December 2012

official publication of the san diego county medical society december 2012

Our Mentors …

Reaching

8,500 Physicians

Every Month

Guiding the Way

“Physicians United For A Healthy San Diego”

ANNOUNCING

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B

S A N D I E G O P HY S I CI A N .or g O c tob e r 2011

Octo ber 2011 SAN DIEGO P HY SIC I A N. o rg

1

this month Volume 99, Number 12

Managing Editor: Kyle Lewis Editorial Board: Van L. Cheng, MD, Theodore M. Mazer, MD, Robert E. Peters, PhD, MD, David M. Priver, MD, Roderick C. Rapier, MD Marketing & Production Manager: Jennifer Rohr Sales Director: Dari Pebdani Art Director: Lisa Williams Copy Editor: Adam Elder

SDCMS Board of Directors Officers President: Sherry L. Franklin, MD (CMA TRUSTEE) President-elect: Robert E. Peters, PhD, MD Treasurer: J. Steven Poceta, MD Secretary: William T-C Tseng, MD, MPH Immediate Past President: Robert E. Wailes, MD (CMA TRUSTEE)

features OUR MENTORS … GUIDING THE WAY

26

26 Introduction

BY JAMES SANTIAGO GRISOLÍA, MD

departments

27 Honoring Dereck J. DeLeon, MD

BY SHERWIN GALLARDO, MD, AND

4 Briefly Noted Calendar • Real Estate Trends • Clinical Trials • And More …

28 Honoring Andrew G. Israel, MD

BY KAREN A. HERBST, MD

KATHERINE H. BALAZY, MD

28 Honoring Martin T. Stein, MD

BY JOHN A. KAFKA, MD, FAAP

8 Happy Holidays From Your SDCMS/F Support Teams!

29 Honoring Paul Brucker, MD

BY JAMES T. HAY, MD

10 Stressed out During the Holidays?

Try These Tips to Avoid Burnout

29 Honoring Bryan A. Liang, MD, PhD, JD

BY KIMBERLY M. LOVETT, MD

by THE DOCTORS COMPANY

30 Honoring Abdool R. Moossa, MD

BY ADAM S. FIERER, MD

12 Practice Makes Practice

by DANIEL J. BRESSLER, MD

At-large Directors Karrar H. Ali, MD, David E.J. Bazzo, MD, Jeffrey O. Leach, MD (DELEGATION CHAIR), Mihir Y. Parikh, MD (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BOARD REP), Peter O. Raudaskoski, MD, Kosala Samarasinghe, MD, Suman Sinha, MD, Mark W. Sornson, MD (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BOARD REP) At-large ALTERNATE Directors James E. Bush, MD, Theresa L. Currier, MD, Thomas V. McAfee, MD, Carl A. Powell, DO, Elaine J. Watkins, DO, Samuel H. Wood, MD, Holly Beke Yang, MD, Carol L. Young, MD other voting members Communications Chair: Theodore M. Mazer, MD (CMA SPEAKER) Young Physician Director: Van L. Cheng, MD Retired Physician Director: Rosemarie M. Johnson, MD Medical Student Director: Suraj Kedarisetty

Retired Physician Alternate Director: Mitsuo Tomita, MD SDCMS Foundation President: Stuart A. Cohen, MD, MPH

16 HIPAA Is Not Dead: Top 10 Questions for the Physician Leader

CMA Past Presidents: James T. Hay, MD (AMA DELEGATE), Robert E. Hertzka, MD (LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR, AMA DELEGATE), Ralph R. Ocampo, MD CMA Trustee: Albert Ray, MD (AMA ALTERNATE DELEGATE) CMA Trustee (OTHER): Catherine D. Moore, MD CMA SSGPF Delegates: James W. Ochi, MD, Marc M. Sedwitz, MD CMA SSGPF Alternate Delegates: Dan I. Giurgiu MD, Ritvik Prakash Mehta, MD

by DAVID GINSBERG

18 $65,149 Ways SDCMS and CMA Are Working for You! 20 San Diego Kaiser Permanente Officially Enters the World of Residency Training

by SHERWIN GALLARDO, MD, AND KATHERINE H. BALAZY, MD

8

22 The House on the Hill: The New Palomar Medical Center

by MICHAEL H. COVERT, FACHE

36 Congratulations Carol Carney: Outstanding Office Manager for 2012 2 decem b er 2012

Kearny Mesa: John G. Lane, MD, Jason P. Lujan, MD (A: Sergio R. Flores, MD) La Jolla: Geva E. Mannor, MD, Wynnshang “Wayne” Sun, MD (A: Matt H. Hom, MD) North County: Niren Angle, MD, Douglas Fenton, MD, James H. Schultz, MD (A: Anthony H. Sacks, MD) South Bay: Vimal I. Nanavati, MD, Michael H. Verdolin, MD (A: Andres Smith, MD)

Young Physician Alternate Director: Renjit A. Sundharadas, MD

by HELANE FRONEK, MD, FACP, FACPH

Classifieds

Hillcrest: Theodore S. Thomas, MD (A: Gregory M. Balourdas, MD)

OTHER NONVOTING MEMBERS

14 The Greatest Gift of All

34 Physician Marketplace

geographic and geographic alternate Directors East County: Alexandra E. Page, MD, Venu Prabaker, MD

Opinions expressed by authors are their own and not necessarily those of San Diego Physician or SDCMS. San Diego Physician reserves the right to edit all contributions for clarity and length as well as to reject any material submitted. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. Advertising rates and information sent upon request. Acceptance of advertising in San Diego Physician in no way constitutes approval or endorsement by SDCMS of products or services advertised. San Diego Physician and SDCMS reserve the right to reject any advertising. Address all editorial communications to Editor@SDCMS.org. All advertising inquiries can be sent to DPebdani@SDCMS.org. San Diego Physician is published monthly on the first of the month. Subscription rates are $35.00 per year. For subscriptions, email Editor@SDCMS.org. [San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS) Printed in the U.S.A.]

ADVANCED HEART FAILURE. ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY. ANESTHE AUDIOLOGY. BLOOD & MARROW TRANSPLANT. CARDIOLOGY. CAR THORACIC SURGERY. CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY. COLON & REC SURGERY. CONCIERGE MEDICINE. CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE. DER EMERGENCY MEDICINE. ENDOCRINOLOGY. ENDOVASCULAR SURGE GASTROENTEROLOGY. GENERAL SURGERY. GERIATRIC MEDICINE. GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY. HEPATOLOGY. HEMATOLOGY. HYPERBA MEDICINE. INFECTIOUS DISEASES. INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE. INTE RADIOLOGY. LARYNGOLOGY. MALE INFERTILITY. MATERNAL-FETA MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE. MEDICAL GENETICS. MEDICAL ONCOLO NEONATAL & PERINATAL MEDICINE. NEPHROLOGY. NEUROSURGER NEUROCRITICAL CARE. NEUROLOGY. NUCLEAR MEDICINE. MINIMA INVASIVE SURGERY. OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY. OCCUPATIONA ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE. ONCOLOGY. OPHTHALMOLOGY. ORTH SURGERY. OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE. OTOLARYNGOLOGY. PAIN MA PALLIATIVE MEDICINE. PATHOLOGY. PELVIC FLOOR DISORDERS. P NERVE. PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHAB. PLASTIC SURGERY. PSYC PSYCHOLOGY. PULMONARY DISEASE. RADIATION ONCOLOGY. RAD REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY. RHEUMATOLOGY. SPORTS MED SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE. SURGICAL ONCOLOGY. THORACIC SUR TOXICOLOGY. TRANSPLANT SURGERY. TRAUMA. URO-GYNECOLOG

80 + SPECIALTIES OnE numbEr 855-543-0555 gives you access

Physician Access is a dedicated line that allows you to speak directly with one of our physicians at UC San Diego Health System. This number gives you real and immediate access to a fellow physician, and a trusted partner. So whether you want to talk about a particular case, facilitate a transfer or refer your patient for highly specialized care, our physicians are standing by to take your call.

855-543-0555 | health.ucsd.edu/access

brieflynoted calendar

Cma Webinars

CMAnet.org/events

SDCMS Seminars, Webinars & Events SDCMS.org/event

For further information or to register for any of the following SDCMS seminars, webinars, or workshops, visit www.SDCMS. org/event or contact Jen at (858) 300-2781 or at JOhmstede@ SDCMS.org.

The Electronic Health Information Age: Challenges and Risks (webinar) JAN 17 • 11:30am–12:30pm The Duals Dilemma (seminar/webinar) JAN 24 • 11:30am–1:00pm Advocacy Training (workshop) JAN 26 • 8:00am–12:00pm Preparing to Practice (workshop) FEB 2 • 8:30am–4:00pm

California’s New Coordinated Care Initiative for Dual Eligibles DEC 19 • 12:15pm–1:15pm HIPAA and Meaningful Use: What You Need to Do for a Legal Attestation JAN 9 • 12:15pm–1:15pm Medi-Cal Application Forms Training and Regulations Update JAN 16 • 12:15pm–1:45pm Understanding ARC and CARC Revenue Codes JAN 23 • 12:15pm–1:15pm Keys to Successful Contracting JAN 30 • 12:15pm–1:15pm

Community Healthcare Calendar

To submit a community healthcare event for possible publication, email KLewis@SDCMS.org. Events should be physician-focused and should take place in or near San Diego County.

10th Anniversary Natural Supplements: An EvidenceBased Update JAN 30–FEB 2 • Hilton San Diego Resort • www.scripps.org/ events/natural-supplementsan-evidence-based-updatejanuary-30-2013 Aces for Health Golf Tournament FEB 28 • Del Mar Country Club • Benefitting the SDCMS Foundation’s Project Access • (858) 565-7930 RCMA’s “Cruisin Thru CME” — French Waterways: Highlights of Burgundy & Provence JUL 1–13 • Call RCMA at (800) 472-6204

SDCMS Member Physicians:

If you are interested in learning more about possibly joining the San Diego Physician editorial board, please email Editor@SDCMS.org.

“

Nothing that I can do will change the structure of the universe. But maybe by raising my voice I can help the

greatest of all causes: goodwill among men and peace on Earth.

”

— Albert Einstein 4 decem b er 2012

get in touch Your SDCMS and SDCMSF Support Teams Are Here to Help!

