WORD TO THE WISE

Newsletter: August 2017 - Volume 17, No. 8
In this issue:
  • Executive Director Message: AAMSE inspiration
  • PCMS/SCEMA open house
  • Meet a member: Ross Patrick Jr., MD, MS
  • Members on the Move: Super volunteer and CMS election
  • Upcoming local events
  • Other events
  • Ideas for a getaway: Seattle wellness retreat
  • Kudos to all those who responded to the one-question survey
  • News: PCC feedback, immunizations, opioids and more
  • News from COPIC: Apply for a foundation grant
  • News from CMS: Participate in the all-member election now through Aug. 31
  • News from AMA: Leadership positions in medical education organizations
  • Member benefit: ENT credit union
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE  

Update: Reinvigorated for the New PCMS through AAMSE


Attending the American Association of Medical Society Executives 2017 (AAMSE) Annual Conference in Minneapolis last month was one of the best things I could have done to strengthen my leadership skills and medical knowledge as your CEO.  

I gleaned from keynote speakers with credentials longer than I have room to fit in this write-up as they discussed executive strategies and the future of health care. I attended extreme leadership workshops and connected with medical executives from all over the U.S. who are doing first-rate membership events and advocacy for their physicians.

All in all, I learned it’s not “what we can do” but “what we can do together” which fits with our mission to facilitate meaningful collaboration of medical professionals in Pueblo County. I left that conference feeling reinvigorated to advance my own priorities to meet the needs of our members!

Yours sincerely,
Cheryl
719-281-6073 (mobile) / cheryl.law@pueblocms.org
PCMS holds successful open house with SCEMA on Aug. 9

PCMS held the first Open House at Parkview Medical Center. Emergency room physicians from Southern Colorado Emergency Medical Associates (SCEMA) were invited for networking, great food and drinks, and giveaways.

Attendees listened to a brief presentation on the medical society, learning a few facts about the history of the organization such as, PCMS was organized Aug. 20, 1881 and the first order of business was the formation of a Board of Censors due to most physicians practicing in the state of Colorado at that time with little-to-no formal education.

We would like to thank our sponsors -- Big Bear Wine & Liquor, Inc., Solar Roast Coffee House and Texas Roadhouse -- for their in-kind donations, as well as Classic Catering for the fine food and dining; their bread pudding is to die for! We also thank Parkview Medical Center for providing the Thatcher Conference Room and all the electronic equipment.

Parkview Emergency Department is a Level 2 trauma center, staffed 24 hours a day, serving 87,000 patients a year.
MEET A MEMBER
PCMS continues the “Meet a Member” series, where you can read about and be inspired by a colleague. You can nominate an outstanding PCMS physician (including yourself) by emailing newsletter@pueblocms.org.
Ross Patrick Jr., MD, MS

Meet Ross Patrick Jr., MD, an emergency medicine physician in Pueblo. He is also a member of the PCMS Board of Directors.

Q: Who or what inspired you to pursue medicine? 

A: Probably, old episodes of M*A*S*H and Trapper John, M.D. (or as I called it, Trapper John, Indeed). Although, I have to give some credit to our small town pediatrician, Dr. Everest. He continued working well into his 80s, serving a number of small communities. He was polite, professional, and had the respect of everyone in town.

Q: What makes your community special?
A:  I have always searched for the soul of an area in its foods. For Pueblo, it’s the green chili. It reminds me of gumbo. Slow simmered, spicy and filling, both to the stomach and to the spirit. And, if you ask anyone, the best gumbo, or green chili, can always be found at home. 

Q: Why is it important to you to be a leader in PCMS?

A: I feel it is easier to make a contribution locally, rather than on the state or national stage. Politics play less of a role, and you can tailor your approach to the people with whom you work.  

Q: What advice would you give to a resident or medical student preparing to practice in Pueblo County?

A:  This is a rich learning environment. Pathology is high, and varied. Be prepared to involve the whole family, versus just the individual.

