Register for the 2018 MMS Interim Meeting

News and announcements

Registration now open for the 2018 Interim Meeting

The 2018 Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates will be held Friday, November 30, at MMS Headquarters, and Saturday, December 1, at the Westin Hotel, Waltham. Note: the HOD will start at 9:00 a.m. both days.

• Online registration is now open
• To file a resolution, use the required resolution template; helpful information is provided at that link; resolutions are due Tuesday, October 16 
• Please make your hotel reservation by Monday, October 22  
• The Annual Oration and the Ethics Forum offer two back-to-back learning opportunities
• In addition to the HOD, the Interim Meeting includes a Gentle Movement Yoga Class, the Thirteenth Annual Research Poster Symposium, and other fun networking opportunities.

Full meeting details are online.

Recognizing Burnout in the Medical Profession: Intervention and Prevention (Oct 18, free)

Join your colleagues and peers to address the crisis of burnout and explore effective strategies and resources for improving the well-being of health care professionals and their families. Topics and speakers include:

• The issues underlying burnout: Alain Chaoui, MD, FAAFP, MMS president
• Lessons from the frontline: Arabella Simpkin, MD, MGH Center for Educational Innovation and Scholarship
• Using SBIRT to identify alcohol and drug dependency: Donna Zucker, RN, MS, PhD, FAAN, UMass Amherst College of Nursing
• Preventing burnout in residency and fellowship: Amy Vinson, MD, FAAP, BCH

The event is provided by the MMS and the Massachusetts Medical Society Alliance. It will be held on October 18 at the MMS Headquarters, Waltham. (This program is a component of the 2018 NorthEast Regional Conference; you do not need to attend the full conference in order to participate in the burnout event.) Click the button for more information (including CME credits) and registration.  

Students and residents: Could you use an extra $5000?

Each year the Massachusetts Medical Society’s Committee on Information Technology recognizes both a medical student and a resident/researcher for the creation of information technology solutions for medicine. Two Medical Information Technology Awards are presented annually for functioning projects substantially completed in the past year that use technology to assist physicians in the practice of medicine, the teaching of medicine, or the pursuit of clinical research. Apply by November 25. Click the button below for more information.

MDPH influenza resources for 2018-19

The Flu Website for Healthcare Professionals from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (click the button below) provides seasonal-specific information and resources, including:

• Sample standing orders for vaccines
• Vaccine screening and consent forms
• "Flu highlights for 2018-19," a tool for patient discussion and education
• Recommendations for long-term care facilities

The MDPH thanks you for helping to ensure that Massachusetts citizens are protected from flu and its complications.

Med-tech forums on opioid solutions and combination products (Oct 3 & 30)

Two upcoming forums explore med-tech opportunities and approaches relating to medical and public health challenges, including the opioid crisis. These events are provided by MDG (Medical Development Group); the MMS is a premium sponsor.

Seeking Solutions to the Opioid Epidemic from Medical Technology and the Medical Device Industry explores recent attempts to address the devastation caused by addiction and the response of successful stand-alone companies and those collaborating with academia. It will be held on October 3, 5:30–8:30 p.m., in Weston; more information and registration.

New Advances in Combination Products: Addressing the Unmet Need to Develop Drug Delivery Innovation Strategies in Preclinical Drug Discovery & Development explores combination products comprised of a medical device and/or a drug and/or a biologic and/or companion diagnostics — e.g., prefilled drug delivery systems and medicated devices. Novel therapeutics require cross-functional talent and concurrent development of therapies and their delivery systems. This session will be held on October 30, 5:30–8:30 p.m., in Weston; more information and registration.

What’s up in advocacy and policy

Ballot Question 1: MMS joins coalition to protect patients in opposing Q1

The MMS has joined the coalition of stakeholders opposing mandated nurse staffing ratios. While concerns about staffing workloads and burnout are legitimate, mandated ratios are not a safe or realistic solution. Mandated ratios would disregard the professional judgment of qualified health care professionals in each hospital, threaten the quality of care, and increase costs to patients. Click the button for more information.

Ballot Question 3: MMS supports “yes” to retain transgender protections

MA Ballot Question 3 seeks to repeal Chapter 134 of the Acts of 2016, which prohibits discrimination against transgender individuals. The MMS supports “yes” on MA Question 3 to retain transgender discrimination laws. Click the button below for more information.

