Medical Officer Collaborative

The WSMA Medical Officer Collaborative is a forum for medical leadership from across the state to collaborate on important topics of leadership development, health equity, and physician wellness.

It takes strong leadership to create meaningful change in practice. This learning collaborative provides a safe place to openly discuss the challenges physicians face and outline effective solutions to those challenges. Physician leaders’ insight, judgment, and credibility shape our health care delivery systems for the betterment of all patients. Together, we are committed to collaborating to enhance health care quality and safety for our communities.

To Join

If you are a new senior physician leader (i.e. CMO, executive medical Director, or VPMA) at a hospital, health system or medical group in Washington state, you can request to join the group.

Call to Action

The medical officers of Washington state collaborate on agreed-upon call to action initiatives, which are health care quality and safety initiatives that improve patient lives and health care delivery. The medical officers participate in work groups comprising several organizations and associations, developing statewide strategies and implementation plans.

Call to action initiatives:

Leadership Development: Train physicians to be exceptional leaders who balance what the organization needs and what the individual patient needs.
Health Equity: Reduce disparity in health outcomes and promote diversity, inclusion, and equity in the workforce to improve health equity.
Healthy Doctors, Healthier Patients: Reduce administrative burden and promote evidence-based interventions to address the drivers of burnout.

Upcoming Events

Save the date for the second safe table on Oct. 2, 2023, which will be held in person only at the SeaTac Conference Center. This event will be a leadership retreat facilitated by Ed Walker, MD, MHA. To register, please email Monica Salgaonkar at monica@wsma.org.

CME statement

Oct 2, 2023, session (full-day in person only, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. with two breaks and lunch):

The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The WSMA designates this live activity for a maximum of 4.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Leadership

Scott Kennedy, MD
Chair, Medical Officer Collaborative
Chief Medical Officer, Olympic Medical Center

Rachel Thompson, MD
Chair-Elect, Medical Officer Collaborative
Chief Medical Officer, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital

CMO Advisory Group

The CMO Advisory Group oversees the WSMA Medical Officer Collaborative. The group meets regularly to establish and monitor the collaborative’s calls to action, set the agenda for upcoming safe table sessions, and vote on leadership. Members include:

Alka Atal-Barrio, MD – Optum Washington
Daniel Getz, DO – Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
Richard Goss, MD – UW Medicine
Kent Hu, MD – Optum
Sudhakar Karlapudi, MD – PeaceHealth
Scott Kennedy, MD – Olympic Medical Center
Tom Miller, MD – Overlake Medical Center
Kim Moore, MD – Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Ettore Palazzo, MD – EvergreenHealth
Kevin Pieper, MD – Providence
Donna Smith, MD – Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Rachel Thompson, MD – Snoqualmie Valley Hospital
Anne Marie Wong, MD – Harbor Regional Health

Physician Leadership News

Data pager
Data pager
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Item 1 to 3 of 20 Page:of 7 Page size:

Data pager
Data pager
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Item 1 to 3 of 20 Page:of 7 Page size:

Show all 20

member-profile-greg-may-md

Member Profile: Greg May, MD

Leadership

Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2023/member-profile-greg-may-md

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2023/september-october/member-spotlight-greg-may-website-image-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Member Profile: Greg May, MD graphic" /></div> <h5>Sept. 19, 2023</h5> <h2>Member Profile: Greg May, MD</h2> <p> <strong>Works at:</strong> Harbor Regional Health Orthopedics in Aberdeen. </p> <p> <strong>How long in practice:</strong> 28 years. Specialty: Orthopedics and hand surgery. </p> <p> <strong>Why WSMA: </strong>I'm active in the WSMA because the politics of health care demand unity, and the WSMA supports physicians and physician leadership. I've been more active over time and have particularly enjoyed the WSMA Leadership Development Conference, which I try to attend annually. </p> <p> <strong>Top concerns:</strong> One of my top concerns in medicine, which affects all specialties, is the onerous requirements of prior authorization. It is an additional burden the insurance industry has placed on us. My academy [the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons] and the WSMA are actively working on changing this unnecessary delay tactic. </p> <p> <strong>Why my specialty: </strong>I'm drawn to my specialty because I'm a happy tinkerer. I've always been mechanically inclined and enjoyed discovering how things work. My specialty is mechanically oriented, particularly regarding the intricacies of hand anatomy. Orthopedics also treats all musculoskeletal conditions and patients of all ages. I enjoy this variety that my patients bring to the clinic. </p> <p> <strong>Proud moment in medicine:</strong> I'm proud that three of my four daughters have chosen medicine as their profession. My wife (WSMA member Anne Marie Wong, MD) is also a physician, and the fact that my children feel this is a worthy profession to pursue after living with their medical parents makes me feel like I've done something right. Unrelated to medicine, I am proud of my daughter who is in engineering and also a happy tinkerer. </p> <p> <strong>Challenges in profession:</strong> The shortage of physicians and attempts to replace them with advanced practice practitioners is a major change challenging our profession. This lack of physicians, particularly in rural areas, contributes to the already exorbitant cost of care and affects those most vulnerable due to social determinants of health. </p> <p> <strong>What people may not know:</strong> I have kept bees for the last three years. I have two hives in my backyard, and I enjoy them and their honey. Bees are wonderful and an important part of our ecosystem. </p> <p> <strong>Spare time:</strong> When I'm not at work, I spend my time enjoying craft beer, going to yoga class, downhill skiing, and spending time with my grandchildren. </p> <p> <strong>Favorite quote:</strong> "Always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine." -English poet Lord Byron. </p> <p> <em>This article was featured in the September/October 2023 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em> </p> </div>

