| weekly-rounds-march-20-2023-remembering-tom-curry | Weekly Rounds: March 20, 2023 - Remembering Tom Curry, Former WSMA CEO | Leadership | Shared_Content/News/Weekly_Rounds/2023/weekly-rounds-march-20-2023-remembering-tom-curry | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>March 20, 2023</h5>
<h2>Remembering Tom Curry, Former WSMA CEO</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Tom Curry. Tom was the executive director and CEO of the WSMA from 1986 to 2013, in addition to being a dear friend, mentor, and supporter not only to me, but to many in organized medicine and the physician community.
</p>
<p>
During his 27 years at the WSMA, Tom had many achievements that centered on building a forward-leaning and progressive professional society. From working with the Legislature in the 1990s to help create the Basic Health Plan, to being the voice for needed tort reform in the early 2000s, Tom was an ardent supporter of Washington state physicians and patients. He helped incorporate and secure stable funding for the Washington Physicians Health Program and supported Physicians Insurance's evolution into a national professional liability insurance company leader.
</p>
<p>
During his tenure at the WSMA, Tom served as a member of the board of directors of Physicians Insurance a Mutual Company, the state's largest professional liability insurance company. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Washington Physicians Health Program, the Association of Washington Business, the Washington Health Care Forum, and the Foundation for Health Care Quality.
</p>
<p>
Prior to joining the WSMA, Tom was the executive director of the Pierce County Medical Society and manager of corporate relations at Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska.
</p>
<p>
Tom was deeply respected by all in organized medicine-both within Washington state as well as throughout the U.S. His charming wit and engaging sense of humor will be deeply missed.
</p>
<p>
On behalf of all of the staff and members of the WSMA, we extend sincerest condolences to Tom's wife, Deedle, sons Ian and James, daughter Jennifer, and grandchildren.
</p>
</div> | 3/20/2023 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| death-comes-to-us-all-prepare-now | Death Comes to Us All: Prepare Now | Leadership | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2023/death-comes-to-us-all-prepare-now | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>March 17, 2023</h5>
<h2>Death Comes to Us All: Prepare Now</h2>
<p>
By Joanne Roberts, MD</p>
<p>
Having practiced palliative medicine most of my career before I retired in mid-2021, I have been involved in thousands of deaths and sat vigil with hundreds of families. I know a thing or two about the end of life. Or so I thought.
</p>
<p>In October 2021, I had a routine exam that included basic blood work. A few hours after the draw, the results dropped into MyChart: neutrophils 700; hemoglobin 9.2; platelets 108,000. A week later, a bone marrow biopsy showed 14% myeloblasts.</p>
<p>
"What do you think of the biopsy results?" asked Brian, my hematologist, letting me take the lead in recognizing this as a high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. "I think I would have liked to have lived to be at least 80," I replied. He wisely let silence fill in the next few moments.
</p>
<p>
We know that from the moment we're born, we are dying. But as another patient with a terminal diagnosis said: "We all see the exit sign, but I see it more clearly than you do." Indeed, little in my life has focused my brain more than being within sight of my death.
</p>
<p>
Once I got through the first month of shock, every day of the last 17 months has been among the best of my life. I've intensified my meditation alone and in groups, reflected on my life, spent more time talking with friends and daughters, ridden my bike more than 7,000 miles, and, generally "gotten my affairs in order."
</p>
<p>
My biggest worry was for my young adult daughters. Both live far from me, so I set up a Zoom call to share the news of diagnosis, chemotherapy plan, and prognosis. When my older daughter, a nurse and my health care agent, blurted out, "Does this mean we'll get a bigger inheritance?" we all wept with laughter, and I breathed easier. I know from my practice that when families laugh together, grief is easier to bear.
</p>
<p>
For my friends, CaringBridge is a lifeline to scores of people I know and love around the world, and I've hired a doula to help me build a support team for my daughters, my friends, and me.
</p>
<p>
Working in palliative medicine for decades, I failed to appreciate the intensity and richness of life that exists between diagnosis and hospice. Part of that richness is the accomplishment of the "logistics" of the end of our lives. As we come up to the annual Healthcare Decisions Day this April, my plea to you is to focus on yourself-and your own mortality. Don't put it off. As they say on every flight, "Put your own mask on first." This year, tend to yourself first and your patients second.
</p>
<ul>
<li>Havetheconversationwithyourfamilyabout your values and the care you hope to have when you are struck by disease, frailty, or another cause of death that is daily closer.</li>
<li>Designate a health care agent, and make sure everyone in your family knows who that is.</li>
<li>Complete your will so your family won't suffer over your "stuff."</li>
<li>Decide what you want done with your body. It will help you all acknowledge that death comes to us all.</li>
<li>Write your obituary. It will help you clarify what is most important to you in the life you have.</li>
</ul>
<p>
Death is the most natural thing in the world, particularly among those of us over 50 or 60. It is the one event that we all share. Imagine yourself as having a year to live, and then live as if you do. I suspect you'll be surprised at what you and your loved ones-and your patients-will discover.
