August 2014 Download PDF Here Nominations needed for SCMA awards SCMA bylaws amended Covered California "Lunch & Learn #2" Oct. 24 Covered California: Know your participation status Top stories from CMA Alert RESOURCES PEOPLE MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS CLASSIFIEDS APPLICANTS ABOUT SCMA Nominations needed for SCMA awards SCMA is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Contribution and Recognition of Achievement awards, to be presented at the Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 2, 2014. Nominations are needed by Sept. 5 for all four awards listed below: * Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Presented to an SCMA member whose work has benefited the community. * Outstanding Contribution to Local Medicine. Presented to an SCMA member who has improved local medical care. * Outstanding Contribution to SCMA. Presented to an SCMA member who has served SCMA beyond the call of duty. * Recognition of Achievement. Presented to a nonphysician who has helped advance local medicine. For a list of past award recipients and a nomination form, click on the link below. Nominations can be submitted to SCMA by fax, email or regular mail. SCMA Awards nomination form. SCMA bylaws amended In July, SCMA membership was asked by the board of directors to vote on a bylaws amendment to adjust board representation to more fairly reflect current membership without adding new board members. The amendment required a majority approval of active members voting. SCMA received 91 votes from active members (those not retired) representing a 15% response rate. Approval of the amendment (92%) far outweighed the opposition (8%). Of those voting in support, 83% practice at The Permanente Medical Group and 17% practice elsewhere (solo, groups, health centers, residency program, etc). In summary, the amendment does not affect the size of the SCMA board of directors (19) or its representation of the North County (1 director), West County (1 director), Santa Rosa (5 directors), and Sonoma Valley (1 director).The change affects the Petaluma/Rohnert Park district with 1 of its 2 directors from TPMG, the 2 residency program directors will now share 1 vote, and TPMG will now have a total of 4 representatives (including the Petaluma/RP rep) representing 50% of membership. For a complete list of the board of directors and membership representation, click here. For details about the board of directors' responsibilities and how to get involved, contact Cynthia Melody at cmelody@scma.org. Covered California "Lunch & Learn #2" Oct. 24 Over 25 medical office personnel attended the July lunchtime presentation in Santa Rosa, and requested a second opportunity to learn more about Covered California 2015 and the impact on physician practices. Join us Friday, Oct. 24, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. for updated 2015 enrollment information and demographics, identifying qualified health plans within the exchange, and practice management tips. To RSVP and reserve your place, download the event flier. For questions or more information, contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. September. Download event fliers for more information and to register: Ukiah, Wed. Sept. 10, and Novato, Wed. Sept. 24. Covered California: Know your participation status CMA has created a guide: Covered California: Know Your Participation Status to assist you and your staff with resources and phone numbers to verify and to answer your questions about your participation status, scheduling your patient appointments, and how to help your patients having trouble finding an in-network provider or facility. Download PDF here. Top stories from CMA Alert Here are the top stories from the latest issues of CMA Alert, the California Medical Association's biweekly email newsletter. For a free subscription, visit www.cmanet.org/cma-alert. A few stories from the July 28 issue: Top story: Blue Shield data breach affects California doctors United Healthcare fined $173 million by California insurance commissioner How to dispute incorrect Sunshine Act data before it goes public Court further limits application of statutory damages under the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act A few stories from the July 14 issue: Top story: CMS proposes to end Sunshine Act CME Hobby Lobby ruling opens the door to allow employers’ personal beliefs to play a role in the treatment options available to their employees CMA files brief with California Supreme Court in MICRA constitutionality case CMA, AMA and others urge CMS to delay new rules authorizing multi-hospital systems to establish system-wide medical staffs RESOURCES August CMA Webinars . . . . . . begin at 12:15 p.m. and run until 1:15 p.m. or later. To register, visit www.cmanet.org. Seminars are free for CMA members and their staff; cost for nonmembers is $99 per person. Questions? Contact CMA Member Help Center: 800-786-4CMA (4262) or memberservice@cmanet.org. Workers' Compensation: August 12: Advanced Part 2: Second Bill Review Plus Managing Third Party Billers August 19: Advanced Part 3: Requests for Authorization, Dispensed Pharmaceutical and DMEPOS Billing for Workers' Comp Coordinated Care Initiative: August 14: Overview August 21: Continuity of Care August 28: Care Coordination Aug. 14 The 2nd annual Asian & Pacific Islander Health Forum, hosted by the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program, will be Thursday, Aug. 14, from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at the Vista Family Health Center. This year's focus will be on immigration and health care. Download informational flier with registration form. Registrations accepted until Aug. 13! Sept. 4 Medical Providers Day. Physicians and their staff are invited to Fleet Feet Sports Santa Rosa's annual open house, 3 to 7 p.m. at 111 Third St., Santa Rosa, to learn about its injury prevention products for your patients. Attendees will receive a free gift and entry into a raffle. Contact Melody Karpinski at 569-1494 or rsvp@fleetfeetsantarosa.com. Institute for Medical Quality Sept. 29-30 CME Essentials Workshop. This workshop is for chairs, coordinators, educators, and managers of CME programs at the California Endowment in Oakland. 9.