SDCMS Contact Information 5575 Ruffin Road, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92123 T (858) 565-8888 F (858) 569-1334 E SDCMS@SDCMS.org W SDCMS.org • SanDiegoPhysician.org CEO • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tom Gehring at (858) 565-8597 or Gehring@SDCMS.org COO • CFO James Beaubeaux at (858) 300-2788 or James.Beaubeaux@SDCMS.org DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT Jennipher Ohmstede at (858) 300-2781 or JOhmstede@SDCMS.org DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT • PHYSICIAN ADVOCATE Marisol Gonzalez at (858) 300-2783 or MGonzalez@SDCMS.org DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING AND RETENTION Brian R. Gerwe at (858) 300-2782 or at Brian.Gerwe@SDCMS.org DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP OPERATIONS Brandon Ethridge at (858) 300-2778 or at Brandon.Ethridge@SDCMS.org DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING • MANAGING EDITOR Kyle Lewis at (858) 300-2784 or KLewis@SDCMS.org OFFICE MANAGER • DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Betty Matthews at (858) 565-8888 or Betty.Matthews@SDCMS.org LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Editor@SDCMS.org GENERAL SUGGESTIONS SuggestionBox@SDCMS.org

SDCMSF Contact Information 5575 Ruffin Road, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92123 T (858) 300-2777 F (858) 560-0179 (general) W SDCMSF.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Barbara Mandel at (858) 300-2780 or Barbara.Mandel@SDCMS.org project access PROGRAM DIRECTOR Francesca Mueller, MPH, at (858) 565-8161 or Francesca.Mueller@SDCMS.org Patient Care Manager Rebecca Valenzuela at (858) 300-2785 or Rebecca.Valenzuela@SDCMS.org Patient Care Manager Elizabeth Terrazas at (858) 565-8156 or Elizabeth.Terrazas@SDCMS.org RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Nicole Hmielewski at (858) 565-7930 or Nicole.Hmielewski@SDCMS.org IT PROJECT MANAGER Rob Yeates at (858) 300-2791 or Rob.Yeates@SDCMS.org IT PROJECT MANAGER Victor Bloomberg at (619) 252-6716 or Victor.Bloomberg@SDCMS.org

will all contribute to a significant increase in demand for medical space. Forecasting models show that San Diego County’s lack of developable, medically zoned land will cause vacancy levels to gradually return to record lows, which would push the average rental rate back toward $3.00/SF. Providers should be particularly strategic — now more than ever — as to how they structure their leases and make acquisitions. Low rental rates, reduced pricing, and high tenant improvement allowances and concessions will not last much longer.

Some markets are already experiencing a

VACANCY RATES Q3 2012 22%

Rental Rates While the average medical office rental rate in San Diego County has gradually fallen since 2007, a leveling off has occurred. The countywide average rental rate currently sits at $2.52 gross; however, this is poised to rise based on current absorption levels and lack of speculative MOB construction.

Forecast Aging baby boomers, the evolution of medicine and healthcare technology, and PPACA

11.6%

8.2% Other

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

South County

9.4%

15.0% Uptown / Hillcrest

12.4%

8.6% East County

Kearny Mesa / Mission Valley

9.7%

15.7% La Jolla / UTC / Sorrento

I-15 Corridor

5.9% North County Coastal

The commercial real estate sectors of office, industrial, and retail space continue to improve during the post-recessionary period. The medical office sector is in recovery mode as well but with one distinct difference: It has been relatively healthy for the last decade. So is the current condition of the market now in favor of landlords or tenants?

Ten years ago, medical office space was being gobbled up by the whole spectrum of providers. By 2005, countywide medical office vacancy had reached an all-time low of 5.9%. The medical community’s needs for space continued, but, at the time, quality space and desirable medical buildings were hard to find, driving rents and sale prices into uncharted territory. Developers saw the need, seized the opportunity, and more than 1.5 million square feet of outpatient medical office space was completed from 2006 to 2009.

Oceanside / Vista

By Chris Ross

Vacancy (%)

real estate trends

16.0%

14%

By 2010, with construc12% 10% tion financing nearly frozen 8% and vacancy peaking at 6% 13.2%, development of 4% outpatient medical office 2% 0% buildings came to a near halt. Since there remained a modest amount of demand for space — particularly from larger health systems and medical groups — vacancy levels began to recover and have now returned to a more manageable 11.6%.

Escondido / San Marcos

18% 16%

18.9%

20%

tightening, including UTC, Coastal North County, and the I-15 Corridor. Tenants do still have the edge at the negotiating table, so if you are considering expansion, relocation, or any other significant changes in your facility or office space, it is advised that you begin that process as soon as possible.

There are too many indicators in the market to suggest otherwise.

Mr. Ross is vice president of healthcare real estate services at Colliers International. He is a commercial real estate broker, specializing exclusively in medical office and healthcare facilities in San Diego County. He can be reached at (858) 677-5329 or chris.ross@colliers.com.

SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 5

brieflynoted clinical trials

Help Solve the Puzzle

Inform Your Patients About ResearchMatch Today!

By UC San Diego Health Sciences

featured member

Become an SDCMS

Featured Member!

you cou hereld appe next ar !

The medical advances we benefit from today are made possible by people who volunteer for medical research. By participating in a clinical trial, individuals may be able to access a potential new drug or therapy that treats their condition.

Importantly, whether people enroll due to disease or as a healthy trial participant, they are helping to solve the bigger puzzle of chronic disease — for everyone.

To get started, individuals can join ResearchMatch — the process is confidential and convenient. Personal information is shared only with legitimate researchers, like those from universities and hospitals, in order to match individuals to an appropriate clinical trial. If invited to participate, individuals will receive helpful information up front and be assisted by a person who answers all their questions and monitors their health throughout the study. For further information, visit www.participate.ucsd.edu.

6 decem b er 2012

SDCMS would like to feature some of our member physicians for their noteworthy accomplishments in these pages. If you would like to be considered for our next “Featured Member” spotlight, please email Editor@SDCMS.org.

Thank you for your membership in SDCMS and CMA!

LESS IS MORE. Low Dose Che st Comparative Study Same patient is represented in each image

3/24/2011

4/18/2012

10 8 6 4 2

9.14 mSv

2.46 mSv

Pre Low Dose

Post SafeCT/Low Dose

We’ve lowered radiation doses in CT scanning by 50 to 90%.

As reported by the American College of Radiology, Imaging Healthcare Specialists emerged at the forefront of significant dose reduction when compared nationally* to other imaging centers.

We were the first outpatient imaging company in the nation to acquire SafeCT,™ an advanced technology for CT scanning that allows exemplary dose reduction while maintaining exceptional diagnostic quality.

We custom tailor smart CT protocols according to individual patient size to ensure each patient’s safety.

*In metropolitan areas across the nation.

Our result—outstanding leadership in dose reduction and peace of mind.

T 866 558 4320

imaginghealthcare.com SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 7

Happy Holidays From Your SDCMS and SDCMS Foundation SUPPORT TEAMS!

What’s Your Favorite Holiday Memory?

“In the early ’60s, portable reelto-reel tape recorders were a new invention. When I woke up in the wee hours on Christmas morning, Santa had left me a small recorder.

I then proceeded to record the magic moments of that morning with all the laughter and surprises.

It would be such a delight to be able to listen, 50 years later, to that recording, however that “Every Christmas our tape has been family has a talent show. long lost.”

It’s like attending a — James mini-concert every year.

It’s nice to come from a musically talented family.”

— Marisol

Pictured L–R: James, Marisol, Victor, Elizabeth, Brian, Kyle, Nicole, Rebecca, Brandon, Jen, Jaime, Barbara, Francesca, Betty, and Tom.

8 decem b er 2012

“That time of year — that is all too familiar — when my mom would overdress me to make sure I didn’t get sick, which is the reason I moved to Southern California!”

— Brian

“Our family’s tradition is to participate in an ecumenical holiday season shelter program.” — Victor

“My favorite holiday memories are simply the times when I get to cook, eat, and spend time with family. Doesn’t get much better than that.”

— Elizabeth

“Christmas morning, when it was still dark and quiet, chilly and still, I would get out of bed and gingerly make my way down the hall to the stairs, carefully avoiding the floorboards I knew creaked. At the top of the stairs I’d stop, make sure the coast was clear, then carefully tiptoe down the six steps to the landing. From there I’d clutch the banister and stretch my skinny little boy body as far forward as it would go … and slowly take in the sight of the Christmas tree, blinking brilliantly in the far, dark corner of the living room, surrounded by mountains of colorfully wrapped presents for me and my eight “My favorite holiday brothers and sisters. memories are of time That moment for me spent out in nature with was magic.” — Kyle friends and family: snowboarding, hiking, walking on the beach, playing games. My favorite part of the holiday season is the time we take to share experiences with the ones we love.” — Nicole

“Although I knew it wasn’t the real Santa Claus, I would get so excited when my uncle walked in with his homemade Santa suit and a beard made out of cotton balls.” — Rebecca

“I really enjoy hearing choirs sing when my friends take me to their churches on Christmas Eve.” — Liz (not present)

“After spending last year in the cold and windy city of San Francisco, one of my fondest holiday memories is celebrating last Christmas basking in the desert heat of Palm Springs. It was 80 degrees during my trip, and I was able to brunch in shorts, lay out by the pool, and work on my tan. Who could ask for anything more?” — Brandon

My fondest memory of Christmas as a child is questioning my parents as to how Santa Claus was able to sneak inside our home if there was no chimney. My parents would always come up with an animated excuse.

— Jaime “Celebrating the year with food, family, and friends, especially the traditional Swiss fondue Christmas Eve!” — Francesca

“My favorite holiday memory? It’s a tie for me between Dec. 25, 1978, when Santa brought me the Barbie shopping mall AND the Barbie catamaran, and Dec. 24, 2004, the day my amazing husband, Marty, proposed to “My favorite memory of the me!” — Jen holidays is the year I got my first two-wheel bicycle for Chanukah, but it was winter in Chicago, so my parents cleared out the basement so I could ride around. I felt like I was riding a horse into the distance — such a sense of freedom!” — Barbara

“Skiing from the top of Mammoth Mountain with my son on a ‘you can see forever’ day!” — Tom

“One Christmas Eve in high school, my friend and I stayed up all night at her house making stockings for every member of my family and filling them with candy. Then I sneaked back to my house and planted the goods. My mom was in on it, but everyone else was surprised.” — Betty

SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 9

Patient Safety Strategies

Stressed out During the Holidays?

Try These Tips to Avoid Burnout

by The Doctors Company

10 decem b er 2012

Stress and fatigue caused by working longer hours and inadequate staffing levels can put physicians at risk of burnout — and can raise the risk of negative patient outcomes.

During the holiday season, physicians may face added stress as employees and colleagues have more personal commitments and practices may be short-staffed.

The rate of physician burnout is significant. A recent study by the Mayo Clinic found that nearly 1 in 2 doctors in the United States (45.8%) have at least one symptom of burnout (1). According to the study, being asked to see more patients, having less time with each patient, and short patient release timelines are major stressors for physicians.

Physician burnout can decrease quality of care, increase risk of errors, push physicians into early retirement, and cause problems in physicians’ personal lives.

In 2010, The Doctors Company began tracking human factors as risk management issues, and evaluated the influence of human factors in 862 closed liability cases. Of those cases, 114 (13%) included at least one

human factor issue. Within those 114 cases, 14% dealt with conditions affecting the provider, including fatigue, physical or mental impairment, distractions, multitasking, or interruptions.

Stress management skills are not traditionally part of the medical school curriculum. Most healthcare professionals are taught to put their heads down and persevere. At a time when medical professionals are increasingly in demand as millions of patients become newly insured, practices should consider steps to prevent physician burnout and stress.

Consider these tips to help reduce stress, especially around high-stress times such as the holidays: • Ensure adequate staffing levels on holidays and night shifts.

• Monitor staff schedules and curtail hours as needed to prevent undue fatigue.

• Call in additional physicians and staff to combat fatigue and stress.

• Provide an environment that supports staff members so that they feel comfortable expressing concerns about their stress level and ability to function effectively.

