www.escambiacms.org MARCH/APRIL 2014
BULLETIN Editors: Hillary Hultstrand, M.D. Erica Huffman, Executive Director
VOLUME 44, NO. 2 Brace Yourself
UPCOMING EVENTS Thursday, May 8, 2014 Pensacola Yacht Club 5:30p General Membership Meeting 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ “Sexual Dysfunction” Sponsors: Danna Gracey Insurance, Safe Harbor Tax Advisory, Gulf Coast Health Care, Home Instead ~ Tuesday, August 12, 2014, 5:30p Young Physicians Section Sponsors: Safe Harbor Tax Advisory, Catalyst CRE, Fisher Brown Bottrell Insurance, Southern Cloud Accounting, Dyken Wealth Strategies, McMahon & Hadder Insurance
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I was hoping to crack a joke at the beginning of this article, but the serious nature of what I have to say does not lend itself to humor. There is plenty going on with the legislative front. If you don’t already get updates from the FMA, I recommend you give them your E-mail address, so that these issues do not take you by surprise. The final week of pre-session committees was notable for hundreds of bills being filed to meet the deadline. This included the FMA’s Managed Care Bill which is designed to help streamline and standardize the preauthorization process. They also introduced the Health Care Clinic Bill which would eliminate a loophole that allows non-physician owned health clinics to avoid inspection. But the big news came in the form of an unfriendly bill. It is an ARNP scope of practice expansion bill known as the House ARNP Independent Practice Bill. As written, this bill would essentially grant to the newly designated Independent Practice Registered Nurse the full medical privileges, including the right to prescribe controlled substances, without even a collaborative agreement with a physician. It was argued that the patients deserved the standard of care that only physicians can provide. Despite this, on Tuesday, February 18, 2014, the Florida House Select Committee on Workforce Innovation passed this bill by a vote of 13-2 to allow ARNPs to practice medicine without the supervision or collaboration of a physician. The vote drew bipartisan support, but several members said their support was tentative, and that they wanted to see further debate and some tweaks. All those voting for it credited their faith in the “hard work and good intentions” of state Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Sebring, an emergency room doctor who has spent months researching and crafting the bill. That’s right. An emergency room physician is trying to eliminate any barrier between how we define the role of physician and ARNP. This is not just a primary care issue. There
is nothing in this bill that would prevent an ARNP from leaving the office where she/he currently works for the cardiologist and moving across the street to see the same patients Dr. Laenger who have become used to seeing the ARNP as their “cardiologist.” This could apply to any other sub-specialty, for that matter. The FMA is already working to defeat this bill, but I urge every one of you to contact your state Representative and let him or her know your concerns. I would also ask you to consider calling state Rep. Cary Pigman to see whether speaking with him doctor-to-doctor can help him to understand how negatively this would impact our patients. I made my phone calls to the state representatives who were on the committee before the vote took place and generally left voicemails, so it took almost no time on my part. But, I was particular impressed that state Rep. Gayle Harrell returned my call. She was previously a practice manager for her husband’s large OB/GYN practice and she wanted my input on how this would impact my practice. She was one of the two brave enough to vote against this bill. My point: these Representatives truly want to connect with voters and it would be worth your while to make a few phone calls. State House-District 1 Representative Clay Ingram District Office 11000 University Parkway Pensacola , FL 32514-5732 Phone: (850) 494-7330
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Contents
Page 3 - New Members Page 6 - Medical/Legal Page 7 - Practice Management Page 10 - Hospital News
E.C.M.S. Bulletin
The Bulletin is a publication for and by the members of the Escambia County Medical Society. The Bulletin publishes six times a year: Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/ Dec. We will consider for publication articles relating to medical science, photos, book reviews, memorials, medical/legal articles, and practice management.
Vision for the Bulletin:
路 Appeal to the family of medicine in Escambia and Santa Rosa County and to the world beyond. 路 A powerful instrument to attract and induct members to organized medicine.
