MedPEP: the new anti-burnout podcast for physicians

News and announcements

MedPEP: Free anti-burnout podcast from PHS
MedPEP, the Medical Professionals’ Empowerment Program, is a free podcast series exploring ways for you to stay well and reduce your risk of burnout (click the link below). MedPEP’s star, Marie Curious, MD (a pseudonym), is an early career primary care internist who is already thinking about leaving the profession she loves. Dr. Curious joins Les Schwab, MD, a PCP and physician coach, to consult a series of professionals who offer practical techniques to help her survive and thrive in today’s medical environment. Their territory includes nutrition, physical activity, working with difficult colleagues, dealing with bureaucracy and bosses, multi-tasking, system improvement, meditation, and addiction. MedPEP is brought to you by Physician Health Services (PHS), an organization founded by the MMS. 

Join our AMA delegation: The MMS is seeking candidates

The MMS Committee on Nominations is currently considering candidates for nomination as AMA Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the Massachusetts AMA Delegation. The deadline for submission of nomination applications is Monday, August 20. Click the button below to learn more about the qualifications and submit your application. Interviews with the Committee on Nominations will be held at MMS Headquarters, Waltham, on Thursday, September 20, 2018, 4:30–7:30 p.m. Applicants should plan to be available on this date. Questions? Please contact Linda Healy (800) 322-2303, ext. 7008 or  lhealy@mms.org, or Karen Harrison at ext. 7463 or  kharrison@mms.org.

Read a physician's story of  advocacy as an unexpected source of wellness (Vital Signs).

Free financial wellness workshops for physicians

Need to plan for your financial security while starting out in your medical career or anticipating your retirement? Join your peers at an in-person class geared specifically to your needs. Use the code MassMed during checkout for free admission. 

Physician Finance: Planning for Residents covers how to protect yourself from unique career risks including the potential of malpractice litigation, and build a solid financial foundation while paying down student debt. Brookline; Wed., July 18, 6:30–8:00 p.m.

Physician Finance: Planning for a Bright Future helps you evaluate your preparedness for retirement and protect your assets. You will also learn about estate planning basics, charitable giving, and college planning. Brookline; Tues., July 24, 6:30–8:00 p.m.

The classes are provided by In Good Company, a collaboration between MassMutual and Baystate Financial, and are being promoted by the Physicians Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, an MMS subsidiary. Questions? Email piam@mms.org.

MDPH campaign on vaping and e-cigarettes

The MA Department of Public Health has launched its New Look of Nicotine Addiction campaign to educate youth and their parents about the dangers of vape pens and e-cigarettes. The information, focusing on middle- and high-schoolers, highlights the harms of these new tech tools. The products have close to 8,000 flavors including fruit, candy, and dessert options and are cheaply priced at gas stations and convenience stores. The nicotine contained in these products which can hurt a teen’s developing brain and lead to addiction. Physicians may want to encourage adult patients and older youth to review these resources (click the button below).

MDPH advisory on water safety

Playing in and around water increases the risk of drowning. Drowning is often silent, and the warning signs can go unnoticed. Even highly skilled swimmers are susceptible to drowning. MDPH provides a water safety website (click the button below) and is tweeting safety messages in July and August. Health practitioners can emphasize the following:

• Avoid swimming alone or after consuming alcohol
• Identify a dedicated (sober) water watcher, even if there is a life guard on duty
• Do not swim to an island unless you know from experience how far it is

Discount: Executive MBA for Physicians at Brandeis

Brandeis is offering a 25 percent tuition scholarship to MMS members who begin the Executive MBA for Physicians program in January 2019. The program, from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, is designed to develop physicians’ management initiative skills in order to enhance patient care indicators, improve fiscal insight, and strengthen organizations. Applications are due by October 1 for classes staring in January 2019.

What’s up in advocacy and policy

Cost containment and opioid bills advance 
This was a busy week for MMS advocacy as state legislators moved forward with two key omnibus bills — addressing health care costs and access, and the opioid crisis — with the goal of passing both before the session ends on July 31.

On the cost bill, MMS followed up on our Call to Action with several proposed amendments. Three of those amendments, pertaining to out-of-network billing, were adopted by the House. The Medical Society has continued its advocacy (click button bellow) as the House and Senate bills move to a Conference Committee which will develop a final bill.  

MMS was pleased that the revised opioid bill featured several changes that aligned with our advocacy efforts, including the removal of provisions that would have allowed for the involuntary 72-hour civil commitment of patients, and the establishment of a pilot program for medication treatment of opioid use disorder in jails and prisons. The bill was debated on Wednesday night, and the MMS proposed and advocated for several additional amendments. The MMS will continue to engage on these issues as the Senate takes up the bill.

