by: Joan M. Grzybowski, DO

A few weeks ago during a bitterly cold night, a man froze to death. This tragedy happened just a few blocks from my office. I first heard about it a few days after his death had happened. Of note, a dog was missing in my neighborhood. I found out about it in almost real time via a neighborhood website. Why is it we have more info about a missing pet instead of a missing person?

The homeless have become invisible to many of us, yet Pennsylvania has 14,138 homeless people. Veterans comprise 963 of that sum and 1,438 Pa. citizens are chronically homeless.

The exact statistics about our homeless numbers are difficult to attest to because on any given night they can be anywhere. To become a vital statistic you need to be counted and we cannot count what we cannot see. Once statistics are accurately obtained the date can be used to help address the problem.

If you search for resources for the homeless “medical resources” is not a Bolded topic. It takes about 4 clicks into many websites to see how we can help this group of people to get medical aid. Medical conditions that require recurrent care such as diabetes, hypertension or tuberculosis are common in this slice of society. It is extremely difficult to treat those whose housing may be a cardboard box, an overpass ledge or a tent city of people living under a bridge.

In women, domestic violence is the usual cause of homelessness. Other factors common to the homeless population are age over 50, disruptive life events in youth, race, child abuse, prior jail, low income or mental disorders.

I have seen a commendable trend in some of our Osteopathic students, some of our future leaders are volunteering in “Street Medicine”. They go out to areas the homeless frequent and provide some limited medical aide and bags of care. They are to be commended for the work they do.

My goal would be to help make you more aware of this group of people we often overlook because we are busy with our own agendas. The US Interagency Council on Homelessness has a wealth of information on this subject and some solutions that have helped other communities if you want to learn how to advocate for them.

From the Homeless Collection of Quotes… Your job is not to judge nor to figure out if someone needs something. Your job is to lift the fallen, to restore the broken and to heal the hurting.

by: Diana M. Ewert, MPA, CAE 

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day – the movie. The premise of repeating the same day over and over until you somehow get things just right. How many times have we wanted to hit a reset button, go back and do it over? When it comes to scope of practice, it sure feels like Groundhog Day. You have non-physician clinicians coming back year after year making the same request until they reach a desired outcome.

Our goal, as your professional organization, is to ensure the health care received by those in the Commonwealth, is safe, accessible, and appropriate. We believe this is currently being done through the collaborative practice agreement between physicians and non-physician clinicians. The health care team – and it is a team – delivers the best care, at the best time, in the best way. It’s not just one person looking at what is happening with a patient. It is a nurse, nurse practitioner or physician assistant making an initial assessment which in turn is reviewed by a physician. We believe collaborative practice supports a non-physician clinician to practice at the highest level of their education. The capabilities of a new graduate will vary greatly from an individual who has been working collaboratively with a specialist for 10 years as a comparison example. As the relationship, experience and observation of the care provided increases, so will the opportunity for these individuals to have a greater role in delivering patient care.

The care CRNPs provide is valuable and necessary. And in a collaborative practice with a physician, they are an integral part of the health care team. But, we will be clear that the care provided by CRNPs is nursing care. CRNPs are educated and trained under a nursing curriculum. They are licensed by the state nursing board. They are certified by nursing boards. CRNPs are not licensed to practice medicine. To do so, they need the training, experience and education that physicians receive. To do so, they must be licensed by the medical boards, and board certified by the AOA/ABMS.

Groundhog Day – we must get this right.

Save the Date!

POMA Annual Clinical Assembly · May 1-4 · Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia

Registration is OPEN! 

Click here for more information, including a schedule of events.

If you have any questions, please contact Deb Cargill-Roan at (717) 939-9318 ext 170 or email [email protected].  We look forward to seeing you there!

PA House and Senate Republicans Join Physicians and Hospitals on Concern with Venue Change

The Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus held a press conference on the steps of the capitol rotunda joining the chorus of physicians and hospitals asking the Supreme Court Civil Procedural Rules Committee to hold off changing the venue rule. The current venue rule requires that medical professional liability actions be brought in the county where the alleged action took place. Republican lawmakers argued that removing this exception from the procedural rules will likely lead to higher jury awards and higher premiums.

