Save the date! “Beers with Peers”
Celebrating 60 Years
February 4, 2016 • 6-8:30 pm To learn more visit www.mcmsonline.com
- 015 1955 2
Society Offices 326 E. Coronado Rd., Phoenix, 85004
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round-up Volume 61 • Number 11 • November 2015
Providing news and information for the medical community since 1955.
Strength in Membership: A Sit-Down with Paul B. Jarrett, MD Page 24.
In Every Issue: 4
New members
6
In memoriam
8
What’s inside
Features: 20 2015 Annual Event: Celebrating Our Roots
12 President’s page
28 Should Arizona Adopt the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact?
30 Marketplace
32 Statement of Ownership
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round-up
November 2015
Providing news and information for physicians and the healthcare community since 1955. Published monthly by the Maricopa County Medical Society.
4
new members
6
in memoriam
8
what’s inside
12
president’s page State of the Society: Presidential address at MCMS Annual Meeting.
20
24
member profile
28
hot topic
Strength in membership. A sit-down with Paul B. Jarrett, MD.
Should Arizona adopt the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact?
30
classified ads — marketplace
32
statement of ownership
2015 annual event Celebrating our roots.
On the cover: Dr. Paul Jarrett in his home office. Cover photo, member profile and MCMS Annual Event photos by: Denny Collins Photography / www.dennycollins.com / 602-448-2437 Connect with your Society. Letters and electronic correspondence will become the property of Round-up, which assumes permission to publish and edit as necessary. Please refer to our usage statement for more information. Editor: Ryan Stratford, MD, MBA / rstratford@mcmsonline.com Managing Editor: Jay Conyers, PhD / jconyers@mcmsonline.com
2 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
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Round-up Staff
MCMS 2015 Officers
Editor-in-Chief Ryan R. Stratford, MD, MBA
President
Editor Jay Conyers, PhD
President-Elect
Advertising, Design and Production Candice Scheibel
Vice President
Contributing Writer Dominique Perkins
Ryan R. Stratford, MD, MBA Adam M. Brodsky, MD
Secretary Kelly Hsu, MD Treasurer Mark R. Wallace, MD
To obtain information on advertising in Round-up, contact MCMS.
Immediate Past-President Miriam K. Anand, MD Board of Directors 2013-2015
Postmaster
R. Jay Standerfer, MD
Send address changes to: Round-up, 326 E. Coronado Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85004
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mcmsonline.com facebook.com/MedicalSociety twitter.com/MedicalSociety
Shane Daley, MD Anthony Lee, MD 2014-2016 Lee Ann Kelley, MD May Mohty, MD Richard Manch, MD
Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona.
Anita Murcko, MD
Volume 61, No. 11 November 2015.
2015-2017
Round-up (USPS 020-150) is published 12 times per year by the Maricopa County Medical Society, 326 E. Coronado, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
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To subscribe to Round-up Magazine please send a check for one-year subscription of $50 to: Round-up Magazine 326 E. Coronado Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85004
60 Years - 015 1955 2
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Celebrating
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Round-up is a publication of the Maricopa County Medical Society (MCMS). Submissions, including advertisements, are welcome for review and approval by our editorial staff at roundup@mcmsonline.com. All solicited and unsolicited written materials and photos submitted to Round-up will be treated as unconditionally and irrevocably assigned to and the property of MCMS and may be used at MCMS’ sole discretion for publication and copyright purposes and use in any publication, website or brochure. MCMS accepts no responsibility for the loss of or damage to material submitted, including photographs or artwork. Submissions will not be returned. The opinions expressed in Round-up are those of the individual authors and not necessarily of MCMS. Round-up reserves the right to refuse certain submissions and advertising and is not liable for the authors’ or advertisers’ claims and/or errors. Round-up considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible, but is not responsible for inaccuracies or content. Readers rely on this information at their own risk and are advised to seek independent legal, financial or other independent advice regarding the content of any submission. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission by the publisher. All rights are reserved.
Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 3
new members
The physicians highlighted on these pages recently joined the Maricopa County Medical Society. Please reach out to one or more of them, welcome them aboard, and share your insight on how the Society can be of service.
ACTIVE MEMBERS MARK BARAKAT, MD Ophthalmology Medical School: University of PA School of Medicine Internship: Penn Presbyterian University Medical Center Residency: Drexel University Fellowship: Cole Eye Institute Practice: Retinal Consultants of Arizona, 1101 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014 Phone: (602) 222-2221 Website: www.retinalconsultantsaz.com
JOSEPH BREWSTER, MD Family Practice Medical School: University of Missouri, Combined BA/MD Program Internship: University of Missouri Residency: University of Missouri Practice: North Scottsdale Family Medicine, 6501 E. Greenway Pkwy., #160, Scottsdale, AZ 85254-2069 Phone: (480) 948-9903 Website: www.nsfma.com
MICHAEL BUGOLA, MD Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson Internship: St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Residency: Stanford University Contact information: 782 Woodside Ln., East #10, Sacramento, CA 95825 Phone: (916) 925-7237
4 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
MARY F. ERICKSON, MD General Surgery Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson Residency: University of Arizona; Maricopa Medical Center Practice: Arizona Acute Surgical Care, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Ste. 1630-431, Phoenix, AZ 85050 Phone: (480) 374-3451 STEPHEN HERMAN, MD Child & Adolescent Psychiatry; Forensic Psychiatry; Adolescent Medicine Medical School: Penn State College of Medicine Residency: Mayo School of Graduate Education; Montefiore Hospital & Medical Center Fellowship: Yale University Child Study Center Practice: Stephen P. Herman, M.D. Clinical & Forensic Psychiatry, 65 Central Park West, #1C, New York, NY 10023 Phone: (917) 597-5704
SUJIT ITTY, MD Ophthalmology Medical School: Mayo Medical School Internship: St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center Residency: Duke University Eye Center Fellowship: Jules Stein Eye Institute Practice: Retinal Consultants of Arizona, 1101 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014 Phone: (602) 222-2221 Website: www.retinalconsultantsaz.com
new members
Interested in learning more about the Society? We invite you to visit our website at www.mcmsonline.com or call the MCMS Membership Office at 602-252-2015. ANITA KOHLI, MD Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine Residency: University of Virginia Health System Fellowship: National Institutes of Health Practice: St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center - Internal Medicine Health Center, 500 W. Thomas Rd., Ste. 900, Phoenix, AZ 85013 Phone: (602) 406-7564 Website: www.dignityhealth.org/stjosephs/services/primary-care-services/internal-medicine GERNALD MUNCY, MD Family Medicine Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Internship: Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton Residency: Scottsdale Memorial Hospital Osborn Practice: North Scottsdale Family Medicine, 6501 E. Greenway Pkwy., #160, Scottsdale, AZ 85254-2069 Phone: (480) 948-9903 Website: www.nsfma.com
GOVARDHANAN NAGAIAH, MD Hematology/Oncology Medical School: Thanjavur Medical School Internship & Residency: Mercy Catholic Medical Center Fellowship: West Virginia University Practice Name: Arizona Oncology Associates, Saguaro Cancer Center, 7200 W. Bell Rd., Bldg. A, Glendale, AZ 85020 Website: www.arizonaoncology.com
NEAL PALEJWALA, MD Ophthalmology Medical School: Jefferson Medical College - Thomas Jefferson University Internship: St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center Residency: Emory University School of Medicine Practice: Retinal Consultants of Arizona, 1101 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014 Phone: (602) 222-2221 Website: www.retinalconsultantsaz.com MEHDY ZARANDY Internal Medicine; Pathology Medical School: University of Tehran Internship: University Hospitals of Cleveland Residency: Eastern Virginia Medical School Fellowships: Yale Medical School;
Indiana University Practice: Foothills Primary Care, 600 S. Dobson Rd., Ste. D27, Chandler, AZ 85224 Phone: (480) 496-0000 Website: www.foothillsprimary.com
EDUCATION MEMBERS
A.T. Still University - School of Osteopathic Medicine COREY ALLAN BENJAMIN BERTHET Midwestern University DEREK CHINN
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix LAURA HAMANT KIMBERLY WEIDENBACH, M ED Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 5
in memoriam
Carlos A. Carrion, MD
Carlos Alfredo Carrion, MD, 82, passed away on July 22, 2015.
