by: Joan M. Grzybowski, DO

Public Health issues remain a big concern of POMA because it affects the citizens of Pennsylvania and indirectly our physicians. A topic rearing its ugly head from a mound of camouflage is Human Trafficking. Pennsylvania has the 7th highest rate nationally in this sobering statistic. Our highway infrastructure of I-81 and I-83 make it easy to move the victim.

Most of us would probably say we have never treated a case of Human Trafficking in our offices or clinics but you probably would be wrong. It is usually overlooked and is hidden in plain sight. Human Trafficking (HT) is a $150 billion industry and is second in profitability only to Drug Trafficking in criminal economics.

Drugs are sold and used only once, humans can be recycled and sold over and over. It happens in your own neighborhoods without much notice. It targets the most vulnerable, our young boys and girls. Some are lured via social media looking for a relationship or a positive voice. Red flags can be an online relationship with someone older leading to risky behavior and coercion with threats. Not all victims are the very young, but most have a need. They may be addicted to drugs, they may have been abused as children and do not recognize a pattern of a new type of abuse. Some are working in massage parlors, as domestics in homes or hotels or commercial sex rings and escort services.

Red Flags

• clinical history does not match presentation, oral history is often scripted;
• someone with the patient exerts an unusual amount of control over the patient;
• the patient appears anxious, depressed or submissive, possible branding tattoos;
• the patient is concerned about their family or being arrested;
• the patient shows poor medical care for chronic medical problems;
• the patient exhibits many physical injuries related to their work or recurrent STDs

Resources available include the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline 1-888-373-7888 run by POLARIS.

PAATH (Pennsylvanians Against Trafficking Humans) is another good source. This October, ICD 10 codes were added usually T and Z codes. The data collected from this additional informational piece will aid in developing targeted resources. Pa. ACT 105 establishes the crime of involuntary servitude and makes it a first-degree felony.

The majority of victims in Pa. are US citizens. The rise of the OPIOID epidemic has let to the upturn in Human Trafficking. The victims need for drugs leads to people that will coerce drug addicts into this tragic industry.

Be aware of what you are not recognizing and take a second look at a scenario not making much sense. Call the sources listed for additional detail, this article only scrapes the surface of this invisible problem.

by: Diana M. Ewert, MPA, CAE 

Choose
/CHōōz/
Verb

To choose is to select (someone or something) as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives. As a member, you choose POMA. There are many alternatives to POMA in the healthcare environment. But when you choose POMA, you choose more.

You choose knowledge. You choose the organization that keeps you up to date on osteopathic medicine and treatments; osteopathic philosophies and practice.

You choose value. You choose the organization that values you and values the osteopathic profession. You choose management of CME credit; licensure support; insurance programs.

You choose community. You choose the organization that connects you with other osteopathic physicians; local district involvement; mentoring students and residents.

You choose advocacy. You choose the organization that advocates for the osteopathic profession; interprets regulatory impacts; addresses scope of practice expansion.

You choose the profession. You choose the organization that preserves the unique identity of osteopathic medicine; guides the next generation of osteopathic physicians; communicates the whole-person approach to patient care.

You choose wisely… you choose POMA.

POMA District 8 Winter Seminar Registration Open!

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!

by: Bruce Hironimus, Legislative Consultant 

Healthcare Bills Update

The regular session of the General Assembly has recessed to the call of the presiding officers in each chamber. The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.  The Senate and House will return post-election to conduct their respective leadership teams. Consideration of a brief sine die session is on the table. 

The following status is for issues of significant importance to POMA. 

• Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners expanded scope of practice did not pass but will certainly be reintroduced next session. OPPOSED by POMA 
• Physician Assistants expanded scope of practice did not pass but will certainly be reintroduced next session. OPPOSED by POMA 
• Genetic Counselors expanded scope of practice did not pass but will certainly be reintroduced next session. OPPOSED by POMA 
• Telemedicine did not pass but will likely be reintroduced next session.  SUPPORTED by POMA
  
• E-Prescribing HB 353, PA 3779 provides additional definitions to the professional prescription, administration and dispensing of drugs. NEUTRAL.

 Physician CME Requirements 101

The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine requires physicians to participate in continuing medical education in order to renew their license.

