by: Lisa Witherite-Rieg, DO

"DISTINCTIVENESS"

Distinctive [ dih-stingk-tiv ], adj. having a quality or characteristic that makes a person or thing different from others: different in a way that is easy to notice. 

I love words and meanings. I enjoy increasing my vocabulary. It drives me a little crazy when a word or a form of a word is used to define the word (for example “distinctive: serving to distinguish”). I reached outside of my usual Merriam-Webster and went to Britannica for this definition, as I feel it captures who we as osteopathic physicians are and who we continue to strive to be.  The mission of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association is to promote the distinctive philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine in Pennsylvania, for our members and their patients.

In promoting our distinctiveness, last month and this month I have had the privilege to meet and talk with our newest osteopathic family members, the first year students at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). As these brilliant, energetic physicians-in-training were presented with their gifts from the POMA Foundation (stethoscopes, white coats and LOTS of encouragement), we are reminded of what makes us different from others who embark in careers in medicine. First, we are physicians, healers, counselors, advocates. We understand the connection of the mind, body and spirit. We recognize though we may not be able to cure all afflictions, we can bring healing to all we touch. We listen, not only with our stethoscopes, but with our ears, minds and hearts in order to connect with our patients.

While traveling recently, I met a gentleman from Michigan who was talking to me about his personal physician. As he shared with me her demeanor and approach to his very complicated medical concerns, I smiled and commented, “I bet she is a D.O.” Surprised, he said, “She is! How did you know?” I then shared with him my background, training, and continued education. We DO make an impact!

But, our distinctiveness does not stop with medical school training. The importance of maintaining that emphasis MUST follow throughout our careers. During the recent AOA House of Delegates meeting there was extensive discussion regarding COMLEX-USA and USMLE testing in the context of the unified ACGME post-graduate training. Unfortunately, program directors are inappropriately using test scores (specifically, USMLE) as filters for applicants to residency programs. These examinations were not meant for this purpose and the reality is, many programs do not understand the relevance of the COMLEX-USA. As a result, osteopathic students feel burdened (financially and emotionally) to take both the COMLEX-USA and USMLE. While we understand the impact this has on our osteopathic physicians-in-training, we also realize that creating a single certification examination would be to the detriment of our profession and threat to our distinctiveness. As a profession we need to continue to advocate for equity and recognition of our certification examinations.

Also, during the July 2022 AOA meetings, the AOA Board of Trustees approved the following:

Definition of Osteopathically Distinct CME:
Osteopathically distinct CME is evidence or practice-based medical education which includes the body of knowledge and skills essential to the osteopathic profession and patient care and integrates osteopathic tenets and philosophy.

Faculty Requirement for Osteopathically Distinct CME
At least 50% of the total educational credits must be presented by osteopathic physicians. The remaining professionals may include subject matter experts approved by an educational planning committee.

Curriculum Requirement for Osteopathically Distinct CME
CME activities must address one or more of the AOA seven core competencies (current requirement as of January 2022) or one of the five osteopathic models with attention to the tenets.

I am proud to say, not only has the POMA, as a leader in Osteopathic CME, been following this definition in the planning and accreditation of our osteopathic education, but our own CSO Diana Ewert was instrumental in the collaborative work done by the AOA Osteopathic Distinct CME Task Force that led to the AOA approval! 

Speaking of Osteopathic CME… Join POMA at the 2023 District 8 Winter Seminar in January and Annual Clinical Assembly in May, attend our Substance Use Disorder CME series, listen to the POMA DOes podcast series to earn CME. POMA is clearly your source for osteopathic education.

by: Diana Ewert

"The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life, is an achievement. To do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance." David McCullough

For the past five-plus years, I’ve started every newsletter article with a quote. Some have been better than others. I believe this is one of the best. Surely this quote closely parallels the journey of an osteopathic physician. I have yet to meet a student, resident or physician in the osteopathic profession who does not love and believe in the importance of what they do. At the same time, there are most certainly hates. Hating the gaming of insurers. Hating a third-party push for quantity rather than quality. Hating anything that inserts itself between them and their patients from insurers to legislators, from regulations to requirements to employers to health systems to even the internet. It appears that anyone (and often everyone) is better informed about healthcare than the actual physician.

I recall attending an appointment with my mother to see her internist. She hadn’t been feeling well and was looking for answers. Her generation did not question the physician. Her generation did not voice how they felt. Especially women. They just went through the tests, agreed with what they were told, then went back home suffering in silence. (I will note that this physician was not osteopathic.) He asked how she was feeling, she said not too bad. I called her out, told the physician what she had been saying about pained breathing, shortness of breath while glaring at her. He listened to and palpated her chest, then said he was ordering a bronchoscopy. What, she asked? No big deal, he said. So, I called him out insisting he explain the procedure fully. The point of the story is the approach of an osteopathic physician would have been completely different starting with a conversation about what she was going through, experiencing, what was going on in her life, had anything changed since the last time she was seen. I know this because this is the care I receive from my osteopathic physician. Why? You love it and believe in its importance. This is why you teach. This is why you mentor. This is why you are involved. The osteopathic profession is growing because of you. The number of COMs is increasing. And now, entire generations of patients are focused on health recognizing that the best care is provided by individuals who look at the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.