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits available. For more information, visit IMQ.org; to register, click here. Oct. 30 IMQ 2014 Medical Staff Conference. The Institute for Medical Quality is offering physicians leading a medical staff this one-day conference that provides a foundation of knowledge, techniques, and best practices to help them succeed. 6.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits available. The location is the Embassy Suites SFO Waterfront Hotel in Burlingame, CA (near San Francisco International Airport). For more information, visit IMQ.org; to register, click here. IMQ CME Education & Certification Online. Earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credits anytime. To explore the full selection of available courses, browse the IMQ Online Education catalog. Users of Institute for Medical Quality's CME Certification service can view their transcripts online. Check your CME status, track your progress, and print transcripts anytime. Click on the CME Certification page of the IMQ website. To browse the full IMQ Online Education catalog, visit imq.inreachce.com. Oct. 5-9 A conference on Integrating Mind-Body Medicine into Clinical Practice will be held in San Francisco Oct. 5-9. Sponsored by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, the conference offers a maximum of 31 Category 1 credits. The focus is on medical techniques to address stress, anxiety, trauma, insomnia and chronic illness. To register, visit www.cmbm.org. Oct. 16 The 22nd annual Latino Health Forum on Thursday, Oct. 16, runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Flamingo Conference Resort in Santa Rosa. This year's forum includes: A snapshot of the overall health of the Latino Community; Valuable information on health care service and prevention models; Current Research, and Culturally and linguistically competent health programs. Breakout sessions present: Local innovative health care service and prevention models; and Tools and resources to improve communication, health literacy and patient satisfaction. To register, or to sponsor a student registration, visit www.LatinoHealthForum.org. Oct. 18 Perspectives on Pediatric Orthopaedics. Pediatricians, family practice doctors, physician assistants and nurses will meet in Sacramento for a CME seminar hosted by the orthopaedic faculty at Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California, located at 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento. The all-day event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 CME credits are available. The cost is $90 for physicians, $60 for nurses and physician assistants. Registration fee includes all conference materials, continental breakfast and lunch. Call 916-453-2191 or send email ncal.education@shrinenet.org. Learn about the Work@Health™ Program. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have selected St. Joseph Health to take a lead role in training North Bay employers to promote health and wellness in their workforce. Employers can learn more about the program in workshops beginning Aug. 8 and Aug. 27. This free all-day training will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Sebastopol, and participants must apply to be enrolled. Interested employers may email inquiries or request an application from Teresa Scott at Teresa.Scott@stjoe.org or fax to 707-544-6901. FREE monthly practice resources e-newsletters. Are you receiving CMA Practice Resources? CPR is from the California Medical Association's practice management experts, focusing on critical payor and health care industry changes and how they directly impact the business of a physician practice. Each issue includes tips on reimbursement- and contracting-related issues along with information on the latest practice management news. SUBSCRIBE NOW to the CPR email bulletin. DOWNLOAD printable versions of current and archive issues of CPR. SPREAD THE WORD: Please share CMA Practice Resources with your coworkers and colleagues. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: CMA is interested in your feedback. QUESTIONS? Contact CMA with your questions about articles in CPR. LINK to a few articles in the current issue: Blue Shield data breach affects California doctors Blue Cross begins medical chart reviews for exchange patients CMS offering webcasts on ICD-10 clinical documentation requirements The Coding Corner: Modifier 78 - the "complications" modifier SCMA supports the Northern California Center for Well-Being in Santa Rosa for patient chronic disease self-management. Physicians are encouraged to refer patients to the Center's summer classes in diabetes management, smoking cessation, healthy weight and many more. For more details visit www.norcalwellbeing.org. PEOPLE Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center announced the appointment of Dr. Henry Flores as chief of general surgery. Prior to 2012, Dr. Flores practiced for over 13 years and was involved with Healdsburg District Hospital, Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, serving in various roles of administration and leadership. A graduate of University of Minnesota medical school, he completed general surgery training at the University of Arizona. KP also appointed Dr. Tricia May assistant chief of general surgery. Dr. May started at UCSF-East Bay Surgical Residency at VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System in Reno, NV. As residency site director, she expanded teaching programs for medical students, residents, and family practice residents. She became a quality champion for the surgical department and took the lead for the medical student surgical education. Dr. May completed her undergraduate studies at UC Irvine, medical school at Chicago Medical School, and Surgical residency and Surgical Oncology fellowship at Harbor-UCLA. Reza Sepehrdad, MD, specializing in interventional cardiology, has recently joined Northern California Medical Associates FountainGrove Cardiology. Christian Athanassious, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon with fellowship training from Stanford University, recently joined Santa Rosa Orthopaedics as the co-director of their Total Spine Health Program. MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS The Sonoma Valley Hospital skilled nursing facility received a 2014 Silver Commitment to Quality Award presented by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. CLASSIFIED Seeking volunteers Remember why you went into medicine in the first place? The Jewish Community Free Clinic could use a few more good volunteers. Call Jerry at 707-527-7754 or Deborah at 707-495-4607. SCMA members get free classifieds! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Susan Gumucio at susan@scma.org or 707-525-0102. APPLICANTS Jonathan Peng, MD, Internal Medicine*, Cardiovascular Disease*, Cardiology, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Indiana Univ 2008 Alex Talebdoost, MD, Family Medicine*, Hospitalist, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, St. George's Univ 2003 ABOUT MMS The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. Visit us at www.scma.org. View the current issue of Sonoma Medicine magazine here! © 2014 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 August 12, 2014 SCMA News Briefs SCMA News Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