• Allow staff members to express concerns to each other if they identify signs of fatigue or stress in their colleagues.

• Encourage all staff members to take 20-minute meal breaks and to get fresh air to clear their minds at least once per shift.

• Have regular one-on-one and group meetings with staff to learn their thoughts on how to make things run more smoothly.

• Encourage physicians and staff to put their focus on things they can change, not things they have no control over.

Contributed by SDCMS-endorsed The Doctors Company. For more patient safety articles and practice tips, or to read more about the 2010 human risk factors evaluation, visit www. thedoctors.com/patientsafety.

Reference: 1. Shanafelt TD, Boone S, Tan L, et al. Burnout and Satisfaction With Work-Life Balance Among U.S. Physicians Relative to the General U.S. Population. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(18):1-9.

There’s a place on the edge of the Pacific folks drive by every day, with an advanced approach to health. Where technology meets humanity to create faster healing.

Better family bonding is just a parent cam away. And hearts are treated to some of the best outcomes in the nation. Where supporting the community and staying a quickstep ahead gives everyone an edge when it comes to their well-being.

At Tri-City Medical Center, we believe as we progress, so does your health.

T R I C I T Y M E D . O R G / A D VA N C E (855) 222-8262 SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 11

Poetry and Medicine

Practice Makes Practice 1.

Practice makes perfect Or so I was told Hard work rewarded With ribbons and gold.

Practice makes perfect I heard someone say Keep your nose to the grindstone You’ll be honored one day.

Practice Makes Practice

by Daniel J. Bressler, MD

Cognitive dissonance is the unpleasant feeling that occurs from trying to maintain contradictory or opposing ideas. Imagine the headache from trying to be both politically conservative and liberal or even from trying be simultaneously a die-hard Padres and Giants fan.

For as long as I remember, I’ve heard the phrase “practice makes perfect” and internally nodded in agreement as if assenting to an abstract universal law of human progress. But the idea of perfection always struck me as incompatible with the real world, the world I actually inhabit. This strikes me as increasingly obvious and important the longer I “practice” medicine. It’s not just that the science and technology keep changing at breakneck speed; it’s also that I continuously discover that I’ve been applying past knowledge incorrectly or, at least, “suboptimally.”

As I’m sure many times a patient of yours has responded to some error by pointing out — imagining that you’ve never heard it before — “Well, Doc, I guess that’s why they call it the practice of medicine.”

He’s right, of course, even if the joke is a tired one. We “merely” practice our craft in all its varied dimensions: technical, psychological, logistical, collegial. We might have moments where we “nail it”: perform a procedure flawlessly, prescribe just the right cocktail of drugs, say just the right word, adjust the settings just right, etc. But the flawless pearl sits on our professional necklace along with a bunch of rather more homely stones. We get better (we hope), but we don’t get perfect.

I’ve responded to the cognitive dissonance between my childhood’s “practice makes perfect” and my adulthood’s recognition of perfection’s unreachability with this little poem. I hope it speaks to the part of you that finds a kind of pleasure in the relentless pursuit of improvement for our patients and ourselves.

12 decem b er 2012

Practice makes perfect Is easily said It trips off the tongue Like a prayer before bed.

Practice makes perfect Is a hope and a dream The quest of a hero The vow of a king.

Practice makes perfect A glint and a spark A flickering candle A guide in the dark.

2.

But practice makes perfect Is a ruse and a lie A fake bill of goods A lunatic’s cry.

Practice makes perfect Is an idiot’s story It signifies nothing A crusade without glory.

Practice makes perfect Is deceitful and wrong Pretty words, maybe But a conjurer’s song.

Practice makes perfect Simple and false A map to no treasure A mismeasured waltz.

Practice makes perfect Is yesterday’s news A sweet childhood tale A saccharine excuse.

3.

Practice makes practice Dispatch from the world There is no perfection No banner unfurled.

Practice makes practice The evidence indicates Dispelling perfection Experience vindicates.

Perfection’s a rumor Practice a fact Life’s demonstration Act-upon-act.

Practice makes practice Permit me to say Give up on perfection Practice today.

Practice makes practice I’m here to report A brick house’s blueprint No timeshare resort.

4.

Practice makes perfect Draws life in a line Practice makes practice Is a spiral design.

Practice makes perfect Says the fool to the wise With a lilt in his voice And a glint in his eyes.

Practice makes practice Says the wise to the fool You learn this with time Or you’ll go back to school.

Dr. Bressler, SDCMS-CMA member since 1988, is chair of the Biomedical Ethics Committee at Scripps Mercy Hospital and longtime contributing writer to San Diego Physician.

HAIR LOSS DOESN’T HAVE TO BE

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Discuss NeoGraft with your patients and consider Shaft Medical, San Diego’s leading provider of automated FUE micro surgical hair restoration and a full range of cosmetic services including our exclusive QuadraSculpt™ Liposuction Surgery.

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Physician-Patient Communications

The Greatest Gift of All

by Helane Fronek, MD, FACP, FACPh

As the holidays approach, many of us begin to fret about finding that perfect gift for our loved ones, friends, and colleagues. Did we give her a book last year? Would he enjoy movie tickets? Is a gift certificate too impersonal? In fact, what most people truly want is to be seen — for who they are and what they contribute to our and other people’s lives. Most of us want lives that are meaningful and satisfying. We want to make a difference. We want to know that we matter.

14 decem b er 2012

Many years ago I attended my brotherin-law’s funeral. Just 48 years old, he had developed a cardiomyopathy and collapsed at home on his 18th wedding anniversary. On returning home, I was told that Dr. Eugene Bernstein, a prominent vascular surgeon, had been hospitalized with an acute deep vein thrombosis. Filled with the awareness that life can be short and that our next minute is never guaranteed, I went to visit him that night. In addition to wishing him a speedy recovery, I wanted to tell him how instrumental he had been in my career and to thank him for his guidance during a crucial period.

We had a lovely chat and I left him to rest for the night. Unfortunately, that night he suffered a pulmonary embolism and passed away.

When I think of that conversation, I feel grateful that I took the opportunity to repay his gift of guidance and encouragement by letting him know that he had made a difference — that he mattered to me. As I recall our talk, I consider the many other people in my life who matter to me, and I try to continually let them know that they do. So as you are deciding what gift to buy for those who matter to you, consider giving one of the most precious gifts of all: the gift of acknowledgment.

A friend, a busy ED physician, wanted those he worked with to know how important they were to him. He thought of one trait that he admired or appreciated in each person and found a photo that represented that characteristic. For one nurse, he selected an image of a beautiful, still pond. Her calm in the face of the stress and chaos in the ED allowed everyone else to function efficiently and with great teamwork. After finding pictures for all of his staff, he presented them to each person, with the explanation of the trait that he valued so much in them. His relationship with them and the morale in the entire ED grew even stronger.

Acknowledgement can come more simply in the form of a declarative statement.

“You are so organized.” “I appreciate how kind you are to patients.” “You’re a great listener.” By noticing what a person does that makes a difference to you or to others, and by stating it clearly and without explanation or embellishment, you give the person a unique and precious gift. A gift that will never get old, wear out, or be used up. A gift that will encourage the person to show that quality more often and in more situations. To be seen by another person is rare and has the potential to change our outlook, our behavior, and even our life.

Sounds magical — but isn’t that what the holiday season is all about?

Dr. Fronek, SDCMS-CMA member since 2010, is a certified physician development coach, certified professional co-active coach, and assistant clinical professor of medicine at the UCSan Diego School of Medicine. You can read her blog at helanefronekmd.wordpress.com.

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SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 15

Practice Management

HIPAA Is Not Dead Top 10 Questions for the Physician Leader

by David Ginsberg, Co-founder and President, PrivaPlan Associates, Inc.

16 decem b er 2012

Every SDCMS member practice should be able to answer yes to the following top 10 questions:

Background HIPAA enforcement has increased in the past year; additionally, the Office of Civil Rights is completing 115 random audits and will be updating its audit protocol. ¶ The audit protocol released earlier this year can be quite onerous for most medical practices; at the same time, an audit failure or noncompliance as a result of an investigation can bring substantial fines and/or corrective action.

Recently, a cardiology practice was fined $100,000 and required numerous corrective actions as a result of an audit after it was found that they used an Internet scheduling system that had limited safeguards to unauthorized access.

1 Do you have a named HIPAA Privacy Official and Security Official with written job descriptions?

2 Do you train your staff in a timely manner after a new hire and periodically on (a) HIPAA Privacy and Security basics; and (b) your specific Privacy and Security practices?

3 Do you have up-to-date, specific written HIPAA policies and procedures?

4 Have you conducted a HIPAA Security Risk analysis within the past two years?

5

6 Do you have a contingency plan for your EHR or other software that holds electronic protected health information?

7 Have you updated your business associate agreements since the HITECH Act went into effect?

8 Do you periodically audit access to your EHR or other application that holds electronic protected health information?

9 Do you have a formal process to handle HIPAA complaints and incidents?

And the 10th HIPAA question: Have you attested for meaningful use without answering yes to all of these questions?

In our next edition we will continue our top 10 list and provide resources.

Have you had a breach in the past two years that required patient notification? If so, did you also notify the Department of Health and Human Services? Does your staff understand how to recognize a breach?

SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 17

political advocacy

$65,149 WAYS SDCMS AND CM

The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) is California’s hardCalifornia’s trial lawyers are continually launching attacks to u

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Cardiovascular Surgery

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Dermatology (LIPO/COSMETIC)

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Family Practice (NONSURGICAL)

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General Surgery

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Internal Medicine (NONINVASIVE)

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Neurosurgery

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OB/GYN

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Ophthalmology (LASIK/COSMETIC)

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Orthopaedics

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Otolaryngology (COSMETIC)

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Pathology

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Pediatrics (NONSURGICAL)

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Plastic Surgery

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Psychiatry (NONSHOCK)

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Radiology (NONINVASIVE)

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Thoracic Surgery

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Urology

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Average All Specialties

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18 decem b er 2012

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,207

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5,162

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7,323

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7,474

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,495

$50,094

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5,860

$146,828

$146,084

$144,667

,375

$60,459

$108,110

$81,556

,735

$44,912

$24,769

$19,524

,946

$31,093

$26,817

$28,928

,227

$95,007

$108,110

$91,565

,621

$24,183

$10,826

$17,853

7,133

$95,007

$61,100

$45,293

2,443

$172,739

$100,500

$154,089

0,132

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,907

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$77,970 SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 19

Physician Training

San Diego Kaiser Permanente Officially Enters the World of Residency Training

by Sherwin Gallardo, MD, and Katherine H. Balazy, MD

On July 2, 2012, Kaiser Permanente in San Diego entered the world of graduate medical education when its inaugural class of six family medicine residents began its first official day of training at Kaiser’s Family Medicine Residency Center in Clairemont Mesa. Though the postgraduate training program in family medicine is the first for Kaiser here in San Diego, Kaiser Permanente has a long history of training family medicine residents in Southern California, with five other programs located in Orange County, Riverside, Fontana, Woodland Hills, and Los Angeles. Affiliate residents 20 decem b er 2012

from nearby UC San Diego and the United States military have also been rotating through Kaiser San Diego for several years.

Many students from the UC San Diego School of Medicine also do their rotations at Kaiser.

