October 2011 Drs. Bernstein, Gonzalez-Mendez and Pappas to receive SCMA awardsPractice management workshop in Santa Rosa on Nov. 2DocBookMD: Free smartphone app for SCMA membersDirectory verification forms are now dueWelcome new members at SCMA and Alliance OktoberfestStill time to register for Latino Health ForumPhysicians invited to Smartphone SalonHealthy employers can get iWORKwell certificationPEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMADrs. Bernstein, Gonzalez-Mendez and Pappas to receive SCMA awards Three prominent local physicians will receive Outstanding Contribution awards at the annual SCMA Awards Dinner in December. The awards will be presented to: • Dr. Allan Bernstein, a Sebastopol neurologist, for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. • Dr. Enrique Gonzalez-Mendez, a Santa Rosa family physician, for Outstanding Contribution to Sonoma County Medicine. • Dr. Kirk Pappas, a Santa Rosa physiatrist, for Outstanding Contribution to SCMA. In addition, Operation Access, which provides free outpatient surgeries to the uninsured, will receive a Recognition of Achievement award. The Article of the Year award will also be presented, but the winner has yet to be determined. All local physicians are invited to the Awards Dinner, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1. The event will be held at the Vintner’s Inn, 4350 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa. Tickets are free for SCMA members; spouses, guests and nonmembers are $50 each. The evening begins with a social hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards presentation. Dinner choices include “duet” (salmon and short ribs) or vegetable cannelloni. To RSVP, or to purchase tickets, contact Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org. Mail orders can be sent to SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Please indicate dinner choice. For more details, click on the link below. SCMA Awards Dinner flyer Practice management workshop in Santa Rosa on Nov. 2 SCMA and the California Medical Association are cosponsoring “What Every Physician Needs To Know About Their Practice,” a two-hour workshop for physicians, administrators and office managers. The workshop--which runs from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa--will be conducted by Frank Navarro, associate director of the CMA Center for Economic Services. Topics include finding and keeping qualified staff, controlling costs, and understanding your revenue stream. Cost is just $45 for SCMA members; nonmembers pay $95. To register, print the form attached below and fax to SCMA at 707-525-4328. You can also register by phone with a credit card by calling Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375. Registration deadline is Oct. 28. Practice Management Workshop registration form DocBookMD: Free smartphone app for SCMA members DocBookMD--a smartphone application that offers on-demand messaging, multi-media collaboration and fast look-up of your colleagues--is absolutely free for SCMA members. The application, designed by physicians for physicians, will help you save time and prevent delays at point of care. DocBookMD is a secure, HIPAA-compliant app for your iPhone, iPad or Android device. For details on downloading your free copy, visit docbookmd.com/med_socs/sonoma. One of the key features of DocBookMD is the ability to send and receive high-resolution images, including X-rays, EKGs, or photos. All messaging is secure and fully HIPAA compliant. Not a member? The SCMA website at www.scma.org has details on DocBookMD and other member benefits, as well as an online application form. Directory verification forms are now due Verification forms, which doctors can use to update or approve their 2012 Sonoma County Physician Directory listing, were mailed to all local physicians this summer and are now due back at SCMA. If you haven’t returned your form yet, please do so ASAP. If you need a copy of the form, contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. The 2012 directory, a standard reference guide used at medical offices throughout the county, will feature photographs and detailed listings for all SCMA members, including their specialty(s), special medical interest and medical training. Limited information for nonmember physicians will be included as well. If you’re a nonmember and want a more detailed listing, you can apply online for SCMA membership at www.scma.org/join.asp. Welcome new members at SCMA and Alliance Oktoberfest An Oktoberfest welcome party for new SCMA members will be held at the Wild Oak Saddle Club in Santa Rosa on Saturday evening, Oct. 22. The event, sponsored by the SCMA Alliance, features authentic German beer, food, music and dancing. Cost is just $55 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www.scmaa.org or contact Christine Beakes at chrisbeakes@msn.com or 707-799-0125.Still time to register for Latino Health Forum A few spots are still available for the annual Latino Health Forum, to be held at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa on Oct. 13. This year’s forum, titled “Raising Healthy Children,” features keynote speeches by the president of the California Primary Care Association and the director of the childhood weight assessment program at UCSF. Workshop topics include childhood mental health, cultural sensitivity, diabetes and oral health. The registration fee is $100. To register, visit www.latinohealthforum.org.Physicians invited to Smartphone Salon Local physicians of any specialty interested in learning more about how to best use smartphones (iPhones, iPads, Androids) in clinical practice are invited to a Medical Smartphone Salon in Santa Rosa on Thursday evening, Oct. 27. The salon is an informal gathering in a physician’s home from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with light appetizers and wine served. Participants generally cluster into small groups around topics of interest, with demonstration of new apps and tips by Dr. Rachel Friedman and Dr. Danielle Oryn (medical director of HIT at Redwood Community Health Network). Just got your new device and need some help getting started? A “beginner’s corner” for doctors new to smartphones will also be available. To RSVP and receive the location, contact Dr. Friedman at rscfriedman@gmail.com.Healthy employers can get iWORKwell certification Medical offices of all sizes are encouraged to apply for iWORKwell certification, which recognizes employers who develop and implement employee wellness programs. Many larger local employers--including Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa Community Health Centers and the St. Joseph Health System--have already been certified, but small employers are eligible as well. Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park Oral Surgery, for example, has obtained certification. Toni Bonelli, office manager for the oral surgery group, noted that small businesses have the most to gain from worksite wellness efforts. “Since making a conscious effort to raise the wellness awareness for our employees,” she said, “we have experienced nearly 0% absenteeism.” To obtain iWORKwell certification, visit www.sonomaedb.org/wellness and complete the online application. Depending on the extent of their worksite wellness efforts, employers will receive bronze, silver or gold certification, along with certificates and a listing on the Worksite Wellness webpage.PEOPLE Dr. Ben Brown, director of family medicine at the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, received a Physician Leader award from the Northern California Center for Well-Being at its annual benefit in September. Mike Cohill, CEO of the Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, will become the regional president of Sutter Health West Bay on Jan. 1. He will succeed Dr. Martin Brotman, who will continue to lead Sutter’s education, research and philanthropy efforts. The West Bay region that Cohill will oversee extends from San Francisco to Lake County and includes CPMC, Novato Community Hospital, Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, and several outpatient facilities. The region has about 8,000 employees and 1,700 affiliated physicians and ancillary providers.MEDICAL FACILITIES Signature Healthcare Services plans to open an acute psychiatric care hospital in Santa Rosa in early 2012. The company, which operates psychiatric centers nationwide, purchased the Fulton Road facility from St. Joseph Health System in 2009 and is expanding the capacity to 95 beds. The yet-to-be-named hospital will be the only inpatient psychiatric facility in Sonoma County and is expected to employ about 300 people. The Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency has received a $154,000 grant as part of a $2.6 million statewide effort to increase the number of primary care physicians in California. The grant, from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, is intended to counteract a projected shortage of primary care physicians in the next few years. A proposed settlement to a festering lawsuit over Sutter’s new Santa Rosa hospital has been rejected by both Sutter Health and the county of Sonoma. The settlement, proposed by healthcare districts representing Healdsburg and Palm Drive hospitals, would have created a payment mechanism for uncompensated care and addressed several other issues related to the new hospital. In the absence of a settlement, the lawsuit will proceed to a district court in San Francisco later this fall. Petaluma Valley Hospital was the only local facility to earn a spot on the Joint Commission’s annual list of top-performing hospitals. The list, which included more than 400 hospitals nationwide, recognized Petaluma Valley for its use of evidence-based clinical processes to improve care for heart attacks, pneumonia and other patient conditions. The St. Joseph Mobile Health Clinic, which delivers primary care services to uninsured and underinsured patients throughout Sonoma County, celebrated its 20th anniversary in September. During the past two decades, the clinic has provided care to more than 30,000 patients.RESOURCES CMA is sponsoring several webinars during October. The webinars are free for CMA members; nonmembers pay $99 each. Topics and dates for October include: • “Providing extraordinary customer service,” Oct. 5, 12:15 p.m. • “ICD-10,” Oct. 12, 12:15 and 6:15 p.m. • “HIPAA 5010 transactions,” Oct. 18, 12:15 p.m. • “EOB analysis: successful claims appeal,” Oct. 19, 12:15 p.m. • “Increasing practice profitability,” Oct. 26, 12:15 and 6:15 p.m. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events. UCSF is sponsoring a Biomedicine Roundtable at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco on Oct. 10. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes a free lunch. Speakers will discuss new biologic and biosimilar therapies. To RSVP, contact Jenny Dudikoff at jenny@gcwest.com or 916-329-7403. A free cardiovascular health symposium will be held at the Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 22. The event begins at 1 p.m. with four hours of presentations (and CME credits) on cardiovascular issues, followed by a complimentary dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. RSVP by Oct. 14 to Kathy Ficco at kathy.ficco@stjoe.org or 707-547-4652.APPLICANTS Luz Aguilera, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4135, Fax 393-4337, laguilera.obgyn@gmail.com, UC Los Angeles 2007 Eric Bava, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4822, Fax 393-4559, ericbava@gmail.com, Univ Southern California 2004 Vincent Chow, MD, Orthopaedic Surgery*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4822, Fax 393-4559, vincent.e.chow@kp.org, Univ Miami 2006 Marcia Luisi, MD, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation*, 990 Sonoma Ave. #3, Santa Rosa 95404, 546-5487, Fax 546-5488, muluisi@sonic.net, Med Coll Wisconsin 1983 David Maccabee, MD, Surgery, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4160, Fax 393-4557, maccabee@gorge.net, UC Davis 1996 Mary Puttmann-Kostecka, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, 303-3600, Fax 303-3611, puttmam@sutterhealth.org, Georgetown Univ 2010 Barbara Sinclair, MD, Family Medicine*, 15000 Arnold Dr., Eldridge 95431, 938-6000, Fax 938-6940, barbarasinclairmd@msn.com, Univ Texas 1991, * board certifiedCLASSIFIEDS Anesthesiologist needed for infertility clinic Must be credentialed, carry malpractice insurance and meet accepted standards. Interested candidates must be available to meet our IVF schedule two weeks per month including some weekends (as established by the practice). The individual must be willing to block out all other obligations until 1 p.m. each day to staff the IVF procedures scheduled during those weeks. Procedure weeks are determined in October for the entire calendar year. Please contact info@afamd.com with inquiries and or to submit your CV for consideration. Medical director/staff physician wanted Sonoma Valley Community Health Center is seeking a family practice physician for the Medical Director/Staff Physician position. This position provides medical supervision and direction to the Health Center’s clinical services, as well as direct patient care. Must work collaboratively and be willing to support and back-up the mid-level clinicians, and provide call coverage through group call services for peds and family practice. We are looking for an innovator, a change manager and a demonstrated leader. Must have a current CA physician’s license. Call 707-939-6075 to learn more about the position. Website: www.svchc.org. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. Shred-It On-site guaranteed service. Office console provided. Stay compliant. Free consultation. Contact Marie Anderson at 707-829-8668 or marie.anderson@shredit.com. SCMA members get free classified ads! 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 Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.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. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 October 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs October 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
