Volume 119, No. 12: December 2023 Edition | |
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They Said It...
“Meeting someone at their lowest point in life and making that experience fulfilling and meaningful is the greatest gift of our profession. That power of connection transcends any medicine or lab test, reaching so much farther than we can understand, and it's only when you find those moments that you remember why it's such a privilege to do this job. Why it's such a privilege to really care." Dr. Juan Lopez Tiboni, resident at Pennsylvania Hospital, speaks about his experience with the US healthcare system as an international medical graduate in our Fall 2023 Edition of Philadelphia Medicine magazine.
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If you are interested in writing an article for Philadelphia Medicine, please contact us at stat@philamedsoc.org. We are accepting articles for both the newsletter and magazine. | |
Things you should know... | |
PCMS Annual Awards Program | |
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Nominations are now open for:
- The Strittmatter Award
- Practitioner of the Year Award
- Vanitha Appadorai Vaidya, MD Award for Humaneness in Medicine
- Cristol Award
Click here for more information and to submit your nomination. Awardees will be honored by PCMS during the formal Presidents Installation event in early June, 2024. It's a great way to show your appreciation for a colleague and to have their work and dedication recognized. Deadline is March 4.
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PA Legislation on consent for examinations | |
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The law will now require healthcare providers overseeing or participating in professional instruction or clinical education to obtain specific informed consent prior to performing a pelvic, rectal, or prostate examination on a patient who is anesthetized or unconscious. The requirement for specific informed consent does not apply if the examination is within the scope of care ordered for the patient or is necessary in the case of a medical emergency. H.B. 507 takes effect on January 21, 2024.
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Preserving Seniors’ Access to Physicians Act of 2023 | |
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This recently introduced legislation would completely eliminate the 3.37 percent Medicare cut for physicians that goes into effect on January 1. The “Preserving Seniors’ Access to Physicians Act” is our best opportunity to advance legislation to eliminate the cuts in their entirety. Contact your members of Congress today and urge them to fix the flawed Medicare physician payment system by supporting H.R. 6683. If Congress includes this critical legislation as part of the 2024 appropriations package, a potentially disastrous situation for Medicare patients and their physicians could be avoided, but time is running out! Congress only has until January 19th to act, avoid a government shutdown and fund programs for the coming year. Take action now!
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What’s next at the Doctors Lounge? | |
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The Philadelphia County Medical Society and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia will be holding our second Doctors Lounge on Thursday, Feb 8 at 6:00 PM for a panel discussion on: “How to Improve Your Business Skills in Healthcare with/without obtaining an MBA.” Learn how you can better position yourself as a credible participant in discussions about organizational direction or in decisions that affect your professional life or specialty.
Our Doctors Lounge series is designed to bring physician and trainee members of PCMS and CPP together over food and drink to socialize and learn from expert panelists on how to use one's medical degree to advance their goals in business, public health, leadership/administration, and politics.
Stay tuned for registration information.
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PA Dept of Health issues Health Advisory - Increase of Mycoplasma pneumoniae activity | |
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacteria that typically causes mild respiratory infections, but can sometimes cause pneumonia. Epidemics occur cyclically every 1 to 3 years, impacting pediatric pneumonia rates globally. Clinical presentation includes tracheobronchitis or pneumonia, persistently nonproductive cough, headache, fatigue, and other respiratory signs.
Public health recommendations include immunizations against influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and pneumococcal vaccines, along with comprehensive respiratory testing, enhanced surveillance, respiratory hygiene, and environmental cleaning to manage outbreaks effectively.
Although M. pneumoniae infection is not reportable in PA, reporting of outbreaks including M. pneumoniae is mandatory. To report an outbreak, call PDPH or DOH at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258).
Read the full advisory here.
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PDPH issues Health Advisory for increase in shigella cases | |
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Cases of shigella have been increasing since October, with most being reported among people experiencing homelessness and opioid use disorder. No cases of XDR Shigella have been identified yet, but varying resistance patterns are being identified. Shigella in the current outbreak is most often but not always sensitive to the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Please note that shigellosis is a reportable disease in Philadelphia. Labs and clinicians should report all cases of shigellosis with antibiotic susceptibility test results to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Disease Control through electronic laboratory reporting, faxing a report to 215-238-6947, or calling 215-685-6748.
