Vital Signs This Week
Vital Signs This Week is the MMS 'weekly newsletter distributed to more than 24,000 members and subscribers via email. To subscribe to our e-newsletters, click here. View our latest edition below.
MMS Tools to Comply with Sept. 23 HIPAA Deadline
September 13, 2013
MMS News and Announcements
MMS Tools to Comply with Sept. 23 HIPAA Deadline
On Sept. 23, 2013, new rules for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) take effect. To assist physicians with the changes, the MMS has created a variety of web resources, including a sample Notice of Privacy Practices and Business Associate Agreement documents that physicians can use in their practice. Access the MMS HIPAA resources web page here.
National Preparedness Month: Tips for Physicians from MMS, DPH
In a blog about National Preparedness Month on the MMS website this week, emergency physician Paul Biddinger, MD, writes: “Recent weather events and the Boston Marathon bombings serve as an important reminder not only that an emergency or disaster can occur at any moment, but also remind us of the critical importance of emergency preparedness efforts in advance of any event.” Read the complete blog here.
Related link: DPH campaign:“Together We’re Ready: Massachusetts Prepared”
MMS Offers Testimony on Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Firearms
MMS officials testified before the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse this week in opposition to legislation that would remove the existing statutory framework underlying the relationship between physicians and psychiatric nurse practitioners. Read the full testimony here.
MMS officials also testified before the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security this week on proposed state legislation relative to firearms and gun control. Read the full testimony.
October Deadline for Physicians to Make Medicare Service Provider Changes
Massachusetts physicians who bill Medicare need to confirm through their billing workflow and vendors that they will be ready for the change to National Government Services on October 25, 2013. NGS is providing a series of webinar workshops all month to explain the details of this change. See more information and registration details here.
9th Annual Caring for the Caregivers Conference: “How Do We Reduce Physician Stress and Burnout?”
The stress of medical practice and the burnout that physicians experience continues to gain momentum. It is important to develop effective approaches within physician practices and within the overall healthcare system to counteract those trends. Attend a daylong live conference Oct. 3 at MMS headquarters designed to help physicians, medical students, residents, and fellows develop and implement strategies to improve their own health and well-being, thereby enhancing patient care. Learn more about the conference.
Recent blogs on physician stress and burnout from PHS Director Steve Adelman:
MMS Committee on Senior Volunteer Physicians 10th Annual Fall Forum
Join Kathleen Finnerty-Schroth from Physicians Insurance Agency of MA, as well as Ross Foss and Carol Purmot, Esq. from the Board of Registration in Medicine on Wednesday, October 30 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. for a discussion of licensing regulations, board requirements and professional liability concerns and how they affect they physician volunteers. RSVP is required. Please respond to Carolyn Maher at (781) 434-7311, or via email at cmaher@mms.org
Two Days Until Deadline for International Health Studies Grant Applications
Apply by Sept. 15 for this year’s International Health Studies Grant program. Medical students and resident physician members of the MMS are eligible to apply for grants up to $2,000 to defray the costs of study abroad. More information and application materials can be found here. For more information on the Foundation and its activities, visit www.mmsfoundation.org or contact Jennifer Day, director, at (781) 434-7044, or via email at jday@mms.org.
Apply Now: MMS Info Tech Award for Residents and Students
Applications are being accepted for the MMS Information Technology in Medicine award program for medical students and residents through November 10. The $3,000 awards are presented for functioning projects substantially completed in the past year that use information technology to assist physicians in the practice of medicine, the teaching of medicine, or the pursuit of clinical research. Finalists present their projects to the Committee on Information Technology on the evening of Wednesday, December 4 in Waltham. The winning applicants in each category are awarded a prize of $3,000 in the spring of 2014. For more information, contact lbarzin@mms.org
Education Programs and Events
Live CME Activities
Contracting With an ACO Webinar
Tuesday, September 17, 2013, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Via Live Webinar
Physician Leadership in the Changing Health Care Environment
Executive Leadership Certificate Program, sponsored with the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University
- Session I – Friday, September 20, and Saturday, 21, 2013
- Session II – Friday, January 24 and Saturday, 25, 2014
- Session III – Friday, May 9 and Saturday, 10, 2014
The Impact of Genomic Testing on the Treatment of Lung Cancer
Thursday, November 7, 2013, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Call (800) 322-2302, ext. 7317 for more information.
Women’s Leadership Forum: Women in Medicine – Competition, Collaboration, and Team Leadership
Thursday, September 26, 2013, 5:45 to 8:00 p.m.
Principles of Palliative Care and Persistent Pain Management: Tools to Integrate Into Your Practice
Friday, September 27, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Caring for the Caregivers IX: How do we Reduce Physician Stress and Burnout?
Thursday, October 3, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
CME Accreditation Orientation
Tuesday, October 15, 2013, 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.
Managing Workplace Conflict
Thursday, October 17, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday, October 18, 2013, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The above activities have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Online CME Activities
End-of-life care is fraught with ethical challenges for patients, families, and physicians. This 3-part online CME series includes modules on Ethics and End-of-life Care, Communication and Conflict Resolution and Advance Care Planning.
This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management credit, including 3.0 credits in end-of-life care.
The following FREE Risk management CME activities encompass the most recent guidelines on cancer screening initiation, screening intervals and screening follow-up.
Coming Soon – Cervical Cancer Screening: Navigating the Jungle
More Risk Management Online CME
For additional risk management online CME activities, visit www.massmed.org/cme.
This Week in Health Care
Brigham and Women's $450 Million Center Approved
Public health officials this week approved Brigham and Women's Hospital's proposed $450 million research and outpatient center, deciding that the project will allow the hospital to better care for patients.
Beth Israel Close to Acquiring Jordan Hospital
The Health Policy Commission was to recommend this week that it not review Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's deal to acquire the 155-bed Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, effectively allowing the merger to begin.
North Adams Regional Hospital Shifting Psychiatric, Pediatric care to Outpatient Services
Changes to the hospital's health care delivery model is in response to declining patient volumes and revenues.
Upcoming ACA implementation Means Changes for Mass. Health Connector
With more provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act taking force Oct. 1, the Massachusetts Health Connector will have more to offer a greater number of state residents.
Ayer Woman Awarded $9.5M in Flesh-Eating Bacteria Malpractice Case
An Ayer woman who had all her limbs amputated after she contracted a flesh-eating bacteria while giving birth at Emerson Hospital in Concord six years ago agreed to a $9.5 million settlement in her medical-malpractice lawsuit against the doctors and nurses who treated her.
Sequester Reduces Funds for Longterm Heart Study
The Framingham Heart Study is considered one of the most important research projects in medical history, but federal sequester cuts are dramatically reducing federal funding for the research. (audio of 8:07)
Clergy Push Health Cost Curbs
The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization will host a forum to grill hospital and insurance leaders about the affordability of medical care.
Worcester Pharmacy to Pay $1.6M Over Violations
A Worcester pharmacy will pay $1.6 million to settle allegations that it broke state laws by automatically refilling prescription medications that were not requested by MassHealth patients.