September 2011 DocBookMD smartphone app is newest SCMA member benefitCalifornia urges feds to increase physician supplyPertussis immunization deadline extendedNominate your colleagues for SCMA awardsRegistration opens for Latino Health ForumSCMA physicians invited to Oktoberfest on Oct. 22Practice management workshop in Santa Rosa on Nov. 2PEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMADocBookMD smartphone app is newest SCMA member benefit SCMA has just added another benefit for its members: DocBookMD, a smartphone application that offers on-demand messaging, multi-media collaboration and fast look-up of your colleagues. The application, designed by physicians for physicians, will help you save time and prevent delays at point of care. DocBookMD is a secure, HIPAA-compliant app for your iPhone, iPad or Android device. It is being offered without charge to SCMA members thanks to funding from Norcal Mutual Insurance. For details on downloading your free copy, visit docbookmd.com/med_socs/sonoma. One of the key features of DocBookMD is the ability to send and receive high-resolution images, including X-rays, EKGs, or photos of wounds. All messaging is secure and fully HIPAA compliant. Not a member? The SCMA website at www.scma.org has details on DocBookMD and other member benefits, as well as an online application form. California urges feds to increase physician supply The California Assembly and Senate have passed a joint resolution urging President Obama and Congress to improve access to care in underserved areas by increasing the state’s supply of physicians. The resolution also recommends increasing the number of residency positions to keep pace with the growing need for physicians. In a statement, CMA President Dr. James Hinsdale noted, “With the baby boomers beginning to retire, national health care reform expanding coverage to millions of previously uninsured citizens, obesity rates hitting epidemic levels, and the repercussions of the national recession and California’s own severe budget deficit still playing out, it is more important than ever that we continue to assess, address and reform the obstacles facing California’s health care system. The most important of these obstacles, and one that is projected to grow substantially in the coming years, is ensuring sufficient and timely physician access for every Californian in need of a physician’s care.” The Council on Graduate Medical Education recommends that a state have 60-80 primary care physicians per 100,000 people. California has an average of 63 per 100,000, but 42 of the state’s 58 counties fall below COGME’s minimum recommendations. Sonoma County, however, has 69 primary care physicians per 100,000 people, well above the state average.Pertussis immunization deadline extended A recent amendment to California’s pertussis immunization law gives schools the option to extend the deadline for students to show proof of vaccination for up to 30 days beyond the first day of school. Depending on the school district, students may continue to present for Tdap boosters until mid-September. Pertussis continues to be widespread in California, with seasonal incidence highest during summer and fall. Physicians are urged to be prepared for a rush of last-minute Tdap appointments and to provide clear documentation of Tdap immunization that students can bring to school. For additional information and resources about the new Tdap law, visit www.shotsforschool.org. Nominate your colleagues for SCMA awards There’s still time to nominate your colleagues for SCMA’s Outstanding Contribution and Recognition of Achievement awards, to be presented at the annual awards dinner on Dec. 1. Nominations are needed by Sept. 15 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 the medical association beyond the call of duty. • Recognition of Achievement. Presented to a nonphysician who has helped advance local medicine. To nominate one of your colleagues, send the nominee’s name and a brief description of his or her accomplishments to Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or via fax to 707-525-4328.Registration opens for Latino Health Forum Registration for the annual Latino Health Forum, to be held at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa on Oct. 13, is now open. This year’s forum, titled “Raising Healthy Children,” features keynote speeches by the president of the California Primary Care Association and the director of the childhood weight assessment program at UCSF. Workshop topics include childhood mental health, cultural sensitivity, diabetes and oral health. Registration before Sept. 16 is $75; thereafter, it’s $100. To register, visit www.latinohealthforum.org.SCMA physicians invited to Oktoberfest on Oct. 22 SCMA physicians and their spouse or guest are invited to an Oktoberfest welcome party for new members on Saturday evening, Oct. 22, and the Wild Oak Saddle Club in Santa Rosa. The event, sponsored by the SCMA Alliance, features authentic German beer, food and music, extending even to dancing. Cost is just $55 per person. To purchase tickets, visit www.scmaa.org or contact Christine Beakes at chrisbeakes@msn.com or 799-0125. Zum wohl!Practice management workshop in Santa Rosa on Nov. 2 SCMA and the California Medical Association are cosponsoring “What Every Physician Needs To Know About Their Practice,” a two-hour workshop for physicians, administrators and office managers. The workshop--which runs from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa--will be conducted by Frank Navarro, the associate director of the CMA Center for Economic Services. Topics include finding and keeping qualified staff, controlling costs, and understanding your revenue stream. The cost is just $45 for SCMA members; nonmembers pay $95. To register, print the form attached below and fax to SCMA at 707-525-4328. You can also register by phone with a credit card by calling Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375. Registration deadline is Oct. 28. Practice Management Workshop registration formPEOPLE Dr. Joshua Weil, who has served as chief of the emergency department at Kaiser Santa Rosa for more than a decade, has been appointed assistant physician-in-chief for hospital operations. He has participated in disaster relief efforts around the globe and is active in local efforts to improve emergency medical services. A past member of the SCMA board of directors, he recently published an article on earthquake preparedness in Sonoma Medicine. Former SCMA President Dr. Jan Sonander, a Santa Rosa family physician, has been appointed to the Rules Committee for the 2011 CMA House of Delegates. He is one of just five physicians selected statewide for the committee, which reviews the rules for the annual meeting, resolves disputes and enforces the conflict-of-interest policy.MEDICAL FACILITIES The longstanding dispute between Sutter Health and the hospital districts representing Healdsburg Hospital and Sebastopol’s Palm Drive Hospital continues to simmer, even as construction of the new Sutter Hospital in Santa Rosa proceeds apace. In late August, the hospital districts appealed a court ruling that had allowed construction of the Sutter facility to begin. The appeal objects to the size and environmental impacts of the new hospital, but it also includes an offer to negotiate a settlement that would address payment for uncompensated care and several other medical and financial issues. Sutter said it would respond to the settlement offer at a later date. In addition to contending with Sutter (see above), Palm Drive Hospital has sent “requests for information” to potential partners, including the Marin Healthcare District, the St. Joseph Health System and five other state- and nationwide entities. The requests seek to determine how the potential partners might be able to help the hospital, which emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year. Money seems to be flowing at Healdsburg Hospital, which installed a $1.6 million CT scanner in August. The 64-slice scanner is part of a $6 million upgrade to the hospital’s imaging center that will eventually include new x-ray, fluoroscopy and ultrasound equipment. The St. Joseph Health System Foundation has granted more than $300,000 to five local nonprofit agencies for programs that improve health and quality of life. Recipients include the Redwood Empire Food Bank, the PDI Oral Surgery Center in Windsor, the Drug Abuse Alternatives Center, House Calls, and the St. Joseph Dental Clinics. The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Project, which combats obesity in low-income areas of Santa Rosa, has received a $1 million grant from Kaiser Permanente. The funds will be used to promote healthful choices and to prevent diabetes, hypertension and other obesity-related diseases. The HEAL Project is described in detail in a recent Sonoma Medicine article by Kaiser pediatrician Dr. Ari Hauptman. Community health centers throughout Sonoma County had a particularly active month in August. The Petaluma Health Center moved to a newly constructed 53,000 square foot facility, nearly triple the size of its old digs. A league or so away, the West County Health Centers opened a new Wellness Center in Forestville that will focus on preventive services. Meanwhile, the Santa Rosa Community Health Centers received a $650,000 federal grant to increase its services to homeless residents.RESOURCES Three hour-long CMA webinars will be held during September. All three begin at 12:15 p.m. “How to grow your practice” (Sept. 7) examines methods for increasing referral volumes and retaining current patients. “Medical billing standards for workers comp” (Sept. 15) gives an update on the newly adopted standards, which go into effect in October. “How to identify and stop unfair payment practices” (Sept. 21) covers claim submission deadlines, appeal rights and other factors affecting payment. All three webinars are free for CMA members; nonmembers pay $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events. A short course on elder mediation will be held at Sonoma State University on Sept. 10 and 17. The course, which offers 14 hours of CEU credit, trains physicians, lawyers and other professionals to mediate decision making and resolve conflicts with elders and their families. The class is taught by Jane Iddings, a Petaluma lawyer and elder mediator. Cost is $154. To register, call SSU Extended Education at 707-664-2394 or visit www.tinyurl.com/SSUregistration. Medicare is sponsoring a free ACO learning session in San Francisco on Sept. 15 and 16. The session will feature national experts on accountable care organizations and will focus on developing core competencies necessary for ACO success. For more details, and to register, visit acoregister.rti.org. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler is the featured speaker at an all-day Childhood Obesity Conference at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on Sept. 24. The conference, sponsored by Slow Food San Francisco, features presentations by physicians, nutritionists and chefs on solutions to the childhood obesity epidemic. Cost is $100. To register, visit www.slowfoodsanfrancisco.com. A free webinar on insulin management in type 2 diabetes will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Sept. 27. Presenter is Dr. Kimberly Buss, medical director of diabetes education for the Sutter Medical Foundation. To register, visit www.thecmafoundation.org. The Coastal Dermatology Symposium will be held at the Silverado Resort in Napa from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. The event offers up to 12.25 hours of Category 1 credit. Presenters from across the country will provide updates on the diagnosis and treatment of various skin diseases. Cost is $350. To register, visit www.coastalderm.org or call 502-569-1356. Doctors and nurses interested in a holistic approach to medicine and healing are invited to attend the second annual Healing, Mindfulness & Compassion Retreat at the Ratna Ling Center in northern Sonoma County from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. The retreat will explore integrating Western medical perspectives with traditional Tibetan practices. Cost is $375 and up, depending on lodging. To register, visit tibetanaidproject.org. A free cardiovascular health symposium will be held at the Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 22. The event begins at 1 p.m. with four hours of presentations (and CME credits) on cardiovascular issues, followed by a complimentary dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. RSVP by Oct. 14 to Kathy Ficco at kathy.ficco@stjoe.org or 707-547-4652.APPLICANTS Jessica Bruso, DO, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 3975 Old Redwood Hwy. #152, Santa Rosa 95403, 566-5807, Fax 566-5517, jessica.r.bruso@kp.org, Univ Texas Osteo Med Sch 2007 Jennifer Fresco, MD, Internal Medicine*, Pulmonary Disease*, Critical Care Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way, MOBE #190, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-2690, Fax 393-2046, jennifer.m.fresco@gmail.com, Stanford Univ 2005 Jarrod Holmes, MD, Medical Oncology*, Hematology*, Internal Medicine*, 3555 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95403, 528-1050, Fax 525-3874, jholmes@rrmg.com, Duke Univ 2000 Sarah Murphy, MD, Family Medicine, 3569 Round Barn Cir., Santa Rosa 95404, 303-3600, Fax 303-3611, Univ Washington 2010 Donald Pyskaty, MD, Pediatrics*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-2052, ym4djp@gmail.com, Columbia Univ 1993 Bradley Restel, MD, Diagnostic Radiology*, 121 Sotoyome St., Santa Rosa 95405, 546-4062, Fax 525-4097, brestel@rrmg.com, Univ Texas 2005 Richard Turley, MD, Otolaryngology, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4064, richardturleymd@gmail.com, Univ Michigan 2006 * board certifiedCLASSIFIEDS Medical director/staff physician wanted Sonoma Valley Community Health Center is seeking a family practice physician for the Medical Director/Staff Physician position. This position provides medical supervision and direction to the Health Center’s clinical services, as well as direct patient care. Must work collaboratively and be willing to support and back-up the mid-level clinicians, and provide call coverage through group call services for peds and family practice. We are looking for an innovator, a change manager and a demonstrated leader. Must have a current CA physician’s license. Call 707-939-6075 to learn more about the position. Website: www.svchc.org. Shred-It On-site guaranteed service. Office console provided. Stay compliant. Free consultation. Contact Marie Anderson at 707-829-8668 or marie.anderson@shredit.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. SCMA members get free classified ads! 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 Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.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. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 September 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs September 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