July 2014 Download PDF Here Covered CA "Lunch and Learn" July 18 Dr. Rob Nied is new president of SCMA Nominations needed for SCMA awards Member representation on board of directors: Cast your vote to amend the bylaws SCMA/SCMAA award $27,500 in medical scholarships Twelve new physicians begin residency training in Santa Rosa Get your 2014 Sonoma County Physician Directory! Top stories from CMA Alert RESOURCES CLASSIFIEDS APPLICANTS ABOUT SCMA Covered CA "Lunch and Learn" July 18 Physicians and Medical Office Managers are invited to a lunchtime presentation Friday, July 18, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. about Covered CA, health care reform and newly-acquired practice management tips to address the influx of new information and questions. Content also includes regional data on enrollees and health plans, changes to the provider networks, grace periods, out-of-network deductibles, large patient cost-sharing for name-brand prescriptions, and other issues. This is a great opportunity for questions and answers for front office staff regarding eligibility, deductibles, etc. For the Santa Rosa location and to RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi: rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375, or download the event flyer for information and registration. Dr. Rob Nied is new president of SCMA Rob Nied, MD, a family medicine physician at Kaiser Santa Rosa, is the new president of SCMA, accepting the "gavel" from the outgoing president, Dr. Stephen Steady, at the annual Wine & Cheese Reception* June 10 at Christopher Creek Winery. The summer issue of Sonoma Medicine features a wide-ranging interview. The other new members of the SCMA executive team are Drs. Mary Maddux-Gonzalez (president-elect), Stephen Steady (past president), Regina Sullivan (treasurer) and Peter Sybert (secretary). Others already on the SCMA board of directors include Drs. Peter Brett, Maryann Dakkak, Brad Drexler, Rick Flinders, Catherine Gutfreund, Leonard Klay, Marshall Kubota, Clinton Lane, Anthony Lim, Rachel Mayorga, Richard Powers, Phyllis Senter, Jan Sonander, and Jeff Sugarman. * View photos from the event at the SCMA photo gallery and in the summer issue of Sonoma Medicine (online week of July 7). Nominations needed for SCMA awards SCMA is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Contribution and Recognition of Achievement awards, to be presented at the Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 2, 2014. Nominations are needed by Sept. 5 for all four awards listed below: * Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Presented to an SCMA member whose work has benefited the community. * Outstanding Contribution to Local Medicine. Presented to an SCMA member who has improved local medical care. * Outstanding Contribution to SCMA. Presented to an SCMA member who has served SCMA beyond the call of duty. * Recognition of Achievement. Presented to a nonphysician who has helped advance local medicine. For a list of past award recipients and a nomination form, click on the link below. Nominations can be submitted to SCMA by fax, email or regular mail. SCMA Awards nomination form Member representation on board of directors: Cast your vote to amend the bylaws The SCMA Board of directors is responsible for the oversight of all SCMA business and activities on behalf of its 606 members. To ensure adequate board representation, a thorough analysis was conducted of physicians practicing in Sonoma County. Currently there are 19 board members, per the bylaws, including: elected officers (president, president-elect, secretary, and treasurer); the health officer; one representative each for health centers and Redwood Community Health Coalition; two CMA delegates; and 14 geographic district directors. The district representation includes: one North County director (ratio: 1 to 15 physicians); five Santa Rosa directors (ratio: 1 to 37 physicians); one Sonoma Valley director (ratio: 1 to 9 physicians); two Petaluma/Rohnert Park directors (ratio: 1 to 15 physicians); one West County director (ratio: 1 to 15 physicians); two Residency Program directors (ratio: 1 to 17 physicians); and two TPMG directors (ratio: 1 to 147 physicians). It was determined that each district director represents from 9 to 147 members and half of SCMA membership practices at Kaiser with the other half practicing elsewhere (solo, groups, health centers, residency program, etc.). The board of directors is proposing a bylaws amendment to adjust board representation to more fairly reflect current membership without adding new board members, which requires a majority approval of active (not retired) members voting. You are entitled to one vote. The amendment affects only the following representation: Petaluma/Rohnert Park District Current directors: 2 (ratio: 1 to 15 physicians) Proposed: 1 district rep (ratio: 1 to 30 physicians) & 1 TPMG-Pet/RP rep (ratio: 1 to 74 physicians). Residency Program Board Current directors: 2 (ratio: 1 to 17 physicians) Proposed: 1 (ratio: 1 to 35 physicians) The Permanente Medical Group Current directors: 2 (ratio: 1 to 147 physicians) Proposed: 4 including 3 from Santa Rosa-TPMG and 1 from Petaluma/RP-TPMG (ratio: 1 to 74 physicians). NAME & SIGNATURE: (required)___________________________________________ Submit your vote by July 30: Fax or Mail. Print and sign your name. Fax to 525-4328 or mail to SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. E-mail scma@scma.org