You can view the full health advisory here.
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Thank you for your membership! | |
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Thanks to everyone that renewed their 2024 membership last month. Your membership enables us to continue advocating on your behalf.
If you missed it, here is the renewal link: www.pamedsoc.org/PayMyBill.
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Seeking new members for PCMS Committees | |
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Each year, PCMS members are given the opportunity to participate in a rich diversity of committees that impact the practice of medicine in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania and beyond. Because active participation in PCMS strengthens the voice of organized medicine, we encourage all members (including medical students, residents and fellows) to help make an impact on the role PCMS plays in the medical community.
We are seeking members for the following committees:
- Editorial Review Board
- Delegate Caucus to Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Annual Meeting
- Public Health Committee
- Membership Committee
- Early Career Section
- International Medical Graduates Section
- Residents/Fellows Section
You can fill out our PCMS Committee Form if you’re interested in signing up. To find out more about specific committees, call us at 215-563-5343 or email us at Stat@philamedsoc.org
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Best wishes for a Happy Holiday and an exceptional 2024! | |
The holidays are by tradition a time to celebrate and gather with loved ones. They are also a time for reflection and a needed respite as we ready for another successful year. We want to take a moment to thank you for allowing us to serve our members in 2023. It has been our pleasure. PCMS is here beside you through 2024 and beyond! | |
CONTRACT CORNER BRIEFS
by Karen E. Davidson, Esquire
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TAIL COVERAGE RUSSIAN ROULETTE. As discussed in previous CCBs, an extended reporting endorsement (i.e., “tail coverage”) must be purchased shortly after termination of a physician’s employment if the original policy was written on a “claims made” basis. Once tail coverage is purchased, the policy responds to claims brought after employment ends.
Unfortunately, we have seen a shift to limited tail coverage in for-profit and non-profit employers’ effort to save costs. Such limited coverage is described in academic and non-academic employment contracts. The applicable contract provision reflects that the employer purchased tail coverage will be limited to the statute of limitations (SOL) period. This means that the tail covers claims brought after employment termination, but only those brought within the applicable SOL period. Pennsylvania SOL requires injury claims to be brought within 2-years after injury date or 2-years after injury discovery date – which could be well beyond 2-years later. So, if an employer is contractually obligated only to purchase 2-year SOL limited tail coverage, and if a claim is brought after expiration of 2-years due to injury many years later, the physician could be personally liable.
Professional liability insurance brokers have expressed their deep concern to us that SOL limited tail coverage is akin to playing Russian Roulette. They recommend that tail be lifetime/unlimited coverage. They have also expressed how cost savings for SOL limited tail is minimal compared to potential physician liability. So, make sure your employment contract does not provide for SOL limited tail coverage. If it does, we recommend you speak with legal counsel.
| The content of “Contract Corner Briefs” has been prepared by Karen E. Davidson, Esq. for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information in this e-newsletter shall not be construed as an offer to represent you, nor is it intended to create, nor shall the receipt of such information constitute, an attorney-client relationship. We hope that you will find the information informative and useful, and we would be delighted to connect you with Karen Davidson. | |
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Caring for People with Xylazine-Associated Wounds: Recommendations and Lessons Learned from Wound Care Clinicians in Philadelphia
Date: Monday, January 8
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
In collaboration with the Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction Division of Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the SURGE Program of Health Federation of Philadelphia invites you to attend this virtual program. This program will include a description of the current epidemiology of xylazine in Philadelphia, an overview of the recommendations, and a panel discussion on the implications of these recommendations and lessons learned from developing the recommendations.
Learn more and register here.
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How to Improve Your Business Strategy Without an MBA
Date: Thursday, February 8
Time: 6:00 PM
Place: The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 19 S 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
The second of four programs in the Doctors Lounge Lecture Series, co-hosted by The College of Physicians of Philadelphia and The Philadelphia County Medical Society. Stay tuned for more information!
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