The osteopathic profession is distinct and unique. It begins the moment you make a conscious decision to apply to colleges of osteopathic medicine rather than other medical schools. It begins building your first day at the college of osteopathic medicine that chose you and continues to grow. One challenge is ensuring that your progress is tested by osteopathically crafted exams. Another challenge is to ensure you continue to receive osteopathic content even when you aren’t working in an osteopathically recognized residency program. And yet another challenge is to ensure that you receive osteopathically distinct continuing medical education once you have completed residency. There are other health professions who are trying to co-opt your distinctiveness, but not one – NOT ONE – has been immersed in these principles since they started their professional journey. Our job, as your #TeamPOMA team continues to explain the differences between osteopathic professionals carrying the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and the imposters who claim to be “just like” or “as good as” because they “believe in” mind, body and spirit and treat the “same as” osteopathic physicians.

Because you love it and believe in its importance, we will do everything we can to advance the philosophy, practice and science of osteopathic medicine.

by: Andy Sandusky

Insurance Reform Legislation Advances

On Tuesday this week, Senate Bill 225, the insurance reform bill supported by POMA, was amended in its entirety with new language and voted unanimously by the PA House Insurance Committee. SB 225 reforms the prior authorization and step therapy processes for physicians and patients and is the culmination of years of work and negotiations with the insurance industry.  The bill currently applies to commercial plans under state jurisdiction, the Medical Assistance program, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  As you will read, the legislation is dense, complicated, and highly technical.

While this is a nice win and getting to this point has beaten the odds by a sizeable margin, there is still a lot of work to be done in a very short amount of time.  What’s next is the bill is currently on the House Calendar but will need to be referred to the House Appropriations Committee and then the floor of the House for a final passage vote.  But the process doesn’t end there.  The Senate will need to vote in favor of the amendments made in the House, called a concurrence vote.    

Complicating the matter is the current draft will not be its final form.  As one legislative staff put it, we are 90 percent there, but issues remain and need to be resolved before a final passage vote.  The next month will contain more negotiations among all the stakeholders, which is growing by the hour given the bill is setting up for passage.  POMA staff, contract lobbyists, and legal counsel are working to find the best pathway forward, consistent with POMA’s public policies, and to help both Osteopathic physicians and their patients with needed insurance reform.

If POMA and the patient and provider coalition are going to be successful, we will need POMA member help.  Leading up to the House’s return to session, POMA will be asking all of its members to contact their state House members in support of Senate Bill 225.  It is critically important that House members know the bill is important to their Osteopathic physician constituents.  POMA will provide an easy-to-use electronic pathway for you to use in this communication using the help of the VoterVoice software program.  Please be on the lookout for an Action Alert email!

2022 OSTEOPATHIC LICENSE RENEWAL PERIOD EXTENDED

Due to the ongoing issues with the PALS system, the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs has extended the renewal period for licenses under the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine from October 31 to November 30, 2022.  Note, CMEs must still be earned by October 31, 2022. Check your email for more information on this important announcement.

Visit www.pals.pa.gov to renew your license or check the status of your renewal.

 Need CME for License Renewal?

2022 is a license renewal year for Pennsylvania's osteopathic physicians. The deadline to earn credits is October 31, 2022. Licensees are responsible for maintaining and tracking their own CME credit hours. POMA is here to help track credits for the licensure cycle and provide sources to earn credits if needed.

CME Tracking
POMA members have access to the POMA CME Module which helps track credits earned within the state licensure cycle. This includes the total credit hours earned, 1-A AOA credits and the required credits for patient safety, opioid and child abuse education. All POMA-sponsored credits are automatically uploaded into the module. Credits earned outside of POMA can be manually entered into the module by the member or TeamPOMA. Take advantage of this member benefit and see what is in your CME record - your username is

Need CME?
POMA is leveraging technology to extend access to the 2021 and 2022  Clinical Assembly programming. We also launched our new Substance Use Disorder CME series this month and released an accredited CME podcast episode on August 26.

• The 2022 POMA Clinical Assembly offered 34 Category 1-A AOA CME credits and includes 7.5 patient safety credits, 1 opioid credit and 2 child abuse credits. Register for POMA22.
• The 2021 POMA Clinical Assembly offered 34 Category 1-A AOA CME credits and includes 8 patient safety credits and 1 opioid credit. Register for POMA21.
• The Substance Use Disorder Education Series – launched September 2022
• Episode 16 of the POMA DOes podcast series
  

Reminder of CME Requirements for License Renewal
Osteopathic physicians must earn at least 100 CME credits for the 2020-2022 licensure cycle. As part of the 100 credits, physicians must earn at least 20 Category 1-A AOA CME credits and at least 12 patient safety credits, at least 2 hours of opioid education and 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting education. The requireds can be Category 1 or Category 2. For more information, click here or visit the SBOM website.