August 2011 SCMA gets $10,000 grant for Sonoma Specialty AccessDr. Maddux-González named medical director for RCHCContact info for Larry McLaughlin has changedNominations needed for SCMA awardsTown Hall meeting on health care reform set for Aug. 8Latino Health Forum needs donations for student scholarshipsPhysician volunteer needed for SCMA Scholarship CommitteeSCMA Alliance sponsors bike ride, picnicPEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESAPPLICANTSCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMASCMA gets $10,000 grant for Sonoma Specialty Access SCMA has received a $10,000 grant from the Pacific Foundation for Medical Care to fund Sonoma Specialty Access, a project that gives under- and uninsured patients access to specialty care. The PFMC grant will be used to create a centralized database and website for coordinating specialty referrals. Over the past few years, several individuals and organizations have tried to improve specialty access for under- and uninsured patients in Sonoma County. One such effort is the dermatology clinic established at the Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg by SCMA President Dr. Jeff Sugarman. A referral system for orthopedic surgeons has been implemented as well. In 2008, SCMA and Redwood Community Health Coalition formed the Specialty Access Task Force to review access problems and devise solutions. More than a dozen SCMA physicians serve on the task force, which has recommended establishing a centralized database and website as a key step toward improving access. Both resources will be used to track participating specialists and gauge the services needed. Design and implementation of the database and website is expected to begin later this year. Dr. Maddux-González named medical director for RCHC Dr. Mary Maddux-González, the former Public Health Officer for Sonoma County, is the new medical director for the Redwood Community Health Coalition. The coalition includes 16 health centers in Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Yolo counties and serves nearly 200,000 patients, about 100,000 of whom live in Sonoma County. Almost 300 full- and part-time physicians work for the coalition, which offers medical services to under- and uninsured patients. Maddux-González will oversee the coalition’s physicians and will lead efforts to expand services at its clinics. She will also work on recruiting and retaining primary care physicians, who are expected to be in short supply once health care reform expands coverage to almost all local residents. A graduate of the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, Maddux-González served as Public Health Officer for more than a decade. Earlier this year, she published a study on local primary care capacity in Sonoma Medicine. The main findings were that Sonoma County has a low percentage of primary care physicians and that one-fifth (20%) are planning on retiring in the next five years.Contact info for Larry McLaughlin has changed Larry McLaughlin, Esq., who provides free legal advice to SCMA members, has moved his office to Sebastopol and has new phone and fax numbers. The new phone is 707-823-2134, and the new fax is 707-823-8089. Please expunge his old numbers from your address book, as they no longer work. His new office address is 121 N. Main St., Sebastopol 95472. Only his email remains the same: lwmclaughlin@juno.com. SCMA members are encouraged to contact McLaughlin for complimentary advice regarding medical records, patient rights, employment, health insurance contracting and other legal matters. Such advice is one of many benefits of SCMA membership.Nominations needed for SCMA awards SCMA is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Contribution and Recognition of Achievement awards, to be presented at the medical association’s annual dinner this fall. Nominations are needed by Sept. 15 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 the medical association beyond the call of duty. • Recognition of Achievement. Presented to a nonphysician who has helped advance local medicine. To nominate one of your colleagues, send the nominee’s name and a brief description of his or her accomplishments to Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or via fax to 707-525-4328.Town Hall meeting on health care reform set for Aug. 8 A press conference and town hall meeting on health care reform will be held at the Sonoma County Indian Health Project in Santa Rosa from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 8. Featured speakers, including Drs. Jason Cunningham and Mary Maddux-González, will discuss the impact of health reform on patient-centered health care. The meeting is free but limited to the first 250 guests. To register, contact Eliot Enriquez at eenriquez@rchc.net or 707-792-7900, Ext. 206. Sponsors include the California Primary Care Association, the Latino Coalition for a Health California, Healthy Kids Sonoma County and the Redwood Community Health Coalition.Latino Health Forum needs donations for student scholarships The 19th annual Latino Health Forum, to be held at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa on Oct. 13, will focus on raising healthy children, from preconception to adolescence. The forum attracts hundreds of participants every year, from local physicians to high school students contemplating health careers. Conference organizers are requesting tax-deductible scholarship donations for students who cannot afford the conference fees. Checks should be made payable to Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa and sent to Wanda Tapia, PO Box 722, Windsor, CA 95492. For more information, contact Wanda at latinohealth2011@aol.com or 707-953-8532. Details of this year’s conference are still pending. For updates, visit www.latinohealthforum.org.Physician volunteer needed for SCMA Scholarship Committee SCMA is seeking a physician volunteer to fill a vacancy on the Health Careers Scholarship Committee, which reviews scholarship applications from students interested in pursuing health careers. The committee meets just once or twice a year; most of its work is done via email. If you are interested in serving on the committee, contact Cynthia Melody at 707-525-4375 or cynthia@scma.org. The committee has been in existence since 1971 and has awarded scholarships to more than 750 students, several of whom are now practicing medicine in Sonoma County.SCMA Alliance sponsors bike ride, picnic The SCMA Alliance is sponsoring an informal two-hour bike ride in Santa Rosa on Thursday evening, Aug. 4. The group will meet in the parking lot by the Howarth Park tennis courts at 6 p.m. and then head east. For more information, contact Nancy Sumida at 707-537-7728 or nsumida7@gmail.com. Later this month, the Alliance is holding a family picnic at the Wikiup Swim and Tennis Club in Santa Rosa. The picnic, which runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28, features games for children, swimming and plenty of food. Picnickers should bring their own drinks (no alcohol). Cost is just $11 per person. To RSVP, contact Meta Lightfoot at mldlight@sonic.net or 707-526-9748 by Aug. 14.PEOPLE An interview with SCMA President Dr. Jeff Sugarman, a Santa Rosa dermatologist, appears in the July 25 issue of the North Bay Business Journal. The interview highlights Sugarman’s efforts to expand access to specialists for under- and uninsured patients, as