Dr. Carrion was born on March 15, 1933, the son of Dr. Carlos Jorge Carrion and Argentina Torres de Carrion, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His father and his maternal grandfather, Dr. Melchor Torres, were medical doctors. Dr. Carrion became the third doctor in the family when he graduated from Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, in 1955. He married Elina Bettinelli in 1957 and traveled to the United States to further his medical education on a three year student visa. At the conclusion of his general surgery residency, he and his family returned to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dr. Carrion worked as the company doctor for a French oil company in Patagonia. He returned to the United States and completed his neurosurgery residency at West Virginia University Hospital in 1970. That same year he became a naturalized citizen of United States. After considering where to begin his practice, he chose Phoenix, Arizona for the wide open spaces and the people. He performed most of his surgeries at St. Joseph’s Hospital. When he closed his private practice, he became the Chief of Neurosurgery at the Maricopa County Medical Center. He enjoyed his work, helping patients and teaching new doctors. Outside of his work, he enjoyed reading classics, building model boats, traveling, spending the summers in Coronado. He took great interest and delight in the life of his children and grandchildren. After 36 years as a neurosurgeon, he retired. He is survived by his children and their 6 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
spouses, Daniel (Judy) Carrion, Alejandra (Rick) Stark, and Patricia Ragsdale; grandchildren, Andrea Ragsdale, Alexander Ragsdale, Nicholas Stark (Emily Frank), Elina Stark, Matthew Carrion, and Caitlin Carrion; and greatgrandson, Oliver Stark. ru
Jerome Reichenberger, MD
Dr. Jerome Reichenberger, 78, of Phoenix, AZ passed away on October 2, 2015.
He was born and raised in Sharon, KS. He attended Northwestern Oklahoma University, where he said some of the happiest days of his life were spent before graduating from medical school in Seattle, WA. Jerome was drafted into the U.S. Army as a Captain and served as a medical officer in Vietnam and Colorado Springs, CO from 1966-1968. Dr. Reichenberger finished an Internal Medicine Residency at Maricopa Medical Center and then established Sun City Medical Specialists in Sun City, AZ where he worked from 1969-2008. He traveled the world, and loved cooking and going to the movies. He enjoyed practicing medicine and helping people through charitable donations. Dr. Reichenberger lived his life by the saying “do unto others as you would do unto yourself” and the world is a better place because of him. Dr. Reichenberger is survived by his children Erich Reichenberger and Mia Betz, sisters Oringa McGuire and Rosemary Soptic, brother Donovan Reichenberger, grandchildren Ava and Baron Betz, and many other family and friends. ru
Thomas P. Konicke, MD
Dr. Thomas Konicke, 75, beloved father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in his home after a long illness, on September 29, 2015.
He was born in Hobart, IN, to Stanley and Agnes Konicke. He graduated from Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana, received a BA in Chemistry, a MS in Pathology and his MD from Indiana University. Dr. Konicke interned at Iowa Methodist Hospital, and also served our country as a Army Captain at Ft. Gordon, GA. He practiced Family Medicine (AAFP Fellow) in Chesterton, IN, Emergency Medicine in Tucson, AZ and later completed a Psychiatry Residency at Maricopa Medical Center and practiced Psychiatry in Phoenix, AZ and Wenatchee, WA. He retired in Gilbert, AZ.
Dr. Konicke was a dedicated physician who had a great zest for life and truly cared about people. His happiest moments were often traveling in his RV with family. He rode motorcycles, went fishing, and loved to sing and play guitar. He tinkered with every type of machine, mechanism or computer.
Dr. Konicke was preceded in death by his brother, Jim, his sister, Sylvia Cates, and his granddaughter, Tatjana Milhon. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy, their children: Gregory (Fabel); Cynthia (Alex Dunlop); Rachelle (Ryan Milhon); and six grandchildren: Alexa and Juliet Glomb, Savana Milhon, Jacob and Katherine Dunlop, and Erik Konicke; and his brothers: Daniel (Jean), Michael, Timothy and Robert (Michelle). ru
in memoriam
Charles M. Cooke, MD
Dr. Charles Cooke, 90, passed away June 9, 2015. He was born October 21, 1925 in Electra, Texas. He attended medical school at the University of Utah graduating in 1948. He completed his residency at St. Monica’s Hospital in 1949. ru
Burton Lyle Speiser, MD
Dr. Burt Speiser, 69, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, passed away on October 18, 2015.
He was born in New York City, NY on January 24, 1946, the second of four children of Mollie and Morris Speiser. Dr. Speiser earned an AB in Biology from Queens College and an MD from the New Jersey College of Medicine. He completed his residency in Radiation Oncology while simultaneously earning an MS in Radiation Biology from the University of Rochester. On December 21, 1968, Dr. Speiser married Jeanne Michelle Gale. They had three children – Michael, Leonard, and Lisa.
Dr. Speiser was a Major in the U.S. Air Force where he served as Chief of Radiation Oncology at David Grant Medical Center (1974-1976) at Travis AFB, California. He was Associate Director of Radiation Oncology at LDS Hospital (1976-1979) in Salt Lake City, UT. He was Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Indiana University (1979-1980) in Indianapolis, IN. In 1980, Dr. Speiser relocated to Phoenix, Arizona with his family where he worked for several decades as Director
of Radiation Oncology at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Director of Brachytherapy at Humana Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital. While he was passionate about his work, he was a husband and father first. He enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family and teaching life lessons to his children every night at the dinner table. He encouraged his children to pursue their own dreams, he was never prouder than when his daughter Lisa followed in his footsteps and became a physician. Dr. Speiser was also an avid reader, hiker, SCUBA diver, and outdoorsman. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jeanne, his sons Michael and Leonard, his daughter Lisa, his daughters-in-law Mary and Jessica and his seven grandchildren: Lauren, Emma, Henry, Anna, Mackenzie, William, and Isabella.