Inside the CARE Act: Electronic prescribing

The CARE Act, the substance use disorder treatment bill passed by the legislature in July, included a mandate that all prescriptions — with limited exceptions — will be required to be issued electronically. This will be put into effect in 2020. The MMS successfully advocated to include certain waivers and exemptions, and details regarding the implementation processes for those opportunities will be worked out in a subsequent regulatory process. The MMS will continue to monitor this process and will work with members to answer questions and provide information regarding this transition. More details on this mandate are forthcoming and will be posted on our website in the coming months. For more information on the CARE Act, click the button below.

Labeling prescription opioids
The MMS joined Senator Markey last week in a press conference for a bill he has put forward to strengthen labeling requirements for prescription opioids. The MMS supports this legislation; all efforts to facilitate patient-provider conversations about the risks of prescription opioids will help to stem the tide of this epidemic. Click the button below to read more.

Photo: Senator Ed Markey (far left); Dennis Dimitri, MD, MMS past president (second left); Cory Palazzi, anti-drug advocate (seated)

Reminders: Stuff you should click on

ACA, single payer, or what? Free CME (Oct 3) 

Join your peers in person or via live webinar to listen, discuss, and connect at this free one-day program. What does the near future have in store for the ACA and for health care policy overall? Would we be better off with a dramatic move to a single-payer option or with a more incremental approach to reform? What lessons can be gleaned from state-level innovations? What will be the politics of this issue in the 2018 and the 2020 elections? And what is in the best interest of patients? The event will be held on Wednesday, October 3, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at MMS Headquarters, Waltham; you can alternatively participate via live webinar. Click the button below for more information and registration.

The Prescription Drug Predicament (Oct 25) 

The 15th Annual Public Health Leadership Forum from the MMS, a half-day CME program, will explore prescription drug costs and the implications for patients, doctors, and public health. The program will identify opportunities for balancing our reliance on pharmaceutical innovation against the price of prescription drugs as a barrier to access. Speakers include Monica Bharel, MD, MPH, commissioner of MDPH; Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, dean of BU School of Public Health, and Kenneth Kaitin, PhD, professor of medicine and director of the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. The event includes a panel discussion and networking opportunities. It will be held on October 25, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., at the MMS Headquarters, Waltham. For more information and registration, click the button below.

Gender bias: impact on physicians and patients (Oct 19)

Bias in medicine is a two-sided coin, and those two sides are rarely considered together. This half-day CME program is changing that. Gender and Bias in Medicine — Effect on Physicians, Impact on Patients features keynote speaker Tamika Cross, MD, who was not acknowledged as a physician during an in-flight emergency and was prevented from rendering care. Dr. Cross’s experience crystallizes how bias against physicians has a direct effect on patient care, and helped shift the discussion toward awareness and advocacy. The keynote will be preceded by panel discussions, one focused on physicians, the other on patient care. The event will be held Friday, October 19, 12:30–5:15 p.m., at the MMS Headquarters, Waltham. For more information and to register, click the button below.

Become a fully effective leader and colleague (Nov 1–2)
Frustrated about your interactions with a colleague? Concerned about workplace miscommunications? Doubting your ability to help keep your team united? Managing Workplace Conflict: Improving Leadership and Personal Effectiveness is an interactive CME forum for physicians based in real-life medical workplace scenarios. “Fantastic course — should be required of all physicians. This was a gift!” (recent participant).  The program is designed for physicians in clinical practice, and those in administration and leadership. It takes place on November 1–2 at MMS Headquarters in Waltham. Click the button for information (including CME credits) and registration. Get more info and register

MedPEP podcast: How to turn burnout around
Check out the first season finale of the free podcast MedPEP, the Medical Professionals’ Empowerment Program, which explores ways for you to stay well and reduce your risk of burnout. The final episode, featuring Dr. Marie Curious, a young internist, and her coach, Dr. Les Schwab, assesses the positive shift that can take place when a struggling physician is coached and mentored by a trained colleague, with input from other experts. MedPEP is brought to you by Physician Health Services (PHS), an organization founded by the MMS. The series addresses conflict management, peer support, self care, and more.

Apply for a LGBTQ health disparities grant (Oct 5)
The MMS is currently accepting grant proposals from medical students and residents/fellows whose curriculum development or research addresses health disparities in the LGBTQ community. Grant proposals are due October 5. Download the  Application and Guidelines; click the button below and scroll down.