well as the challenges faced by physicians in private practice. High-tech behemoth Google has agreed to sponsor the Green Flight Challenge, a $1.65 million competition funded by NASA and organized by the CAFE Foundation, whose president is Santa Rosa ophthalmologist Dr. Brien Seeley. During the competition, to be held at the Sonoma County Airport from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, experimental aircraft need to fly at least 100 miles per hour while getting at least 200 passenger miles per gallon on a 200-mile flight. For more details, visit www.cafefoundation.org. Dr. Bradley Restel, a diagnostic radiologist with a subspecialty in musculoskeletal radiology, has joined Redwood Regional Medical Group. His particular interest is in diagnosing sports injuries, and he is conducting research on whether MRI of the lumbar spine in upright position improves diagnosis compared to the conventional supine position. A graduate of the University of Texas, he completed his residency and fellowship at Duke University.MEDICAL FACILITIES The Breast Care Center at Kaiser Santa Rosa has been accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. After measuring how well the local center met standards in leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement, the NAPBC awarded the facility a full 3-year accreditation. Dr. Loie Sauer, a breast cancer surgeon who works at the center, noted that its offerings include early detection and screening, comprehensive cancer services, data collection, clinical research and survivorship services. Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital has received approval from the St. Joseph Health System to resume a $15 million renovation of its emergency department. The project, which was postponed at the beginning of the 2008 recession, will start up again in early 2012. The plan will increase the department’s square footage by almost 50% and will add 26 private rooms. “We’ll be able to get patients into beds more quickly,” said Dr. Ed West, the hospital’s director of emergency medicine. Every day, about 100 patients receive treatment at the facility, which is one of only 21 Level II trauma centers in California. For the third year in a row, Healdsburg District Hospital has received an Exceeding Patient Expectations award from Avatar International. The award was based on surveys finding that more than 90% of the hospital’s would return for future care and would recommend the hospital to others. “We encourage residents of northern Sonoma County to continue to think locally for quality, accessible healthcare,” said Evan Rayner, the hospital’s CEO.RESOURCES A short course on elder mediation will be held at Sonoma State University on Sept. 10 and 17. The course, which offers 14 hours of CEU credit, trains physicians, lawyers and other professionals to mediate decision making and resolve conflicts with elders and their families. The class is taught by Jane Iddings, a Petaluma lawyer and elder mediator. Cost is $154. To register, call SSU Extended Education at 707-664-2394 or visit www.tinyurl.com/SSUregistration. An hour-long CMA webinar on developing and adopting medical policies for Medicare will be held at 12:15 and 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10. Dr. Arthur Lurvey of Palmetto GBA will discuss how to understand and use coverage decisions; how to respond to requests for records; how and where to appeal claim denials; and the difference between denials and rejections. The webinar is free for SCMA members; nonmembers pay $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/events. The Coastal Dermatology Symposium will be held at the Silverado Resort in Napa from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. The event offers up to 12.25 hours of Category 1 credit. Presenters from across the country will provide updates on the diagnosis and treatment of various skin diseases. Cost is $350. To register, visit www.coastalderm.org or call 502-569-1356. Physicians switching to electronic health records are encouraged to visit the CalHIPSO website at www.calhipso.org. CalHIPSO is a nonprofit that helps clinical providers navigate through the complex world of EHR implementation. The organization can help physicians qualify for Meaningful Use incentives and select an EHR system appropriate for their practice. CalHIPSO also sponsors webinars on privacy and security, vendor selection and other topics. SCMA members can activate their CMA web account by visiting www.cmanet.org and clicking on “Activate Web Account” at the top of the page. Once the account is established, members can get free access to a wealth of materials on the newly redesigned website, including an extensive medical-legal library and scores of other publications. One particularly useful newsletter is Practice Resources, a monthly bulletin full of tips and tools to help physicians and their office staff improve practice efficiency and viability.APPLICANTS Timothy Brennan, MD, Family Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4300, Fax 393-4558, Univ Cincinnati 1992 James Driscoll, MD, Pulmonary Disease*, Critical Care Medicine*, Sleep Medicine*, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-2960, Fax 393-2046, james.a.driscoll@kp.org, Univ Texas 2000 Maya Land, MD, Internal Medicine, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 393-4000, Fax 393-4144, maya.m.land@kp.org, Dartmouth Med Sch 2000 Scott Siegner, MD, Ophthalmology*, Retinal Surgery, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa 95403, 566-5913, Fax 566-5229, scottsiegner@yahoo.com, Wayne State Univ 1992 * = board certified; italics = special medical interestCLASSIFIEDS Shred-It On-site guaranteed service. Office console provided. Stay compliant. Free consultation. Contact Marie Anderson at 707-829-8668 or marie.anderson@shredit.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. Medical volunteers needed Local physicians are invited to join the “refill of the month club” by volunteering one day a month at the Jewish Community Free Clinic in Rohnert Park. You can refill your soul monthly by helping those that most need your services. Volunteers are needed for the family clinic on Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30, and for the pediatrics clinic on Tuesday afternoons, 2:30 to 5. Specialist consults in your office for uninsured patients are also helpful. For questions, call Dr. Jerry Connell at 707-527-7754. To sign up for a shift, contact Deborah Roberts at deborah.roberts@sonoma.edu or 707-664-2945. SCMA members get free classified ads! 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 Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.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. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 August 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs August 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