Halford Reid Price, MD
Dr. Halford Price, 88, passed away on October 28, 2015 due to complications from chronic heart disease. The characteristic that really sums up Dr. Price was the fact that he absolutely LOVED people. He never knew a stranger, and could make a new friend absolutely anywhere – at the car wash, on the tee box at the golf course and most importantly at his medical practice. Dr. Price was one of those lucky people who recognized his calling early in life, declaring at age five that he wanted to be a doctor. This might have seemed farfetched considering his humble beginnings. Born on December 23, 1926, he was the son of a coal miner and a school teacher – Frank and Nina Michaels Price – in the mining town of Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Dr. Price was
determined and never gave up once he set a goal. After serving as a medic in World War II, he left PA to study at Pacific Union College in Angwin, California. It was there that he spotted a pretty red head his very first day on campus and declared to his roommate: “I’m going to marry Virginia Baker,” which he did four years later on August 3, 1952. She was not only the love of his life, supporting him through his medical training at The College of Medical Evangelism (as Loma Linda was called then), but was his life partner and friend for over 63 years.
Dr Price maintained a lively family practice in South Phoenix for over 44 years, retiring at age 74. This was back in the day when doctors made house calls, delivered their own babies and manned the ER after hours. He was quite devoted to his patients and was known for his excellent and efficient skills of diagnosing and treating patients. His staff was always top notch and loyal, and many were with him for over 20 years.
Dr. Price had a real zest for life and had many varied interests, including a passion for flying. He fulfilled a lifelong dream of owning a jet airplane in 1992. After 30 years of flying he retired his wings in 2010, and donated his Sabre 60 jet to Wings of Hope. The plane is being used today in the Sudan to carry out medical transport. Dr. Price is survived by his wife, Virginia, as well as his oldest daughter, Dr. Ginger Price, his grandson, Reid Michael Price, his son-in-law Russ Price, his younger daughter, Carol Price, his grandson Colton Kreiling and granddaughter Lacy Kreiling. He will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to have known him. ru Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 7
In this issue – November 2015:
MEMBERSHIP
M
By Jay Conyers, PhD
MCMS Executive Director Jay Conyers, PhD jconyers@mcmsonline.com 602-251-2361
embership trends in medicine continue to shift more in favor of specialty societies, with national (American Medical Association), state, and county medical societies’ numbers continuing to wane. Clearly, physicians today first identify with their specialty before they look to local organizations. No longer a strong, unified voice for physicians, the AMA has seen its membership numbers decline from more than three-quarters of all physicians in the 1950’s to less than one-fifth today. Reasons for the decline in AMA membership vary, but many point to the growing number of perceived conflicts that arise from the AMA’s commercial ventures, such as its ownership state in the CPT coding system. For many physicians, this doesn’t sit well. Others point to the shift from politically conservative – such as when the AMA opposed Medicare in the 1950’s – to politically liberal when it supported the Affordable Care Act. But what about county medical societies? Are they dying, or are they here to stay? According to the American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE), they seem to be adapting to the trends in the U.S. healthcare system. AAMSE’s 2015 ‘trends’ report noticed that many societies are working together while increasing competition amongst organizations. It has become clear that physicians identify with specialty before geography, and thus, competition is growing amongst sister medical societies. The most successful medical societies of today are not only enhancing their unique value proposition to distinguish themselves from other medical societies, but also finding ways to coordinate activities with those societies. Hence, the term ‘coopertition’ has emerged as a buzzword amongst medical societies to help represent growing membership.
Another trend in county medical societies is efforts to recruit and retain early career physicians, understanding that their needs differ greatly from physicians that entered practice decades earlier. Early career physicians seem to hold their medical societies more accountable, and expect more out of them. Those that join are those that were engaged early on – even in medical school – and given leadership roles. 8 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
what’s inside? Often in the past, county medical societies have left advocacy to their state and federal counterparts, such as the AMA. But with AMA membership struggling, and state medical societies fighting scope of practice issues on multiple fronts – year after year – many county medical societies are taking on more active roles in advocacy. While few are directly lobbying, many are providing leadership and training opportunities for their member physicians to play a more active role in policy making. Others are organizing funding initiatives, such as political action committees, and others are forming coalitions with other medical societies concerned about similar issues (see coopertition again!).
by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), medical societies are making sure they keep up with what’s going on. Despite more physicians now enrolled in MOC than ever before, scores of physicians and physician groups are working diligently to tone down the rigorous requirements. Some state medical societies have gone so far as to enact resolutions against MOC. With so many conversations on going around MOC, medical societies are driving membership by being the ‘go-to’ resource for the MOC process.
With Maintenance of Certification (MOC) evolution in recent years, most notably in the 2014 changes implemented
So the big question is are we doing these things? Yes! We’re working more closely with other medical societies
One of the most noticeable trends in medical societies has been the pivot to recruitment of employed physicians. With numbers now reaching – or surpassing, in some regions – a fifty-fifty split of employed to self-employed, many medical societies are structuring organization-friendly membership packages that offer discounts and perks.
Last but not least, medical societies are carving out a new role by helping physicians with ICD-10 implementation. Many are offering courses, workshops, consultants, and/or CMEs around implementation, focusing primarily on coding, revenue cycle management, information technology integration, and project management. With ICD-10 affecting all physicians, having a reliable, local resource to help navigate the waters has proven to be a good value proposition to grow membership and retain existing members.
Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 9
what’s inside than we ever have, and are developing new programs for early-career physicians. We’re approaching more physician groups about collective membership, and finding ways to adapt membership to meet the needs of employed physicians. We also recently co-hosted with the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association a workshop on ICD-10 implementation, and have plans to do more in this area in 2016. There’s a lot more we can do, and we’re poised to do what it takes to create a stronger value proposition for our members. Without our members, we have no Society. So thank you for your continued membership. But now, on to the issue! This month, we profile the longest tenured member of the Society, Paul Jarrett, MD. A member since 1946, Dr. Jarrett is still witty, curious, and energetic despite his 97th birthday being just around the corner in February. In my time here at the Society, I’ve always enjoyed the emails he sends commenting on articles he’s read in journals or newspapers, or just his thoughts on some interesting subject. Some pertain to medicine, some do not. Most have humor. He also has an ability to view topics in a unique manner, and all of the articles he sends make me take a few minutes of of my day to ponder on their meaning.
In a message to me earlier this year, he explained, “Years ago, I wrote a series of verses in an irreverent description of the various medical specialties that were printed serially in our Society’s monthly organ, Round-up. They were the art of a young lady, a medical illustrator who volunteered her services. She was a delight! One of those contributions is found in the accompanying attachment. I had imagined a patient who swallowed his glass eye and the surprise it elicited.” We bring you that graphic in this article, see below.
Also in this issue, we include Dr. Ryan Stratford’s Presential Address, “The State of the Maricopa County Medical Society,” from this year’s annual event. It’s a bit longer than our usual Round-up President’s Page articles, but it captures what the Society has accomplished this year, how we’ve evolved, and the new direction we’re headed. If you’d like to learn more about what Dr. Stratford spoke about, please check out the slides that were presented at the annual event. They’re on the MCMS website (http://www.mcmsonline.com/member-resources/2015-president-s-message).
