Keeping You Connected

The SMLMA keeps you up to date on the latest news,
policy developments, and events

June 2014



Download PDF Here

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.



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

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