In the face of inevitable healthcare reform and the subsequent projected shortage in primary care physicians, Kaiser is proud to join San Diego County’s other family medicine residency programs in the important task of training these future family physicians. Being a brand-new training program did not frighten prospective interns, with nearly 600 applicants vying for the initial six positions approved

by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

With one of the largest, most respected departments of family medicine in the nation, highly talented faculty who have completed numerous presentations regionally and nationally, skilled and supportive specialty faculty, and, of course, the prime location in America’s Finest City, the program is poised to become one of the most sought-after in the country. Following the vision of its founding fathers, Henry J. Kaiser and Dr. Sidney Garfield, Kaiser Permanente has long been a leader in wellness, integrated care, and preventive health. The broad curriculum of the residency program will incorporate these essential elements, as well as aspects of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH), population-based medicine, and the electronic medical record (KP HealthConnect).

Kaiser will be able to offer its new residents opportunities in direct patientcare, drawing from the resources of about 500,000 geographically and culturally diverse patient members. Using KP HealthConnect, the residents will have access to potential research and population data from Southern California Kaiser’s 3 millionplus members. The residents will also have their collective eye on the future, looking to incorporate new technologies into patient care, such as the use of patient-simulation labs. They will experience innovative, cutting-edge healthcare delivery models, such as tele-dermatology, and virtual consultations/appointments with specialists. The residency program is also proud of its relationship with two of the community clinic organizations in the county: La Maestra and Neighborhood Healthcare.

The family medicine residency may be the first for Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, but it certainly will not be the last, with an emergency medicine training program slated to begin in 2014 and potentially other residencies to follow soon afterward. Under the leadership of Kaiser San Diego’s medical director, Paul E. Bernstein, MD, SDCMS-CMA member since 2000, and residency director Dereck J. DeLeon, MD, SDCMS-CMA member since 1996, the program is already looking to add fellowship training positions in community medicine and sports medicine, and potentially fellowships in geriatrics and palliative care. Ready to outgrow its present location, the Family Medicine Residency Center is looking to occupy a new medical office building in Clairemont Mesa within two years. And, of course, the new Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center will be located just a couple of miles east down Clairemont Mesa Boulevard not too long afterward.

The new Division of Graduate Medical Education at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego is living up to its slogan: Teaching Tomorrow’s Medicine Today.

Dr. Gallardo, SDCMS-CMA member since 2008, is the assistant program director of the Kaiser San Diego family medicine residency program. Dr. Balazy, SDCMS-CMA member since 2012, is a faculty member of the Kaiser San Diego family medicine residency program and physician director of networking and development for Kaiser San Diego.

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Healthcare Systems

The House on the Hill

The New Palomar Medical Center

by Michael H. Covert, FACHE, President and CEO, Palomar Health, michael.covert@pph.org

Nearly 10 years ago, Palomar Health conceived an idea to build a health system for the future.

The first piece of the master plan would be a new hospital infused with a sense of healing, innovation, and flexibility — a place built entirely around the needs of patients and their families, and a place where highly skilled physicians and staff are provided every capability to deliver their finest care.

22 decem b er 2012

Today, that once hopeful idea stands high on a hill in western Escondido and is a testament to forward thinking, generosity, and the desire to meet the medical needs of a growing community. The new Palomar Medical Center opened its doors for care on Aug. 19, 2012, making it the first new hospital in North County San Diego in more than 30 years, and one of the proudest moments in my 40-plus year career in healthcare in terms of what it means for the people we serve.

My purpose in writing this column is to share with the physician community a bit about our labor of love and to introduce some of the architectural and technological advancements that make Palomar Medical Center one of the best places to practice medicine today.

Palomar Medical Center Directory of Services

The new Palomar Medical Center provides for superior clinical care in a peaceful, healing environment. Primary services include: • Emergency and Trauma Services • Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization • Cardiothoracic Surgery • Vascular Surgery • Orthopedic Surgery • Neurosurgery • Neuroscience Services • Robotic Surgery • Oncology • Interventional Radiology • Pulmonary Testing • Laboratory Services • Imaging

Our Journey In 2004, taxpayers supported a $496 million construction bond, known as proposition BB. Their nod of approval allowed for the development of a master plan that would help shape the future of healthcare throughout Palomar Health’s 850-squaremile district.

The vision for the new Palomar Medical Center crystallized through an extensive planning process involving physicians, nurses, staff, board members, donors, community leaders, and volunteers who voiced heartfelt opinions and proposed creative, beyond-the-box solutions. We also sought advice from some of the nation’s leading healthcare futurists to combine these ideas into plans for a structure that is widely known as the best example of 21st century healthcare design.

As our expansion plans evolved, the concept of sustainable and flexible healthcare design was adopted. This innovative approach would provide for the best healing environment while reducing environmental impact, optimizing patient safety, and creating a facility that would stand the test of time.

A unanimous vote by the Escondido City Council gave the green light for the new hospital to be located at the Escondido Research and Technology site on Citracado Parkway. Ground was broken in December 2007, and the construction project became

the largest in the history of Escondido and even the country at the time.

Thousands of caring hands labored for the next four and a half years to build the 11-story facility, using 25 million pounds of structural steel and more than 5 million feet of electrical cable. The result is a 740,000-square-foot architectural and technological masterpiece.

Innovations for Today, Tomorrow A primary goal was to build a facility that can easily adapt to future technologies and innovations. At the heart of this effort is the new Palomar Medical Center’s Advanced Surgery and Procedures Department that currently houses 11 expansive surgical suites, four cardiac catheterization/interventional radiology suites, and 47 pre-operative and recovery spaces.

The structural steel truss system used in the Surgery and Procedures area features open floor plates and minimal vertical obstructions so that operating rooms can be easily modified as the practice of medicine changes. Major equipment is ceiling-mounted on booms to optimize available space for the surgical team and reduce floor-based equipment. We even SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 23

Healthcare Systems have structural capability to install intraoperative MRI equipment in the future — a feature of our planned hybrid OR suite.

The imaging services at Palomar Medical Center are among the most advanced in the country, including dedicated spaces for MRI, CT, radiology/fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine and diagnostic ultrasound. Our portable X-ray machines are filmless and digital with instant image display. Three imaging rooms (one CT and two X-ray) are located within the Trauma Center and Emergency Department to assure immediate availability for critical patients.

Another unique element of the Surgery and Procedures area is the use of “clean cores.” Two clean core spaces allow surgical teams to access multiple operating rooms without ever having to leave the sterile environment. Within each clean core are high-tech features, such as a pneumatic tube system station and flash sterilizer room to help staff be more efficient.

Emergency and Trauma Care Palomar Health has the largest trauma district in California, serving more than 540,000 residents living in a 2,200-squaremile region. Our two new trauma suites are self-contained for quick response, with a dedicated trauma elevator from the rooftop heliport and easy access from the ambulance bay. Each suite is configured for three treatment stations but can accommodate up to five patients each in the event of a major emergency.

The adjacent Emergency Department has 44 treatment rooms divided into three bays, each with a central nursing station. In addition, four Rapid Medical Evaluation (RME) rooms are designed to minimize wait times and expedite access to the appropriate level of care for further treatment.

Healing Environment From the moment you step into the new Palomar Medical Center, you will recognize that you have entered a world-class healing environment. While the goal is to create a sense of calm for all who enter the building, a variety of evidence-based design features help to speed up the healing process, improve safety, enhance staff wellbeing, and even reduce medical errors.

Ample research shows that exposure to natural light is beneficial to all of these goals. Rain or shine, night or day, our 24 decem b er 2012

patients, physicians, and staff have the ability to enjoy outside views without ever leaving the building thanks to expansive windows, skylights, solar tubes, and accessible outdoor terraces on every floor. Massive light wells are used to funnel natural daylight into areas located deep within the interior of the building, including the clean cores. And large windows in each operating room provide expansive views of the Escondido Valley or interior courtyards, while adjoining hallways are bathed in natural light.

Patient Rooms Palomar Medical Center was built with a patient-centric focus. So, it’s no surprise that perhaps one of the most highly anticipated features of our new facility is the allprivate patient rooms. We currently have 288 patient rooms that average 320 square feet in size and include a private bathroom,

family visiting area, and sleeper couch.

These larger rooms accommodate portable medical equipment and help minimize the need to move patients throughout the hospital. In fact, all of our rooms are designed to be acuity adaptable.

Another feature that is a favorite among physicians is the distributed nursing stations located outside every patient room.

This design enables nurses to be closer to the bedside and to respond more quickly to patient needs. Windows provide visual contact with patients in the two rooms on

either side of the workstation. environment, change lights, temperature, Each workstation is wired as a commuor airflow, adjust their window shades, nications hub for maintaining electronic use the flat-screen television, or call their medical records, which are accessible to nurse. For families, numerous family physicians and staff through a secure, wireconsult rooms are located throughout the less network, providing current and combuilding to provide loved ones with an plete information area to speak privately about each patient. with a physician. And Are you a physician In addition, overmultidisciplinary interested in a tour of the rooms located on each head paging is prinew Palomar Medical marily limited to patient wing provide emergencies. Staff physicians, nurses, Center? Contact Lisa and physicians are and ancillary staff Hudson, director of alerted through with additional workbusiness and physician text or voice messpace as needed. sages to their PDAs development, at or mobile phones.

Looking Ahead (760) 740-6364 or at Physicians can also While the opening of lisa.hudson@pph.org. electronically alert the new Palomar Meda nurse to their ical Center is certainly presence in a patient room. a major milestone in our journey to create Communication is enhanced for the the health system of the future, our work is patient as well. A bedside control panel far from done. allows patients to manage their own The Palomar Health Downtown Cam-

In Good Health, Michael H. Covert

U N I V E R S I T Y

®

© 2012 National University 11834

N A T I O N A L

pus remains a vibrant hub of healthcare in central Escondido, with many planned renovations and upgrades over time. Construction is under way for the new Ramona Ambulatory Care Center to be operated by our physician group, Arch Health Partners. Two new Palomar Health expresscare centers opened this year inside Albertsons/ Sav-on Pharmacy locations in Temecula and San Marcos. And work has begun to build a pedestrian bridge that will connect Pomerado Hospital with Pomerado Outpatient Pavilion.

The future is bright at Palomar Health.

I invite you to learn more about us by scheduling a tour of the new Palomar Medical Center. We value our affiliated physicians and the superior level of care they provide to our patients in the “House on the Hill” and throughout the Palomar Health system.

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Our Mentors …

Guiding the Way

I NTRO DUCTI O N BY JA MES SA NTI AG O G R I SO LÍ A , MD, SDCMS - CM A MEMBER S I NCE 1983

The following are personal statements and do not necessarily reflect the position of SDCMS.

26 decem b er 2012

B

ecoming a physician demands a long, hard road. We study facts and techniques, shorn of context, in journals and texts. From these odd, lost data we must stitch together a coherent profession and find our way to become professional in it. “Profession” implies developing character and wisdom, and employing that wisdom for our patient, even against our own interests.

Like Dante, we find ourselves in a selva oscura, and we need a Virgil to lead us out. Our Virgil could be a chief resident or an attending we strive to emulate. But we must find an older, more experienced soul to teach us how to become who we want to be. Young Sigmund Freud studied with the superb neurologist Charcot in Paris, then evolved his own theories on hysteria.