Membership
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
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District 2 Representative Mike Hill District Office Suite 403 418 West Garden Street Pensacola, FL 32502-4731 Phone: (850) 595-0467 District 3 Representative Doug Broxson District Office Pensacola State College Milton Campus Building 4000, Room 4013, 5988 Hwy 90 Milton, FL 32583-1713 Phone: (850) 626-3113
The FMA does have a plan for addressing the shortage of primary care physicians, and you can see it on their website listed as the Five Pillars of Expanded Access. Again, I urge you to consider joining the FMA PAC, because they can take the guesswork out of supporting the candidates that are doctor-friendly. We are also trying to organize a group who would go to Tallahassee to stand up and speak to our legislators. Please consider travelling with us on this very important issue. I did also recently meet with Rep. Mike Hill who listened to concerns that I brought before him on behalf of the FMA. He clearly cares about learning more about what his constituents have to say regarding these issues. I cannot emphasize just how important your input is. Please pick up the phone today.
Please Join Us in Welcoming our Newest ECMS Members Ismeth Abbas, M.D. Internal Medicine/Hospital Medicine Baptist Medical Group- Hospitalist 1000 West Moreno Street Pensacola, Florida 32501 (P) 850-469-7406 (F) 850-437-8283
Laura Barber, M.D. Pediatrics West Florida Medical Group Pediatrics 2120 East Johnson Avenue, Suite 103 Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-3965 (F) 850-494-3966
Tommye Crosby, M.D. Family Practice West Florida Medical Group 2360 South US Highway 98 Cantonment, Florida 32533 (P) 850-968-2083 (F) 850-968-6024
Heather Amos, D.O. Family Practice West Florida Medical Group 4262 Woodbine Road Pace, Florida 32571 (P) 850-995-4798 (F) 850-995-5776
Walter Scott Bew, M.D. Primary Care West Florida Medical Group 1190 East Nine Mile Road Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-857-4040 (F) 850-479-9180
Rex DeLaune, M.D. Family Practice West Florida Medical Group- Nine Mile 1190 East Nine Mile Road Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-857-4040 (F) 850-494-9180
Elias Ayli, D.O. Dermatology/Micrographic Surgery Henghold Skin Health & Surgery Group 530 Fontaine Street Pensacola, Fl. 32503 850-474-4775 FAX 850-484-8223 www.henghold.com
Micheleanne Celigoj, M.D. Interventional Cardiology Nuclear Cardiology West Florida Cardiology 8333 North Davis Highway, 4th Floor Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-969-7979 (F) 850-476-9352
Jerome Enad, M.D. Orthopedics West Florida Orthopedic and Spine Surgery 2130 East Johnson Avenue Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-5213 (F) 855-281-8921
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Membership
New ECMS Members Julia Fernandez, M.D. Psychiatry West Florida Behavioral Health 2191 East Johnson Avenue Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-5000 (F) 850-494-3960
Raul Jimenez, M.D. Psychiatry West Florida Behavioral Health 2191 East Johnson Avenue Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-3917 (F) 850-494-3960
John Meade, M.D. Emergency Medicine West Florida Hospital Emergency Department 8383 North Davis Highway Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-3737 (F) 850-494-3204
John Fetzer, M.D. Psychiatry West Florida Behavioral Health 2191 East Johnson Avenue Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-3953 (F) 850-494-3960
Michael Kasabian, D.O. Family Practice West Florida Primary Care 6431 North W Street Pensacola, Florida 32505 (P) 850-474-3660 (F) 850-474-3659
Farhat Mehmood, M.D. Cardiac Electrophysiology Cardiovascular Disease West Florida Cardiology 8333 North Davis Highway, 4th Floor Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-969-7979 (F) 850-476-9352
David Glener, M.D. Anesthesiology Pain Consultants of West Florida 4624 North Davis Highway Pensacola, Florida 32503 (P) 850-494-000 (F) 850-494-0001
Fernando Kafie, M.D. Vascular Surgery Coastal Vascular & Interventional 5149 N. 9th Ave G-21 Pensacola, Fl. 32504 P: 850-969-1491 F: 850-969-1443
Jose Guitian, M.D. Cardiology Northwest Florida Heart Group 8333 North Davis Highway, 4th Floor Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-969-7979 (F) 850-476-9352