We also summarize the results of our recent survey on the interstate medical licensure compact, a topic sure to be of interest in Arizona as telemedicine becomes more widespread and more physicians practice across state lines. If you’re not getting the surveys we send out via email, but are interested in participating, please email me at jconyers@mcmsonline.com and I’ll make sure we add you to the list. Next month, we bring you our final issue of 2015, and pass the torch to a new regime in 2016. We profile our President-Elect, Dr. Adam Brodsky, and discuss with him his plans for the Society next year. We also introduce the new board, with six new members ready to serve in January.
Please also mark your calendar for our “Beers with Peers” social event, scheduled for February 4th from 6-8:30 pm in the Society courtyard. Sponsored by one of our platinum preferred partners, MICA, this mentorship event will be an opportunity for our younger members – medical students & residents – to interact with physicians well established in their careers. We have a fun evening planned, so please plan on attending! Look for your invitation in the mail, by email, on our website, and of course, our Facebook and Twitter pages. (Be sure to like or follow us!) Until next time... ru
10 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
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STATE OF SOCIETY Presidential Address at MCMS Annual Meeting MCMS President 2015 Ryan Stratford, MD, MBA Dr. Stratford specializes in Urogynecology/Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. He joined MCMS in 2005. Contact Information: The Woman's Center for Advanced Pelvic Surgery 4344 E. Presidio Street Mesa, AZ 85215 www.TheWomansCenter.com P: 480-834-5111 E: rstratford@mcmsonline.com
October 23, 2015 By Ryan R. Stratford, MD, MBA
This month instead of the usual editorial penned by Dr. Stratford, we share with you his Presidential Address from the Annual Event. We found it to be inspiring and extremely informative. As such, the MCMS staff wanted to ensure all our membership, especially those who were not able to attend our event, have an opportunity to read his words. To view the presentation that accompanied this speech, go to www.mcmsonline.com/member-resources/2015-president-s-message. Your feedback is welcome! Please share your thoughts on the past, present and future of the Maricopa County Medical Society and the profession of medicine with Dr. Stratford by sending an email to rstratford@mcmsonline.com.
12 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
president’s page Thank you for allowing me to address you tonight. First, I want to reiterate our gratitude to our sponsors and preferred partners: MICA and Newark Grubb Knight Frank. Thank you for your support!
It has been my privilege to serve you as your President over this past year. It is my hope tonight to address the State of the Society and the wonderful opportunities that lie ahead.
Before we can address where we are headed, I think it is important to consider our past: where we came from and how this Society has adapted over the last 123 years.
The Maricopa County Medical Society (MCMS) was organized in 1892. The purpose of the Society was primarily to establish clear medical standards and create licensing criteria. There was no state medical board at the time. In fact, there was no state. The Society was organized 20 years prior to Arizona being founded as a state in 1912.
During the initial fifty years, the Society served its intended purpose to manage medical standards within the state. Then, with the end of WWII and the invention of air conditioning, the number of physicians grew exponentially in Arizona. In 1950, MCMS hired its first professional staff and called the building on Central and Monroe its home. Floors 4-8 housed many prominent physicians and dentists and the 9th floor housed the Society among the heating and cooling equipment.
The Society’s purpose evolved from a credentialing and licensing body to a physician-focused Society with its primary aim to help physicians develop and grow their practices in Arizona. In an effort to aid physicians, the Society created many businesses. The Bureau
of Medical Economics was created as a physician-friendly collections agency. A medical library was created, something very valuable to physicians prior to the internet and the information explosion. Other businesses included a Telephone Answering Service to improve on-call communication for physicians, the Doctor’s Office Placement Service and the Southwestern Preparatory School, designed to train and develop efficient medical staff for physician offices and hospitals. In 1955, the Society began publishing Round-up Magazine that is still circulated today and is a key source of information for physicians in the county.
During the Civil Rights Era, the Society engaged in public health issues creating “Sabin Oral Sundays,� the first mass polio immunization project in the state of Arizona.
To compete with organized healthcare, the Society created the Maricopa Foundation for Medical Care that evolved into the Arizona Foundation for Medical Care, and today, the Arizona Foundation. The Foundation is a competitive Preferred Provider Organ-
ization — a fee-for-service healthcare delivery system of physician members. The Arizona Foundation has a separate board and greater than 14,000 members. Many of you participate in the Foundation. In 1986, the Society moved to a newly constructed building that we purchased on Coronado Street in Central Phoenix. Immediately following the move, the Society created the Greater Arizona Central Credentialing Program to speed up credentialing at hospitals and insurance plans for newly arriving physicians. The Society also began significant participation in philanthropic organizations by providing free physician service at the ACT Kids Health Fair.
We clearly have come a long way. Today, MCMS is considered one of the most effective, well-established county medical societies in the United States. Over the past 30 years, many organizations like the Society have become irrelevant or extinct but MCMS continues to seek ways to help physicians in Arizona. When facing difficult challenges, I try to remind myself that life is about the journey, not just the destination. So, what has been our journey?