with "Bylaws Amendment" in the subject line. Include your name and vote. SCMA/SCMAA award $27,500 in medical scholarships Ten local students have received a total of $27,500 in scholarships from SCMA and the SCMA Alliance joint Health Careers Scholarship Committee to study medicine at colleges and universities throughout the United States for the 2014-15 academic year. The awards include $1,000 for a high school graduate; $2,000 each to four undergraduates and a graduate student; $3,000 for a radiologic technology student; and $4,500 each for two medical school students and a physician therapy doctorate student. The scholarships were awarded by the SCMA/SCMAA Health Careers Scholarship Committee chaired by Virginia Merwin. Funds for the scholarships are raised through the Holiday Greeting Card project and other Alliance fundraisers, and interest from an endowment fund. The scholarship fund has been in existence since 1971 and has awarded scholarships to more than 770 students, several of whom are now practicing medicine in Sonoma County. Twelve new physicians begin residency training in Santa Rosa A dozen graduates from the nation's top medical schools entered the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency in July. The new residents, scheduled to graduate in 2017, have already established impressive records in academic achievement and community service and include Drs. Alisa Awtry, Nathalie Boittin, Margot Brown, Joel Charles, Phoebe Devitt, Serena Edwards, Sevy Gurule, Laura Kromann, Edna Prieto, Tania Rezai, Daniel Whitesides, and Ellie Wiener. If past history is any indication, many will stay in Sonoma County, where about half the family medicine physicians currently in practice attended the residency. Meet all the residents, faculty, alumni and staff here. Get your 2014 Sonoma County Physician Directory! One of the many benefits of SCMA membership is a free copy of the annual Sonoma County Physician Directory. Extra copies are a hot commodity, however, and right now is the best time to buy yours before they're gone. The directory costs $30 for SCMA members or $40 for nonmember physicians, health care facilities and the general public. To order by phone with a credit card, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. You can also purchase online here, or download the order form to return by fax or mail. Top stories from CMA Alert Here are the top stories from the latest issues of CMA Alert, the California Medical Association's biweekly email newsletter. For a free subscription, visit www.cmanet.org/cma-alert. A few stories from the June 30, 2014 issue: Provider access issues plague Anthem and Blue Shield as DMHC begins investigation State budget includes $7 million for primary care residency slots Sugary drink warning labeling bill stalls in Assembly Health committee A few stories from the June 16, 2014 issue: California Teachers Association joins campaign to defeat MICRA lawsuit measure CMA files brief in case challenging the constitutionality of MICRA CMA concerned about possible widespread contract terminations by Tenet Healthcare Corp. California budget does not restore 10 percent cut to Medi-Cal providers RESOURCES July CMA Webinars begin at 12:15 p.m. and run until 1:15 p.m.or later. To register, visit www.cmanet.org. Seminars are free for CMA members and their staff; cost for nonmembers is $99 per person. Questions? Contact CMA Member Help Center: 800-786-4CMA (4262) or memberservice@cmanet.org. July 16 Recipe for Financial Success: Key Steps to Increasing Your Net Income July 30 What to Expect From a Medi-Cal Audit July 31 HIPAA Breach Notification and California Requirements SCMA supports the Northern California Center for Well-Being in Santa Rosa for patient chronic disease self-management. Physicians are encouraged to refer patients to the Center's summer classes in diabetes management, smoking cessation, healthy weight and many more. For more details visit www.norcalwellbeing.org. Stepping Up to Leadership courses cover a variety of important skills for successfully running a medical staff, particularly issues of communication, problem solving, and improving outcomes for patients and staff. AMA PRA Category 1 Credit available for Successful Leadership: What It Really Takes; The Role of the Physician In Patient Safety: Using CME as an Organizational Improvement Tool; and 2014 Legal Update by Greg Abrams, Esq. covering hot medico-legal topics in California. To browse the full IMQ Online Education catalog, visit imq.inreachce.com. July 25 The annual Health Information Exchange (HIE) conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Rohnert Park on Friday, July 25. Titled "Connecting California to Improve Patient Care in 2014," the conference will focus on practical solutions for securely sharing electronic clinical information between unaffiliated health care facilities, such as outpatient practices, hospitals, laboratories, imaging centers, long-term care, home health and public health. Conference attendees will learn best practices in clinical informatics, patient safety, and clinical data interoperability. Click here to register. Aug. 14 The 2nd annual Asian & Pacific Islander Health Forum, hosted by the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program, will be Thursday, Aug. 14, from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at the Vista Family health Center. This year's focus will be on immigration and health care. Download informational flier. Oct. 5-9 A conference on Integrating Mind-Body Medicine into Clinical Practice will be held in San Francisco Oct. 5-9. Sponsored by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, the conference offers a maximum of 31 Category 1 credits. The focus is on medical techniques to address stress, anxiety, trauma, insomnia and chronic illness. To register, visit www.cmbm.org. Oct. 16 The 22nd annual Latino Health Forum on Thursday, Oct. 16, runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Flamingo Conference Resort in Santa Rosa. This year's forum includes: A snapshot of the overall health of the Latino Community; Valuable information on health care service and prevention models; Current Research, and Culturally and linguistically competent health programs. Breakout sessions present: Local innovative health care service and prevention models; and Tools and resources to improve communication, health literacy and patient satisfaction. To register, or to sponsor a student registration, visit www.LatinoHealthForum.org. CLASSIFIEDS SCMA members get free classifieds! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Susan Gumucio at susan@scma.org or 707-525-0102. APPLICANTS Daniel Ahn, DO, Ophthalmology, 181 Andreiux St. #100, Sonoma 95476, New York Coll 2008 Deidre Bass, DO, Pediatrics, 3925 Old Redwood Hwy., Santa Rosa 95403, Nova Southeastern Univ 2010 Ricardo Budjak, MD, Psychiatry, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Temple Univ 2009 Christopher Clark, MD, Psychiatry*, 3554 Round Barn Blvd., Santa Rosa 95403, Yale Med Sch 1977 Jeannette Currie, MD, Family Medicine, 1275 4th St. #151, Santa Rosa 95404, Albert Ludwigs Univ 1998 Armando de Pala Jr., MD, Pediatrics*, 1500A Professional Dr. #200, Petaluma 94954,î Univ Philippines 1983 Michelle DeSanto, DO, Family Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Western Univ 2010 Wendy Dryden, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, Virginia Univ 2013 Valerie Ebel, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, Rush Univ 2013 Kareen Espino, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, UC Irvine 2013 Omar Ferrari, DO, Emergency Medicine, 1165 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa 95405, Touro Univ 2013 Ann Figurski, DO, Family Medicine 717 Center St., Healdsburg 95448, Arizona Coll Osteo Med 2007 Olivia Gamboa, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, Univ North Carolina 2013 Stephen Gamboa, MD, Family Medicine*, Emergency Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Univ North Carolina 2004 Maria Garcia, MD, Family Medicine*, Women’s Health, 401 Bicentennial Way #215, Santa Rosa 95403, UC San Francisco 1994 Karen Kai Gelphman, MD, Family Medicine*, Women’s Health, 3883 Airway Dr #202, Santa Rosa 95403, Univ Washington 1992 Michael Gerstein, MD, Emergency Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, St. George’s Univ 2009 Vishal Goyal, MD, Cardiovascular Disease, 3536 Mendocino Ave. #300, Santa Rosa 95403, St. Louis Univ 2007 Susan Gross, MD, Family Medicine*, 3900 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma 94954, Univ Alabama 1998 Mette Hansen, MD, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 3975 Old Redwood Hwy., Santa Rosa 95403, UC Los Angeles 1997 Karen Holbrook, MD, Infectious Disease*, Internal Medicine*, 625 5th St., Santa Rosa 95403, Chicago Med Sch 1989 Jasper Hollingsworth, MD, Psychiatry*, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry*, 3554 Round Barn Blvd., Santa Rosa 95403, Univ Alabama 1995 Michael Hubbard, MD, Internal Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Kirksville Coll Osteo Med 2009 Gabriel Klapman, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, UC Los Angeles 2013 Robin Knuttel, MD, Dermatology*, Hair/Nail Diseases, 181 Andrieux St. #103, Sonoma 95476, Tufts Univ 1986 Jeffrey Kuhn, MD, Anesthesia*, 837 Fifth St., Santa Rosa 95405, Univ Chicago 1985 Yelena Lapan, DO, Family Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Touro Univ 2010 Michael Lazar, MD, Urology*, Prostate Cancer, 1140 Sonoma Ave. #1A, Santa Rosa 95405, Univ Arkansas 1978 Kim Hoang Le, MD, Internal Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Univ Washington 2010 Elizabeth Losada, MD, Pediatrics, 3925 Old Redwood Hwy., Santa Rosa 95403, UC Davis 2008 Robert Martinez, MD, Family Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Univ Cincinnati 2007 William McClure, MD, Plastic Surgery, 596 First St. East, Sonoma 95476, UC San Diego 1978 Susan Milam Miller, MD, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry*, 725 Farmers Ln. #16, Santa Rosa 95405, Albert Einstein Coll Med 2001 Merle Miller, MD, Emergency Medicine*, Hospice & Palliative Medicine*, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #G04, Santa Rosa 95405, Univ North Carolina 1989 Julie Philp, MD, Dermatology*, Pediatrics*, 990 Sonoma Ave. #2, Santa Rosa 95404, Stanford Univ 2005 Toni Marie Ramirez, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, Virginia Univ 2013 Jill Rushton-Miller, MD, Family Medicine, 4700 Hoen Ave., Santa Rosa 95405, Marshall Univ 2008 Noel Santo-Domingo, MD, Cardiovascular Disease*, 3536 Mendocino Ave. #300, Santa Rosa 95403, UC Davis 1991 Jamie Schick, MD, Emergency Medicine*, 501 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Pennsylvania State Univ 1992 Henry Schwartz, MD, Internal Medicine*, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism*, 3559 Roundbarn Blvd., Santa Rosa 95403, UC Davis 1996 Erika Simpson, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Meharry Med Coll 2009 Leo Smith, MD, Family Medicine*, 500 Doyle Park Dr. #GO4, Santa Rosa 95405, Oregon Health Sciences Univ 2006 Elise Sullivan, MD, Family Medicine, 6800 Palm Ave. #C2, Sebastopol 95472, Univ Colorado 2007 Alexandra Takayesu, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, Univ Hawaii 2013 Morgan Theis, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, Stanford Univ 2013 Bentley Thomason, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, UC Irvine 2013 Ashmi Ullal, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, UC Davis 2013 Shannon Vargas, MD, Anesthesiology, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Ross Univ 2007 Lisa Ward, MD, Family Medicine*, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Public Health & General Preventive Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, UC San Francisco 2001 Tracy White, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, UC San Francisco 2013 Emily Wilkinson, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, Univ Arizona 2013 James Wong, MD, Surgery*, Vascular Surgery*, 401 Bicentennial Way #270, MOB East, Santa Rosa 95403, Robert Wood Johnson Med Sch 1991 * = board certified italics = special medical interest ABOUT SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. Visit us at www.scma.org. © 2014 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 July 9, 2014 newsletter, SCMA News Briefs SCMA News Briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