Even in Turkey, the great Hulusi Behçet, discoverer of Behçet’s disease, was mentored along his way.

In this issue, some of our SDCMS members laud their own special mentors with stories of relationship and growth, both personal and professional.

Coaching only helps you master the immediate task. On the other hand, mentoring implies development of character, which may help the task at hand, but prepares the mentee for much more. At its best, mentoring creates a rich discipleship relation between a seasoned teacher and an eager student, giving us both disciple and discipline. The mentor models behavior and a way of life, embedding isolated facts in a context of values, hence wisdom.

Our brains are designed to work this way. Simple learning and conditioning happen with one-celled organisms and all the way up the evolutionary chain.

Nikolaas Tinbergen and other ethologists described simple imprinting of parental behavior: the baby geese honking along behind the mother, or honking along behind Dr. Tinbergen if they imprinted on him instead. Higher mammals have developed extensive prefrontal cortex, with rich connections to older structures like the anterior cingulate cortex and the limbic system.

Somewhere in that circuitry lies our “theory of mind,” where we construct an image of other people, what they think when they say such-and-such, and what they probably will do next. This complex simulation of others is best developed in the human cortex, making us the masters of social learning from parents, from teachers, from the “wrong sort” of schoolmates, and eventually from one or more mentors. “Show and do” betters “teach and watch,” because learning by doing with a mentor engages our attention and action, personalizes data that seemed irrelevant or boring, corrects us gently with an understanding of our personal weaknesses and strengths, and begins to grow us into a more exalted role.

When I think about my own mentors, just in neurosciences, many names crowd in: Mike Kasman, Randall Smith, Burt Wiederholt, Marge Seybold, Robert Nichols. Each provided a different view of the nobility and commitment that went with neurology, giving me the happy task of synthesizing from each. And many wonderful primary care and specialist docs gave me little pieces of how to become a physician. My former partner, the neurosurgeon Manuel Barba, schooled me in patience, in the importance of placebo in all we do, in the shamanic aspects of ministering to the soul who thought his problems were “only” neurological.

And then Manuel and others led me to “The Great Physician,” Jesus Christ, the Master of a long Judaic tradition of discipling others. His example has helped me to better love and accept the careless, the forgetful, the noncompliant, and even those who disagree with my treatment or point of view. His example reinforces that healing doesn’t dig down in unless I address the soul issues as well as the physical.

As you enjoy your colleagues’ stories below, I invite you to reflect back on your own spiritual and professional formation, and where you have found your own models and sources of personal strength. And remember with gratitude your own mentors along your journey.

Honoring Dereck J. DeLeon, MD, SDCMS-CMA Member Since 1996

By Sherwin Gallardo, MD — SDCMS-CMA Member Since 2008 — and Katherine H. Balazy, MD — SDCMS-CMA Member Since 2012

Starting Kaiser Permanente San Diego’s first full residency training program needed the leadership and vision of a great mentor. The program’s first director, Dereck DeLeon, MD, qualifies.

He has always placed great importance on medical education.

Prior to serving as residency program director, he was Kaiser San Diego’s co-director for continuing medical education and has taught medical students from UCSD for years.

More importantly, as his fellow faculty members, we have come to witness firsthand the importance Dr. DeLeon places on open communication, hard work, and integrity, yet demonstrates what he believes is very crucial: Family always comes first.

At times we have seen him pull a residency project to completion simply by sheer will. Yet his transparent, positive collaboration style has brought together numerous departments and leaders to meld a group of specialist faculty liaisons and various nonclinical departments and leaders necessary for the successful launch of the residency program.

No matter the workload or situation, patients, staff, medical students, residents, and faculty alike continue to pledge their all to Dr. DeLeon.

SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 27

Honoring Andrew G. Israel, MD, SDCMS-CMA Member Since 1980

By Karen A. Herbst, MD — SDCMS-CMA Member Since 2010

My name is Karen Herbst, and I have been a local internist in the Hillcrest area since 2008. I have had the honor and pleasure of working with Dr. Andrew Israel and received the information about an opportunity to honor him in one of the issues. I would like to do just that.

As medical residents, we all hoped and prayed for someone to take us under their wing, show us what to do, where to go, how to find answers, and how to enjoy ourselves while we are doing it. I was lucky enough to have met Dr. Andrew Israel my first year of internship, and since that day I have had an amazing mentor and dearest friend.

While rotating and working with Dr. Israel as a resident, I saw how amazing private practice can be. His personal touch with patients inspired me. I let him know I was interested in emulating his practice when setting out on my own after residency. His group was extremely nice and made room for me in their already packed office. What a blessing that has been for me.

Dr. Israel taught me the power of touch — that shaking someone’s hand when you go out to the waiting room to get them calms nerves. His patients felt they were visiting a trustworthy, knowledgeable friend, rather than a cold physician. Daily I would knock on his door with my famous “can I ask you a question” that ranged anywhere from diagnosis assistance with a patient to treatment management, or even how to run the office.

Transition into private practice has been incredibly smooth for me. I have had someone next to my side the entire time leading me and pointing me in the right direction. Before making any big decisions, I hear his voice in my head with his advice, like “don’t spread yourself out too thin” and “make sure your first appointment with your patient matters. This is the one that you will always remember and base a lot of decisions off of.”

Or “take vacation. It is crucial to your ability to love what you do.” And my favorite: “It’s OK to say no sometimes.”

He has taught me how to run an office, work with office staff, and to be a great boss. He has rejoiced with me with family excitements and been there for me in my tragedies. He has allowed me to call him on his off hours because I wasn’t sure what path to take with a sick patient in the hospital and needed advice. He has been a true mentor. I have fallen in love with medicine thanks to his guidance. I hope to be able to return the mentoring to someone someday as well as he has for me.

28 decem b er 2012

Honoring Martin T. Stein, MD, SDCMS-CMA Member Since 2010

By John A. Kafka, MD, FAAP — SDCMS-CMA Member Since 2010

I would like to recognize the influence that Dr. Martin Stein, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday, has had on the pediatric community here in San Diego.

Marty grew up in Southern California, completed his pediatric training in New York, and served for a time in the Navy at Balboa. By the time I was a third-year medical student, in 1976, he was already running the pediatric clinic at UCSD and in charge of teaching general pediatrics to medical students and residents. He subsequently, along with Suzanne Dixon — another excellent clinician and teacher — established the developmental/behavioral pediatrics training program at UCSD. Marty personifies what a good doctor should be. He seems to remember everything he’s ever seen or learned. He develops rapport with children and families, and he has excellent hands-on clinical skills. His patients receive thorough care that, beyond dealing with acute illnesses, is also attentive to psychosocial and family issues and the role they play in the child’s health.

Besides being a great doctor, Marty is also a great teacher.

Since so much of clinical pediatrics involves teaching parents and kids, it’s no surprise that Marty’s skills as a clinician are also apparent in his ability to convey clinical skills and passion for great care to his trainees. He consistently has done this in a positive way that promotes clinical ability and self-confidence.

The most striking thing about Marty, though, is his passion for both practicing and teaching high-quality care. Watching him in the clinic, it is clear that he is not going through the motions but rather that every patient is important and deserves comprehensive care. I’m sure he has inspired many to do their best to practice in this way. He is also a national leader in promoting developmental/behavioral pediatrics as an important subspecialty.

While I’m at it, I want to name the other pediatricians who taught several generations of pediatricians how to take great care of kids: Dr. William Nyhan, who established the pediatric department at the UCSD School of Medicine and seems to know everything about everything; Dr. James Connor — watching him at the bedside is like watching Jascha Heifetz play violin; the late Dr. Lou Gluck, a pioneer in neonatology who conveyed his passion for giving no-compromise care for tiny babies; and Dr. Suzanne Dixon, whom I mentioned above — every brilliant sentence she says sounds like she spent hours writing it.

San Diego and its pediatric community are very fortunate to have had these fine people as clinicians, teachers, mentors, and role models.

Honoring Paul Brucker, MD

By James T. Hay, MD — SDCMS Member Since 1985

Honoring Bryan A. Liang, MD, PhD, JD, SDCMS-CMA Member Since 2004

When I was growing up, I received all my medical care from a small group of wonderful family physicians in Ambler, Pa. One of them was Paul Brucker, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and as articulate and intellectual a man as I have ever known. During medical school, I was very fortunate to do a summer preceptorship in their office and forever had dispelled the notion that GPs saw only sore throats and sprains. I was amazed at the breadth of clinical issues they dealt with, and, especially in Dr. Brucker’s practice, the expert way they handled them.

He also had that Marcos Welby style of 100% attention to people, their needs, and their feelings. No one I have known before or since was any warmer or more caring.

About the same time, we created a Family Practice Club at Jefferson for those of us who were interested. It became known that Jefferson was about to establish a Division of Family and Community Medicine under the Department of Medicine, and our club was actually asked if we had suggestions for who should head it.

The choice was obvious to me, and not only did Dr. Brucker take that post, but he eventually went on to become president of the university a few years later, and for a lengthy and quite successful tenure. I am so very proud of my old family doctor, and he is one of my heroes who had a profound influence on who I am.

Perhaps once in a lifetime, if lucky enough, one is taken under the wing of an outstanding mentor, an individual who ferrets out aspirations, sees clearly through the clutter of surrounding ideas, and uses his energy, intelligence, web of contacts, and hours of hard work to not only help a mentee achieve her dreams but also to help her learn to change the world. As a young physician, frustrated by a medical system woefully falling short of the needs of patients and physicians, I struggled to find an avenue to focus my passion for improving the system.

That was before I met Dr. Bryan A. Liang at California Western School of Law’s Institute of Health Law Studies. I had trepidations about approaching Dr. Liang. He is well known as a brilliant scholar; he is tantamount to a celebrity in the patient safety movement; and his work is cited among that of the most elite experts. He also impressively serves on the AHRQ Study Section for Patient Safety. I was thus pleasantly surprised when Dr. Liang humbly and kindly welcomed me into his circle and showed me the same level of care he consistently shows to all of his students, colleagues, and society.

That meeting with Dr. Liang changed the course of my life. He was breaking new ground on issues of counterfeit drugs and online access. I was interested in the effect of direct-toconsumer Internet advertising for medical devices and tests. Dr. Liang not only showed me how my ideas would fit within the work of Center for Patient Safety and Institute of Health Law Studies, but he also taught me how to craft my arguments and advocate for change.

A little over a year later, I am working on my 19th publication; I have been honored to have my ideas published in some of the best journals in the world (e.g., JAMA, Nature Reviews Cancer, Contraception); I have traveled around the country presenting my ideas; I have assisted the Illinois attorney general with prosecutions based on our work; I have written an amicus curie brief on patient safety; I have had the honor of having my opinion sought by the media and my published work; and I have started my first year of law school at Stanford University School of Law so that I can more effectively join Dr. Liang in changing the world. I feel as if I have gone from “zero to hero” almost overnight. And all of this because of the attention and efforts of one person — Dr. Bryan A. Liang — helping a student discover her pathway of life and professional calling.

However, my path is merely a fraction of the amazing impact that Dr. Liang has had on students and colleagues. He is an academic superhero. He uses his research, his words, and his endless energy to pursue justice within the medical system.