Lillia LaPlace, M.D. Cardiology Internal Medicine West Florida Cardiology 8333 North Davis Highway, 4th Floor Pensacola Florida 32514 (P) 850-969-7979 (F) 850-476-9352
Richard Hawthorne, D.O. Family Medicine West Florida Primary Care 6431 North W Street Pensacola, Florida 32505 (P) 850-474-3660 (F) 850-474-3659 Adam Holdt, M.D. Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery Medical Center Clinic 8333 North Davis Highway Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-474-8320 (F) 850-474-8791 Shabana Jaffri, M.D. Psychiatry West Florida Behavioral Health 2191 East Johnson Avenue Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-3917 (F) 850-494-3960
Tony Lee, M.D. Cardiology Internal Medicine West Florida Cardiology 8333 North Davis Highway, 4th Floor Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-969-7979 (F) 850-476-9352
David Mehta, M.D. OB/GYN West Florida Medical Group OB/GYN 1190 East Nine Mile Road Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-969-2038 (F) 850-969-2037 Chester Messick, M.D. Famiy Practice West Florida Medical Group- Pace 4262 Woodbine Road Pace, Florida 32571 (P) 850-995-4798 (F) 850-995-5776 Clark Metzger, M.D. Orthopedics West Florida Orthopedic and Spine Surgery 2130 East Johnson Avenue Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-5213 (F) 850-281-8921
Kenneth Long, M.D. Family Practice, Sports Medicine, Geriatrics 1395 El Rito Drive Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561 (P) 850-932-9251 (F) 850-932-9199
Stephen Myers Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery West Florida Medical Group CV Surgery 8333 North Davis Highway, 4th Floor Pensacola Florida 32514 (P) 850-969-7979 (F) 850-494-6075
David Mann, M.D. Medical Oncology and Hematology Baptist Medical Group 1717 North E Street, Suite 231 Pensacola, Florida 32501 (P) 850-469-7975 (F) 850-469-2401
Robert Nichols, M.D. Family Medicine West Florida Medical Group Pine Forest 7458 Pine Forest Road Pensacola, Florida 32526 (P) 850-944-2885 (F) 850-941-0084
Membership
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
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New ECMS Members Jodi Picasso, M.D. Pediatrics Baptist Medical Group 1000 West Moreno Street, Attn: Nursery Pensacola, Florida 32501 (P) 850-434-4875 (F) 850-469-5067 Matt Reynolds, M.D. OB/GYN West Florida Medical Group 8333 North Davis Highway, 2nd Floor Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-969-2038 (F) 850-969-2037 Christopher Rush, M.D. Family Medicine West Florida Medical Group Pine Forest 7458 Pine Forest Road Pensacola, Florida 32526 (P) 850-944-2885 (F) 850-941-0084
Andy Somesan, M.D. Internal Medicine West Florida Medical Group Internal Medicine/Rehab 8391 North Davis Highway Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-6000 (F) 866-947-4181
Weisberg, Ian, M.D. (ICE) Cardiac Electrophysiology Cardiology Consultants 1717 North E St., Ste. 434 Pensacola, Fl 32501 Phone: 850-484-6500 Fax: 850-444-1755 http://cardiologyconsultants.com/default.asp
Mohamed Badr Sultan, M.D. Neurology Santa Rosa Medical Group 5992 Berryhill Road, Suite 104 Milton, Florida 32570 (P) 850-626-5324 (F) 850-626-5124
Malcom A. White, M.D. Pediatrics West Florida Medical Group- Pediatrics 2120 East Johnson Avenue, Suite 103 Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-3965 (F) 850-494-3966
Glennal Verbois, M.D. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation West Florida Medical Group 8391 North Davis Highway Pensacola, Florida 32514 (P) 850-494-6100
Frank Witter, M.D. Internal Medicine West Florida Medical Group 4601 Spanish Trail Pensacola, Florida 32504 (P) 850-432-9224 (F) 850-433-8940
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Medical/Legal CALL TO ACTION
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