June 2014 Download PDF Here RSVP now for June 10 Wine & Cheese Reception Dr. Mary Maddux-Gonzalez confirmed as SCMA president-elect Get your 2014 Sonoma County Physician Directory! Covered California Learning Opportunity for Office Teams Top stories from CMA Alert MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS RESOURCES CLASSIFIEDS APPLICANTS ABOUT SCMA RSVP now for June 10: the annual SCMA . . . Despite repeated attempts to stop it, time continues to fly, and with it your chance to RSVP for the June 10 SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception. This popular event, to be held at the Christopher Creek Winery in Healdsburg, is absolutely free for SCMA members and their spouse or guest. Cost for nonmembers is $55 per person. To RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and is a great place to gather with your colleagues in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. Please join us for informal conversation with Dominic Foppoli, owner, and sample fine wines with winemaker Mike Brunson. For more information, download the 2014 Wine & Cheese Reception Event Flier. Dr. Mary Maddux-Gonzalez confirmed as SCMA president-elect The results of the recent SCMA election have been tabulated, and Dr. Mary Maddux- Gonzalez, a family medicine physician and Redwood Community Health Coalition chief medical officer, has been confirmed SCMA president-elect by a vote of SCMA members. She will serve in that post from July, 2014 through June, 2015. The current president-elect, Dr. Rob Nied, a Santa Rosa family physician, will become president on July 1, succeeding Dr. Stephen Steady. The election, which concluded May 31, also confirmed Drs. Regina Sullivan (treasurer), Peter Sybert (secretary), Jan Sonander, Clinton Lane, and Rob Nied for the SCMA board of directors. For a complete list of the board of directors, visit the Leadership page on our new website. In addition, four physicians were elected to the CMA delegation including Drs. Brad Drexler, Jan Sonander, Anthony Lim, and Rob Nied. For more information, contact Cynthia Melody at cmelody@scma.org or 707-525-4375. Get your 2014 Sonoma County Physician Directory! One of the many benefits of SCMA membership is a free copy of the annual Sonoma County Physician Directory. Extra copies are a hot commodity, however, and right now is the best time to buy yours before they're gone. The directory costs $30 for SCMA members or $40 for nonmember physicians, health care facilities and the general public. To order by phone with a credit card, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. You can also purchase online here, or download the order form to return by fax or mail. Covered CA "Lunch & Learn" July 15 Physicians and Medical Office Managers are invited to a lunchtime presentation (from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.) about Covered CA, healthcare reform and newly-acquired practice management tips to address the influx of new information and questions. Content also includes regional data on enrollees and health plans, changes to the provider networks, grace periods, out-of-network deductibles, large patient cost-sharing for name-brand prescriptions, and other issues. This is a great opportunity for questions and answers for front office staff regarding eligibility, deductibles, etc. For the location and to RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi: rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. Top stories from CMA Alert Here are the top stories from the latest CMA Alert, the California Medical Association's biweekly e-mail newsletter. For a free subscription, visit www.cmanet.org/cma-alert. Top story: MICRA initiative qualifies for ballot, privacy concerns heighten Reminder: Physicians who wish to opt out of Blue Cross exchange network must do so by end of June Brown releases budget that ups Medi-Cal spending but does not restore reimbursement cuts MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS Healdsburg District Hospital, having undergone a thorough and rigorous on-site review by surveyors with stroke care expertise, has earned national accreditation as a Primary Stroke Center. Stroke certification recognizes HDH's ongoing commitment and success with its high standard of stroke care. Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital officially opened its 19-bed adolescent unit in May, adding to its adult and senior units. Featuring a total of 95 beds, the facility is located at 1287 Fulton Rd, Santa Rosa. Petaluma Health Center launched a fundraising campaign to expand services in Rohnert Park. The new primary care center will be located on the second floor of 5900 State Farm Drive and will also offer dental and mental health services. RESOURCES Psychiatry Across the Life Span for Primary Care on June 7 in Eureka at the Red Lion Hotel from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. is designed to manage psychiatric disorders, to identify the illness, and to be able to manage the patient appropriately in the primary care setting. 5 CME credits available. To register, download the registration form. JUNE CMA WEBINARS begin at 12:15 p.m. and run until 1:15 p.m.or later. To register, visit www.cmanet.org. Seminars are free for CMA members and their staff; cost for nonmembers is $99 per person. Questions? Contact CMA Member Help Center: 800-786-4CMA (4262) or memberservice@cmanet.org. June 12: CMS Physician Payment Reform Update This webinar covers the overall CMS Value-Based Purchasing Strategy with an emphasis on the current status and future changes to the Physician Quality Reporting System, the Value Modifier, and the EHR incentive programs. More info. June 18: The Power of the Pen: The Physician's Responsibility in Prescribing and Referring for Medi-Cal Patients Presented by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), this webinar will help you understand the importance of documentation, understand the physician's role in prescribing/ordering/referring, and increase awareness of fraud and abuse in prescribing and referring. Free for CMA members and nonmembers. More info. The annual Health Information Exchange (HIE) conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Rohnert Park on Friday, July 25. Titled "Connecting California to Improve Patient Care in 2014," the conference will focus on practical solutions for securely sharing electronic clinical information between unaffiliated healthcare facilities, such as outpatient practices, hospitals, laboratories, imaging centers, long-term care, home health and public health. Conference attendees will learn best