Q: What has been the best experience of your medical career?
A: Being involved in drug diversion talks. Pueblo has been hit hard by the narcotic epidemic, and being able to sit and talk with recovered addicts and see people desire change in their lives has been inspiring.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
This section of the PCMS newsletter highlights members who are making a difference in our community or medical field. Share your news with us! 
Spectacular volunteer spotlight: Dr. Tom Greidanus

President-elect Dr. Tom Greidanus has been “on the move” promoting the new PCMS. He consistently helps to move the organization forward, attending strategic planning meetings to develop the mission, vision statement and principles, and helping the executive director put together governing policies and procedures, and upcoming events. He’s responsible for the SCEMA event for 45 emergency room doctors and is serving as chairperson for the October PCMS Opiate Symposium. He attends meetings regularly, responds to emails, represents the society at events, and demonstrates a very deep passion for Pueblo County Medical Society. He wants PCMS to thrive, not just succeed. Thank you for your volunteer service, Dr. Greidanus! For more information on getting involved with our Society, please contact Cheryl Law.
There's still time to vote for PCMS President Henrique Fernandez, MD, for CMS delegate to the AMA

PCMS President Henrique Fernandez, MD, is running for Colorado Medical Society delegate to the AMA and he needs your support! Eleven exemplary physicians are running for eight spots and we believe Dr. Fernandez has the expertise, passion and skills to make a splash on the national stage. He aims to elevate Pueblo concerns to a state and national level, and this is a great way to do that! The election will be held by email ballot Aug. 1-31 and all active CMS members are eligible to vote. Look for your ballot in your inbox. Don't see it? Call Dean Holzkamp at (303) 748-6113.
UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
Add your event to our calendar by emailing cheryl.law@pueblocms.org.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the PCMS Opiate Symposium, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Opiate abuse is one of the biggest health care crises facing patients and physicians today – in our region and around the country. PCMS invites you to save the date for the 2017 Opiate Symposium on Saturday, Oct. 14, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. to learn more about how you can collaborate with other organizations to combat the opiate abuse problem in Pueblo County.

All interested stakeholders are invited to participate, including physicians, other health care professionals, first responders, media and elected officials. Anticipated topics for discussion include medically assisted treatment options in Pueblo, needle exchange programs, impact on jails, and nursing needs. Stay tuned for more information!

Brues Alehouse and Pueblo Rape Crisis Center Present...A Starry Night

Join Brues Alehouse and Pueblo Rape Crisis Services (PRCS) Aug. 30, 6-8 p.m., for an evening of good food, delicious drinks and great company under the stars and on the rooftop of Brues Alehouse located in downtown Pueblo. Tickets are $35 and include a house beer of your choice and mouth-watering hors d'oeuvres. Tickets can be purchased through Cheryl Law (email cheryl.law@pueblocms.org or call 719-281-6073), or through Brues Alehouse.

Pueblo Zoo Family Event – Overnight with the Animals, Aug. 19-20

Ever wonder how the zebras catch their zzz’s or when the tucking in for the night? Here’s your chance to find out! The Pueblo Zoo is hosting "Overnight with the Animals" Aug 19-20. The event begins at 5 p.m. and runs through 9 a.m. the next day. Participants will camp on the beautiful zoo grounds – so be sure to bring your sleeping bags and tents! The adventure includes dinner, camp games, an exclusive tour, continental breakfast in the morning and admission to the zoo all day Sunday.

Pricing: $35 members / $40 non-members; $100 family of 4 members (recommended for ages 5 and up; children must be accompanied by an adult); $120 family of 4 non-members; $20 each additional family member. Full information and recommended supply list can be found at: http://www.pueblozoo.org/overnights.

Pueblo Child Advocacy Center's Walk Run Ride – Sept. 24

The Pueblo Child Advocacy Center is having its annual Walk Run Ride Event on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017 at the Pueblo Airport. The event is sponsored by Health Solutions. If you are up for a competition and want to race others or you want to beat your own run time, join our 5K run! The walk and bicycle rides are self-paced events (not timed). A Zumba-A-Thon will also be held. The Center would love to see individuals, families and children participate. Proceeds go to the Child Abuse Prevention and Investigation Program. Register online here.

