by: Pamela S.N. Goldman, DO

We DO...Evidence-based Practice

The 2020 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes were published recently, updating diabetic treatment and cardiovascular prevention guidelines from the American Diabetes Association.  It always amazes me how quickly the practice of medicine changes. Less than 10 years ago, I worked in a hospital and made rounds in the critical care unit. The current treatment and sedation recommendations at that time were only used in select patients or theoretical. Morbidity and mortality data show outcomes are better with these updated medications and treatment regimens.  And we continue to innovate through best practices for the betterment of our patients.

Often, I have residents who ask me how to keep up with all the changes to practice and current literature. One easy way to know what is going on in medical research and changes in standard practice is to subscribe to journals and get their table of contents sent to your email inbox. Another way to have current topics sent to you is to subscribe to medical daily headline list server (i.e., Healio^(R) Minute, Medpage Today^(R)).  As a preceptor to residents, you have to be up to date on current literature and best practices. Your patients and their patients expect it. 

This year is a license renewal year.  One of the best ways to earn CME and to learn about current evidence-based practice is to use your POMA member benefit of a reduced registration fee for AOA credits at the Annual Clinical Assembly held in Valley Forge.  The program provides specific credits such as patient safety/risk management, opioid, and child abuse credits needed for licensure in Pennsylvania.  New this year, POMA was granted “Provisional Accreditation” from the ACCME to be able to provide AMA PRA Category 1 credits to physicians attending the conference.  More information is available on the POMA website. 

In the modern healthcare environment, to provide patients with good medicine means that you need to practice evidence-based medicine.  Our medical decisions must be based on best practices, not anecdotal experience.  Osteopathic physicians are lifelong learners and constantly adjusting to new research and practice recommendations.  We have always looked at problems from a unique perspective. As more of us are in prominent, forefront-of-medicine situations, our philosophy permeates the evidence-based practice of osteopathic medicine. 

Join us for the Annual Clinical Assembly for excellence in continuous medical education! 

by: Diana Ewert

“People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

Your experience matters. It is one of the reasons we pay significant attention to the details when it comes to our programs. Those who have registered for the District VIII program at Nemacolin will begin their experience with an email – things to know before you go. We include logistical information – what is happening where and when and for who. We include information about exhibits – who will be there providing the latest information about products and services that can benefit your patients. Weather – should you throw some chains in the back just in case? Bring a heavy coat? (FYI, weather is looking pretty good so far…)  

When you check in, you may find that the Nemacolin team likely remembers you from prior years. If this is your first year, you’ll find friendly faces in registration – District VIII, POMA leaders and POMA staff. You’ll be met with smiles and greetings and an osteopathic hug or three. Your registration package includes details about speakers – topics, learning objectives, conflicts of interest (if any). Check your name tag. Names are important… you are important. You’ll find that learning extends far beyond the lecture hall as you catch up with your colleagues. The continuing medical education being presented is the best by the best. This is the first year you can get AOA Category 1-A as well as AMA PRA Category 1 as POMA is now dually accredited by both the AOA and ACCME.

Your experience – educationally and personally – is what you will remember after this program. The collegiality, shared understanding, esteem for the profession is what you’ll remember. Your POMA staff team looks forward to opportunities such as District VIII. It is our chance to remember who we work for and why it is important. We reconnect at District VIII and for us, it is personal. If you don’t feel like family when you leave, give me a call 717-939-9318, ext. 110 and let’s talk about how we made you feel. We can’t improve what we don’t know about. There’s no doubt that whatever the situation or issue, it will be better the next time we see you whether it’s at a district meeting, the POMA Clinical Assembly, a legislative office, or walking down the street in Harrisburg.

What's In A Collaborative Agreement?

Many POMA members work in collaboration with nurse practitioners in all areas of the state. A collaborative agreement is designed to have physician input when a nurse practitioner is engaging in acts of medical diagnoses or prescribing therapeutic response to patients. POMA members who are employees of a larger healthcare organization likely have a standard form which underscores what is required in a collaborative agreement. However, the state law and regulations requirements are quite minimal.

A collaborative agreement must include area of practice, categories of drugs, how often the physician will see the patient, be reviewed at least biennially and specify professional liability insurance coverage. Flexibility is purposely built-in to the collaborative agreement model so it can be tailored to the relationship between physician and nurse practitioner. This thin layer of collaboration is all that is required when a nurse practitioner is making acts of medical diagnoses and prescribing.

POMA seeks to preserve this layer of patient protection by opposing Senate Bill 25 which seeks to eliminate any required collaboration when a nurse practitioner is operating in an expanded role beyond nursing and into the practice of medicine.

by: Katherine Lincoln, DO, MHA, FAAFP, FACOFP

What Matters To You?

As physicians, we tend to offer solutions and process thinking to our patients to solve their problems and stumbling blocks. Yet, as a group, physicians are facing burnout at unprecedented rates and are having trouble solving our collective problem.

Single physician centered solutions, like practicing mindfulness, can be helpful but doesn’t not impact the overall systems of practice.

To that end, we are trying a new approach at Guthrie. The Guthrie board made it a high level FY20 goal to examine root cause and explore options for reengaging physicians, APPs, nurses, techs, front desk teams.

READ MORE >>

Registration is now open for POMA’s 112th Annual Clinical Assembly & Scientific Seminar!  The 2020 conference will be held April 29-May 2 in King of Prussia.  Click here to register online or download the registration form.

If you have any questions, please contact Deb Cargill-Roan at (717) 939-9318 x170 or email [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you in April!

National Wear Red Day®

On Friday, February 7th, POMA will be going RED to help raise awareness of women's heart health. Please join us by wearing red and sending us a photo or posting it on social media and tagging us. We will share any photos you send us on our different social media channels.

View the
newsletter online!

Table of Contents...

1. President's Perspective
2. Executive Opinion
3. Policy Points
4. POMA ISMIE Affinity Program
5. How Are You DOing
6. Classified Advertisements
7. Upcoming District Events
8. Upcoming Young Professionals Meetings
9. POMA Urges Toomey/Casey to Support THCGME
10. Welcome New Members
11. Follow POMA on Social Media
12. POMPAC
13. POMA's 46th Annual Clinical Writing Contest is NOW OPEN!
14. National Wear Red Day

Upcoming District Events 

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!

POMPAC is the collective
voice of the osteopathic profession in Pennsylvania.

Send your personal check to POMPAC c/o POMA, 1330 Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17111, or charge your contribution to your credit card!

PAC contributions are not tax-deductible.

POMA's 46th Annual Clinical Writing Contest is NOW OPEN!

All Pennsylvania osteopathic medical students and interns/residents training in Pennsylvania are invited to submit their research paper into this year's contest!

Judging will be conducted in March and finalists will be notified in April. All contest winners will be announced during the Opening Session of the 2020 POMA Clinical Assembly on April 29 in King of Prussia.

The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2020.

View all the details here.

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