practices in clinical informatics, patient safety, and clinical data interoperability. Click here to register. A conference on Integrating Mind-Body Medicine into Clinical Practice will be held in San Francisco Oct. 5-9. Sponsored by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, the conference offers a maximum of 31 Category 1 credits. The focus is on medical techniques to address stress, anxiety, trauma, insomnia and chronic illness. To register, visit www.cmbm.org. Stepping Up to Leadership Courses Available Online. Courses cover a variety of important skills for successfully running a medical staff, particularly issues of communication, problem solving, and improving outcomes for patients and staff. AMA PRA Category 1 Credit available for Successful Leadership: What It Really Takes; The Role of the Physician In Patient Safety: Using CME as an Organizational Improvement Tool; and 2014 Legal Update by Greg Abrams, Esq. covering hot medico-legal topics in California. To browse the full IMQ Online Education catalog, visit imq.inreachce.com. CLASSIFIEDS SCMA members get free classifieds! SCMA members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Sonoma Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Susan Gumucio at susan@scma.org or 707-525-0102. APPLICANTS Shannon Vargas, MD, Anesthesiology, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, Ross Univ 2007 ABOUT SCMA The Sonoma County Medical Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. Founded in 1858, SCMA is affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. Visit us at www.scma.org. © 2014 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 June 9, 2014 SCMA News Briefs scma news briefs 0 0 Comment Read More »
May 2014 Dr. Mary Maddux-Gonzalez Nominated as SCMA President-Elect/a> Garden Tour May 16 & 17 Features Charming Healdsburg Gardens 2014 Sonoma Physician Directory Available Covered California Learning Opportunity for Office Teams SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception June 10 at Christopher Creek Winery Spring Sonoma Medicine Is Online! June 18 Dinner Features Philippine Relief Presentation & MICRA Update Center for Well Being Soliciting Nominations for Leaders in Health Coalition To Defeat MICRA Lawsuit Initiative Grows Top Stories From CMA Alert & CMA Practice Resources PEOPLE RESOURCES & EVENTS APPLICANTS CLASSIFIEDS ABOUT SCMA Dr. Mary Maddux-Gonzalez Nominated as SCMA President-Elect Dr. Mary Maddux-Gonzalez, a family physician and Chief Medical Officer for Redwood Community Health Coalition, has been nominated as 2014-15 SCMA President-Elect following Dr. Rob Nied, family medicine, president. Dr. Maddux-Gonzales heads the list of nominees on this year's SCMA election ballot, which will be mailed to all members in mid-May and is due back by May 31. Other physicians nominated to the SCMA board of directors include Drs. Regina Sullivan (treasurer), Peter Sybert (secretary), Clinton Lane (Sonoma Valley County district), Jeff Sugarman (Santa Rosa district), and Rob Nied (TPMG). For a complete list of the board of directors, visit SCMA/BoardofDirectors.aspx. In addition, four physicians-Drs. Brad Drexler, Jan Sonander, Rob Nied, and Anthony Lim-have been nominated to the CMA delegation. For more information, contact Cynthia Melody at cmelody@scma.org or 707-525-4375. Garden Tour May 16 & 17 Features Charming Healdsburg Gardens 2014 Sonoma Physician Directory Available One of the many benefits of SCMA membership is a free copy of the annual Sonoma County Physician Directory. Extra copies are a hot commodity, and right now is the best time to buy yours before they're gone. The directory costs $30 for SCMA members or $40 for nonmember physicians, health care facilities and the general public. To order by phone with a credit card, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org, or click here to download the order form from our website. Covered California Learning Opportunity for Office Teams Physicians and Medical Office Managers: Would you or members of your office staff like to attend a FREE Lunch and Learn workshop regarding Covered California? The CMA Foundation, through a grant from Covered California, is providing physicians and health care teams a variety of opportunities to learn more about Covered California, the new health care law and the impact on physician practices. If you or your staff members would be able to attend a weekday luncheon with a CMA Physician Educator in June or July, please contact Rachel Pandolfi Rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375 by May 23. If enough interest exists, [SCMA] will work with the CMA Foundation to schedule a North Bay event (date and location TBD). SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception June 10 at Christopher Creek Winery Mark your calendar for the annual SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception, to be held at Christopher Creek Winery in Healdsburg on Tuesday evening, June 10. This popular event - which features collegial conversation and a sampling of fine wines and cheeses - is absolutely free for SCMA members and their spouse or guest. Cost for nonmembers is $55 per person. The event is from 5 to 8 p.m. To RSVP, contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. For more information about the winery, visit christophercreek.com 2014 SCMA Wine & Cheese Reception flier Spring Sonoma Medicine Is Online! The spring 2014 issue of Sonoma Medicine is in the mail and has also been posted at http://www.nbcms.org/AboutUs/SonomaCountyMedicalAssociation.aspx. Click below the cover to view the PDF version (text with images) or go to the Sonoma Medicine page at http://www.nbcms.org/AboutUs/SonomaCountyMedicalAssociation/Magazine.aspx to view the text-only version and the magazine's archives. June 18 Dinner Features Philippine Relief Presentation & MICRA Campaign Update: The Attack on our Medical Profession The Attack on our Medical Profession All local physicians and their spouse or guest are invited to the Marin Medical Society's Membership Dinner on June 18. The dinner, to be held at Jason's Restaurant in Greenbrae, features two presentations. The first is a report by Dr. Peter Bretan on the recent relief mission to the Philippines. The second is an update on the campaign to preserve MICRA, California's landmark Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act. The