He takes no money from industry but is willing to co-opt anybody into producing good work. For example, the Partnership for Safe Medicines was started primarily as an attempt to grapple with intellectual property issues and prevent importation of medicine from outside the U.S. supply chain. However, under Dr. Liang’s influence it has been morphed into a highly successful collaborative anti-counterfeiting, public health organization, focusing on the perpetrators who manufacture extremely dangerous counterfeit pharmaceuticals and particularly target vulnerable patient populations. Dr. Liang has identified the issue clearly as one of patient safety, and he has cut across political and ideological boundaries, creating public-private partnerships and bringing together stakeholders who would normally be on opposite sides of the issue with his clear message: “It’s not about profits … it’s about patients.”

There are very few individuals who both believe in their power to change the world and have the drive and skill to do so. Dr. Bryan A. Liang is one of the few. The world is a different and better place because Dr. Liang cares enough to make it so. And, as someone benefitting from his tutelage, I can say that his efforts will only exponentially multiply as his mentees develop the same passion for evolving and improving medical and global health systems.

By Kimberly M. Lovett, MD, SDCMS-CMA Member Since 2009

SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 29

Honoring Abdool R. Moossa, MD

By Adam S. Fierer, MD, SDCMS-CMA Member Since 2003

It was with great shock and sadness that I learned of the serious illness of Dr. A.R. Moossa. Dr. Moossa was the chairman of the Department of Surgery at UC San Diego for 20 years, including the six years I spent there as a surgical resident. Although he wasn’t exactly the gentle-shoulderto-cry-on type of person, and although the years under him were some of, if not the, toughest years of my life, I quickly recognized how important his lessons were once I was out in practice for myself.

There are many “Moossa-isms” that we residents heard over the years, but many of them turned out to be little pearls of wisdom that, if heeded, wound up making me a better surgeon and my patients better off for it. One of my favorites was that “you can’t unscrew a patient by re-screwing them.”

I never really understood this one until I had to deal with my own patients’ complications and realized that you have to put your ego and anxieties aside and do what’s right for the

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patient and not what might make you look better, thereby “re-screwing” them.

He was the master at not rushing in to difficult situations so as to avoid making a rash and often poor decision. This was particularly true when others, including the patient, felt something had to be done quickly. I have always tried to emulate his calmness and certainty when making surgical decisions. He also had the most exquisite operative technique — one that emphasized the importance of exposure and the way to set up and execute an operation. Knowing how to get your assistant to help you better turned out to be a most valuable lesson.

As is often true of parents and their children, the lessons I learned from Dr. Moossa were not recognized while I was struggling to develop my own identity as a surgeon and to just survive my residency, but they quickly entered my consciousness when I suddenly became the person at the end of “the buck stops here.”

I will never forget them nor forget to pass them on, and I can’t thank Dr. Moossa enough for passing on his wisdom and skills that allow me to do what I love to do most: operate!

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YOU ARE OUR HERO thank you for giving access to healthcare for those without!

San Diego County Medical Society Foundation’s Mission Is To Improve Health, Access To Care, And Wellness For Patients And Physicians Through Engaged Volunteerism.

You are the Heart & Soul of Project Access San Diego Through your support of our flagship program, Project Access San Diego, we have been able to assist over 1,850 uninsured adults in our community to improve their health through access to specialty healthcare services. You have provided over $5.8 million in contributed healthcare services to community members since our program’s beginnings in December 2008!

Thanks to more than 625 volunteer physicians providing specialty healthcare services to those who most need our help, we are getting people back to work, and able to care for their families.

Without the generous support and dedication of all of our physician volunteers, hospitals and outpatient surgery centers, imaging, labs, physical therapy, and other ancillary health providers, hundreds of hard-working but uninsured adults would go without care every year. Thank you for being a hero to our community!

Get Involved San Diego County Medical Society Foundation needs you! Join us to volunteer for Project Access, or provide specialty consultations to primary care physician colleagues through eConsultSD, our HIPAA-compliant, web-based system from the comfort of your home or office. Attend an event, assist us to recruit fellow physicians, or provide educational opportunities for primary care physicians or medical students. Our first annual Golf Tournament is scheduled for Thursday, February 28, 2013 at Del Mar Country Club; we hope you can join us! To register or for more information, go to sdcmsf.org/golf. Please consider making a contribution to SDCMS Foundation to support our efforts at www.sdcmsf.org, or call us at 858.300.2777.

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Seeing what an impact an ambulatory surgery can be for a person without healthcare access in a Third World country, Dr. Fierer approached the Carlsbad Surgery Center to make the same impact at home. Now a semi-annual event involving a growing group of surgeons, anesthesiologists and other healthcare staff, we have been able to increase our capacity to improve the health and change the lives of our community’s most vulnerable.

The majority of PASD patients require just office consultations and procedures. 30% of patients require surgery or GI procedures, which occur during a Carlsbad or Kaiser Permanente Surgery Day, or are accommodated at our partnering hospitals and outpatient surgery centers throughout the year.

Thank you to all of our physician volunteers-- you are all our heroes!!

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classifieds PRACTICE ANNOUNCEMENTS NEW DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE: Board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist, Heidi Gilchrist, MD, practices medical dermatology for all age groups. She offers sameday and next-day appointments, including Saturdays, and accepts all major insurance plans. Dr. Gilchrist emphasizes a holistic and integrated approach to skin health and disease prevention, and she is open to patients who prefer natural or alternative approaches. She specializes in individualized care and spends at least as much time listening as she does talking.

Cosmetic services are also available upon request. 345 Saxony Road, Suite 201, Encinitas, CA 92024; office (760) 2302537; fax (760) 230-5386; gilchristdermatology.com; info@ gilchristdermatology.com. [100] PHYSICIAN POSITIONS AVAILABLE MID-CAREER PEDIATRICIAN: Great opportunity for a mid-career pediatrician with kind manner and strong entrepreneurial spirit to work FT/PT in small solo progressive practice. This position is a partnership track. Night call is minimal but must be willing to work some Saturdays and one evening/week to help grow the practice. Space available to expand. Nice mix of parents in great school area. Salary DOE. Nice, stable office staff with EMR. Send CV to cvp315@ sbcglobal.net. [057] PHYSICIANS: Retired with license? Want to cut back to two or three days a week? Alternative care office in San Diego area looking for California licensed MD for consultative work.

Part time, excellent compensation. Contact James at (760) 703-3767 or at knewidea@gmail.com. [098] THREE CONTRACT PHYSICIANS: Profil Institute for Clinical Research is looking for three clinical contract physicians.

Requirements: One year of clinical experience in adult medicine and/or equivalent + unrestricted California MD license.

Research experience not necessary. Responsibilities: Perform medical histories, physical exams, admit, discharge, and monitor subjects, including reviewing labs results, EKGs and telemetry as part of clinical research trials. Weekend shift hours (Saturday) + occasional weekday shift. Interested parties please apply online at www.profilinstitute.com under “Career Opportunities” — search for position under “Contract Physician,” and apply to the job online. [097] CHIEF, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH: The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency is seeking a qualified medical doctor to fill the position of chief, Maternal, Child, and Family Health Services (MCFHS) branch. The chief is responsible for the management and administration of public health programs that improve the health of mothers, children, and their families. For more information on the position, including minimum requirements and how to apply, please visit www.sdcounty.ca.gov. [092] ADULT PSYCHIATRIST — PART TIME: The County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency is seeking a psychiatrist for 10-hour weekdays, part-time shifts for adult outpatient clinic work. Our psychiatrists work with a dynamic team of medical and nursing professionals to provide outpatient treatment, telepsychiatry, inpatient and emergency services, and crisis intervention. More information about psychiatrist positions can be found at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/hr.

Interested candidates may contact Lita Santos at (619) 5632782 or email a CV to lita.santos@sdcounty.ca.gov. [091] ADULT PSYCHIATRISTS: County of San Diego’s Health & Human Services Agency seeks FT/PT psychiatrists for key components in the Behavioral Health Division’s continuum of care. Our psychiatrists work with a dynamic team of medical and nursing professionals to provide outpatient treatment, telepsychiatry, inpatient and emergency services, and crisis intervention. More information about psychiatrist positions can be found at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/hr. Interested candidates can contact Gloria Brown at (858) 505-6525 or email CV and cover letter to gloria.brown@sdcounty.ca.gov, and Marshall Lewis, MD, Behavioral Health clinical director, at marshall.lewis@sdcounty.ca.gov. Please specify clinical area of interest. [090] FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN: For a busy federally qualified health center. MHCS (www.mtnhealth.org) is a missiondriven organization that serves both rural and urban resi-

dents of San Diego County. We have been in business for over 35 years and offer a competitive salary, medical benefits, vacation, paid holidays, sick time, malpractice, life, AD&D, long-term disability, long-term care, monthly incentive, CME / license reimbursement, plus a sign-on bonus. Board certified and bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Send CV to tfindahl@mtnhealth.org or (619) 478-9164. You may contact HR directly at (619) 478-5254, ext 30. [089] SENIOR PHYSICIAN: The County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency’s HIV/STD/Hepatitis clinic has an immediate opening for a licensed physician with at least three (3) years of recent post-internship training or experience in internal medicine or as a general practitioner to manage a team responsible for planning and directing clinic services.

Must be available to work flexible schedules at multiple sites, including some evenings is expected. Please read more about the senior physician job description, benefits, and application process at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/hr. Please include a copy of your CV along with your online application. For questions, please contact Gloria Brown, human resources analyst, at (858) 505-6525 or at gloria.brown@sdcounty.ca.gov. [088] PHYSICIAN TO STAFF VARIOUS SAN DIEGO DETENTION FACILITIES: The Department of Emergency Medicine (http://emergencymed.ucsd.edu) at UC San Diego, committed to academic excellence and diversity within the faculty, staff, and student body, is initiating a search for a physician to staff various San Diego detention facilities. The applicant must have a background in family medicine, internal medicine, or emergency medicine and be eligible for a California medical license. Appointment level in the academic series will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, with salary based upon established UCSD salary scale. UCSD is an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to excellence through diversity. Interested individuals should send their CV, a reference list, and separate statement summarizing their experience to mcarey@ucsd.edu. [087] PHYSICIAN AND PSYCHIATRIST NEEDED FOR AMBULATORY CLINIC: Southern Indian Health Council is seeking a FT board-certified physician Mon–Fri, 8:00am–4:30pm, as well as a PT psychiatrist. Must have current CA medical license, DEA license, ACLS, BLS. We offer a competitive salary, health benefits, vacation, holidays, sick, CME and license reimburse, and malpractice coverage. Forward resume to jobs@sihc.org or fax to (619) 659-3145 or website at www.sihc.org. Contact jobs@sihc.org or HR phone (619) 445-1188, ext. 308 or ext.

307. [048] OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR BC/BE DERMATOLOGISTS: Live in one of the country’s most desirable locations and practice with a premier San Diego multispecialty medical group!

Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group is looking for BC/BE dermatologists. Competitive first-year compensation guarantee, excellent benefits, and shareholder eligibility after two years.