Submit to the MMS Research Poster Symposium (Oct 9)
Residents, fellows, and medical students are eligible to submit abstracts for the 13^th Annual MMS Research Poster Symposium, to be held at the Interim Meeting later this year. Cash prizes will be awarded in four categories: basic research; clinical research; clinical vignettes; and health policy/medical education. For detailed submission guidelines, abstract templates, and program information, click the button below.

Educational programs and events

Live events

Conference on Universal Health Care (in person or live webinar)  
Wednesday, October 3    

Gender and Bias in Medicine – Effect on Physicians, Impact on Patients
Friday, October 19    

The Prescription Drug Predicament: Improving Access and Fostering Innovation
15th Annual Public Health Leadership Forum
Friday, October 25    

Managing Workplace Conflict: Improving Leadership and Personal Effectiveness
Thursday & Friday, November 1-2, 2018

Featured online CME

Shared Decision Making: Essential Skills for Prostate, Lung, and Breast Cancer Screening (4 modules)

Reading Financial Forms

Quote of the week

"I have heard that for every person who talks about an experience of sexual violence, there are at least 100 others who never will. On Thursday, I think Dr. Blasey’s voice was amplified to represent millions."
— Emily Yellin, journalist (New York Times)

Tweet of the week

@ShatterproofHQ
Changing the conversation about addiction.
Advocating for research, resources, and change.
Shatterproof.org

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.

New England Journal of Medicine's longtime editor to retire (AP)

Dr.  Jeffrey Drazen, editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, says he is planning to retire within a year after nearly two decades at the publication. Drazen, 72, an asthma and lung disease expert at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, became editor in 2000 and is one of the journal's longest-serving chiefs. He will help an international search committee find his successor and work through a transition period after one is hired.

Beth Israel-Lahey mega-merger could face restrictions (Boston Business Journal)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Lahey Health, and three other hospitals have been trying for over a year to merge. But on Thursday, the Health Policy Commission released a final report that said the deal would potentially raise health care spending in the state between $158.2 million and $230.5 million annually. The watchdog group voted unanimously to refer the report to both DPH and the office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey for further review. While the referral could lead the DPH and Healey to stop the merger, commissioners on Thursday appeared to be leaning toward imposing restrictions on the transaction. 

Anna Jaques CEO outlines benefits of hospital merger (Salem News)

Anna Jaques Hospital CEO Mark Goldstein reaffirmed Tuesday that the proposed merger of 13 Massachusetts hospitals would allow for a greater range of services for patients close to home at all socioeconomic levels. The proposal has cleared several regulatory hurdles, but still has a long way to go before state and federal officials sign off. In April, the state Public Health Council endorsed the merger, but it still needs approval from the state Health Policy Commission and Attorney General Maura Healey's office. In addition to Anna Jaques, the deal includes Lawrence General Hospital, Beverly Hospital, Lahey Medical Center in Peabody, Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester and several others. 

Nurse staffing limits debated at Question 1 forum (Telegram and Gazette)

Donna Kelly-Williams, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, spoke in favor of Question 1, which would set a maximum on the number of patients assigned to a nurse at any one time. Teresa Rincon, telehealth director of clinical operations and innovation at UMass Memorial Health Care, represented the Coalition to Protect Patient Safety, a group of hospitals and medical organizations that have mobilized to oppose the measure. The UMass Memorial Medical Group is a member of the coalition.

Health care watchdog to weigh in on costs of nurse staffing ballot question (Boston Globe)

Massachusetts' health care watchdog agency on Monday said it is studying the cost implications of a controversial ballot question to regulate nurse staffing in hospitals. Officials at the state Health Policy Commission revealed that they have been analyzing the issue for the past several weeks and plan to issue their finding at a public meeting on Oct. 3. The ballot question backed by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, a powerful labor union, would set limits on the number of patients assigned to nurses at one time. The union says limits are necessary to improve patient care. 

As population ages, great time to become a nurse in Bay State (Boston Herald)

Beyond a rewarding career as health care providers, registered nurses and advanced practitioners in the Bay State can expect annual mean wages among the top-five in the country — $120,140 a year for nurse practitioners and $89,330 for registered nurses. Yet, despite great wages and job outlooks, nurses today are facing a changing health care ecosystem, a shifting population and new challenges. These challenges are being tackled head-on by Massachusetts nursing education programs who are faced with not just responding to the changing face of health care, but anticipating its future. Lucky for patients (and future patients), nursing schools are taking a proactive and multi-disciplinary approach.