The Florida House has proposed a massive scope of practice expansion bill and we need your help! The Committee on Healthcare Workforce Innovation has released a committee bill that will significantly expand nurses’ scope of practice. This bill does the following: • Creates the “Independent Advance Practice Registered Nurse” (APRN) allowing nurses to practice independently/without physician supervision. • Allows APRN’s to administer, dispense and prescribe controlled substances and narcotics. Our state has made great strides to curtail the prescription drug epidemic and we should not move backwards. • Allows RN’s to prescribe treatment regimens WITHOUT physician supervision; allows CRNA’s to administer anesthesia independent of an anesthesiologist. Please contact the legislators on this committee and the leadership in the House who have the ability to stop this legislation via phone and e-mail by clicking on the link below and let them know that this bill is dangerous for their constituents; your patients. Tell them there is no evidence that such a broad based expansion will reduce costs to the healthcare system. Let them know that nurses play an important role in your practice, however allowing them to practice independently is unnecessary and unsafe. Leadership • Speaker Will Weatherford - (850) 717-5038 • Speaker-Designate Steve Crisafulli - (850) 717-5051 • Rep. Richard Corcoran, Chair, Health&Human Services Committee - (850) 717-5037 • Rep. Dana Young, Majority Whip - (850) 717-5060 • Rep. Seth McKeel, Chair, Appropriations Committee (850) 717-5040 Members of the Committee: • Chair - Rep. Jose Oliva (850) - 717-5110 • Vice Chair - Rep. Cary Pigman, M.D. - (850) 717-5055 • Rep. Mia Jones - (850) 717-5014 • Rep. Travis Cummings - (850) 717-5018 • Rep. Dwight Dudley - (850) 717-5068 • Rep. Gayle Harrell - (850) 717-5083 • Rep. Matt Hudson - (850) 717-5080 • Rep. MaryLynn Magar - (850) 717-5082 • Rep. Jeanette Nunez - (850) 717-5119 • Rep. Ken Roberson - (850) 717-5075 • Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez - (850) 717-5112 • Rep. Elaine Schwartz - (850) 717-5099 • Rep. Ross Spano - (850) 717-5059 • Rep. Richard Stark - (850) 717-5104 • Rep. Perry Thurston - (850) 717-5094 • Rep. Carlos Trujillo - (850) 717-5105 • Rep. John Wood - (850) 717-5041
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Oppose Scope of Practice Expansion (PCB SCHCWI 14-01) PCB SCHWI 14--01 Creates the “Independent Advanced Practice Registered Nurse”. A Medical Doctor must complete 3-7 years of graduate medical education after medical school, which includes 12,000-16,000 patient contact hours. To compare, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are not required to complete any training beyond graduate school and obtain only 500-720 clinical patient hours. This legislation will allow APRNs to administer, dispense, and prescribe medicinal drugs INCLUDING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES & NARCOTICS. Since 2011, the Legislature has made great strides in combating the pill mill epidemic related to abuse and over-dispensing of narcotics. The proposed legislation would allow approximately 10,000 additional people statewide the authority to prescribe narcotics. This vast expanse in access to narcotics would potentially undo the progress the legislature has made in fixing the narcotic abuse epidemic. The Legislature must take steps to address the physician shortage in our state. In addition to facing a physician shortage, our state is also facing a critical shortage of nurses. In order to maintain access to quality patient care, we must act to solve the physician shortage and not simply try to solve it by covering it up with another problem. A workforce survey by the Florida Center for Nursing predicts that our state will run short of registered nurses by 11,000 openings in 2015 — and by 50,000 in 2025. The average medical school graduate enters the physician workforce approximately $170,000 in debt. Giving an APRN the same privileges as a Primary Care Physician sends a message to potential medical students that going to medical school is unnecessary when they can simply enter the nursing field. This alternative would appeal as a less expensive and quicker means to the same end. In order to control costs, we should consider how the expansion of scope of practice has directly impacted costs in other states. After expanding scope of practice in Oregon, The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and the Nurse Practitioners of Oregon successfully advocated for parity in payment legislation, which passed in 2013. (HB 2902) This legislation would expand the scope of practice for registered nurses by allowing them to prescribe medications and treatment regimens, without any physician oversight. No justification has been given for this dangerous expansion, and no testimony or evidence has been presented that RNs are trained or qualified to exercise such powers.
This being said, we need you to consider going to Tallahassee to stand up and speak to our legislators about the effect this would have on our physicians. We have done this in the past and are trying to organize a group to go in the very near future. Legislative session starts next Monday March 3, 2014. ECMS will be notified approximately 48 hours in advance when the bill will be heard. Please let us know ASAP if you would be willing to join us in this effort. Call Erica Huffman, Executive Director at 850-478-0706 Option 2 or email director@escambiacms.org
Practice Mgmt.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Top Risks in Office Practices Identified in National Survey A recent survey of a range of practice environments around the country—including small office practices, large integrated delivery systems, hospitals, and outpatient facilities such as surgery centers—found that office practices most frequently face patient safety/risk management issues related to lab tests/referrals and scheduling/follow-up. Although these two categories were individually ranked third and sixth in the survey of 723 sites conducted by The Doctors Company, they are so closely related that a finding in one category typically leads to a finding in the other.
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by Robin Diamond, JD, RN; AHA Fellow— Patient Safety Leadership; Chief Patient Safety Officer, Department of Patient Safety, The Doctors Company
Ensure that all members of your office staff know how to reconcile tests, referrals, and consult orders with the results when received. Implement a process to remedy any discrepancies promptly, before an adverse event occurs. Do not rely on a return appointment or a “hold” on the medical record to act as a reminder that a test was not performed or the patient was not contacted about results. Communicate all test results to patients, including those that are within normal limits. Engage the patient in following up on test results. Tell the patient to contact your office if he or she has not received results by a specified date. Send letters to patients who fail to follow up and cannot be reached by phone; file all documentation in the medical record. If using an electronic medical record, utilize the test tracking capability as designed.
Medical Record Documentation To assist in alleviating risks with medical record documentation, identified by 47 percent of those surveyed as a problem area, office practices can: A total of 386 surveys—more than half—had at least one issue related to this combined category. These findings included a failure by the practitioner to review and sign all test results; no follow-up for missed appointments; and no tracking system to ensure that the ordered test was performed, the report received, the patient informed, and appropriate follow-up accomplished. Medical record documentation came in a close second, with 341 of the survey respondents identifying it as an issue. Top findings within this category included the failure to document allergy status in the same location in each record and the lack of a problem list or a list of current medications. Medication management was the third most common risk category, identified as an issue in 334 of the surveys. The issues in this category included medications that were drawn up in unlabeled syringes, absence of a system for storing and managing sample medications, and failure to ask patients for an updated list of current medications. Communication was pinpointed as the fourth most common problem, mentioned as an issue in 235 of the surveys. Examples of the top findings in this category are failing to document advice given to patients, including advice given during afterhours phone calls, ensuring written protocols are followed with patient telephone calls, and ensuring appropriate handling of care transitions. We offer the following recommendations for reducing risk in the top categories: Lab Tests/Referrals and Scheduling/Follow-Up Office practices can take the following steps to lessen problems caused by this number-one risk category, which was identified as an issue by 53 percent of practices surveyed:
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Document allergy information in the same place on all medical records. If the patient has no allergies, document no known allergies. Maintain a current list of medications, including herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications. Maintain a current problem list with dates of problem identification, reviews, and resolutions. Use the patient’s own words when documenting. This is more informative to other physicians or staff and lends more credibility in the event of a legal proceeding. Make sure all pages are organized and that all forms are completed. Do not use sticky notes or other loose papers for charting. Always indicate in writing or electronically that all results of tests, consultants, and referrals were reviewed, and maintain the reports in the same place in all medical records. Document all after-hours patient calls in the medical record.