Colorado Mission of Mercy (COMOM) seeking volunteers for free mass dental clinic Oct. 13-14 at the Colorado State Fair Grounds

The Colorado Mission of Mercy (COMOM) seeks volunteers – with or without a medical background – for their mass dental clinic in Pueblo Oct. 13-14 at the Colorado State Fair Grounds. They expect to provide free oral health care services to 1,500 patients. If you are available to volunteer during this event please contact Vanessa Brazee, Pueblo City-County Health Department at (719) 250-5394 or vanessa.brazee@pueblocounty.us.

Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center Regional Series, September 2017-May 2018

The new Regional Series at the Arts Center brings renowned performances from throughout the Front Range to Pueblo, serving live performance tastes of all ages. The series is a great place to see some of your favorites or to discover the next big thing. The talent showcased during the series is varied -- from comedy and music to theatre -- and the atmosphere is always fun and comfortable. Upcoming shows are listed below. Find more information online at www.sdc-arts.org.

  • Electrifying Strings by Spinphony | Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
  • Holiday Concert by Pueblo Municipal Band | Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, 2 p.m. | FREE
  • Buyer and Cellar by Johnathan Tolins| Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
  • Face Vocal Band | Saturday, April 14, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
  • Shelvis and the Roustabouts | Saturday, May 19, 2018, 7:30 p.m.

2017 “Pueblo Youth Awareness Week” – Sept. 24-30

The second-annual Pueblo Youth Awareness Week will be held Sept. 24-30, 2017, and the Pueblo County Department of Social Services invites your business to host an event that introduces and spotlights your youth- and family-related services to our community. The purpose of this week dedicated to Pueblo’s youth is to highlight the positive Pueblo youth influence in our community, and to recognize the outstanding community organizations that direct Pueblo’s youth towards healthier lifestyles and healthier life choices. This weeklong series of events will also provide an opportunity for community dialogue and collaboration in areas of concern and risk involving Pueblo youth, and more importantly recognize the positive contributions and aspects of Pueblo’s youth culture.

If you are interested in participating, submit your event information to Jesse Sena ( jesse.sena@dss.co.pueblo.co.us or 719-671-5451) before Aug. 30. The event calendar will be released on Sept. 1.

OTHER EVENTS

2017 CMS Annual Meeting

The 2017 Colorado Medical Society Annual Meeting, Sept. 15-17 at Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, is one month away and we can’t wait to escape to the mountains to refresh and recharge, connect with our families and colleagues, and learn the latest in Colorado medicine. Registration is free and includes all programs and meals for members and a guest, free childcare will be provided during most events, and lodging is available at a discounted group rate. Go to www.cms.org/events/annual-meeting for more information and to register!

Huntington disease training opportunity – Nov. 4

The Huntington Study Group is holding a CME training for physicians and other health care professionals to learn the latest treatment options for people with Huntington disease on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Convention Center. Click here to view the invitation letter and here to view the flyer.

IDEAS FOR A GETAWAY

Learn strategies for wellness and balance in Seattle, Sept. 10-13

The 5th Annual Heart of the Healer Physician Wellness Retreat is coming up in Seattle, Sept. 10 -13. 20 physician attendees can earn up to 8 hours of Category I CME credit while learning how to lower stress and build more life balance in this small-group session. Space is limited. Register today!

KUDOS

A great big THANK YOU! to members who participated in our one question survey. Poll results coming soon.

NEWS

Pueblo Community College is seeking third party comments

Pueblo Community College is seeking comments from the public about the college in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. PCC will host a visit Sept. 25-27, 2017, with a team representing the Higher Learning Commission. Pueblo Community College has been accredited by HLC since 1979. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation.

The public is invited to submit comments related to the quality of PCC or its academic programs directly to HLC online or to the following address: Public Comment on Pueblo Community College, Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411. All comments must be received by Aug. 25, 2017.