Two weeks out: Casual networking event on the Cape

Please join your colleagues and friends for an evening of professional networking, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Connect with physicians from across organizations and specialties, make new professional contacts, and meet MMS leaders. Physicians (members and nonmembers) and your guests are welcome. The event will be held on Saturday, July 28, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at Cape Cod Beer, 1336 Phinneys Lane, Hyannis. Please reply to  sfrazier@mms.org or  mjussaume@mms.org.

Expect a casual networking event in Pittsfield in the fall; check future emails for details. The MMS plans to bring fun, convenient, and casual networking events to all parts of the state. Questions? Call (800) 944 5562.

Do you have unpaid claims?

Looking for an efficient way to resolve unpaid insurance claims? The MMS is hosting three Individual Claims Consultation days this summer and fall. These are opportunities for you and/or your practice colleague to meet with representatives from insurance companies to troubleshoot specific claims. The events will be held in Holyoke (July 25), Waltham (Aug 16), and Lakeville (Sept 20). Click below for more information and registration.

Could you use affordable practice management support?

MMS offers Practice Management Consulting services at significantly reduced rates for members. You can get reliable, value-driven help to increase your practice revenue, improve workflow, and/or otherwise transform your practice. Call our Physician Practice Resource Center on (781) 434 7702 or email pprc@mms.org — or contact David Wasserman at dwasserman@mms.org.

Educational programs and events

Live events: Leadership development

Managing Workplace Conflict: Improving Leadership & Personal Effectiveness
Thurs. & Fri., November 1–2

The Heller School’s Executive MBA for Physicians (EMBA)
January 2019 – May 2020: 25% discount for MMS members
Brandeis University, Heller School of Social Policy and Management

Featured online CME: Physician compensation

Physician Employment Contract Basics

Current and Future Models of Physician Compensation

Transitioning to Alternative Payment Models

Quote of the week

"Not everyone needs to carry a Narcan rescue kit, of course, but we should be educated on what to do if we encounter someone overdosing." 
—Editorial; We Must All Join Opioid Battle (Boston Herald)

Tweet of the week

@mattbc - Healthcare is a human right. Disabled, chronically ill lawyer & public health nerd. Writer on law, sex, healthcare, disability. Rep'd by @HillNadel. Massachusetts.

What’s new in health care

Check out the most clicked-on stories from this week's MMS Media Watch. Sign up for daily Massachusetts media roundups by email. Some publications are fully accessible only to their subscribers.

5 takeaways from first-ever 'Cancer in Boston' report

Both new cases and deaths tied to cancer saw a significant decline between 1999 and 2013. New cases dropped by 11 percent and deaths decreased by 22 percent.

Baker defends ME for keeping top aide who 'misrepresented' resume

Governor Charlie Baker on Monday said he has "full confidence" in the state's chief medical examiner and defended her decision to keep her former chief of staff on the payroll despite the fact she misrepresented her resumé to officials.

Boston startup Medically Home wants to bring the hospital to you 

The company aims to eliminate all of the fixed costs of a hospital, and spend more of each medical dollar on actually caring for the patient. It does this by contracting for nurses that visit patients in the home, and coordinating the technology and delivery of medical supplies from a "command center" in Boston.

Bill to combat opioids rejects 72-hour hold, adds mandate for hospital care

In its statement Tuesday, the Massachusetts Medical Society said it was pleased that House leaders had eliminated the 72-hour hold, saying that "the state's health care infrastructure is not sufficiently prepared to provide medically appropriate care to those who are involuntarily committed."

Fallon hires chief medical officer and SVP

Carolyn Langer, who was Fallon's medical director from 2005 to 2008, has returned to take on the role of chief medical officer.

Healey raises concern about Beth Israel/Lahey merger 

Attorney General Maura Healey is raising concerns about the  planned merger of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lahey Health, a sign she may press for changes to the blockbuster deal.

Nurse staffing, transgender, political spending questions set for ballot

The Coalition to Protect Patient Safety, a ballot committee, has the backing of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, which estimated the proposal could add roughly $1 billion per year in new costs. The Committee to Ensure Safe Patient Care, which claims mandatory staffing levels are needed to improve, has financial support from the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

'Groundbreaking' MGH diabetes research catches eye of Gov. and insurers 

Dr. Maryanne Bombaugh, president elect for the medical society, called Faustman's work "groundbreaking," and said inviting her as the guest speaker to the medical society's annual event would help the organization support the work. 

Mass. woman brings national attention to high price of ambulances

Boston Globe reporter Maria Cramer witnessed the event and tweeted that the woman begged bystanders not to call an ambulance because she could not afford the high cost. Her story has now become a symbol for many of the issues plaguing the country's healthcare system.