July 2011 Nonmembers receiving Sonoma Medicine for SCMA recruitment campaignNominations needed for SCMA awardsRegister now for July 8 Coding and Medicare UpdateHealth Information conference in Santa Rosa July 14-15Dr. Jeff Sugarman is new president of SCMASCMA/Alliance award $27,000 in medical scholarships to local studentsLocal resolution requiring “opt in” for prescribing data advances to CMA HouseReminder: Adolescents need Tdap booster before school begins in fallStudy finds inequities in Medicare's geographic payment formulaPEOPLEMEDICAL FACILITIESRESOURCESCLASSIFIEDSABOUT SCMANonmembers receiving Sonoma Medicine for SCMA recruitment campaign Nonmember physicians in Sonoma County will be receiving the next few issues of Sonoma Medicine, SCMA’s award-winning quarterly magazine, as part of a recruitment campaign for SCMA. Reading the magazine should help nonmember physicians see the value of SCMA membership and encourage them to join, which they can do at www.scma.org/join.asp or by contacting Rachel Pandolfi at 707-525-4375 or rachel@scma.org and requesting an application form. Most of the physicians in Sonoma County already enjoy the benefits of SCMA membership, which were recently expanded to include free classified ads for members in Sonoma Medicine and SCMA News Briefs. Members can also get a 15% discount when placing display ads in Sonoma Medicine. To download an ad rate sheet for the magazine, visit www.scma.org/resources. To place a classified ad, contact Erika Goodwin at 707-548-6491 or erika@scma.org. The summer issue of Sonoma Medicine, which was mailed to all Sonoma County physicians on June 30, features an interview with new SCMA President Jeff Sugarman, MD, a Santa Rosa dermatologist. The focus of the issue is disaster planning, with articles by local physicians on earthquake scenarios, preparedness efforts and contingency plans. An online version has been posted at www.scma.org/magazine.Nominations needed for SCMA awards SCMA is seeking nominations for its Outstanding Contribution and Recognition of Achievement awards, to be presented at the medical association’s annual dinner this fall. Nominations are needed by Sept. 15 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 the medical association beyond the call of duty. • Recognition of Achievement. Presented to a nonphysician who has helped advance local medicine. To submit a nomination, contact Cynthia Melody at cynthia@scma.org or 525-4375.Register now for July 8 Coding and Medicare Update There’s still time to register for the July 8 Coding and Medicare Update, to be held at the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa. Sponsored by SCMA, this three-hour class from the Practice Management Institute covers the Version 5010 standards, “meaningful use,” physician incentive payments, private payer policies, and much more. Even if your office doesn’t serve Medicare beneficiaries, many insurance carriers follow Medicare’s lead, and your reimbursement will be impacted by Medicare policies. To register for the class, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m., contact Rachel Pandolfi at rachel@scma.org or 707-525-4375. Cost is $105 for SCMA members and their staff, $165 for nonmembers.Health Information conference in Santa Rosa July 14-15 The fifth annual “Connecting California to Improve Patient Care” conference will be held at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel in Santa Rosa on July 14 and 15. The conference, which is organized by the nonprofit Redwood MedNet and cosponsored by SCMA, will focus on clinical informatics and electronic health information exchanges. Conference presenters include physicians and other experts in medical information technology. The conference begins on the afternoon of July 14 with workshops on health information privacy and security. The cost of the workshops is $75. The Friday session begins with a keynote address by Dr. Carol Diamond, followed by a full day of presentations. Cost for the full day is $250. To register, and for more details, visit www.redwoodmednet.org.Dr. Jeff Sugarman is new president of SCMA Jeff Sugarman, MD, PhD, a Santa Rosa dermatologist and pediatric dermatologist, is the new president of SCMA. He will serve until June 2012. Sugarman, who is well known for his efforts to expand specialty access for the uninsured and underinsured, hopes to establish a specialty referral database during his presidency. He discusses his plan and many other topics in a wide-ranging interview in the current issue of Sonoma Medicine. Joining Sugarman on the SCMA board of directors are several newly elected leaders and representatives, including Dr. Walt Mills (president-elect), Dr. Ed Chang (treasurer) Dr. Stephen Steady (secretary), Dr. Robert Neid (TPMG representative), and Drs. Brad Drexler and Jan Sonander (CMA delegates). The remaining board members were elected or appointed in previous years. They include Drs. Rebecca Katz, Leonard Klay, Marshall Kubota, Anthony Lim, Francesca Manfredi, Mark Netherda, Greg Rosa, Phyllis Senter and Francisco Trilla.SCMA/Alliance award $27,000 in medical scholarships to local students A dozen local students have received a total of $27,000 in scholarships from SCMA and the SCMA Alliance to study medicine at colleges and universities throughout the United States. The recipients include five high school students and seven students who are already enrolled in undergraduate or graduate medical programs. The awards range from $1,000 each for the high school students to $5,000 for students enrolled in graduate programs. SCMA is seeking one physician to fill a vacancy on the Health Careers Scholarship Committee, which selects students for the awards and meets just twice a year at lunchtime. If you are interested in serving on the committee, contact Cynthia Melody at 525-4375 or cynthia@scma.org. The committee has been in existence since 1971 and has awarded scholarships to more than 750 students, several of whom are now practicing medicine in Sonoma County.Local resolution requiring “opt in” for prescribing data advances to CMA House In response to the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing pharmaceutical wholesalers to sell physician prescribing data to drug companies, delegates at the June 24 CMA District 10 caucus approved a resolution that would require physicians to “opt in” to any program that sells their prescribing data. The resolution, by Healdsburg ob-gyn Dr. Brad Drexler, notes that use of the current “opt out” option has been negligible, and that drug companies are denying samples to physicians who do opt out. The “opt in” resolution will advance to the CMA House this fall, along with several other resolutions approved by District 10. One resolution, by Santa Rosa pediatrician Dr. David Smith, would require that medical marijuana be dispensed in child-proof containers. Another, by Sebastopol urologist Dr. Peter Bretan, asks CMA to design a template for organizing physician volunteers to help with disaster preparedness and in delivering care to the indigent and uninsured.Reminder: Adolescents need Tdap booster before school begins in fall Physicians are reminded that a new state law requires all adolescents to have a Tdap booster for pertussis before school begins this fall. Pertussis is widespread in California, and more than 1 million of the state’s adolescents may not yet have received a Tdap booster. Doctors should keep track of which patients have or haven’t received Tdap and should send patient reminders now. All adolescents will need clear documentation of Tdap immunization to enroll in school this fall. For more information, visit www.shotsforschool.org.Study finds inequities in Medicare's geographic payment formula The data that Medicare relies on to adjust for geographic variation in costs to pay