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Pueblo City-County Health Department: Back-to-school immunizations

The Pueblo City-County Health Department encourages parents and guardians to get their children ready to head back to school and make sure they have the protection they need, and physicians can help with these reminders, too. Most parents are aware of the recommended vaccines for infants and younger children, but they may not know there are other vaccines for recommended for preteens and teens. Adolescents ages 11 to 12 should receive tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap), meningococcal, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. It is especially important for college-age teens to talk to their health care provider about vaccines to protect them against meningitis.
To find out which vaccines are required for children entering child care/preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade and college, go to www.colorado.gov/cdphe/schoolrequiredvaccines

Colorado Department of Human Services: EBT outage alert

The Colorado Department of Human Services is notifying beneficiaries that there will be a one-night statewide outage on all benefits provided through EBT/Quest Cards Saturday, Aug. 26 starting at 10 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 27 at 8 a.m. to allow for the state of Colorado to update its system. The customer service number listed on the back of the card will also be out of service. The Department encourages beneficiaries to purchase food and other daily needs before 10 p.m. Cards will be fully functional again starting Sunday, Aug. 27 at 8:01 a.m. Benefits will be unaffected by the system upgrade.

2017 salaries of hospitalists by specialty

Are you earning more or less than your hospitalist peers? Find out how many hours hospitalists work, how much time they spend with patients, and more. Are they working as hard are you? Click to view the interactive report. Click to view reports by specialty.

Do you deprescribe? Read best practices from Medscape

Physicians understand that polypharmacy is a real problem, especially for their older patients, yet many hesitate to take away medications. This unease with deprescribing, as the practice of removing medications is known, was explored in a recent Annals of Family Medicine study.

Some physicians in the study said they were concerned that the harms of deprescribing may sometimes outweigh the benefits. For example, some don’t deprescribe when they aren’t certain what other providers have prescribed, for fear of unwittingly triggering an adverse health event. Others are concerned their reputation might be damaged by patient complaints and their relationships with patients might be strained for even suggesting coming off of one or more prescriptions. The physicians interviewed for the study did suggest some possible solutions. Read more here.

Opioid commission asks president to declare a state of emergency

The White House commission charged with advising the Trump administration on the country's opioid epidemic is calling on President Donald J. Trump to declare a state of emergency to quickly and aggressively address this crisis. The declaration of a national emergency is "the single-most important recommendation," said Chris Christie, chairman of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. The commission's interim report, addressed to President Trump, said such a declaration would "empower your cabinet to take bold steps and would force Congress to focus on funding and empowering the Executive Branch even further to deal with this loss of life."
Read more and access the interim report here.

Physician’s murder highlights risk of saying ‘no’ to opioids

The late Todd Graham, MD, of South Bend, Ind., was primarily a physiatrist, and devoted only a small portion of his practice to pain management. According to a source, Graham was trying to phase out of pain management completely because of how the opioid abuse epidemic had changed that field over the years. Graham, a popular 56-year-old physician, was shot to death on July 26 by the husband of a patient whose request for opioid painkillers he denied earlier that day. This murder highlights the risk for physical violence faced by pain-management physicians, particularly as they and others come under increasing pressure to avoid prescribing opioids for chronic pain. Read more in this Medscape article.

More physicians saying ‘no drug reps allowed’

The percentage of physicians who do not permit access to medical industry salespeople, who include device-maker reps, has grown to 36.5 percent in 2016, up from 22.9 percent in 2010, according to a new survey by the research firm SK&A. And, significantly, among the increasing number of physicians employed by hospitals and health systems, the no-access rate tops 50 percent. Read more in this Medscape article.

“Physician Family” summer edition now available online: Who Heals the Healers?

The Summer 2017 issue of Physician Family is now available online. Click here to read: http://www.physicianfamilymedia.org. This special issue - Who Heals the Healers? - is focused on the epidemic of physician stress and burnout. It provides valuable insights, tools and resources written by people who understand what you’re going through. The digital version of this special issue (and all issues of PHYSICIAN FAMILY) is a gift from the AMA Alliance, uniting and empowering physician families since 1922. Hard copies are a member benefit of the AMA Alliance www.amaalliance.org.

NEWS FROM COPIC


Apply for a grant from the COPIC Medical Foundation

Do you have a program or initiative that needs funding support and can really make a difference in the health care community? Then apply for a grant from the COPIC Medical Foundation. The 2017 application deadline is Sept. 1.

