare seeking a medical director for hospice program Interim Healthcare is in the process of recruiting a medical director for their internal hospice program. Click here for a copy of their policy and procedure manual and click here for a physician contract for details about the position. If interested, contact Lori Vasquez, MSW, transitional care coordinator at 719-545-1184 or lvasquez@interimhealthcare.com.

NEWS FROM THE COLORADO MEDICAL SOCIETY

Register today for the 2019 CMS Annual Meeting, Presidential Celebration and Inaugural Gala - Saturday, Sept. 14 in Denver The Colorado Medical Society invites you to enjoy an engaging day of fun, education and camaraderie at the 2019 CMS Annual Meeting, Presidential Celebration and Inaugural Gala on Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS). Bring your family and guests to enjoy free access to the museum during the day. In the afternoon, physicians in all stages of their careers can attend three hours of educational programming geared toward the latest knowledge needs. That evening, CMS will honor all volunteers to organized medicine at the semi-formal inaugural gala that also features dinner, drinks, music, exclusive access to the DMNS Gems and Minerals Exhibit, the sumptuous COPIC dessert buffet, and the swearing in of incoming CMS president David S. Markenson, MD, MBA. Free childcare with fun activities will be provided all day by childcare experts in the Children's Activity Center. A ticket fee of $70 per person for active/emeritus members and $30 for medical students will be charged for the Inaugural Gala. Discounted hotel pricing nearby is available through the CMS room block. Register online here. Find more information here.

NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AMA to host practice transformation boot camp and learning experience - Sept. 18 in Charlotte, N.C.

Prior to the 2019 American Conference on Physician Health™ (ACPH), the AMA will host a practice transformation boot camp. The boot camp has been designed to focus on the fundamentals of effective change strategies and workflow interventions that improve practice efficiency and promote professional well-being. Physicians, care team members and other health system professionals are invited to register. Registration for the ACPH, a scientific conference co-sponsored by the AMA, Mayo Clinic and Stanford University, is also open. This year’s theme for the ACPH is “Activating health system change to promote physician well-being.” Find more information about both events here.

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.

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

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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