dinner is free for MMS members. Additional tickets are $45 per person. Dinner choices include baked salmon, ribeye steak, chicken with rice, or mushroom gnocchi. To RSVP and identify your dinner choice, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 415-924-3891 or rachel@scma.org. For more details, see the attached flier. MMS Membership Dinner flier Center for Well Being Soliciting Nominations for Leaders in Health The Center for Well-Being recognizes leaders in Sonoma County who have promoted healthy lifestyle and helped to create an environment that fosters healthy choices. Nominations are being solicited through May 16 in five categories including physician leader, community leader, healthcare professional (non-physician), business leader, and youth leader. Click on the attached nomination form for more details. Coalition To Defeat MICRA Lawsuit Initiative Grows Last week, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, representing 700,000 working people in all 58 California counties, announced its strong opposition to the trial lawyer-backed anti-MICRA ballot measure. In a statement announcing their opposition, California SEIU State Council President Laphonza Butler noted that the initiative would "reduce access to health care and damage California's health care safety net, especially for the working poor and underserved communities" at a time when the state is still working to implement the largest expansion of care seen in generations. Recently, the coalition to defeat the anti-MICRA measure also added as members the California Chamber of Commerce and the American Civil Liberties Union of California. These recent announcements add to a diverse and growing coalition of trusted doctors, community health clinics, hospitals, family-planning organizations, local leaders, public safety officials, businesses and working men and women urging Californians to oppose the proposed MICRA ballot measure. To see a complete list of the organizations opposing the MICRA lawsuit initiative, or to know more about the hidden costs, consequences and flaws present in the initiative, visit the "Stop Higher Health Care Costs/Protect Access to Care" website at www.StopHigherHealthCareCosts.com. Top Stories From CMA Alert & CMA Practice Resources Anthem mistakenly lists almost 1,000 physicians as participating in individual/exchange network CMA supports medical board efforts to address prescription opioid misuse What physicians need to know about the Anthem exchange addendum For a free CMA Alert subscription, visit www.cmanet.org/cma-alert. For a free CMA Practice Resources subscription, visit www.cmanet.org/news-and-events/publications/ PEOPLE Former SCMA President Jan Sonander, MD, a Santa Rosa family physician in private practice, was profiled in the April 20 issue of the Press Democrat. The article focused on fewer physicians interested in running a solo medical office. To view the entire article and video, click here. Catherine Gutfreund, MD, a family medicine physician at Santa Rosa Kaiser, has been elected president of the CMA Very Large Group Forum, which represents the special concerns of physicians who practice in professional medical corporations or partnerships with over 1,000 shareholders, partners, or and/or physician employees. CMA has more than 32,000 members in all modes of practice. CMA's "mode of practice forums" provide representation for physicians based on the type of practice they are in: academic practice; administrative medicine; government employed; hospital-based practice; solo/small group practice (1-4 physicians); medium-size group practice (5-149); large group practice (150-999); and very large group practice. On Make A Difference Day last fall Gary Barth, MD, with a group of ophthalmologists and their staffs, saved the eyesight of 24 agricultural workers and day laborers and did another six cataract surgeries. During National Volunteer Week, Operation Access was recognized in Washington, DC, along with Santa Rosa-based Eye Care Associates and 4th Street Laser & Surgery Center, represented by Dr. Gary Barth. To view the USA Weekend article, click here. RESOURCES & EVENTS Are You Overpaying for Workers' Comp Insurance? SCMA-CMA members can call a Mercer Client Advisor at 800-842-3761 for a free, no-obligation quote. Annadel Medical Group is continuing the pediatric practice of recently retired Damian Marsden, MD, expanding pediatric care with offices in Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and now Healdsburg. Healdsburg Pediatrics can be reached at 433-8223. The following CMA webinars are scheduled for May. The one-hour webinars are usually 12:15 -1:15 p.m., offer 1 CME credit, and are free for CMA members and their staff; cost for nonmembers is $99 per person To register, visit www.cmanet.org. May 6 - Workers' Compensation Basics Part 1: Don't Be Afraid of Workers' Compensation May 13 - Workers' Compensation Basics Part 2: Being Prepared Means Being Paid for Workers' Compensation Treatment May 14 - Merging Practices-Strategies to Remain Independent May 20 - Workers' Compensation Basics Part 3: Billing Strategies-Getting Paid for Treating Injured Workers May 21- Workplace Rights for Patients and Caregivers: Leaves of Absence and Accommodations APPLICANTS Robin Knuttel, MD, Dermatology,* Hair/Nail Diseases 181 Andrieux St. #103, Sonoma 95476, Tufts Univ 1986 Karen Holbrook, MD, Infectious Disease,* Internal Medicine* 625 5th St., Santa Rosa 95403, Chicago Med Sch 1989 * Board Certified CLASSIFIEDS Medical office to share S.F. Financial District medical office space to share/sublet. 1,200 sq. ft. with 2 exam rooms. Full-time or 2-3 days per week. E-mail: lewsuzy@comcast.net MMS members get free classifieds! MMS members can place free classified ads in News Briefs or Marin Medicine. Cost for nonmember physicians and the general public is $1 per word. To place a classified ad, contact Susan Gumucio at susan@scma.org or 707-525-0102. ABOUT SCMA The Marin Medical Society, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association, supports local physicians and their efforts to enhance the health of the community. We are affiliated with the California Medical Association and the American Medical Association. © 2014 MMS, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 May 8, 2014 SCMA News Briefs News Briefs May 2014 0 0 Comment Read More »