Medication Management Medication management risks were identified by 46 percent of practices surveyed. The following are some tips to reduce these risks: • Ensure that the patient understands the reason for the medication, how to take it, and when to contact your office about side effects. Use repeat-back or teach-back techniques to confirm patient understanding. • Store medication samples, syringes, and prescription pads securely. • Do not maintain unlabeled syringes, and do not leave them unattended. The medication should be immediately administered by the person who prepared it. • If you prepare medications to be used later, sign or initial the
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Practice Mgmt.
Top Risks in Office Practices Identified in National Survey cont. •
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label and include the name of the medication, the dosage, and the date. Ensure that medications requiring refrigeration are maintained at the correct temperature by keeping a record of who performs the checks and what was discarded. Ask the person receiving a verbal order to repeat back the order. Identify all high-alert medications kept in your practice, and follow guidelines to ensure they are stored, ordered, dispensed, and administered correctly. Refer to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices website at www.ismp.org for more information. Refer to your state law to determine which staff members can call in new prescriptions or refills. For example, medical assistants should not call in new prescriptions.
Ineffective Communication Communication was identified as a risk factor in 33 percent of the surveys. The following are tips to minimize communication risks: • Document in the patient’s record all advice provided to patients, including advice given during after-hours phone calls. • Implement a timely way for licensed providers to respond
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patient phone calls and questions that fall outside the scope of office staff knowledge. Verify that the patient understands the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the treatment by asking the patient to repeat back the information. Document the patient’s level of understanding during the informed-consent process. Use open-ended questions. Use a standard communication protocol to enhance the handoff process and reduce errors of omission.
The overall survey findings were not specialty-specific. The risk of a failed or missed diagnosis increases when procedures for tests, referrals, scheduling/follow-up, documentation, medication management, and communication fail or are ineffective. The guidelines suggested here are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each health care provider in light of all circumstances prevailing in the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered. Reprinted with permission. ©2013 The Doctors Company. (www.thedoctors.com).
Practice Mgmt.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
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2-1-1 What is 2-1-1? A free, confidential information and referral service that connects callers to information regarding health and human services available. Call 2-1-1 for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling, and more. When is 2-1-1 available to call? 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. 365 days a year! How do I reach 2-1-1? Simply dial 2-1-1 from any cell phone or land line. What services will 2-1-1 provide? Information, referrals (and a bit of problem solving) for... • Basic needs, such as emergency food and shelter • Services for families and senior citizens • Health care, prescription assistance • Child care • Services for people with disabilities • Counseling and mental health services What are the benefits of 2-1-1? • Provides one memorable number that works for any kind of health or human service need • Can provide information about emergency shelters and evacuation routes during disasters • Helps non-English speaking individuals receive comprehensive health and human service information (using a translation service) • Provides a neutral, confidential resource for help in any
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situation 2-1-1 can connect the caller to a crisis line or counselor • • • •
Fast Facts about 2-1-1 2-1-1s are the information resource system in the U.S. 93% of the U.S. population has access to 2-1-1 100% of Florida’s population now has access to 2-1-1 services visit www.211us.org to learn more about 2-1-1’s nationwide
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ESCAMBIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Baptist Hospital Baptist Medical Group Opens New Gastroenterology Office in Milton Baptist Medical Group, the growing physician network of Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, Fla., is pleased to announce the opening of a new physician office location in Milton, Fla. The office, located at 5982 Berryhill Road Suite B, will be the home of the newly established Baptist Medical Group Gastroenterology practice, offering an array of digestive health services. Providers at this office see patients with diseases or disorders of the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. Providers include independent gastroenterologist Alex Rusynyk, D.O., formally located at 5992 Country Road 184A in Milton, and Marshall Rubin, P.A., of Baptist Medical Group. “We are proud to be responding to patient demand for the Baptist experience in the Milton area,” shares Kent Skolrood, president of Baptist Medical Group and senior vice president of Baptist Health Care. “Like all Baptist practices throughout the Gulf Coast, Baptist Medical Group – Gastroenterology will offer attentive, personalized care that meets the needs and exceeds the expectations of our patients.”
In the Community
Sacred Heart Hospital Gulf Coast Health Partners, a regional healthcare organization formed by Sacred Heart Health System based in Pensacola and Providence Health System in Mobile, has been selected as a new Accountable Care Organization (ACO) in Medicare. Doctors, hospitals and healthcare providers establish ACOs to provide higher-quality coordinated care to their patients, while helping to slow the growth of healthcare costs. The organizations share with Medicare any savings generated from lowering healthcare costs when they meet standards for high-quality care. The goal of coordinated care is to ensure that patients, especially the chronically ill, get the right care at the right time, while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors. For more information, visit gulfcoasthealthpartners.com or call 850-416-2226 or 251-631-3226. Timothy Rak, MD, has been appointed as medical director of the Emergency Department (ED) at Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola (SHHP). Dr. Rak is a board-certified 5emergency-medicine physician who has practiced in Sacred Heart’s ED since 2002, serving as assistant medical director before recently being named chair and medical director of the ED at SHHP. Dr. Rak began his medical career in nursing with a BSN from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. He worked as an ICU nurse, an ER nurse and a charge nurse before earning his medical degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and completing his emergency-medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic/MetroHealth in Cleveland, Ohio.
ECMS Spring CME Conference The ECMS SPRING CME Conference was hosted this past weekend on Saturday, March 1st. You’ll notice that we have started to change up some of the days and times we are hosting meetings this year as a trial to see which meetings are best attended. The conference started at 7:30am with our breakfast with the vendors and CME registration. Our gracious conference sponsors included: Alere Toxicology, Danna Gracey Insurance, Catalyst CRE, Florida Blue, Florida Doctors Insurance Company, Safe Harbor Tax Advisory, and Southern Cloud Accounting. Our first CME session started at approximately 8:30am with our first speaker, Jason Winn, Esq., General Counsel for FOMA, who started off the day with the Florida Laws and Rules presentation for 1AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Jason reviewed Florida statues 456, 458, 459, and rules 64B8 and 64B15 which is a requirement for DOs. Our second CME session, also 1AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ started around 9:40am. Jarrod Fowler, Director of
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Payment Advocacy for the Florida Medical Association spoke to our attendees about the ACA and how it would impact physicians. Our third presenter was Ginger Kelley, VP of Risk Management for the Florida Doctors Insurance Company spoke about Technology Risk Management for 1AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Her presentation was intended to help physicians recognize and identify risk associated with recent changes in medical technology, electronic health records and other digital resources impacting the medical practice environment as well as ways to minimize those risk. If you attended the March 1st CME Conference and would like a copy of your transcript you may contact MECOP 850478-0706 x1. The next ECMS General Membership Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 8th, 5:30p at the Pensacola Yacht Club. The topic will be Sexual Dysfunction and will be available for 1AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Save the Date Saturday, October 18, 2014 Holiday Inn Pensacola Beach
Fall CME Conference “Prevention of Medical Errors” [2AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™] “Domestic Violence” [2AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™] “Federal and State Laws, Prescribing Controlled Substances” [1AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™]
www.escambiacms.org
8880 University Pkwy., Suite B Pensacola, FL 32514 Ph: 850-478-0706 Fx: 850-474-9783 Email: info@escambiacms.org Executive Director: Erica Huffman
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