They Said It...
"Telemedicine is here to stay. The thing is, there are things we can do through telemedicine and things we have to do in the office, whether there is a pandemic or not." Dr. Max Mercado, past president of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, giving his thoughts on how medical practices will operate following the pandemic. You can read his comments and more in our latest edition of Philadelphia Medicine magazine.
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Things you should know... |
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COVID-19 vaccine booster dose coming in September |
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Medicare says they are ready to pay for administering an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine consistent with the FDA emergency use authorization (EUA). The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will pay the same amount to administer this additional dose as they did for other doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (approximately $40 each). For more information about billing and coding, check out the COVID-19 Provider Toolkit and FDA announcement.
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Looking for medical office space? PCMS has some! |
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Approximately 2,995 to 4,995 square feet of recently finished, fully built-out medical office space is available on the third floor of PCMS headquarters. The space is just above Philadelphia’s newest Goddard School, which offers early learning programs for children. The site is zoned CMX-4 and located in the heart of the Fairmount neighborhood.
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Last call for resolutions to direct PAMED legislative priorities |
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PCMS is seeking your ideas for positive change in the practice of medicine. Resolutions represent organized medicine at work. We are proud of the process, because it preserves the value of each member's perspective and experience and empowers physicians to shape the ever-changing health care landscape. It also ensures that the Pennsylvania Medical Society is speaking with its members’ voices. The 2021 House of Delegates Resolution Submission form can be found here. The deadline for submissions is no later than Tuesday, Aug. 31.
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Physician burnout is an epidemic, with multiple studies indicating that up to one half of physicians experience symptoms of burnout, including exhaustion, cynicism and feelings of reduced effectiveness. The American Medical Association offers a toolkit, STEPS Forward™, that features more than 40 online modules, plus resources, case studies and other content around patient care, workflow, leading change, professional well-being, technology and finance. Addressing burnout enables health care professionals to take better care of themselves and their patients.
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Chronic hepatitis B (HBV): How can you help? |
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An estimated 296 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) globally in 2019, with 2.4 million of those residing within the United States. In efforts to address health disparities associated with HBV, the Hepatitis B Foundation and others are leading a Hepatitis B Project ECHO™ focused on HBV training and capacity building for primary care physicians. Join the Hepatitis B Foundation online training every fourth Thursday of each month and obtain free continuing education credits. Each session focuses on a different topic related to hepatitis B management.
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What physicians need to know about information sharing and the info blocking regulation |
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The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is hosting a series of webinars to discuss the information blocking requirements of the 21st Century Cures Act. This initial webinar is a physician-focused presentation covering key aspects of ONC's regulations focused on information blocking and is an opportunity to ask questions and get answers from ONC’s experts. This webinar is scheduled on Sept. 14 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Hear answers to questions such as:
- What is information blocking and why should I care?
- Why is information sharing so important?
- What information needs to be shared, and with whom?
- What are the allowable exceptions, and when do they apply?
Note: If you’re unable to join the live presentation, you can still register to receive a link to access a recording of the webcast.
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Hahnemann University Hospital reunion |
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PCMS plans to conduct a virtual reunion on Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. for those affected by the closure of Hahnemann University Hospital. All former HUH physicians and trainees employed at the time of HUH's closure are invited to participate in this virtual gathering. Please note this reunion event will be conducted on Zoom. Advanced registration is required.
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PAMED Frontline Call
Date: Thursday, Sept. 2
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Pennsylvania will be deploying a new Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) system this fall. The new system was created with prescribers in mind.
Enhancements include:
- Improved visualizations
- Quicker access to patient reports
- Streamlined registration
- More integration options
The PA PDMP team will provide a sneak peek of the new system and provide additional details about enhancements.
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Hahnemann University Hospital reunion
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 14
Time: 8 to 9:30 p.m.
All former HUH physicians and trainees employed at the time of HUH's closure are invited to participate in this virtual gathering to catch up and share your thoughts in the aftermath of the last two years. This reunion event will be conducted on Zoom.
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Child Abuse Prevention Training Program
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 9
Time: 7 to 9 p.m.
Save the date! Our upcoming Child Abuse Prevention Training Program for the 2022 licensing cycle will be taking place on Nov. 9. All physicians renewing their license are required to submit documentation to verify the completion of at least two hours of approved continuing education in child abuse recognition. The program will be conducted as a Zoom video conference.
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