Below are the CME requirements for an osteopathic physician with an active license wishing to renew the license with an active status:

·   Complete at least 100 credit hours during the 2-year license period (Nov. 1, 2016 – Oct. 31, 2018)

·   As part of the 100 credit hours, physicians must complete:

o    At least 20 credit hours of Category 1-A AOA approved activities.

Activities must be formal, face-to-face educational programs sponsored by an AOA-accredited CME sponsor.

o    At least 12 credit hours of activities related to patient safety or risk management.

Approved topics include: improving medical records and record keeping, reducing medical errors, professional conduct and ethics, improving communications, preventive medicine, health care quality improvements. Activities may be Category 1 or 2.

o    At least 2 credit hours of education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements.

Verification of education must be submitted to the state directly from the course provider. Activities may be Category 1 or 2.

o    At least 2 credit hours of education in pain management, identification of addiction or the practices of prescribing opioids.

Must be taken from a board-approved education provider. Activities may be Category 1 or 2.

o    All remaining credit hours can be completed in any Category (AOA Category 1-A, 1-B or 2; AMA Category 1 or 2)

Clarifying points:

·   The child abuse recognition and reporting credits cannot be counted toward the hours of education for patient safety and risk management.

·   The pain management, identifying addiction and prescribing opioids credits cannot be counted toward the hours of education for patient safety and risk management.

·   The patient safety credits; child abuse recognition and reporting credits; and the pain management, identifying addiction and prescribing opioids credits can be counted toward the hours of Category 1-A credit or the bucket of remaining credit hours.

Physicians wishing to renew an active/retired license must complete the continuing education requirements for 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting requirements. Additionally, the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program Act (ABC-MAP Act) allows for exceptions from the opioid continuing education requirement for “a prescriber who is exempt from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s requirements for registration number…and does not use the registration number of another person or entity as permitted by law to prescribe controlled substances in any manner.” They are exempt from the remaining education requirements.

Physicians who completed residency or fellowship training between November 1, 2016, and October 31, 2018, are exempt from the continuing education requirements. A letter containing the start and end dates of training should be obtained from the training program and kept in your personal records in case the board requests such information. 

Remember, the POMA team is here for you! As a service to active POMA members, you have access to POMA’s online CME module and we can help clarify where you stand for license renewal. It’s important to be proactive – email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Need CME Credit for License Renewal? 

DO license renewal needs to be completed by October 31, 2018. POMA’s educational offerings may be complete for the current renewal cycle, but we have compiled a list of resources for physicians who are still seeking CME credit for their license renewal.  

Remember, this year, all renewals must be completed online at 
www.PALS.pa.gov – no hard copies or checks will be accepted.

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.

Mental Health Grant Program Application Extension

POMA’s Mental Health Task Force has been collecting applications for the 2019 Mental Health/Wellness Residency Grant Program. We have gotten great feedback from past participants which is why we have extended the application deadline to Monday, October 22, 2018.

Check out last year’s recipients and then fill out your application by end of business on Monday. 

View the
newsletter online!

Table of Contents...

1. President's Perspective
2. Executive Opinion
3. POMA District 8 Winter Seminar Registration Open
4. POMA ISMIE Affinity Program
5. Government Affairs
6. Physician CME Requirements 101
7. Need CME Credit for License Renewal?
8. POMAF Scholarships
9. Mental Health Grant Program - Application Extension
10. DO License Renewal 
11. POMA's Going Pink
12. Upcoming District Events
13. Upcoming PGYP Meetings
14. Applications for Membership
15. CME Certificate Update
16. OMM Survey
17. Classified Advertisements
18. POMPAC
19. ACGME Review Committees

DO License Renewal Open Until October 31, 2018!

The Pennsylvania DO license renewal process is now open.  New this year, all renewals must be completed online at www.PALS.pa.gov – no hard copies or checks will be accepted.

Click here for more info.

POMA's Going Pink! 

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, POMA’s social media will be going pink on October 23^rd. We will be posting photos of us in our pink and ask that you join us.

Snap a photo of you in your pink and either tag us in the photo on Facebook or Twitter or send us the photo to [email protected] and we will post the photo on our page.

Get your entire family or office involved. Thank you in advance for participating and helping us raise awareness! 

 Upcoming District Events

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

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.

ACGME Review Committees Seeking Resident Member and Public Member Nominees

Check out a list of four ACGME Review Committees seeking resident and public nominees for open positions.

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