 

Before submitting a full grant application for consideration, please make sure your program fits one of our grant funding guidelines:

  • The education and training of health care professionals
  • Development, implementation, or changes in health care-related systems, tools, and processes that improve outcomes
  • Pilot programs designed to improve medicine

 

Please note that we do not provide on-going grant support. Once approved for funding, your organization will be eligible for funding again after three years. For more information and to download a grant application form, please visit COPIC Medical Foundation page.

Upcoming COPIC Seminars 

  • 8/16Communicating Electronically with Colleagues and Patients; 12-1 p.m. at Parkview Medical Center (qualifies for 1 COPIC point)
  • 8/22The Fastest 20 Seconds in Surgery; 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Memorial Hospital North Campus (qualifies for 1 COPIC point)
  • 9/7Physician Stress/Physician Self Care; 12-1 p.m. at Penrose Main Hospital (qualifies for 1 COPIC point)

 

To register and for more information, please visit www.callcopic.com/education

NEWS FROM THE COLORADO MEDICAL SOCIETY

All-member election open until Aug. 31

The second-annual all-member election for Colorado Medical Society leadership positions is currently open. Check your inbox for your electronic ballot. Note that these are specific to each member and cannot be shared or forwarded. Visit the election page on CMS.org to view each candidate's profile, CV and personal statement, as well as a brief video address. Eleven exemplary physicians are running for eight positions for CMS delegate to the AMA -- including Pueblo's own Henrique Fernandez, MD, PCMS president! Are you receiving CMS email newsletters? If not, CMS may not have your correct email address. Please contact  membership@cms.org with any contact information corrections. 

NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Leadership opportunities – AMA nomination opportunities for leadership positions in key medical education organizations


The Council on Medical Education is currently soliciting qualified AMA member candidates for positions with the following organizations. Our deadline for applications for these opportunities is Monday, Sept. 11 Qualified and interested AMA members are invited to seek AMA nomination for opportunities with the following:
 
  • ACGME Review Committee for: Dermatology
  • ACGME Review Committee for Family Medicine
  • ACGME Review Committee for Internal Medicine
  • ACGME Review Committee for Medical Genetics and Genomics
  • ACGME Review Committee for Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • ACGME Review Committee for Ophthalmology
  • ACGME Review Committee for Orthopaedic Surgery
  • ACGME Review Committee for Pathology
  • ACGME Review Committee for Psychiatry
  • ACGME Review Committee for Radiation Oncology
  • ACGME Review Committee for Surgery
  • American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM)
  • Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)
  • National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
 
Position details and applications for these opportunities can be found at the Council on Medical Education Leadership Opportunities page.  Should you have questions, please contact Mary O’Leary, Program Administrator, AMA Council on Medical Education, 312-464-4515.

PCMS member benefit

Receive special products for medical practices if you join the Ent Credit Union


PCMS members who join the Ent Credit Union are eligible for the Ent Medical Banking Package. It has a number of special products for medical practices including:

  • Business Dividend Checking with no maintenance fee
  • Visa Business Credit Cards
  • Special Business Lending packages
  • Business Money Market Savings
  • Special Merchant Services solutions with partner Newtek 
  • A personal business banker to take care of all of your banking and lending needs
  • Staff would be eligible for personal Ent accounts with all the benefits that come with being a member-owner as well. 


Read more here.
 Questions? Contact Rick Nieves at RNieves@ent.com.

MISSION:  Facilitate meaningful collaboration of medical professionals in Pueblo County. 
VISION: Create a medical society that serves as a venue for collaboration for the betterment of healthcare in Pueblo County. The Society’s efforts will improve the practice of medicine and life of medical professionals.
Board Officers: President: Henrique Fernandez, MD; President-Elect: Thomas Greidanus, MD; Secretary: Ross Patrick, MD; Treasurer: Lev Asherov, MD; Past-President: Alfredo Vargas, MD; CMS Representative: TBD |  Directors: Teresa Braden, DO; Donald Luebke, MD; Julie Newburg, MD; Robert Tonsing, MD; Atul Vahil, MD |  Executive Director: 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.