Unique opportunity for professional and personal fulfillment while living in a vacation destination. Please send CV to Physician Services, 2001 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101. Fax: (619) 233-4730. Email: Lori.Miller@sharp.com. [084] SUPERB INTERNAL MEDICINE PRACTICE OPPORTUNITY: The position is available in August of 2013. You will be joining one of the premier internal medicine groups in North County San Diego. No hospital work or ER call. Competitive salary including benefits plus the opportunity to begin a partnership track if desired. Beautiful office building, excellent staff, ideal for either first year in practice or for an experienced practitioner. Contact Jon LeLevier, MD, at (760) 310-2237 or Jeff Leach, MD, at (760) 846-0464 for more information. [081] SEEKING A FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN: To join a small but growing group in North County San Diego, CA. The perfect doctor for the position will be one who has strong communication skills and great bedside manner. The physician should have a good background in procedures (dermatologic, orthopedic, etc.). I am looking for a physician who will take personal pride in the growth of this unique practice. We emphasize quality of time with the patients rather than the number of patients seen. Hours will be 8–5 Monday–Friday with no hospital call. Once hired you will be provided with an LVN/ scribe for all EMR notes and to assist in procedures. We are inviting you to join an extraordinary clinic in a beautiful location

with a fantastic staff. Salary will be competitive for the region along with bonuses for exquisite performance. Please email me at psexton@encinitasfamilycare.com. [077] CONTRAST SUPERVISING PHYSICIAN NEEDED: Independent diagnostic imaging facility seeks physicians to monitor patient examinations requiring contrast. We are looking for physicians to work various Saturday/Sunday shifts scheduled from 8am to 5pm on a per diem basis. Shifts are available on an ongoing basis. Please contact Eva Miranda at (858) 6586589 for more information. [076] MEDICAL DIRECTOR: The County Psychiatric Hospital needs a full-time medical director. This is a key leadership role in our very physician-friendly, dynamic Behavioral Health system. Facility includes an inpatient unit and a very busy psychiatric emergency unit. Medical director does limited direct clinical care. Required: three years of psychiatrist experience, including one year of managing a psychiatric hospital or multidisciplinary medical and mental health facility. Competitive salary and excellent County employee benefit package offered. San Diego combines the lifestyle of a resort community and the amenities of a big city. The hospital is centrally located, minutes from many recreational opportunities and great residential communities with wonderful year-round weather.

CV can be submitted online at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/hr.

For questions, please contact Darah Frondarina, human resources specialist, at (858) 505-6534 or Darah.Frondarina@ sdcounty.ca.gov. [072] SOUTHERN CALIF REGIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR (RMD): Your Neighborhood Urgent Care (YNUC) is recruiting two RMDs for its 10 urgent care clinic network in Orange County and San Diego County. BC in emergency medicine or in family practice, internal medicine with urgent care experience required. Management/administrative experience in previous healthcare positions very desirable. Independent Contractor for two years, then equity available. Position is based at the MSO and is 20 hours per week clinical and 20 hours per week quality improvement. Very attractive hourly.

Contact ramster@ynuc.us now! [070] SUPERVISING CHILD PSYCHIATRIST, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO: BC child psychiatrist to serve as supervising child psychiatrist for Child, Youth and Families (CYF) Behavioral Health and as deputy to the clinical director of the Behavioral Health Division of County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA). Significant administrative/managerial experience required; to provide clinical supervision in a variety of CYF County-operated programs. Applications and CVs must be submitted online at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/hr. For further information please email Marshall Lewis, MD, Clinical Director, at marshall.lewis@sdcounty.ca.gov or call (619) 563-2771, or email Katie Astor, Assistant Deputy Director, at katie.astor@ sdcounty.ca.gov, or email Lita Santos, Human Resources, at lita.santos@sdcounty.ca.gov. [068] PHYSICIAN NEEDED — FULL- OR PART-TIME SCHEDULES AVAILABLE: Family Health Centers of San Diego is a private, nonprofit community clinic organization that is an integral part of San Diego’s healthcare safety net. Since 1970, our mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality healthcare and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income, and medically underserved persons. Every member of our team plays an important role in improving the health of our patients and community. We offer an excellent comprehensive benefits package that includes: malpractice coverage; NHSC loan repay eligibility; and much, much more! For more information, please call Anna Jameson at (619) 906-4591 or email ajameson@fhcsd.org. If you would like to fax your CV, fax it to (619) 876-4426. To apply, visit our website and apply online at www.fhcsd.jobs. [046] PRIMARY CARE JOB OPPORTUNITY: Home Physicians (www.thehousecalldocs.com ) is a fast-growing group of house-call doctors. Great pay ($140–$220+K), flexible hours, choose your own days (full or part time). No ER call or inpatient duties required. Transportation and personal assistant provided. Call Chris Hunt, MD, at (858) 279-1212 or email CV to hpmg11@yahoo.com. [037] PHYSICIANS WANTED: Vista Community Clinic, a private, nonprofit clinic serving the communities of North San Diego County, has openings for part-time and per-diem positions.

To submit a classified ad, email Kyle Lewis at KLewis@SDCMS.org. SDCMS members place classified ads free of charge (excepting “Services Offered” ads). Nonmembers pay $150 (100-word limit) per ad per month of insertion.

34 decem b er 2012

Five locations in Vista and Oceanside. Family medicine, OB/ GYN medicine, pediatric medicine. Requirements: California license, DEA license, CPR, board certified, one (1) year postgraduate clinic experience. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Benefits: malpractice coverage. Email resume to hr@ vistacommunityclinic.org or fax to (760) 414-3702. Visit website at www.vistacommunityclinic.org. EOE/M/F/D/V [035] SEEKING BOARD-CERTIFIED PEDIATRICIAN FOR PERMANENT FOUR-DAYS-PER-WEEK POSITION: Private practice in La Mesa seeks pediatrician four days per week on partnership track. Modern office setting with a reputation for outstanding patient satisfaction and retention for over 15 years. A dedicated triage and education nurse takes routine patient calls off your hands, and team of eight staff provides attentive support allowing you to focus on direct, quality patient care. Clinic is 24–28 patients per eight-hour day, 1-in-3 call is minimal, rounding on newborns, and occasional admission, NO delivery standby or rushing out in the night. Benefits include tail-covered liability insurance, paid holidays/vacation/sick time, professional dues, health and dental insurance, uniforms, CME, budgets, disability and life insurance. Please contact Venk at (619) 504-5830 or at venk@gpeds.sdcoxmail. com. Salary $ 102–108,000 annually (equal to $130–135,000 full-time). [778] PRACTICE WANTED WE BUY URGENT CARE OR READY MED-CLINIC: We are interested in purchasing a preexisting urgent care or ready med-clinic anywhere in San Diego County. Please contact Lyda at (619) 417-9766. [008] OFFICE SPACE / REAL ESTATE Medical Office Space for Lease: Medical office space of 1,846 square feet located at 15721 Pomerado Road, Poway, CA 92064 in the Gateway Medical Center available for immediate lease. This recently remodeled facility has a shared waiting room, medical records storage area, front desk reception area, three exam rooms, nursing station, private office, shared bathroom. The larger space is shared with an internal medicine group and is blocks away from Pomerado Hospital.

Imaging is located in an adjacent building. The lease rate is $1.69/SF NNN with a 3% annual increase. The NNNs are currently running $0.73/SF. Tenant will be responsible for pro rata share of utilities and janitorial in addition to NNNs. Great opportunity in this affluent community. Call Angie at (858) 605-9966. [065] Medical Office Space in Santee: Beautiful calming space in an office/business park located adjacent to a major shopping center in Santee. Newer building (2007), and recently remodeled into a premier medical office. Plenty of free parking, and nice outside courtyard includes a fish pond. The available space (approximately 1200 sf) consists of 3 large exam rooms, medical assistant/lab area, office and a shared waiting area. Other half of space is occupied by a family physician. Rent is 2.50/sf and includes all utilities (electricity, internet, phone, security, water). Available 1/2/2013. Contact: santeemedicaloffice@yahoo.com. [099] 3998 VISTA WAY, IN OCEANSIDE: Four medical office spaces approximately 1,300–2,800 square feet available for lease. Close proximity to Tri-City Hospital with pedestrian walkway connected to parking lot of hospital, and groundfloor access. Lease price: $1.55+NNN. Tenant improvement allowance to customize the suites is available. For further information, please contact Lucia Shamshoian at (760) 931-1134 or at shamshoian@coveycommercial.com. [096] SPACE FOR SUBLEASE IN POOLE BUILDING ON SCRIPPS MEMORIAL LA JOLLA CAMPUS: Office on entry level facing main hospital, which is 50 yards away — BEST location on campus. Own consultation room and two shared exam rooms available at least two full days a week. Equipped for minor surgery / procedures. Receptionist and medical assistant help can be provided. Call Ilana at (858) 558-2272 for details. [085] NORTH COAST OFFICE SPACE TO SUBLEASE: North Coast Health Center, 477 El Camino Real, Encinitas, office space to sublease. Newly remodeled and beautiful office space available at the 477/D Building. Occupied by seasoned vascular and general surgeons. Great window views and location with all new equipment and furniture. New hardwood floors and exam tables. Full ultrasound lab and tech on site for extra convenience. Will sublease partial suite for two exam rooms and office work area or will consider subleasing the entire suite, totally furnished, if there is a larger group. Plenty

of free parking. For more information, call Irene at (619) 8402400 or at (858) 452-0306. [041] SHARE OFFICE SPACE IN PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY CLINIC IN UTC: Office space and practice support for full- or part-time surgeon available immediately. Equipped with two operating rooms accredited by the AAAASF, private entrance, three exam rooms, two of them also consults rooms, two private bathrooms, and staff room with kitchen. Ideal for orthopedic, urologist, plastic or general surgeon. Surgical center contracted with Anthem Blue Cross, United Health Care, Aetna, and workers’ comp. Call (858) 4578686 or email drsoltero@solteromd.com. [074] FULL- AND PART-TIME OFFICE SPACE IN UTC: in 8th floor suite with established neuropsychologists and psychiatrists in Class A office building. Features include private entrance, staff room with kitchen facilities, active professional collegiality and informal consultation, private restroom, spacious penthouse exercise gym, storage closet with private lock in each office, soundproofing, common waiting room and parking. Contact Christine Saroian, MD, at (619) 682-6912. [862]

Sharp Grossmont Hospital. Very reasonable rent. Please email KLewis@SDCMS.org for more information. [867] NONPHYSICIAN POSITIONS AVAILABLE NURSE PRACTITIONER OR PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT: Established, busy pain management practice in Mission Valley is looking for a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, preferably experienced in pain management or family practice. Knowledge of controlled substance prescriptions and regulations is required. Interpretation of diagnostic tests and the ability to apply skills involved in interdisciplinary pain management is necessary. We offer a competitive salary and benefit package that provides malpractice coverage, CME allowance, as well as an excellent professional growth potential.