Lawmakers who were in office in the early 2000s recalled how difficult a crisis it was for communities around the state as physicians left the state or restricted their practice to lower risk treatment of patients in order to avoid paying skyrocketing premiums. Legislators urged the court to stay the course and refrain from changing the rule on venue.

READ MORE>> 

 District Dish

District VIII 32nd Annual Educational Winter Seminar

Another successful winter seminar from District VIII is in the books. There were 281 attendees at this year's seminar which offered 20 Category 1A AOA CME credits, including 4 patient safety credits.  Additional 1A credits were also available by attending the Friday and Saturday afternoon workshops.

District VIII had a well-attended business meeting at this year's Winter Seminar. Elections were held, and you can see those results here. Members also discussed and agreed upon giving a scholarship to one medical student who has roots in District VIII from each PA osteopathic school; LECOM, LECOM Seton Hill, and PCOM. More details to come.

READ MORE>>

District 10

POMA District 10 gathered on Friday, January 25, 2019, for their monthly event at the Blue Bell Inn in Blue Bell, PA. The group enjoyed a lecture about Challenges Associated with Managing Patients with Type 2 Diabetes by Jeffrey Freeman, DO. 

READ MORE>>

District 9 & 12

POMA District 9 and 12 Members gathered at the Tavern at the Nemacolin Woodlands resort to socialize and get localized updates from their District Leadership. The meeting was held in conjunction with the District VIII Winter Seminar.

Dr. Lisa Witherite-Rieg, district chair, updated the group on their previous meeting. She also brought forth exciting news about a golfing event at the Pine Crest Country Club this summer to include a CME activity and meal. She, along with other district members, is organizing the event. More details to come. 

READ MORE>>

District Election Results

The following district officers and trustees were recently elected to represent their colleagues for the 2019-2021 term.

District 3

Chair: Rehab Tabchi, DO
Vice Chair: Farah Mirza, DO
Secretary/Treasurer: Georgia Fliakos, DO
Trustee: Sally Ann Rex, DO

District 8

Chair: Gene Battistella, DO
Vice Chair: Peter Stracci, DO
Secretary: Christopher Poggi, DO
Treasurer: Jessica Masser, DO
Trustee: Peter Stracci, DO

District 10

Chair: Carol Bowes-Lawlor, DO
Vice Chair: Matthew Shore, DO
Secretary: Jennifer Lorine, DO
Treasurer: Payce Handler, DO
Trustee: Jennifer Lorine, DO

District 12

Chair: Lisa Witherite-Rieg, DO
Vice Chair: Janice Kenneson, DO
Secretary: Cynthia Hoffmeier, DO
Trustee: Benjamin Park, DO

District 14

Co-Chair: Richard Purse, DO and Barry Getzoff, DO
Vice Chair: Joseph Guagliardo, DO
Secretary/Treasurer: Freda Lozanoff, DO
Trustee: Richard Purse, DO

PCOM Celebrates Founder's Day

The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine recently celebrated its 120th birthday with a host of celebrations, including a lunchtime awards ceremony honoring those who embody the legacies of PCOM’s founders OJ Snyder and Mason W. Pressly. Founders’ Day celebrates the birth of PCOM in 1899 by O.J. Snyder and the Mason W. Pressly, who sought to bring the osteopathic philosophy to Philadelphia.

The O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal and the Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal are presented to an alumnus or student who has exhibited outstanding leadership and service to the osteopathic profession, the College and the community. This year the Snyder Memorial Medal was presented to Alexander S. Nicholas, DO ’75, and the Pressly Memorial Medal was presented to Taylor E. Olian (DO ’19)

Also honored at the luncheon was Tina Woodruff, EdD, senior advisor to the provost, who received the PCOM Alumni Association Certificate of Honor—the association’s highest award—for her tireless work in the Office of Student Affairs.

You can read more here about the ceremony and this year's Founders' Day honorees. 

New Part D Opioid Overutilization Policies Call

Thursday, February 14 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm ET

Register for Medicare Learning Network events.

CMS implemented new opioid policies for Medicare drug plans effective January 1. The new policies include:

• Improved safety alerts when patients fill opioid prescriptions at the pharmacy
• Drug management programs for patients at-risk for misuse or abuse of opioids or other drugs 

During this call, CMS experts discuss the new policies and answer questions.    