9/19/2023 12:00:00 AM

1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM

weekly-rounds-september-15-2023-on-the-state-of-physician-well-being

Weekly Rounds: September 15, 2023 - On the State of Physician Well-Being

Leadership

Shared_Content/News/Weekly_Rounds/2023/weekly-rounds-september-15-2023-on-the-state-of-physician-well-being

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Weekly%20Rounds/Weekly-Rounds-Article-Graphic-2022-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Weekly Rounds logo" /></div> <h5>Sept. 15, 2023</h5> <h2> On the State of Physician Well-Being </h2> <p>Jennifer Hanscom, CEO</p> <p> In anticipation of <a href="https://npsaday.org/">National Physician Suicide Awareness Day</a> this Sunday, The Physicians Foundation has announced findings from its annual survey on the state of physician well-being. Surprising to no one within health care, the findings paint a picture of low physician morale and well-being. Additionally, the survey breaks out young physicians and physicians in training for the first time, and notes that residents and medical students are also plagued by the effects of burnout and suicide. </p> <p> Key survey findings include: </p> <ul> <li>Medical students' overall well-being is lower than both residents and physicians. <ul> <li>More than six in 10 residents (61%) and seven in 10 students (71%) report experiencing feelings of burnout.</li> <li>Though just starting their careers, a shocking proportion of students (45%) know a colleague or peer who has considered suicide, compared to residents (38%) and physicians (36%).</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul> <li>Current and future physicians alike report stigma and structural barriers negatively affect their overall well-being and mental health. <ul> <li>Nearly eight in 10 physicians (78%), residents (79%), and medical students (76%) agree that there is stigma surrounding mental health and seeking mental health care among physicians.</li> <li>Nearly five in 10 residents and medical students were either afraid or knew another colleague fearful of seeking mental health care given questions asked in medical licensure/credentialing/insurance applications.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p> Find the full survey findings from the 2023 Survey of America's Current and Future Physicians on <a href="https://physiciansfoundation.org/research/amplifying-physician-resident-and-student-voices-to-drive-wellbeing-and-care-delivery-solutions/">The Physicians Foundation website</a>. </p> <p> Physician and clinician burnout and related resignations and early retirements continue to pose a major threat to a health care industry that remains in need of clinical leaders, physicians, and other front-line staff to ensure capacity. </p> <p> The issue has been in the forefront of industry news for years, with the pandemic bringing it firmly into the national spotlight: In May 2022, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/health-worker-wellbeing-advisory.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">advisory highlighting the urgent need to address the health worker burnout crisis across the country</a>, pointing to the record numbers of health workers who are quitting or reporting that they intend to quit. </p> <p> The future of medicine is dependent on change to offer the right resources and eliminate barriers that impact physicians' well-being. The solutions to improve physician well-being and prevent suicide are not a secret-physicians, residents, and medical students have identified the solutions they need. At the top of the list, physicians (80%) and residents (85%) agree that reducing administrative burdens, such as low-value work, insurance approvals, and unnecessary mandatory training, is helpful to improving well-being. </p> <p> The health worker burnout and workforce retention crisis, if not addressed, will make it harder for patients to get care when they need it, cause health costs to rise, hinder our ability to prepare for the next public health emergency, and worsen health disparities. </p> <p> To that end, the WSMA has convened a small work group with members from the Washington State Medical Group Management Association and several large group leaders to create a package of workforce policy solutions in advance of the 2024 legislative session. This workforce work group is putting the finishing touches on its draft recommendations, which will go before WSMA leadership this month. Look for a wider release of these recommendations later this year. </p> <p> In addition, the WSMA Foundation has been awarded a grant from The Physicians Foundation for a physician wellness initiative that will look at systemic solutions to physician and physician assistant burnout, including convening health systems and large groups to develop best practices and to pledge their commitment to meet those best practices. We are seeking physician and PA members to join a new committee to help lead this work, with compensation available for your time and commitment. To learn more about the expectations of service on the committee, reach out to WSMA Associate Director of Quality and Leadership Programs <a href="monica@wsma.org">Monica Salgaonkar</a>. </p> <p> For this Sunday's day of awareness around physician suicide, I hope you'll join me in doing what you can to raise the visibility of the issue. Find social media and other materials in the <a href="https://npsaday.org/toolkit/">Toolkit</a> section on the <a href="https://npsaday.org/">NPSA Day website</a>. </p> </div>

