Download free firearms safety resources by MMS & AG

MMS NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Addressing the firearms risk in suicide, dementia, partner violence, and more
Physicians play a role in caring for shooting victims, including witnesses and the bereaved — and also in preventing gun violence. The MMS and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office have developed brochures and fliers for patients and providers for downloading and printing (click the button below). The Society also offers CME courses on gun violence which outline how to address gun safety and evaluate risks for gun violence in patients, the role of the clinician, and more. Firearms are involved in a range of medical and public health issues. Nine out of ten firearms deaths in older adults are suicides, firearms are the most common method of suicide among people with dementia, and firearms are a risk factor in escalating partner violence (the recent Texas school shooter had previously harassed one of his victims for a date).  

Nominate a Healthcare Hero of Western Massachusetts
Who among your colleagues or peers deserves recognition for their leadership, innovation, or commitment to improving health care and wellness in Western Mass.? The Healthcare Heroes awards honor achievement in several categories by individuals and organizations in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, or Berkshire counties. Nominations must be received by Friday, June 15.

What’s up in advocacy and policy

MMS pushes to protect vulnerable patients in ACO appeals
MMS provided comments to the Health Policy Commission on proposed regulations for the ACO appeals process. These regulations would apply when ACOs decline to offer a given service or referral and patients wish to appeal those decisions. The regulations codify a process by which ACOs will internally review appeals, as well as a subsequent process for external review. The Society focused on ensuring protections for vulnerable patient populations, particularly given the recent transition into ACOs of Medicaid patients. MMS also urged revision to allow physicians to initiate appeals on behalf of their patients.  

Reminders: Stuff you should click on

EHR Interoperability mandate kicks in July 1
Reminder: Large and medium-sized practices will be required by the state office of Health & Human Services to comply with a mandate for interoperability through the Mass HIway, as of July 1. For information on the mandate, how to comply, and how to ask questions, click the button.

Last chance! Develop and inspire the next generation of physicians — THURSDAY
Volunteer as a physician facilitator at the Boston University School of Medicine Integrated Problems course. Your medical experience and expertise will be invaluable in developing the medical students’ clinical assessment skills. Two options to make it easy to learn more: join us for lunch or call-in for the presentation on Thursday, June 7.

Live event: Palliative Care

Palliative Care: Aligning the Team Around the Patient via live webinar Tuesday, June 19; 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Medical Care of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Social Determinants of Health: Improving Health through Prevention-Based Care (6 modules)

Pictured (from left): Michael Collins, MD, chancellor; Terrence Flotte, MD, dean; Henry Dorkin, MD, immediate past president of MMS; S. Jay Jayasankar, MD, president of the BML; Richard Pieters, MD, president elect/treasurer of the BML and past president of MMS; and James Gessner, MD, past president of MMS.

Physicians honor polio pioneers at UMass Medical School
Physicians and public health professionals gathered at UMass Medical School on Tuesday for the unveiling of Gateway to the Polio Vaccine by Alan Witschonke. The portrait celebrates a Nobel Prize-winning event: growing the polio virus in tissue culture, in Massachusetts, to facilitate vaccine development. Dr. Leonard Morse, professor of medicine at UMMS and past commissioner of public health for Worcester, commissioned the portrait through the auspices of the Boston Medical Library (BML). In 1963, Dr. Morse spearheaded the initial program for polio vaccination in Worcester, working with the Worcester District Medical Society. The BML has loaned the portrait to UMMS in recognition of this history of collaboration and the legacy of Dr. Morse; it is displayed at the Lamar Soutter Library.  

Quote of the week

"It doesn't matter how many clear backpacks that they give me.” — Rebecca Schneid, junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, recalling hiding in a closet as a gunman killed 17 students and staff at her school on Valentine's Day (Lowell Sun)  

Tweet of the week

Celeste Peay
Former intern @bcbsma and @HealthConnector; @BUMedicine/@BULaw MD/JD student; @FurmanU Alum; native South Carolinian; views my own

Tag @MassMedical to be considered for Tweet of the week

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.

Dr. Michael Gustafson named president of UMass Memorial Medical Center 
Dr.  Michael Gustafson, who for the past three years has served as president of Boston's Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, has been selected as the new president of UMass Memorial Medical Center.   

Lawmakers push AG to slow down review of health care merger
State lawmakers are calling on Attorney General Maura Healey and the Health Policy Commission to slow their review of the proposed merger of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lahey Health, warning it would drive up health care costs and leave poor residents without access to services.

UMass Memorial to close Clinton, Leominster, Fitchburg services
Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health Care plans to close an inpatient pediatrics unit at Clinton Hospital, a cardiac rehabilitation unit in Leominster, and an urgent care center in Fitchburg, it announced.

Director in medical examiner's office appears to have fabricated credentials
Lisa Riccobene, who's worked in the state's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner since 2005 and was recently chosen to serve as its $112,000-a-year chief of staff, said she earned the degree in psychology, according to information provided by the agency.

UMass-Reliant-Shields to open $31M Shrewsbury surgical center
Orthopedic procedures and plastic surgeries are expected to account for a majority of procedures there, with other specialties added soon, such as urology and otolaryngology.

Jail program pitched as "oasis" for recovering addicts
The sheriff's office has teamed up with AdCare to provide peer-led recovery groups, mental and physical health education, and referrals for Vivitrol, a medication that helps people stay off opioids, according to Tompkins' office.

Athenahealth shares flat, CEO apologizes for past abuse allegations
Shares of Watertown's health IT company athenahealth dipped slightly on Tuesday after its CEO apologized after allegations surfaced in 14-year-old court documents that he hit his ex-wife.

Report faults Children's Hospital for medication errors
Three patients at Boston Children's Hospital suffered from medication errors in 2017, including one who waited hours for an antibiotic and later died, according to a state and federal inspection report.