Prior to the call, participants should review the following materials:

• Training materials, including slide decks and tip sheets for prescribers, pharmacists, and patients
• A Prescriber’s Guide to the New Medicare Part D Opioid Overutilization Policies for 2019 MLN Matters Article
• Reducing Opioid Misuse webpage for more information on the CMS strategy

Target Audience: Physicians; physician assistants; nurses; nurse practitioners; dentists and other prescribers; case managers; and other interested stakeholders.

View the
newsletter online!

Table of Contents...

1. President's Perspective
2. Executive Opinion
3. Save the Date
4. POMA ISMIE Affinity Program
5. Policy Points
6. District Dish
7. District Election Results
8. PCOM Celebrates Founders Day
9. New Part D Opioid Overutilization Policies Call
10. Former Nurses Needed
11. Upcoming District Events
12. Upcoming PGYP Meetings
13. Classified Advertisements
14. POMPAC
15. OMM in Seriously Ill Patients
16. Call for Clinical Writing Submissions
17. Call for Presenters
18. What Do You DO?

Former Nurses Needed!

Were you a nurse or nurse practitioner before you became a physician? If so, we need you!

Click here to send us an email and let us know.

Upcoming District Events 

Please address all correspondence for POMA Box Letters to: c/o POMA, 1330 Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA  17111-2395.

PHYSICIANS WANTED:

ATTENTION DOs! MD AT HOME, Inc., is in need of a part-time doctor (great for retired doctors) one to two days a week making home visits to the elderly and the disabled that are homebound.  Chauffeured by a medical assistant in a company vehicle to scheduled appointments. Email [email protected] for more information.

OPPORTUNITY — PHYSICIAN POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Media and Lancaster. Flexible hours, private practice, 3-4 hour shifts, no on-call, malpractice insurance needed. For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or call 610-566-8885

PRACTICES WANTED: Retiring physicians, part-time or full-time practices, call 215-669-4001.

CLASSIFIED AD
RATES
— Per insertion —

Member Ads*: $10 for the first 20 words, $.25 for each additional word. $2 each for special services: box letter, all caps or all bold type, boxing an ad in.

Non-member Ads: (Payment must be received in advance.) $50 for the first 20 words, .50 each additional word. $5 for each special service (listed above).

*Please Note: Member ad rate to be used only by POMA members and only for their medicine- or practice-related ads. Charges for other types of members’ ads will be calculated using the non-member ad rate.

POMA does not take a position of endorsing any organizations, individuals or services whose classified advertisements appear in this publication. The POMA Newsletter reserves the right to select and edit all advertisements submitted.

Follow POMA on social media for all the latest news!

   

IS 
The Collective Voice of the Osteopathic Profession

 Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Political Action Committee

Send your personal check today to POMPAC in care of the Central Office, 1330 Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17111-2395, or charge your contribution to your VISA or MasterCard! 
PAC contributions are not tax-deductible.

 Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine in Seriously Ill Patients 

Dear Physicians, 

Please participate in a 5 minute research study called "Use of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) in Seriously Ill Patients".  This study is designed to identify and quantify trends in physician use of OMM. To participate in this survey, click the link below. 

Survey link 

Call for Clinical Writing Submissions

The 45th Annual POMA Clinical Writing Contest is NOW OPEN!  Winners will be announced during the 2019 POMA Clinical Assembly, May 1-4 in King of Prussia. 

The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2019.  Click here for contest rules/regulations and to access the online submission form. 

Call for Presenters!

POMA is looking for presenters willing to share their expertise and enhance professional growth in the osteopathic medical field. We are searching for presentations to address topics/discussion that would attract dedicated osteopathic and allopathic professionals committed to enhancing patient care and medical practice management through the continuing education process.

If you're interested, check out the link for more information and to apply.

What Do You DO?

The POMA Newsletter is adding a new feature section starting in February. In the second edition of each monthly newsletter, we will be featuring a Pennsylvania DO, student, or resident and highlighting what they do outside the profession. So, if you or someone you know is doing something extraordinary, out of the box, or just straight up awesome outside of their professional work, we want to know about it. 

You can contact Jason Leeper at [email protected] to give him details. The first story will be published in the February 22 issue of our newsletter. We look forward to hearing about what else you all DO! 

Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association | 1330 Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17111  (717) 939-9318 | www.poma.org