Please email your curriculum vitae/resume to sdpainclinc@ yahoo.com. [094]

CLAIREMONT MESA OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE: Clairemont Mesa Medical Arts Center is a medical office building conveniently located in Kearny Mesa, close to the 15, 163, 52, and 805 freeways. Available for lease September 1, 2012. 520 square-foot suite, currently configured as three room (lobby, exam, and office), located on the second floor. Call Alex at (858) 268-1111, ext. 311, for inquiries and viewing. [066]

ASSISTANT MEDICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR: The County of San Diego is seeking an assistant medical services administrator for the Edgemoor Distinct Part Skilled Nursing Facility, located in Santee, to provide administrative oversight and operational accountability, as well as being in charge in the absence of the hospital administrator. Bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing, public health, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field; AND six (6) years of experience coordinating medical service delivery, three (3) years of which must have been in an institutional or in a community agency setting. Apply online at www.sdcounty.ca.gov. [093]

SCRIPPS ENCINITAS CONSULTATION ROOM/EXAM ROOMS: Available consultation room with two examination rooms on the campus of Scripps Encinitas. Will be available a total of 10 half days per week. Located next to the Surgery Center. Receptionist help provided if needed. Contact Stephanie at (760) 753-8413. [703]

MEDICAL ASSISTANT: Internal medicine practice looking to fill a full-time position for a busy internist in Poway. Position requires five-plus years experience in internal medicine, good communication skills, compassion toward seniors, electronic health record exposure a plus. Strong references. Please fax your resume to practice manager at (858) 618-5976. [086]

LUXURIOUS / BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED DOCTOR’S OFFICE NEXT TO SHARP HOSPITAL FOR SUB-LEASE OR FULL LEASE: The office is conveniently located just at the opening of Highway 163 and Genesee Avenue. Lease price if very reasonable and appropriate for ENT, plastic surgeons, OB/ GYN, psychologists, research laboratories, etc. Please contact Mia at (858) 279-8111 or at (619) 823-8111. Thank you. [836]

FULL-TIME NURSE PRACTITIONER: Busy internal medicine practice in Hillcrest seeking a full-time (Monday–Friday) licensed nurse practitioner. Minimum of one (1) year nurse practitioner experience preferred. Experience with EMR helpful. Qualified candidate should submit a current CV or resume to pmason@hillcrestinternal.com. Salary based on knowledge and experience. No calls. [083]

NEW — EXTREMELY LOW RENTAL RATE INCENTIVE — EASTLAKE / RANCHO DEL REY: Two office/medical spaces for lease. From 1,004 to 1,381 SF available. (Adjacent to shared X-ray room.) This building’s rental rate is marketed at $1.70/SF + NNN; however, landlord now offering first-year incentive of $0.50/SF + NNN for qualified tenants and fiveyear term. $2.00/SF tenant improvement allowance available. Well parked and well kept garden courtyard professional building with lush landscaping. Desirable location near major thoroughfares and walkable retail amenities. Please contact listing agents Joshua Smith, ECP Commercial, at (619) 4429200, ext. 102. [006]

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT / NURSE PRACTITIONER: Gastroenterology specialty practice located in North San Diego County is seeking a PA or NP for our five-physician group.

The candidate will be dependable, detail-oriented, and a team player. We offer a competitive salary and benefits. PA or NP will be responsible for assessing patients, obtaining patient histories, and performing physical exams. They would order/ perform routine diagnostic procedures, develop treatment plans, and monitor the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions as directed by the physicians. Physician Assistant: Certified California State Medical Board for Physician Assistants.

Nurse Practitioner: Current licensure as RN in the State of California. Advanced practice degree. Email Javaid Shad at jshad@ncgastro.com. [080]

POWAY / RANCHO BERNARDO — OFFICE FOR SUBLEASE: Spacious, beautiful, newly renovated, 1,467 sq-ft furnished suite, on the ground floor, next to main entrance, in a busy class A medical building (Gateway), next to Pomerado Hospital, with three exam rooms, fourth large doctor’s office.

Ample parking. Lab and radiology onsite. Ideal sublease / satellite location, flexible days of the week. Contact Nerin at the office at (858) 521-0806 or at mzarei@cox.net. [873] SHARE OFFICE SPACE IN LA MESA: Available immediately. 1,400 square feet available to an additional doctor on Grossmont Hospital Campus. Separate receptionist area, physician’s own private office, three exam rooms, and administrative area. Ideal for a practice compatible with OB/GYN. Call (619) 463-7775 or fax letter of interest to La Mesa OB/GYN at (619) 463-4181. [648] BUILD TO SUIT: Up to 1,900ft2 office space on University Avenue in vibrant La Mesa / East San Diego, across from the Joan Kroc Center. Next door to busy pediatrics practice, ideal for medical, dental, optometry, lab, radiology, or ancillary services. Comes with 12 assigned, gated parking spaces, dual restrooms, server room, lighted tower sign. Build-out allowance to $20,000 for 4–5 year lease. $3,700 per month gross (no extras), negotiable. Contact venk@cox.net or (619) 5045830. [835] SHARE OFFICE SPACE IN LA MESA JUST OFF OF LA MESA BLVD: 2 exam rooms and one minor OR room with potential to share other exam rooms in building. Medicare certified ambulatory surgery center next door. Minutes from

NURSE MANAGER: Seeking nurse manager for our AAAHC GI facility in Oceanside, California. The ideal candidate will be dependable, detail-oriented, and a team player. Competitive salary and benefits. NM is responsible for accountability of clinical care and productivity, including assessing, implementing, and evaluating processes, technology, personnel, and facility needs required to achieve patient outcomes safely.

Is responsible for coordination and direction of patient care services and other service areas in the facility. Responsible for quality improvement, identifying opportunities to improve services, recommending and implementing actions to meet the goals of the facility. RN State of California. ACLS certification. Email Kathy Moore at kmoore@ncgastro.com. [079] FRONT OFFICE RECEPTIONIST POSITION: Dermatologist in Hillcrest needs a special individual for computer billing, typing, front office, mature, experienced. Friendly environment.

Email resume to eydiekornberg@gmail.com. [075] NURSE PRACTITIONER WANTED: Nurse practitioner wanted for internal medicine and pediatrics practice in Coronado.

Enthusiasm, dependability, and a love of learning are musts!

Full-time with benefits. Experience preferred. Please send your resume to CoronadoMedPeds@gmail.com. [067] PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OR NURSE PRACTITIONER: Needed for house-call physician in Coachella Valley (Palm Springs / Palm Desert). Part time, flexible days/hours. Competitive compensation. Call (619) 992-5330. [038]

SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org 35

Office Manager Advocacy

Congratulations Carol Carney San Diego County’s Outstanding Medical Office Manager for 2012!

Nominated by E.L. Sakas, MD, SDCMS Member Since 2005

Carol Carney is the cornerstone of our department, filling in for virtually every position at some point during her career. She directly supervises 10 employees and provides indirect supervision and guidance for dozens of others. All of the clerical staff as well as the physicians call Carol when something needs to be accomplished quickly or a complicated problem or issue arises. She essentially never says “no” to anything we ask of her.

Carol routinely performs tasks such as transcription or records management when we are understaffed. Self-taught, she can troubleshoot computer or mechanical issues. She works on weekends to ensure processes are staged for the following week’s work. She even came in one weekend to move furniture for painters and flooring professionals. She has been spotted with tools on several occasions, repairing or adjusting air vents or unruly cabinets. Her work hours always exceed 40 per week.

Carol has long been the sole employee to handle complicated correspondence and autopsy 36 decem b er 2012

paperwork. She even communicates with family members of decedents with grace. Everyone from the top down looks to her for guidance when we have to undergo new procedures or acquire new physicians; she is without question our most knowledgeable employee. She is so important that when she is away from the office, an email message must be generated to warn everyone.

New, junior personnel are comfortable with her as she is approachable and yet extremely busy.

She championed bigger spaces and improved office spaces for the transcriptionists and works as a transcriptionist herself at some point every week to maintain timelines and appropriate turnaround times for our patients and referring physicians.

Although she is not required to manage the needs of our fellows, she has become intimately involved in organizing and tracking their programs.

When patients need slides submitted for second opinions (either to or from us), she handcarries forms and necessary items to the doctors herself. She not only serves as a trusted appendage to the pathologists, but she is in constant contact with executives at our corporate offices, insurance companies, patients, surgical and cytopathology technologists and supervisors, attorneys, and referring physicians.

Carol has done so many things over the past decade to personalize her interaction with the administrative team; we wouldn’t be able to quantify it. She makes cakes for everyone’s birthdays and provides breakfast or snacks nearly every week. When employees are ill, she visits them and has even escorted one employee to the urgent care and waited until a family member arrived.

In short, I strongly believe Carol Carney is the Outstanding Medical Office Manager of the Year and urge you to select her.

Sincerely, E.L. Sakas, MD Chairman, Department of Pathology Scripps Clinic Medical Group

Previous Medical Office Manager Winners

2011: Robert O’Meara

Nominated by Irwin Goldstein, MD (SDCMS-CMA Member Since 2007)

2010: Sue Rose

Nominated by David J. Bodkin, MD (SDCMS-CMA Member Since 1990)

2009: Anne Billeter

Nominated by John A. LaFata, MD (SDCMS-CMA Member Since 1981)

We Celebrate Excellence – James Strebig, MD CAP member, internal medicine physician, and former President of the Orange County Medical Association.

800-252-7706 www.CAPphysicians.com San Diego orange LoS angeLeS PaLo aLTo SacramenTo

For 35 years, the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP) has provided California’s finest physicians, like Irvine internal medicine specialist James Strebig, MD, with superior medical professional liability protection through its Mutual Protection Trust (MPT).

Physician owned and physician governed, CAP rewards excellence with remarkably low rates on medical professional liability coverage – up to 40 percent less than our competitors.

CAP members also enjoy a number of other valuable benefits, including comprehensive risk management programs, best-in-class legal defense, and a 24-hour CAP Cares physician hotline. And MPT is the nation’s only physician-owned medical professional liability provider rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best.

We invite you to join the more than 11,500 preferred California physicians already enjoying the benefits of CAP membership.

Superior Physicians. Superior Protection.

37

mayapril 2011 2012 SAN DIEGO P HY SICIA N. o rg 37 SAN DI EGO PHYSICIAN.org

$5.95 | www.SANDIEGOPHYSICIAN.org PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 5377

San diego County Medical Society 5575 RUFFIN ROAD, SUITE 250 SAN DIEGO, CA 92123 [ RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED ]

We do what no other medical malpractice insurer does. We reward loyalty at a level that is entirely unmatched. We honor years spent practicing good medicine with the Tribute® Plan. We salute a great career with an unrivaled monetary award. We give a standing ovation. We are your biggest fans.

We are The Doctors Company.

Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP Chairman and CEO, The Doctors Company

We created the Tribute Plan to provide doctors with more than just a little gratitude for a career spent practicing good medicine. Now, the Tribute Plan has reached its five-year anniversary, and over 22,700 member physicians have qualified for a monetary award when they retire from the practice of medicine. More than 1,300 Tribute awards have already been distributed. So if you want an insurer that’s just as committed to honoring your career as it is to relentlessly defending your reputation, request more information today. The San Diego County Medical Society has exclusively endorsed our medical malpractice insurance program since 2005. To learn more about our program for SDCMS members, including the Tribute Plan, call us at (800) 852-8872 or visit www.thedoctors.com/tribute.

Endorsed by

www.thedoctors.com Tribute Plan projections are not a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future balance amounts. For additional details, see www.thedoctors.com/tribute.

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