9/15/2023 12:00:00 AM

1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM

ya-es-tiempo-its-time

Ya Es Tiempo (It's Time)

Leadership

Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2023/ya-es-tiempo-its-time

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2023/september-october/heartbeat-meljen-website-image-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="Heartbeat: Vivienne Melvin MD logo" /></div> <h5>Sept. 15, 2023</h5> <h2>Ya Es Tiempo (It's Time)</h2> <p>By Vivienne Meljen, MD</p> <p> Most of my patients have a look of surprise on their face when they first see me stepping into the exam or hospital room clad in casual scrubs, sneakers, a mask, and with my short wavy hair. Yet, so often I watch this common reaction melt away as it sets in that I'm speaking Spanish with them and I am their doctor. Just as my entrance often elicits surprise, my exit will end with some variation of them saying "Gracias, que Dios te bendiga doctora" (Thank you, God bless you, doctor). At the end of my day, these are the patients who fill my soul. Yet my heart hurts for them when I see how their struggles with the health care system affect their lives. </p> <p> When I first started my OB-GYN practice, I felt patient questions about my age, life, and background were distractions from the care I was giving. I would try to address their questions honestly but briefly to maximize my time with them. That was, until I later recognized that for most of my patients, I am the first Latina physician and surgeon they are meeting. When I reflect on this, I realize that even at the diverse academic institutions where I trained, I hadn't met someone who was "like me" until I was a resident. </p> <p> Patients are genuinely curious about how a young Latina, not unlike them, came to be in a position to care for them. They are hungry for culturally competent health care. They want someone to understand. I've never been more certain that maternal care in this country is not in a good place right now, and this is especially true for the ethnic minorities who make up much of Washington's medically underserved. </p> <p> We know that diversity in the health care workforce improves the provision of care and patient experience. We also know that the few patients who can access health care in a culturally competent way are more likely to do so and thus have better outcomes. In this context, the closing of hospital maternity units across Washington and gaps in clinics accepting pregnant patients with Medicaid are creating wounds to our most sensitive communities that can only be fixed by taking the exact opposite actions and increasing access and care. </p> <p> When compared to other gender-matched specialties, obstetric and gynecologic care is beyond disproportionally reimbursed. Health systems will say higher reimbursements are "not sustainable," but neither is providing high-risk services to the medically underserved on shoestring budgets and burning out the clinicians who are choosing to serve them. </p> <p> I recognize each day that as the daughter of Cuban immigrants, my path could have been very different. As a teenager I interpreted for my Abuela (grandmother), who died unnecessarily from a preventable cervical cancer. I received Pell grants and went to medical school with not only student loans, but also medical debt. I've been a Medicaid patient. When patients tell me their struggles, I am looking at my own reflection. It's why I sought to work for an organization where I could have the greatest impact on the Latino community. </p> <p> It will take deliberate work, but if we are going to support every woman in Washington there are no other options in my mind: </p> <ul> <li>We need to bolster community-building around health care centers, so patients feel welcome and comfortable seeking care and the physicians and practitioners who are looking to serve these communities can be validated.</li> <li>We need to support the education and pipeline programs of our youth in a meaningful way, much like the efforts of WSU's homegrown physician mission. I am an National Health Service Corps and Truman scholar-it is possible. These initiatives work.</li> <li>We need to improve reimbursement for obstetric and gynecologic care so our clinicians and organizations can sustain care models that allow for the actual time it takes to counsel patients in their native tongue or with interpreters in a meaningful way. Not be rushed to meet the system's bottom line.</li> <li>We need to maintain the caring clinicians we have and listen to the frontline voices.</li> <li>We need to support women and diverse candidates to fill true leadership positions across all facets of this industry so they can be change agents.</li> </ul> <p> Policy makers, insurers, leaders, and health care conglomerates may say they are "caring for mothers and infants," but their actions speak louder than words. Maternal services in Washington will continue to be plagued by staffing shortages and physician, midwife, and nurse burnout if we don't see radical change. Ya es tiempo. (It's time) </p> <p> <em>Vivienne Meljen, MD, is an OB-GYN at SeaMar Vancouver Women's Health Center and an assistant professor at Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University.</em> </p> <p> <em>This article was featured in the September/October 2023 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em> </p> </div>

9/15/2023 12:00:00 AM

1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM