If you would prefer to view this online, go to:

http://www.dcmsonline.org/news/2-12-09.htm

 

DCMS News You Need to Know
From the desk of Jay W. Millson, Executive Vice President

jmillson@dcmsonline.org

February 12, 2009

 

In this Issue:

 

Ø      Center for Global Health & Medical Diplomacy presents Quality Safety Forum on April 28 at UNF

Ø      2009 Florida Legislative Session begins March 3!

Ø      Focus on Neurological Issues: A Town Hall Meeting

Ø      Military Medicine Shortage

Ø      Free ePrescribing CME Available

Ø      Clarification on Emergency Services/Care Cap

Ø      Meetings Calendar / Educational Opportunities

 

Center for Global Health & Medical Diplomacy presents Quality Safety Forum on April 28 at UNF

On Tuesday, April 28, the UNF Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy will present a Quality & Safety Forum which will include James Rohack, MD, AMA President-Elect as a featured guest speaker. His topic will be the Lessons Learned from the Quality Journey.  Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will also be featured with her topic being Creating a Culture of Quality and Safety: Community-wide Improvements.  Local physicians and hospital administrators will also be participating in the forum panel discussions. Click here for a PDF with more details and RSVP information.

 

2009 Florida Legislative Session begins March 3!

The 2009 Florida Legislative Session is right around the corner.  Take a few minutes to educate yourself about the pertinent issues and be prepared to contact your legislator when assistance is needed.  Click here for a summary of the FMA’s 2009 legislative agenda.  Additional legislative position papers and legislative contact information will be available online soon.

 

Focus on Neurological Issues: A Town Hall Meeting

The Florida NeuroAlliance and the Florida Society of Neurology will be hosting a town hall meeting on Saturday, February 28 from 10 AM – 3:00 PM.  The meeting is an attempt to start an open dialogue among patients/carepartners, nonprofits, physicians and legislators/government officials.  Moderator for the meeting will be Daniel Kantor, MD, President-Elect of the Florida Society of Neurology and DCMS Board Member.  Immediate Past-President, Glenn Knox, MD, JD will participate in one of the panel discussions.  Click here for more details and RSVP information.

 

Military Medicine Shortage

The Navy has determined that certain critical wartime skills in some medical and dental specialties are in shortage. They are offering significant accessioning bonuses to qualified applicants that will commit for four year periods (see PDF for details).  A reasonable way to quickly interpret these bonuses would be to divide them by four, as most applicants receive the bonus annually over a four year period due to tax implications.  Applicants are eligible for all other medical pay bonuses in addition to base pay.  Active duty members also receive two untaxed housing and subsistence allowances (vary), family medical and dental coverage, and life insurance.

 

For more information or assistance, contact LCDR Chad Rowe (contact information in the PDF) or CAPT Terry McGee, Chair, ECOMS, Naval Hospital Jacksonville (904-542-7680, ext 240, terence.mcgee@med.navy.mil).

 

Free ePrescribing CME Available

The Massachusetts Medical Society is offering fee CME credits for ePrescribing.  To access this information online, go to:  http://www.massmed.org/Content/NavigationMenu2/NationalEprescribingConferenceOnline/default.htm.  This information is incredibly valuable considering the financial incentives now available for Medicare ePrescribing and health information technology adoption being at the forefront of the President Obama's national healthcare policy agenda.

 

Clarification on Emergency Services/Care Cap

The 2003 success for securing a cap on non-economic damages for provision of emergency services and care was significant.  The Florida College of Emergency Physicians has learned that some hospitals and physicians are unaware of the extension of the $150,000 cap which provides coverage to all physicians who come to the emergency department to care for patients.  This is not just a cap for emergency physicians. The FCEP has provided a brief overview of the cap which you can read here

 

Meetings Calendar / Educational Opportunities (www.dcmsonline.org) 

o     March 20-21, 2009 – Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Infancy: Implications for Breast and Bottle – A 2 day conference sponsored by the Northeast Florida Lactation Coalition, Jacksonville Marriott.  Click here for details and registration information

o     Monday, April 27, 2009 – General Membership Meeting with AMA President-Elect James Rohack, MD – Save the date and watch for more details!

o     Tuesday, April 28, 2009 – Quality Safety Forum with Keynoters James Rohack, MD, and Carolyn Clancy, MD.  Sponsored by the Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy at UNF.  Save the date and click here for more details!


The DCMS News You Need to Know is a newsletter that will be sent to DCMS members weekly or on an as needed basis.  Breaking news events, meetings and other important information will be communicated via this medium.  If you have any material you would like posted to this newsletter or DCMS Online, please e-mail the DCMS at
dcms@dcmsonline.org.

 

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The mission of the DCMS is to promote the delivery of and access to high quality, ethical medical care for the community, and to serve as an advocate for physician members and their patients.