Educational Programs

2011 Annual Oration

Critical Challenges for 21st Century Medical Practice: Knowledge, Judgment, Time, Cost, and Risk

Friday, December 2, 2011
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

History of the Oration
The MMS Annual Oration dates back to 1804 when Dr. Isaac Rand delivered his dissertation entitled, On Phthisis Pulmonalis, and the Use of the Warm Bath.  For more than 200 years, MMS orators have addressed a wide spectrum of topics germane to the evolving practice of medicine.  

Description of the Oration
The 2011 Orator is Sean Palfrey, MD, FAAP, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and of Public Health at Boston University.  Dr. Palfrey has worked with the Massachusetts and national legislatures to build better public health programs for children;  has authored numerous articles including a Perspectives piece in the New England Journal of Medicine entitled, Daring to Practice Low-Cost Medicine in a High-Tech Era (March 2011) and remains a very active, practicing pediatrician. 

Dr. Palfrey’s presentation will target critical challenges for 21st century medical practice.  These include knowledge, judgment, time, cost, and risk.  Dr. Palfrey notes, “Health care costs are rising at an unsustainable rate, yet a significant percentage of the U.S. population does not have any insurance coverage at all. Even those with access do not always get good care.  Everyone is a part of the problem and a part of the solution, and solving it will take a cooperative effort. Three key groups of people need to enter into detailed conversations to address these challenges: patients, doctors and lawyers.  We must first identify and understand the factors causing these problems.”

In his lecture, Dr. Palfrey will delve into the scope and importance of each of the above-mentioned issues, and describe how it is possible to practice lower cost medicine in a high-tech world.  He will emphasize changing the priorities, incentive, and disincentives of the health care system, and encourage a technology-oriented, team approach to clinical care.

Activity Objectives:
As a result of participating in this activity, learners should be able to:

• Explain why physician knowledge, judgment, time, cost, and risk(s) are considered critical challenges to today’s medical practice
• Discuss the benefits of practicing lower cost medicine in a high tech world
• Discern between competing priorities, incentives, and disincentives of the current healthcare system to determine which will result in more effective and efficient patient care
• Build a new team approach for clinical care that embraces evolving science and technology

About the Orator:

Sean Palfrey, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and of Public Health at Boston University.

This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management study.

The Massachusetts Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Ethics Forum

Social Media and Medicine: the Impact on Your Patients, Your Practice, and You

Friday, December 2, 2011
3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Presented by the Committee on Ethics, Grievances, and Professional Standards, the Ethics Forum alerts physicians to the ethical implications of issues that arise in daily practice and offers information on issues at the intersection of ethics, medicine, and professionalism. This program will explore the potential challenges and benefits of physicians’ professional use of social media, and examine its effect on the physician-patient relationship.

Activity Objectives:
As a result of participating in this activity, learners should be able to:

• Discuss the application of social media to the delivery of information about healthcare
• Describe the various online social media resources available for professional use by physicians   
• Cite the risks and benefits associated with the professional use of social media
• Discuss principles of medical ethics that should guide physicians using social media to interact with patients and potential patients

About the Speakers:

	Arthur R. Derse, M.D., J.D., Director of the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, and is Julia and David Uihlein Professor of Medical Humanities and Professor of Bioethics and Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
	Kevin Pho, MD, Physician and nationally recognized health care opinion-maker.

CME Credit/Accreditation:
The Massachusetts Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management study.

The Massachusetts Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.