Unscript is a unique program developed by Community Bridges, /ĹśÄ?͘ Íž /Íż ƚŽ Ä‚ÄšÄšĆŒÄžĆ?Ć? ĂŜĚ ĆšĆŒÄžÄ‚Ćš ƚŚĞ ŜĂĆ&#x;ŽŜĂů ĞƉĹ?ĚĞžĹ?Ä? ŽĨ Ć‰ĆŒÄžĆ?Ä?ĆŒĹ?ƉĆ&#x;ŽŜ ƉĂĹ?Ĺś žĞĚĹ?Ä?Ä‚Ć&#x;ŽŜ ĂĚĚĹ?Ä?Ć&#x;Ĺ˝ĹśÍ˜ / ĆŒÄžÄ?Ĺ˝Ĺ?ĹśĹ?njĞĆ? ŽƉĹ?Ĺ˝Ĺ?Äš ĂĚĚĹ?Ä?Ć&#x;ŽŜ Ĺ˝ĹŒÄžĹś Ä?ÄžĹ?Ĺ?ĹśĆ? Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ ĹŻÄžĹ?Ĺ?Ć&#x;žĂƚĞ DĞĚĹ?Ä?Ä‚ĹŻ Ć?Ć?Ĺ?Ć?ƚĞĚ dĆŒÄžÄ‚ĆšĹľÄžĹśĆš ÍžD dͿ͕ ƚŚĞŜ Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ĺ?ĆŒÄžĆ?Ć?ÄžĆ? ƚŽ ĹšĹ?Ĺ?ĹšÄžĆŒ ĚŽĆ?ÄžĆ? ŽĨ ƉĂĹ?Ĺś žĞĚĹ?Ä?Ä‚Ć&#x;ŽŜ͕ ůĞĂĚĹ?ĹśĹ? ƚŽ ƾŜĹ?ŜƚĞŜĆ&#x;ŽŜĂů ĂĚĚĹ?Ä?Ć&#x;Ĺ˝ĹśÍ˜ hĹśĆ?Ä?ĆŒĹ?Ɖƚ Ĺ?Ć? Ć‰ĆŒĹ?ĹľÄ‚ĆŒĹ?ůLJ Ä‚ ƉŚLJĆ?Ĺ?Ä?Ĺ?Ä‚Ĺś ÄšĹ?ĆŒÄžÄ?ƚĞĚ žĞĚĹ?Ä?Ä‚ĹŻ Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ĺ?ĆŒÄ‚Ĺľ Ç Ĺ?ƚŚ ĞĚƾÄ?Ä‚Ć&#x;ŽŜĂů ĂŜĚ Ä?ĞŚĂǀĹ?Ĺ˝ĆŒÄ‚ĹŻ Ä?ŽžƉŽŜĞŜƚĆ?͘ ĆŒÍ˜ DĹ?Ä?ŚĞů ^ĆľÄ?ĹšÄžĆŒÍ• hĹśĆ?Ä?ĆŒĹ?Ɖƚ͛Ć? Ć‰ĆŒĹ˝Ĺ?ĆŒÄ‚Ĺľ ÄšĹ?ĆŒÄžÄ?ĆšĹ˝ĆŒÍ• ĂŜĚ /Í›Ć? ĹšĹ?ĞĨ DĞĚĹ?Ä?Ä‚ĹŻ KĸÄ?ÄžĆŒÍ• ŚĂĆ? Ä?ĞĞŜ Ä‚ ĹŻÄžÄ‚ÄšÄžĆŒ Ĺ?Ĺś ƚŚĞ ĎĞůĚĆ? ŽĨ ĚĚĹ?Ä?Ć&#x;ŽŜ ĂŜĚ ĹľÄžĆŒĹ?ĞŜÄ?LJ žĞĚĹ?Ä?Ĺ?ŜĞ Ä¨Ĺ˝ĆŒ ĹľĹ˝ĆŒÄž ƚŚĂŜ ĎŽĎŹ Ç‡ÄžÄ‚ĆŒĆ?͘
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Round-up Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ November 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ 13
president’s page I would like to focus on the significant events of the last three years. In 2013, we hired our current executive director, Jay Conyers, PhD, a “policy wonk,” with particular expertise in telemedicine. Jay came to us from Washington D.C. with enthusiasm and leadership expertise. He is the right man for the right time. Together with Jay, the Board of Directors uprooted its archaic practices and re-established the Board as a functioning leadership group with fiscal and constituency responsibility that has significantly altered the Society’s financial position.We unwound a $4.5 MM retirement plan that had been in place for years, sold land that we owned to cover the retirement shortfall, and financially assessed and re-established the current Society-owned office for the future. These steps were significant and kept the Society solvent and moving forward. As is the case with all organizations, finances drive what can be accomplished. I recently completed a three-year term as Treasurer of my national subspecialty society and have a far greater understanding of the importance of finances for a medical society than I ever thought I would.
I want to give you an idea about what the MCMS has done to improve its financial position so that it can support the many aspirations and goals it has established to provide value to its membership. The current businesses of the Society include the building, the Greater Arizona Central Credentialing Program (GACCP), the Bureau of Medical Economics (BME), and Round-up. In the last year, significant progress has been made to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of each of these businesses, resulting in remarkable financial success, most of which has been the result of Jay’s able leadership.
14 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
This year we made significant improvements to the outside of the Society’s building (see presentation for photos). Improvements include an updated courtyard, which is a great place to hold Society events and provides a place for our building tenants to unwind during breaks or lunch. We reduced the Society’s footprint providing additional space for leasing to other tenants besides those who already occupy the building.
We updated the interior focusing on utilization, but we also honored our history by updating the displays of the famous collection of antiquated medical equipment that remain a focus of our lobby. Our conference room was updated to include a small kitchenette, a new table/chairs, and a state-of-the-art AV system, all of which provide a great backdrop to hold our monthly board meetings. Previously, the Board held monthly meetings at the University Club. Needless to say, the updates have made board meetings much more productive and accessible even when board members cannot attend in person but instead via teleconference and virtual access.
GACCP grew significantly in the past two years. Through Jay’s expertise, GACCP secured a government contract to audit medical licenses for the Arizona Medical Board. This has been a herculean effort by GACCP with many unexpected turns, hurdles and pitfalls, but they have been successful in representing the interest of physicians while completing verification of 3,100 licenses. GACCP also contracted with the Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) for medical record review and has begun to do Joint Commission audits.
BME went through a major restructuring and upgrade to software and hardware in order to remain a leader in physician collections. As a result, they have had their highest collection yield in 10 years.
Round-up has been updated and improved. I hope for our long-standing members that you have noticed the changes to the magazine. We have focused on addressing issues of interest to members, adding physician profiles, student and resident essays and increased public health content. It seemed to me that previously Round-up was a platform for the President’s monthly essay and industry-sponsored articles on topics of medical business, but now is focused more on content produced by our members. Of course, the change did not absolve me of my monthly presidential responsibility of providing an opinion essay – something that I languished over many late nights. I hope those essays have been somewhat interesting or at least entertaining to some of you. Round-up also offers a digital issue as many physicians have moved from print to electronic copy. Now with an understanding of our past, an appreciation of our businesses and how they support and sustain our society, I want to focus on what is it that we do. How does our organization compete in the “Race for Relevance?”
Our mission is “To promote excellence in the quality of care and the health of the community, and to represent and serve its members by acting as a strong, collective physician voice.” As a Board, we focused heavily on this mission all year and have made landmark changes that will likely have massive influence on our future.
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president’s page
Dr. Ryan Stratford, MBA – 2015 President – delivering his Presidential Address: The State of the Society.
BY-LAWS: Last December, our members gave the Board of Directors the right to make changes to the Society’s by-laws. We accepted the responsibility and completely overhauled our by-laws, streamlining them from over 40 pages to less than 10. In the words of Mark Twain, “If the writer doesn’t sweat, the reader will.” The process was arduous and informative. It was rather enlightening for me to see the diversity of opinions and well thought-out arguments reach consensus on everything from board structure, leadership roles, voting rights, membership categories and committee organization. I am happy to share with you the general changes in our by-laws that affect each of you and hopefully help us all understand the re-
16 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
defined focus of our Society.
BOARD STRUCTURE: The roles of each leader were examined in depth, and the leadership categories changed. The role of Vice-President was dissolved and more defined roles of each member of the executive committee were created. Succession was established to ensure institutional knowledge was obtained, utilized, and passed on to subsequent leaders. Leadership of the Society is a three-year commitment moving from President-Elect to President and then to Immediate Past-President. The number of Board of Directors was increased by two. The two new Board members are non-voting, oneyear positions to represent physicians
in training: a medical student and resident or fellow position. The number of full voting Board positions remains at 12, with a three-year commitment. Four Board members rotate off the board every year.
ELECTIONS: The voting process has changed significantly. Historically, officers were chosen by the Board of Censors, a group of past presidents who sought out candidates that they felt would best serve the Society. This approach was effective, but could lead to tunnel vision and sometimes unintended favoritism. The new by-laws require that the leadership be elected by the Board of Directors and chosen from among members of the Board who have shown their commitment to the Society. Every year a new President-
president’s page Elect is chosen to follow a three-year succession and a new Secretary is elected. A new Treasurer is elected every two years. Additionally, the process for voting for Board members has changed. Historically, members received a written ballot in the mail that they had to return through the mail. The ballot typically had one candidate for open positions on the Board. Under the new by-laws, members are able to vote online and vet the candidates to elect those they feel will best represent the membership. Candidates are asked to respond to questions that can help the membership get to know the candidate and learn about their interests in running for the Board. I want to point out that any physician member can run for a board position. I encourage you to consider running for the Board. I can attest to the fact that there is special camaraderie and unique opportunities associated with serving on the board of a medical society that represents ALL physicians in our community.
With the change in membership requirements, the Membership Committee recommended changes in the types of membership classification. Over time, the Society adopted an open-door policy, letting nearly every type of healthcare-related worker join the Society. The categories of membership expanded to include even non-healthcare providers like office managers and medical assistants. After significant research and extensive debate, the Board reached a consensus that the Society should have a very focused purpose to provide a home for all physicians. There are now only four categories of membership: Physician (Active), Retired, Resident or Fellow (Affiliate), and Medical Student (Education). In an effort to reach out to current non-physician members of the Society, we are working closely with other organizations that currently provide homes for non-physician healthcare providers and have opened the door to participation on committees and involvement with
“The past is behind us, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.” – Thomas S. Monson
MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY: Historically, members were vetted to meet certain requirements consistent with the Society’s original goal to be a licensing and credentialing body for physicians. The by-laws still reflected those ideals and required committee review and even back payment of fees if dues lapse from one year to the next. The new by-laws reflect the current purpose of the Society, to be a home to all physicians in our community. Membership is driven by payment of dues, there are no back payment of fees and membership benefits are lost once dues lapse.
the Society but without the benefits of full membership.
Updating the by-laws has not been easy. Nor has it been the result of a single person’s efforts but rather the efforts of a team of dedicated board members and staff. I believe what has been achieved has been significant and warrants recognition. I want to recognize the members of the Board and staff who contributed so greatly to our Society. (Ed. note: A full listing of the Board and MCMS Staff is located on the MCMS website: http://www.mcmsonline.com/about/mcms-board-staff.)
What do can we do now? Perhaps the most exciting change in our Society structure has been the creation of committees designed to engage the membership. Rather than leading from the top down, the Society has moved to lead from the bottom up. A diagram showing all of the committees and governance structure of the Society is available in my slide presentation. I want you to focus on these committees. These are the committees that any member can participate in to get involved. As we discuss these committees, I hope that you will resonate with one and find a good fit for your interests. EDUCATION AND QUALITY: This committee has worked on creating a mentorship program for medical students. There are four medical schools currently in Phoenix and the Society is working with all four to help students develop their careers and interests through mentorship. The committee is also focused on educating members to help them navigate through the difficulties of Obamacare and physician reimbursement. MEMBERSHIP: The Membership Committee has been focused on bringing members together to interact and exchange ideas. They are planning social events focused on different demographics of our membership including young physicians, retired physicians and trainees. They are looking at ways to enhance our annual meeting, although I am impressed with this meeting tonight.
POLICY: The Policy Committee was set up to address hot topics brought forward by the membership to be addressed and sometimes supported by the Society. The committee meets quickly to vet both sides of proposed Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 17
president’s page
Dr. Ryan Stratford, MBA
issues and makes recommendations to the Board on how to proceed. Education has been a big part of this committee’s efforts including pushing education through media channels. This past week our executive director was interviewed on NPR for a membership poll we ran on assisted suicide. Both sides of the issue were discussed on the air because our membership felt strongly about both sides of the issue. Informing our membership is sometimes the best way to actively engage them. (Ed. note: The interview was October 21, 2015. Listen to it here: http://www.mcmsonline.com/about/ne wsroom-press)
PUBLIC HEALTH: The Public Health Committee has been active in supporting public health issues presented by leaders of state and local public health department. In addition, the philanthropy sub-committee has created a home for all our membership to participate in medical service in our community and abroad. PHILANTHROPY: The philanthropy sub-committee held an event focused on the efforts of three of our members: Drs. David Beyda, Randy Christensen and Candace Lew. The
18 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
event was a wonderful success! Many physicians from all demographics of our membership attended and were inspired by the philanthropic work of each panel member. To me, this was the most uplifting and enjoyable medical meeting I have attended in the last 10 years. Kudos to the Philanthropy sub-committee! So, like Abe Lincoln, I believe that preparation and planning is the key to our Society’s future success. Without a plan or a vision, the Society will not move forward successfully. A plan requires a strategy. The four areas of emphasis that shape our strategic goals are: Advocacy, Quality, Public Health and Policy. Committees were formed to focus on these strategic areas of emphasis.
To think strategically and plan for the future, the Board held an all-day strategic planning seminar in September. Creativity and inspirational thinking molded the strategic planning, helping us to focus on what we want to achieve now and in the next five to ten years. Some of the key ideas that emerged included becoming more appealing to employed and non-employed physicians, engaging the community more through public initiatives, becoming more of a media authority through local newspapers, radio and television, providing more volunteer opportunities through committee service, and becoming the gathering place for physicians in the county. There are key issues that the Society will have to address as we move into the upcoming year. Two of the most critical are physician reimbursement and changes in the physician demographic. With the passage of H.R. 2 or MACRA in February of this year, the world of physician reimbursement has been forever changed. The govern-
ment has changed the structure by which physicians are paid. No longer is there emphasis on fee-for-service, but rather global payments and payments based on quality measures. Each of us will have to choose in the next five years whether we want to go down the pathway of Merit Incentive based payments or MIPS or global Alternative Payment Models.
The Society should lead out in helping physicians with this massive transition. In addition, we need to continue to address the needs of employed and non-employed physicians. Historically, the Society has focused on the needs of non-employed physicians and now needs to discover ways to address the needs of employed physicians where those needs do not overlap with non-employed physicians. We invited employed physicians to get involved in the Society’s committees and join the board of directors to guide the policies that will best address needs that may otherwise go unrecognized. We know our history. We know our past. We have worked hard to restructure our by-laws and reset our focus. We have developed mechanisms for achieving our goals and have even planned strategically for the next five to ten years. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “The future depends on what you do today.” I have great confidence that as a physician-focused medical society we will have a big impact on the healthcare available to the good people of Maricopa County in the future. Let’s work together to influence for the better all that lies ahead. Thank you. ru
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2015 Annual Event: “Celebrating Our Roots” On October 23rd, the Maricopa County Medical Society celebrated its roots at EL Chorro. for the second consecutive year, the Society held its Annual Event at the Paradise Valley dining mainstay, with an outdoor cocktail hour, dinner, and several presentations. Sponsored by MICA and Newmark Grubb frank Knight, the event was well attended by Society members and their significant others, and was highlighted by addresses from current president Dr. Ryan Stratford and incoming president Dr. Adam Brodsky. A keynote presentation by Dr. Randal Friese, Tucson trauma surgeon and legislator in the Arizona House of Representatives (LD-9), capped off the night, with Dr. friese sharing with our members his journey from physician to physician-legislator. Photography for the event was provided by Denny Collins. Attendance this year far exceeded last year’s numbers, so much so that we may need a larger venue next year. As the saying goes, we’re gonna need a bigger boat! Where ever we may be next year, we hope to see you there!
events and programs
Many thanks to event sponsor and MCMS Preferred Partner Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona — MICA
Dr. Jeffrey Edelstein and Irena Juras
Before the evening’s festivities.