District Dish

District 4

District 4 gathered on September 7 with members virtually and in-person at Isabella's in Wilkes Barre. They discussed legislative happenings including venue shopping and scope creep. They also discussed upcoming social events, including a holiday party and the annual hockey game, as well as their annual spring CME conference. It was great meeting with a lot of new faces!

If you would like more information on district opportunities or want to get more involved, email Darlene Dunay, DO, District 4 Chair.

District 11

POMA District 11 members gathered in Wyomissing on Wednesday, September 7. They discussed policies and politics, and concluded with a product theater on treatments for kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Make plans now to join us at our next district meeting on Wednesday, October 26th in West Reading. Click here to learn more and RSVP. 

LECOM Erie and Seton Hill Stethoscope Ceremony

Lisa Witherite-Rieg, DO, POMA president and chair of the POMA Foundation, addressed the LECOM Seton Hill DO Class of 2026 at their annual Stethoscope and White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, September 11th. She asked the students to use their new stethoscopes to listen to their own heart and continue listening to them throughout their entire medical careers.

POMA Trustee and LECOM Seton Hill graduate Kathryn Graham, DO also spoke to the students in Greensburg. She reminded them of the importance of friends, family and peers who are critical components of their support system.

POMA President-elect John Kalata, DO presented stethoscopes and white coats to the LECOM Erie DO Class of 2026 at their annual Stethoscope and White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, September 17. He reflected on the white coat and how it signifies the first step toward becoming competent, caring physicians. The white coats are embroidered with the POMA logo and serve as a reminder that POMA is with them all the way.

The stethoscopes were provided by the POMA Foundation. POMA and the POMA Foundation believe in these students as they journey toward becoming osteopathic physicians. Best of luck LECOM Class of 2026!

Resident Wellness Grant Program Now Open!

Applications Due October 1, 2022

POMA is committed to creating and providing opportunities for open dialogue around health and personal well-being across the osteopathic profession. Specifically for residents, we promote well-being through focused activities sponsored by POMA and financially supported by the POMA Foundation.

Over the last five years, $32,500 has been awarded to 66 residency programs in Pennsylvania. Residents have planned paint nights, escape rooms, garden projects, obstacle courses, cultural celebrations and arcade fun. Click here for pictures and recaps of recent activities to get some ideas. 

The next round of funding is now open and we invite you to apply. Talk with your fellow residents to dream up how you would like to spend the money. Put your ideas into the application and submit. It's really that easy! We look forward to hearing from you!

 Life After Retirement?

Are you retired or looking to retire in the coming years?  The POMA Mentor committee is looking to connect retired physicians with physicians approaching retirement. The purpose is to share knowledge about life after retirement. Retirement is supposed to be enjoyable, not stressful. Let the POMA wellness committee help you navigate these waters.

CLICK HERE to complete a short survey discussing your interest as a retired physician or soon-to-be retired physician.  Both are very important in supporting this program and the greater osteopathic community as a whole.

DOs DOing More

MGY-Capacidad Peru Trip 2022

Capacidad is a student-led, global health honor society that works in conjunction with MGY, a non-governmental organization dedicated to overcoming health disparities by empowering community health workers.

This past July, members of Capacidad and MGY conducted a community health worker training deep in the Peruvian Amazon, a 12-hour boat ride from the city of Iquitos. We had a team of 9, made up of physicians and medical students. We had 34 community healthcare workers (CHWs) from 15 communities. These isolated communities along the Amazon River can only be reached by boat and are often hours from health care facilities. The CHWs came ready to learn and serve as essential providers to their communities until patients are evaluated further by clinicians.

The CHWs learned skills such as taking vital signs and complicated topics such as oral rehydration. Kendal Schaetzle, an OMS V and one of PCOM’s OMM Clinical Scholars, taught the CHWs various osteopathic techniques to treat ailments such as back pain and neck pain. These techniques were a favorite topic of the CHWs and quite applicable to their daily lives. At the end of the 4-day training, the CHWs received backpacks filled with supplies and a tablet loaded with an application containing the entire training and assessments. MGY plans to return to the region each summer to further bolster CHW capacity.

The goal of MGY and Capacidad is to bridge the gap of access to healthcare in a sustainable way, with a focus on empowering communities and tailoring each program to help meet the needs expressed by the community members themselves. 

Any financial contribution, no matter how small, will help support the communities. All funds go directly to our community health workers, training programs, and the communities they impact. You can make donations directly through our PayPal and sign up for our Amazon Smile linked below.

www.mgyaware.org
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/mgyaware
Amazon Smile Instructions: Amazon Smile

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