</p>
<p>
<em>Joanne Roberts, MD, MHA, is an emeritus member now retired and living in Minnesota.</em>
</p>
<p>
<em>This article was featured in the March/April 2023 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em>
</p>
</div> | 3/17/2023 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| weekly-rounds-march-17-2023-five-ways-were-representing-our-members | Weekly Rounds: March 17, 2023 - Five Ways We're Representing Our Members | Leadership | Shared_Content/News/Weekly_Rounds/2023/weekly-rounds-march-17-2023-five-ways-were-representing-our-members | <div class="col-md-12">
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<h5>March 17, 2023</h5>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>Five Ways We're Representing Our Members</h2>
<p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p>
<p>
As I write this, I've just finished watching the 95th Academy Awards. That's not something I typically do, but with nothing else on my schedule, there I sat. Watching the production, it dawned on me that I was watching an association's award show. Just like the WSMA, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which, according to Google, has 10,000-plus members, exists to represent its members and celebrate their achievements.
</p>
<p>
The academy is best known, at least outside of Hollywood, for the Oscars. Similarly, outside of our most engaged members, the WSMA is best known for our advocacy work in Olympia. In addition to representing your voice in the Legislature, the WSMA represents you in other contexts: in Congress, in the media, in conversations with stakeholders, and in the regulatory arena. The WSMA also helps equip you professionally, with leadership development courses, quality improvement programs, and other opportunities for continuing education and networking. And we have our own Oscars: the WSMA Apple Awards, by which we celebrate our members' achievements during our annual gathering, the Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates (<a href="[@]wsma/events/annual_meeting/wsma/events/annual_meeting/annual_meeting.aspx?hkey=fea49254-3815-4dc9-8710-53ff2e3a100f&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=BRRs8">this year's meeting</a> will be held in Bellevue Sept. 23-24).
</p>
<p>
Just in case you aren't up to speed on all that the WSMA is working on, here are five examples of the ways we are engaged today in representing your interests and achieving the goals of our <a href="[@]wsma/about_us/who_we_are/strategic-plan/wsma/about/who_we_are/strategic-plan.aspx?hkey=cc3b2e8d-f7ff-49ac-95a7-fb5e6052b967&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=CRRs8">strategic plan</a>.
</p>
<h3>New education requirement to register for or renew your DEA number effective June 2023</h3>
<p>
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 requires a new training for physicians, physician assistants, and health care professionals who need U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration registration as a condition of employment or to prescribe controlled substances in Schedule II-V.
</p>
<p>
Starting in June, upon registration with the DEA or renewal of a DEA number, physicians will be required to complete an eight-hour training on substance use disorder treatment. The DEA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration are in the process of creating and releasing guidance around this new requirement.
</p>
<p>
The American Medical Association reviewed these changes and submitted a comment letter to the DEA and SAMHSA outlining various concerns. With a focus on patient access, the AMA raised concerns that physicians and health care professionals may struggle meeting the new training requirement in such a short timeframe, resulting in a potentially dangerous lapse in patient care. In addition, the AMA called on the DEA and SAMHSA to allow for broad interpretation of SUD training and provide a one-year grace period for physicians to fulfill the new requirement.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA will keep you apprised of updates to help you understand and comply with this new federal requirement, which goes into effect on June 21.
</p>
<h3>DEA proposed rulemaking regarding prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine</h3>
<p>
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has proposed rulemaking to expand telemedicine flexibilities adopted during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The proposed rule would provide safeguards for a narrow subset of telemedicine and audio-only consultations: those by a medical practitioner who has never conducted an in-person evaluation of a patient and that result in the prescribing of a controlled substance.
</p>
<p>
For these types of consultations, the proposed telemedicine rules would allow a physician or other prescriber to prescribe:
</p>
<ul>
<li>A 30-day supply of <a href="https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling">Schedule III-V</a> non-narcotic controlled medications or a combination of such drugs that have been approved for use in continuous medical treatment or withdrawal management treatment.</li>
<li>A 30-day supply of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder.</li>
</ul>
<p>
The DEA has also released a proposed rule to expand the induction of buprenorphine via telemedicine encounter. WSMA staff is reviewing the rulemaking for potential comments.
</p>
<h3>Quality improvement regarding safe prescribing habits with the sharing of prescribing reports</h3>
<p>
The Better Prescribing, Better Treatment program, a collaboration started several years ago by the WSMA along with the Washington State Hospital Association, Washington State Department of Health, and the Washington State Health Care Authority, continues to help ensure proper utilization of controlled substances and encourage safe prescribing habits.
</p>
<p>
Each quarter, the WSMA sends feedback reports on acute opioid prescribing to more than 10,000 prescribers and sends organization-level reports to medical group chief medical officers. At the same time, WSHA sends organization-level reports to hospital CMOs. Reports are derived from state prescription monitoring program data. Currently, reports are only sent to CMOs who actively enroll their hospital, health system, or medical group in the program.