Drs. Nedra Harrison and Carol Harrison
Many thanks to event sponsor and MCMS Preferred Partner Newmark Grubb Knight frank
Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 21
events and programs
Drs. Richard Averitte and Jay Conyers
The Mohty family – Neils, Dieter, Dr. Atef, Ralph and Dr. May
A good time was had by all!
Drs. Paul Schnur and Lee Ann Kelley
Nora and Dr. Steve Perlumutter, JD
22 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
Dr. Sam and Mary Colachis
events and programs
Dr. Nathan Laufer
Dr. B.K. Bhatheja
Jenny Weaver, Dr. Jay Conyers, Dr. Darren and Cheryl Wethers
Dr. Jonathan Weisbuch
Dr. Adam Brodsky – 2016 President
Special guest and featured speaker, Rep. Randal Friese, MD
Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 23
Strength in Membership: A Sit-Down with Paul B. Jarrett, MD The medical landscape certainly has changed a lot in the last 100 years. And someone who can personally attest to that fact is Dr. Paul B. Jarrett. Born February 23, 1919 in Phoenix, Arizona, Jarrett’s childhood doctor, Dr. L.H. Thayer, delivered him in his home and cared for him throughout adolescence. Certainly different than what most of us experience today. Dr. Jarrett definitely has a unique perspective on healthcare and organized medicine. Especially when you consider he’s practiced in two widely differing specialties. Jarrett practiced surgery from 1946 until 1970, and then completed a residency in pathology, getting his board certification in 1975, and served as the attending pathologist at Good Samaritan Hospital until 1995. He is also the Society’s longest tenured member joining in 1946. With such a distinguished life and career, it is little wonder that Roundup was so excited to sit down with Dr. Jarrett and talk about his experience in healthcare, and his lifelong involvement in organized medicine.
24 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
member profile
The Hands of a Surgeon
Jarrett felt his life pulling toward medicine from a very early age. A prominent role model was Dr. Kent Thayer, son of his childhood physician and former MCMS president, who inspired a mix of awe, love, and fear. “I thought he was the reincarnation of St. Luke,” Jarrett said. “He had a great influence on who I wished to emulate.”
“Additionally, my Mother used to hold my hands and tell me they were ‘Surgeon’s Hands,’” he said. “These things put into my mind that I wished to become a physician, and I never wavered.”
Jarrett attended the University of California at Berkeley, and completed his medical degree at Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia. When the time came to choose a specialty, Jarrett remembered his mother’s words, and began exploring surgery. He was impressed by the fact that surgery established not only a diagnosis, but a prognosis in a short period of time.
He completed his internship at Broad Street Hospital in Philadelphia, and his residency in the University of California Surgical Service of San Francisco General Hospital. After completing his medical education, Jarrett served overseas in World War II in the European theater, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service in 1945. From Surgery to Pathology
After returning from the war, Jarrett came back to his birthplace of Phoenix.
26 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
pointed to the Secretary’s Commission on Medical Malpractice by Elliot Richardson, U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, where he served for three years until the study was published. Dr. Melin DuVal, founding Dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine also had a hand in Jarrett’s appointment to the Commission, Jarrett said.
Jarrett decided he could not continue to practice solo surgery while meeting the time commitments of the Commission.
“I closed my office and began a residency training program at Good Samaritan in Dr. Jarrett and anatomic pathology,” he said. his daughter, “To my surprise I passed the Ann Reynolds, Boards some five years later preparing dinner. and decided to remain in pathology as a member of Phoenix Pathologists, Ltd. to “It was home,” he said. “Beverley, provide pathology services to Good my wife, was here, my friends, ex- Samaritan Medical Center.” tended family were here, and I never Jarrett continued to practice patholfound a spot I liked better.” ogy as the attending pathologist at Jarrett set up his private practice in Good Samaritan until he retired in the spring of 1946, sharing office space 1995. with Drs. Thomas Woodman and Dwight Porter. Woodman and Jarrett The Combined Strength of had met while serving overseas, at the Physicians 99th General Hospital in Reims, Throughout his medical career, JarFrance. Since Jarrett had spent most of rett has always been closely involved in his military income allotment to repay organized medicine, beginning with his medical school expenses, he did not joining the Maricopa Medical Society have much left to work with, and (MCMS) immediately upon beginning Woodman offered him the office space his solo surgery practice in 1946. pro-bono until he could start paying “I wanted to be part of a program rent off his own income. designed to unify us as a profession,” Jarrett practiced surgery in Phoenix he said. MCMS provided, “An opporfrom 1946 until 1970, when he was ap- tunity to combine our strength, meet so-
member profile cially, support an auxiliary, help our community and become involved with continuing medical education.”
While a member of the Society, Jarrett served as Chairman and Founder of the MCMS Safety Committee, and authored several booklets on child safety, medical malpractice, and electrical accidents.
He was awarded Maricopa County Medical Society’s Award for Distinguished Public Service in 1954 and 1959 for work in the field of safety, and the Benjamin Franklin Award for journalism in January 1997.
In addition to his service in the Society, and on the Secretary’s Commission on Medical Malpractice, Jarrett is also a member of the Arizona Medical Association, serving as Vice President, Chairman of the Board, and President of the Association. He also served as Speaker of the House of Delegates for five years.
Jarrett was the Director of Surgical Training and Chief of Staff at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix while practicing surgery, and also served as a member of the Arizona State Health Planning Authority, and on the Board of Directors of the Health Facilities Planning Council.
Jarrett spent a great deal of his time and talents furthering the development of medical technology, serving as a member of the Medical Electronics Division of the Institute of Radio Engineers, Vice President of the Medical Electronics Research Institute, and as Surgical Consultant to the Surgical Products Division of the 3M Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, in the development of Steri-Strip Wound Closures. He also continued his military service as a member of the United States
On the Personal Side… Describe yourself in one word. This is a poser. I suppose that “Dedicated” would be the closest. What is your favorite food, and favorite restaurant in the Valley? Favorite restaurant would be Christo’s on N. 7th St. And favorite food, barbecued ribs of course. What career would you have pursued if you had not become a Physician? I have enjoyed flying to the extent that I would probably have become a career pilot. What is a hidden talent that you have that most wouldn’t know about you? Probably public speaking of which I did a lot when promoting safety programs. Favorite Arizona sports team? I have searched, and I do not have any. Favorite activity outside of Medicine? Watching Beverley when we were on a tour.
Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major, and served as a Visiting Surgeon to the Williams Air Force Base during the Korean Conflict.
Jarrett was awarded the Red Cross “Citation of Honor” in 1959 and 1960 for “Outstanding Services to Humanity” in the field of safety and first aid instruction, as well as several other awards. Throughout his experience, Jarrett has witnessed the rise and fall of organized medicine over the years
“The highlights consisted of the times we all worked together to promote the profession and assist our patients,” he said. “The lowlights consisted of the times we drifted apart due to greater dedication to our specialty rather than the common good.”
The ideal of physicians working together has remained important to Jarrett over the years, and he has continued his involvement in MCMS and other organizations even after retiring from active practice. Many of the Society’s retired members continue to be extremely active in Society doings and in the medical field. We asked Jarrett why he thought so many of his colleagues continue in the Society, and he said, “Did you ever see an old Fire Horse when he hears the bell?” Protecting the physician’s role as one who has the freedom and power to put their patient’s first is of vital importance for Jarrett, and while much in the landscape of healthcare is changing, he doesn’t think that should budge. “We must never forget that we are dedicated to serving the sick and not those paying the bill,” he said. ru
Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 27
Should Arizona Adopt the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact? By Jay Conyers, PhD
T
he Society recently surveyed its members on the topic of the interstate medical licensure compact, more commonly referred to as the Compact. It’s a concept that has been gaining momentum nationwide, while at the same time garnering scrutiny from those who believe it has a hidden agenda (money). Regardless, the Society was interested in learning how our members feel about this concept that will inevitably see its way to our state legislature in the coming years. But first, a disclaimer (or two). We do not have a statistician on staff, nor have we consulted with a professional
28 • Round-up Magazine • November 2015
more skilled to ask such questions. So while we could have coordinated such an effort with a biostatistician, a professional pollster, or an academic researcher, we instead chose to put out a quick and simple survey. You’ll see no mention of confidence intervals, or p-values, or statistical correlations. We only report the data that we receive, based on those physicians who responded to the survey. So, what is the Compact, and whom does it serve?
The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact is a cooperative effort amongst various state medical and osteopathic boards to develop a system for expediting the licensure
hot topic process. This year alone, eleven states enacted the Compact, and physicians licensed in any of those states can now freely practice in other ‘Compact’ states without re-licensing. Fourteen additional states are presently considering the Compact, but Arizona is not (as far as we know). So what does the Compact do for physicians? For one, it enables physicians to continue treating patients as they move across state lines. It will also allow physicians to more efficiently obtain licensure in multiple states, without completing the separate licensing process that is required by each and every state that has adopted the Compact. Each physician designates a ‘home state’ and uses that state’s definition of a physician; thus, the Compact’s definition of a physician does not conflict with each state’s regulatory board.
The primary driving force behind the effort has been to protect the regulatory authority of these boards from federal oversight, and to ensure that states maintain the ability to protect their own citizens.
However, all do not agree as to how the Compact will impact physicians. Some fear that state sovereignty will be compromised if the Compact is adopted, and that regulatory authority will, in fact, eventually reside with the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). Others question the validity of each state maintaining their definition of a ‘physician’ and fear that it stands to further force physicians into Maintenance of Certification (MOC) activities. So what did the Society ask in its survey?
We first wanted to know how many licenses our physicians have held during their career, as we felt it might be of interest to correlate the number of licenses held by those physicians who responded with their support or opposition of the Compact. Second, we asked if physicians supported the idea of the Compact. Third, we asked whether or not they would consider expanding their practice across state lines if Arizona were to adopt the Compact. We also provided a ‘comments’ section for feedback purposes. Of the 109 physicians that completed the survey, roughly 26% have only held a single license, whereas most (65%) have held between two and four licenses over the course of their career. Only 10% have held, or presently hold, more than five medical licenses. Of all physicians who responded, nearly four in five – 79% – support the state of Arizona adopting the Compact, based on what they currently know about it.
Those in support of the Compact pointed to, for example, the need for uniform standards amongst states, the enhanced ability of physicians to more readily respond to emergency/disaster situations, and it making locum tenens work more attractive. Others pointed to the Compact’s ability to eliminate burdensome requirements, such as fingerprinting, that are only required in certain states, as well as it no longer requiring well-established physicians from having to wait for a license while training – often from several decades prior – is being re-verified by a medical board. Additionally, it was noted that it would be especially beneficial for specialties such as public health, where positions are often limited in states such as Arizona, and often by political issues. The Compact would potentially make it easier for Arizona to attract physicians who are board certified in public health.
Those opposed to Arizona adopting the Compact largely pointed to concerns about interactions with MOC and the possibility of marginal physicians, or those undergoing disciplinary proceedings, flooding Compact states to seek out a new start. Some pointed to Arizona having rigorous licensing standards and did not support diluting those standards, if adoption of the Compact would lessen the requirements to practice within our state. Concerns about out-of-state physicians seeing patients here would fracture well-established doctor-patient relationships were also raised, and several felt the Compact would centralize power with regulatory boards. The unique medical environment of Arizona – high illegal immigrant populations and Valley Fever, among others – was also raised as a reason to not adopt the Compact. Lastly, some physicians were concerned that the Compact would greatly increase competition and would lead to a lower compensation structure for physicians. One physician even raised concerns about the Compact respecting homeopathic licensure, since Arizona requires an active allopathic or osteopathic license in order to apply for a homeopathic license in this state. As for whether or not the existence of reciprocity with other states as a result of Arizona adopting the Compact would encourage physicians to expand practices across state lines, nearly 40% of physicians who responded to our survey would consider doing so. Clearly, the physician community will have much input to offer if Arizona were to consider adopting the Compact. It stands to be a hotly debated topic this next year, with more than dozen states already lining up legislation to consider adoption. Will we be next? ru Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 29
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OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE IN RECENTLY RENOVATED, BEAUTIFUL MISSION-STYLE BUILDING Located in Central Phoenix with covered parking and amenities. VERY close to four hospitals, the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix and Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus. Close to many restaurants, stores, and more. Space is perfect for professionals who crave quiet. For more information, contact 602-251-2361 or 602-251-2360
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Call: 602-331-1655 or 800-657-0354 • www.catalinarecruiters.com Round-up Magazine • November 2015 • 31
Are you taking full advantage of your Society benefits? The Maricopa County Medical Society (MCMS) understands the needs of physicians and recognizes that you are all not alike. As such, we have tailored our membership benefits for the different stages in your career, and to the different types of employment arrangements. We encourage you to take advantage of everything the Society has to offer. And if there is a membership benefit you would like to us to consider adding to the roster, please call the Society offices or email us your suggestion.
Call: 602-252-2015 Click: www.mcmsonline.com Connect: mcms@mcmsonline.com
Preferred Partner Program discounts. Patient referral service. Advocacy efforts. Engagement in the medical community. Round-up subscription. Community outreach. MCMS business services. And much more!
Did you know? As a mutual insurance company, MICA uses part of its investment income to offset premium rates.
Medical Professional Liability Insurance (602) 956-5276 (800) 352-0402 www.mica-insurance.com
The policyholder benefits presented here are illustrative and are not intended to create or alter any insurance coverage. They should not be relied on and may differ from actual MICA policy language. Coverage provided by MICA is always subject to the terms and conditions of your policy, and MICA strongly encourages you to read your policy in its entirety.