by: Joan M. Grzybowski, DO

I might be dating myself in sharing this sentiment, but I hold firm to the quaint notion that the holiday season starts with the first step of a Thanksgiving parade; the kick-off of longstanding high school football rivalry games; or, at the least, the moment the carving knife actually hits that turkey. The fact that some marketing folks have decided the season starts with Halloween or even earlier should not change the natural order of things. This is a season to be thankful, not rushed to the next holiday and the one after that.

I am especially thankful this season for my role as POMA President for two reasons: First, I am more confident than ever that we are in a very strong position to meet our members’ needs, and, second, that so many of you helped us get to this position.

In the winter issue of the JPOMA, we are sharing our 2019-21 Strategic Plan in its entirety. We’ve invested a significant amount of time and energy in crafting a strategic plan to guide POMA for the next three years that meet our members’ needs and expectations. We engaged more than 500 POMA members and stakeholders in this process. Working with a partner consulting firm, we conducted qualitative and quantitative research.

This plan reflects both challenges and opportunities that our association and each one of us as DOs must navigate in a rapidly changing environment. We face some headwinds as we move into next year, in both Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., and more globally in how we operate in the rapidly changing healthcare sector. For instance, we recognize that we have a tremendous opportunity – and an obligation – to better leverage online communication tools to keep members informed and to power CME offerings. We need your continued help and support. In this issue of our newsletter, we’re asking for help in developing a POMA Mobile App. Our goal is to engage several workgroups to ensure that this App includes tools and features that will work for you.

I cannot stress how important it is to me that you view this as “our” strategic plan, one that every member can benefit from.

Again, I want to thank you for your recognition that this planning effort and our association are so vital for your practice and our profession. Please take time to enjoy this holiday season with loved ones. 

by: Diana M. Ewert, MPA, CAE 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Budget Time! With the strategic plan in hand, #TeamPOMA can begin to align the budget with the strategic plan. There are a number of high-priority, short-term and near-term objectives we are working on and we will be realigning expenditures to work towards meeting these objectives. This means we will be taking a hard look at how we do things, what we fund and at what level, staffing (do we have enough?), and overall income to expenses. We will also be looking into the next two years as we prepare preliminary budgets to address moderate and low priority objectives with near-term and long-term implementation. More information about our strategic based budget will be shared with you in future newsletters.

We will also be soliciting your input on new programs, products, and services. One of our high priority, short-term objectives is the development of a POMA mobile app. Something you can download to your mobile devices to access what you need when you need it. The app will incorporate a memory function for your username and password for “one-click” access. Which brings us to functionality. What do you access? What do you need? What would you like to see? What feature is most valuable to you? We need your perspective as we move forward exploring the apportunity (see what I did there?) to increase the value of membership in POMA. This survey takes under 5 minutes – click here – and share your opinion.

POMA District 8 Winter Seminar is 2 Months Away!

Make plans now to attend the POMA District VIII 32nd Annual Educational Winter Seminar. The 2019 conference will be held January 31-February 3 at Nemacolin Woodlands. This year’s program will offer up to 24 Category 1-A AOA CME credits.

Registration is now open!  Click here to register online or to download the registration form.

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!

Call for Poster Abstracts!

POMA’s annual scientific poster presentation day will be held on May 2, 2019, in conjunction with POMA’s Annual Clinical Assembly.  The poster session is coordinated by PCOM MEDNet and is open to all osteopathic residents training in Pennsylvania.

Abstract Submission Deadline: January 8, 2019

Guidelines are available online.

Review and Selection:

Abstracts will be reviewed by the PCOM MEDNet Research Committee and will inform all authors of the decision no later than February 15, 2019.

Conference Details:

Presentation day is May 2, 2019 in King of Prussia, PA.  Presentations will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions.

For more information, visit www.poma.org or email Melanie LaPenta at [email protected].

The Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association Foundation (POMAF) is pleased to announce several new scholarships are now open for application. Pennsylvania students who are enrolled as an OMS II, OMS III or OMS IV and residents are eligible to apply as long as they meet the criteria. The scholarships and applications are accessible online.  Applications can also be downloaded and mailed to the POMA Foundation. Scholarship amounts will be determined by the Foundation board. The deadline for applications is January 14, 2019. The Foundation board will review all applications and awards will be made late February/early March.

We would greatly appreciate your help in circulating this among your student and resident contacts. Feel free to share the information and link in social media, newsletters, etc. Make sure to use the hashtag #POMAF19 and tag us on Twitter, @POMA_DOs and Facebook, @POMADOs.

Lift Like a Girl

by Andrea DiSimone, DO

I knew residency wouldn’t be easy for someone as beholden to REM cycles as I am, though I naively believed I could make it through four years of training unaffected by their relative absence.  It turns out that was wishful thinking.  Although I took an oath to do no harm to my patients, learning how to practice medicine came at the cost of my own health and well-being.

Small Business Grants Available

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Small Business Grant is open and accepting applications from Pennsylvania’s small businesses. 

Grants can be used for upgrading lighting, replacing inefficient HVAC systems, upgrading to digital X-Ray equipment.  The grant program has over $300,000 remaining, with projects funded on a first-come, first served basis.  More information is available on the Small Business Advantage Grant website. 

If you have questions on the eligibility of a project or questions in general, please contact Ed Boito, Pa. DEP small business ombudsman, at (717) 783-0909 or email [email protected].

CMS Releases 2019 Physician Fee Schedule 

CMS recently released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule for calendar year 2019 that includes updates to payment policies, payment rates and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.  The AOA worked with CMS to avert a 50 percent pay cut for OMT codes billed with an E/M visit appended with Modifier 25 and delayed implementation of E/M policy changes.  The final rule will be published next week in the Federal Register.  CMS will accept comments until December 31, 2018. 

Patrick Hamilton from CMS’ Philadelphia Regional Office will be presenting a lecture on the final rule for the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule at the POMA District 8 Winter Seminar.  Click here for additional details. 

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: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LXMRR6C

Your Input is Needed! 

The Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS) has proposed changes to the CME requirements. There is an open public comment period through December 19, 2018, for 2019-2021 CME Guide. 

View the
newsletter online!

Table of Contents...

1. President's Perspective
2. Executive Opinion
3. POMA District 8 Winter Seminar Registration 
4. POMA ISMIE Affinity Program
5. Call for Poster Abstracts
6. POMAF Scholarships
7. How Are You DOing?
8. Small Business Grants Available
9. CMS Releases 2019 Physician Fee Schedule
10. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine in Seriously Ill Patients
11. Your Input is Needed
12. POMA Mobile App Survey
13. POMA Wants to Hear from You!
14. Upcoming District Events
15. Upcoming PGYP Meetings
16. Applications for Membership
17. Classified Advertisements
18. POMPAC

POMA Mobile App Survey

POMA would like to hear your thoughts on a POMA Mobile App. We have put together a short survey that is designed to get your thoughts on whether an app would be beneficial to you and what items you would like it to include. Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey. 

POMA Wants to Hear from You!

POMA is seeking physician input on compound drugs in the Workers’ Compensation System. The system has seen an increase in the use of compound drugs, including topical opioid formula which are of unknown safety and efficacy.

Prior to developing next steps relating to topical opioid compounds, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is seeking stakeholder input. If you provide care through the Workers’ Compensation System and utilize compounded topical creams, POMA would like to hear from you.

Email your contact information and availability to [email protected].

Upcoming District Events 

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

PHYSICIANS WANTED:

CORRECT CARE SOLUTIONS: HIRING MEDICAL DIRECTORS in these cities: Cambridge Springs, Mercer, Huntingdon, Somerset, Waymart. For details call Robert Cross at 717-216-2055 or 570-954-0479.

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

LOOKING FOR A PART TIME PHYSICIAN in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine in Philadelphia. Please contact me @ 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.

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