</p>
<p>
This quarter, however, the program is expanding to enable all medical groups and individuals to enroll and receive these quarterly reports. This includes groups who do not have an approved CQIP plan with the state.
</p>
<p>
To enroll your medical group, practice, or individual physicians into the program, email Monica Salgaonkar at <a href="mailto:monica@wsma.org">monica@wsma.org</a>. Hospitals or health systems should contact Melina Ovchiyan at <a href="mailto:melinao@wsha.org">melinao@wsha.org</a>. For questions, contact Monica Salgaonkar at 206.441.9762 or <a href="mailto:monica@wsma.org">monica@wsma.org</a>.
</p>
<h3>Education on health equity via "M&amp;M" webinars</h3>
<p>
How do we give autonomy to patients in light of our own predispositions of how we view the world and society? How do we leave stereotypes at the door to ensure patient autonomy?
</p>
<p>
These questions and more will be discussed at the next session of our Health Equity M&amp;M Webinar Series on Friday, April 14 at noon. Think "morbidity and mortality" but with a focus on health equity.
</p>
<p>
These health equity M&amp;M discussions provide a framework for recognizing and examining our own biases and identifying the ways systemic racism exists in our organizations. You'll acquire new tools with which to think critically and identify when to advocate for your patients from historically marginalized communities, ensuring they receive the highest quality clinical care. The health equity M&amp;M discussions serve as one of many mechanisms to address forms of systemic marginalization of patients.
</p>
<p>
During each webinar, Edwin Lindo, JD, facilitates case-based discussions. Lindo is the assistant dean of social and health justice in the Office of Healthcare Equity, an associate teaching professor in the department of family medicine, and an adjunct associate teaching professor in the department of bioethics and humanities at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
</p>
<p>
WSMA members are encouraged to submit patient cases to discuss at an M&amp;M session. Verbal submission of cases is the safest approach to preserving the confidentiality of the information. If you would like to speak with Lindo directly, email Kendra Peterson at <a href="mailto:kendra@wsma.org">kendra@wsma.org</a>. As an alternative, the WSMA has created an <a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=CgN5_wMfNU66xEvN3PBcAIl040VJfZtFmgd6Gl6BR-NUOVhWSlJaWVAyODJTUE9UVFVUTjc0ODZFUS4u">online case submission form</a> by which you can share patient cases. Rest assured that case submissions are CQIP and HIPAA compliant.
</p>
<p>
This series fosters a space conducive to building a community of professionals focused on achieving health equity, allowing for discussions of charged but necessary topics. Each webinar is protected under WSMA's CQIP as recognized by the Washington State Department of Health and pursuant to RCW 70.225.040. By registering, you agree to maintain the confidentiality of the cases discussed pursuant to RCW 43.70.510, RCW 70.41.200, and RCW 4.24.250. This activity has been approved for <em>AMA PRA Category 1 Credit</em>â„¢.
</p>
<h3>Networking and developing leadership skills in a lakeside resort setting</h3>
<p>
Many WSMA members are quick to cite the WSMA Leadership Development Conference as one of their favorite WSMA conferences, and not just because of the springtime Lake Chelan resort setting. Most frequently cited is the conference curriculum, which offers top experts in their fields speaking to the latest developments in care delivery, leadership, and quality improvement. <a href="[@]wsma/events/leadership_development_conference/wsma/events/ldc/leadership_development_conference.aspx?hkey=c7532c38-057a-4568-8a3c-078182469222&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=IRRs8">Registration is now available</a> for the 2023 WSMA Leadership Development Conference, May 19-20 at Campbell's Resort on Lake Chelan. The theme this year is leading transformational change, an appropriate focus for a profession still rebounding from the disruptions of the pandemic.
</p>
<p>
For more on these presentations and speakers, a full conference agenda, registration, and hotel information, visit <a href="[@]wsma/events/leadership_development_conference/wsma/events/ldc/leadership_development_conference.aspx?hkey=c7532c38-057a-4568-8a3c-078182469222&amp;_zs=B3aFd1&amp;_zl=IRRs8">the meeting webpage</a>.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA Leadership Development Conference, designed for professionals at all leadership levels, will help you build leadership skills by exploring new trends in care delivery, leadership, and quality improvement while providing engagement opportunities with other physician leaders during interactive small-group discussions. Health care teams are encouraged to attend, as are families, all of whom will be able to take advantage of the many amenities offered by the resort and the Chelan community.
</p>
<p>
Much of our work on your behalf may be happening behind the scenes, but it's happening nonetheless. If you're ever curious about what we're doing to support you, feel free to reach out to me directly at <a href="mailto:jen@wsma.org">jen@wsma.org</a>.
</p>
<p>
Happy Friday and happy St. Patrick's Day!
</p>
</div> | 3/17/2023 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |