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MMS News & Announcements
Notice of Limited Access to MMS Website This Weekend: April 6-8
From 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6, to approximately 12 noon on Monday, April 8, most online transactions on the MMS website will be disabled in order to complete a major upgrade to the website.
During that time period, the following functions will unavailable:
- Register online for MMS events
- Take online CME exams
- Download CME certificates
- Track CME credits
- View online events calendar
- Pay dues online
- View leadership voucher balance
- Change contact information online
- Read members-only content
During this time period, members will still be able to register for live CME events by contacting the MMS Department of Continuing Education and Certification at (800) 322-2303 x7306 or emailing us at continuingeducation@mms.org. We expect that all other content on the MMS site will be available on April 6 and 7. Annual Meeting registration is not affected.
Also not affected: The massmed.org member email service, or access to the New England Journal of Medicine or Journal Watch websites.
On April 8, the entire site may be temporarily unavailable in order to complete the transition to the new site. Please plan your website activity accordingly!
Questions? Contact us at webmaster@mms.org.
MMS Public Health Forum on Mental Health Parity Draws More Than 125 Attendees
Experts estimate that nearly half of Americans will experience and mental health or substance abuse issue in their lifetimes, yet mental health services remain far less accessible than medical and surgical care. The pressing crisis in mental health care brought together more than 125 physicians, public officials, and patient advocates this week for the 2013 MMS Annual Public Health Leadership Forum, “Mental Health: Achieving Parity in Principle and in Practice.” Read more about the forum.
MMS Annual Meeting May 9-11, Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center: Important Deadlines
Monday, April 8: Opt-In for Delegates’ Handbook: Please email houseofdelegates@mms.org to receive a printed copy.
Tuesday, May 7: Pre-Registration Deadline: Please take the time to pre-register for any and all events. It allows for faster onsite check-in and proper planning for events. Register online at http://www.massmed.org/annual2013. To register by mail or fax visit www.massmed.org/annual2013 for more information.
Benefit Buzz: Free athenahealth Webinar
How to Switch Your EHR with Confidence: Taking Control of Patient Data Conversion will be held on Wednesday, April 10 at 12:15 p.m. Join the webinar and get confident about switching your EHR. More information and registration details can be found here.
Education Programs & Events
Note: To complete an upcoming website upgrade, online registration for most live programs will be unavailable from 10 a.m. April 6 to approximately 12 Noon April 8.
Live CME Activities
Finance 101 for Physicians and Practice Administrators
Thursday, April 11, 2013, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., via live webinar
New Frontiers in the Diagnosis and Management of Stroke
Saturday, April 27, 2013, 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Renaissance Hotel, Foxboro, MA
MMS Ethics Forum – Conflicts of Interest in Medical Publishing
Thursday, May 9, 2013, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA
MMS Annual Education Program – Navigating the Currents of Change: Integrating Innovative Technologies into Your Clinical Practice
Friday, May 10, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA
MMS Shattuck Lecture – Chronic Infectious Disease and the Future of Health Care Delivery
Friday, May 10, 2013, 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA
2013 MMS and RIMS Directors of Medical Education Conference
Thursday, May 16, 2013, 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Home-Based Palliative Care for Patients with Serious Illness: A Team Approach
Monday, May 20, 2013, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., via live webinar
A Roadmap to Bring an End to HIV and STDs in Massachusetts: What All Health Care Providers Need to Know
Friday, June 7, 2013, 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Assessing Medication, Mental Health, and Cultural Needs During Sheltering
Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., live conference or via streaming webinar
11th Annual Symposium on Men’s Health: Topical Issues in Men’s Health
Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2nd Annual Addiction Medicine for All Providers Conference
Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Online CME Activities
Note: To complete an upcoming website upgrade, Online CME exams will be unavailable from 10 a.m. April 6 to approximately 12 Noon April 8.
* Also available in print. Call (800) 322-2303, ext. 7306.
For additional risk management online CME activities, visit www.massmed.org/cme.
This Week in Health Care
Beth Israel, Lahey Clinic and Atrius Explore Alliance
The presidents of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Lahey Clinic and Atrius Health told employees and affiliates this week they are in preliminary talks with each other and three doctors groups about an alliance that could rival Partners HealthCare in scale and reach.
Reliant splitting with Fallon Senior Plan
Once joined, two Worcester health care powerhouses are preparing to decouple.
Doctors Firing Back at Patients' Online Critiques
A Boston surgeon’s lawsuit is part of a growing number of claims brought by doctors against former patients, and sometimes their relatives, over negative ratings and reviews they have posted on the Internet, lawyers say. Related news: How a doctor’s online reputation survived a front page newspaper story.
Interim Mass. DPH Commissioner Steps Down
Mass. DPH Interim Commissioner Lauren Smith, MD, announced on Friday she would step down from the position on May 10. No successor was immediately named.
Marlborough Hospital Chief Resigns
Marlborough Hospital President and CEO Karen Moore has resigned after less than a year and a half on the job.
Cooley Dickinson Supporters Back Acquisition by MGH
A mixture of hospital employees, past and present patients and members of the community spoke in favor of allowing Cooley Dickinson to be acquired by Massachusetts General.
Cambridge Health Alliance Latest to Cut Pediatric Mental Health Services
Cambridge Health Alliance said it will eliminate 11 of its 27 beds for treating children and teens with acute mental illness and will end inpatient care for its youngest children as it grapples with financial losses.
Pols Consider Gov. Patrick's Pharmacy Bill
Lawmakers considering a compounding pharmacy bill may add their own measures as they try to plug regulatory loopholes revealed by the deadly nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak tied to Framingham-based New England Compounding Center. Related news: State health chief asks for improved inspections for compounding pharmacies
Mass. Teen Birth Rate Falls To Historic Low
The Massachusetts teen birth rate has plummeted by more than 50 percent since 1989, reaching the lowest level on record in 2010, according to a new DPH report.
New Mass. BRM Physician Profiles Now Publicly Available
The new Mass. Board of Registration physician profiles became publicly available on April 1. Physicians should make sure their mailing and email addresses are current to ensure they receive any profiles notification. Addresses may be updated using the online license renewal system at any time. Forgotten user IDs or passwords can be recovered by clicking on the recovery button(s) in the orange login box. Physicians wishing to dispute factual accuracy of profile information may fax a written explanation to the Board’s Data Repository Unit at (781) 876-8380. Explanations may also be submitted by email to physician.profiles@state.ma.us.
CMS to Slow Down Stage 3 EHR Meaningful Use Plans
Acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner announced that the rulemaking process for Stage 3 won't take place in 2013 as anticipated. Rather, the agency will pause to assess the program's success and review input from physicians and others in the health care industry. Tavenner said the agency intends to use the delay to focus on achieving greater interoperability across EHR systems and boosting the exchange of health information.