physicians and hospitals is flawed and leads to inaccurate payments, according to a report recently released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The finding represents a huge victory for CMA and will go a long way toward ensuring that California physicians are reimbursed accurately for the differences in geographic practice costs. CMA has for years been urging Congress to reform the flawed and outdated geographic payment regions. CMA testified before the IOM last fall, showing that the costs of running a physician's practice differ substantially across the country. Failing to take that variance into account in Medicare payments is a big mistake that harms senior citizens’ access to care, CMA said in its testimony. Geographic adjustments to Medicare payments are intended to cover regional variations in wages, rents and other costs incurred by physicians and hospitals. The IOM study found, however, that almost 40% of hospitals have been granted exceptions to how their adjustments are calculated, strongly suggesting that the mechanisms underlying the adjustments are inadequate. The IOM study concluded that the rationale for fine-tuning Medicare payments based on geographic variations in expenses is sound and should be continued. However, the report urges fundamental changes to the data sources and methods used to calculate the adjustments and increase the accuracy of the payments. One such change recommended by the study would be to place physicians and hospitals into the same Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), which reflect regional costs more accurately than the outdated payment localities that are currently used to determine reimbursement. In California, for example, the physician payment localities haven't been updated in more than 12 years, leaving many recently urbanized counties, such as Sonoma, inappropriately grouped into payment localities with lower-cost rural counties.PEOPLE Dr. Amy Shaw, who has practiced family medicine in Sonoma County for almost two decades, has been named medical director of the Primary Care Oncology and Survivorship Program at Redwood Regional Medical Group. The program provides long-term follow-up care for cancer patients. Shaw previously served as chief of staff at Sutter Medical Center and as medical director of the Sutter Women’s Health Resource Center. A graduate of the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, she worked for many years at the Doyle Park Family Medicine group in Santa Rosa. Drs. Rajesh and Rajina Ranadive, a married couple who are both internists in Petaluma, have joined the Annadel Medical Group, the physician organization affiliated with the St. Joseph Health System. Rajesh is chief of medicine at Petaluma Valley Hospital, and Rajina serves on the hospital’s Medical Executive and Physician Well-Being committees. Their signing brings the total number of physicians in the Annadel group to 32. Dr. Laurel Warner and Dr. Tiffany Camarillo have joined the staff at Kaiser Santa Rosa. Warner, an infectious-disease specialist, was previously in private practice in Santa Rosa. Camarillo, a graduate of UC Davis, is a pathologist. Dr. Steve Olson, a family physician, has been appointed assistant physician-in-chief for service at Kaiser Santa Rosa. Prior to joining Kaiser in 2006, Olson was in private practice in Santa Rosa for almost 20 years. Patricia Hunstock, a past president of the SCMA Alliance, has been named president of the CMA Alliance. It is her second term as president of the statewide organization of medical society alliances. The SCMA Alliance and Foundation has also named new officers for 2011-12. Meta Lightfoot is president of the Alliance and John Gnam is president of the Foundation. Membership in the Alliance is open to all physicians and spouses. For more information, visit www.scmaa.org.MEDICAL FACILITIES Sutter Health has cleared yet another hurdle in its efforts to build a new hospital in Santa Rosa. In mid-June, Superior Court Judge René Chouteau denied several legal challenges to the new hospital filed by the healthcare districts representing Healdsburg and Palm Drive hospitals. Chouteau found that the healthcare districts did not have the legal standing to file the challenges. Meanwhile, construction continues on the new hospital, located next to the Wells Fargo Center. Palm Drive Hospital is exploring an affiliation with Adventist Health to ensure its continued survival in a competitive marketplace. Talks between the two entities are ongoing. The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County has received a $3 million challenge grant from the Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation to renovate the imaging center at Healdsburg District Hospital. The hospital will use the funds to buy a 64-slice digital CT scanner and several other pieces of new imaging equipment.RESOURCES Two one-hour CMA webinars are scheduled for July. “Collections--Get Paid Now,” begins at 12:15 p.m. on July 6, and “Writing Effective Appeals,” begins at 12:15 p.m. on July 20. The webinars are free for SCMA members; cost for nonmembers is $99. To register, visit www.cmanet.org/calendar.CLASSIFIEDS Shred-It On-site guaranteed service. Office console provided. Stay compliant. Free consultation. Contact Marie Anderson at 707-829-8668 or marie.anderson@shredit.com. Office space Small suite for lease. Reception, 3 rooms, Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. Contact Connie, 707-525-0211. Medical volunteers needed Local physicians are invited to join the “refill of the month club” by volunteering one day a month at the Jewish Community Free Clinic in Rohnert Park. You can refill your soul monthly by helping those that most need your services. Volunteers are needed for the family clinic on Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30, and for the pediatrics clinic on Tuesday afternoons, 2:30 to 5. Specialist consults in your office for uninsured patients are also helpful. For questions, call Dr. Jerry Connell at 707-527-7754. To sign up for a shift, contact Deborah Roberts at deborah.roberts@sonoma.edu or 707-664-2945. Have you made decisions about multiple fetal gestations? The National Perinatal Association is sponsoring research on multiple gestations. Dr. Anita Catlin, a perinatal ethics researcher, is conducting a study to investigate the lives and decision making of women who become pregnant with multiple fetuses as a result of reproductive interventions. Catlin is particularly interested in how women make decisions on whether to reduce high-level multiple gestations to potentially healthier numbers. She would like to hear the circumstances of reduction and advice from women to the healthcare providers who cared for them during this critical time. Interviews will be conducted in the following locations and dates. Additional locations can be added dependent upon responses. • Sonoma County: July 25-26 • San Francisco: Aug. 7-8 To arrange for an interview, contact Dr. Catlin at catlin@sonoma.edu. SCMA members get free classified ads! 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 Erika Goodwin at erika@scma.org or 707-548-6491.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. © 2011 SCMA, 2901 Cleveland Ave. #202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 July 1, 2011 SCMA News Briefs July 2011 0 0 Comment Read More »
