CDC discusses updated guidelines in Zika virus webinar
The AMA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently held a webinar to provide an update for physicians and other clinicians on the status of the Zika virus outbreak and the latest clinical guidance to help them diagnose and manage patients and prevent further transmission.“As the Zika virus outbreak continues to evolve and more Americans become impacted by the virus,” said AMA PresidentAndrew W. Gurman, MD, ” we must ensure that our nation’s physicians, and all clinicians, are prepared to handle possible cases of the virus and are equipped with the most up-to-date information to answer patient...
Source: AMA Wire - August 15, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Out of tragedy comes a new focus on resident health
After news that a star surgical resident, who had recently left Stanford to pursue a fellowship, had committed suicide, the residency program leadership decided to create a new structure that addresses the underlying issues affecting resident health and promotes a healthier work-life balance.Shifting toward work-life balance in residency
When Greg Feldman, MD, a general surgery resident from Stanford University, took his own life during his fellowship in Chicago, the general surgery department was shocked at the news. He had been one of the most accomplished resident physicians the program had ever seen. He was warm and o...
Source: AMA Wire - August 15, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Physicians and veterinarians join forces for wellness
An AMA Viewpoints post by AMA Immediate-Past President Steven J. Stack, MD, and American Veterinary Medical Association President Joe Kinnarney, DVM
It ’s been said that one person can’t change the world. Still, one person can make a difference.
Each of us, physicians and veterinarians alike, needs to be that one person when it comes to wellness. Many of our colleagues are struggling with wellness issues and they need our help. We need to be compassionate listeners, not judgmental or cynical or proud. We need to help lift the stigma too often associated with wellness struggles, and we need to be there for our colleag...
Source: AMA Wire - August 14, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
How Medicare regulatory penalties will change
Regulatory penalties under the current Medicare payment system have been rising, overwhelming physicians with reporting burdens just to avoid payment cuts. But how will financial penalties and bonuses change in the new system? Under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), regulatory penalties starting in 2019 will be much less severe, and physicians will have greater opportunity for bonuses.How MIPS will be different
The current pay-for-performance programs —the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the value-based payment modifier (VBM) and the Meaningful Use electronic health record program—ea...
Source: AMA Wire - August 12, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Get the new Principles of ICD-10-CM Coding
The fourth edition ofPrinciples ofICD-10-CM Coding provides the tools needed for physicians and payers to accurately and effectively use the ICD-10-CM code set. It clarifies the new diagnosis codes in detail to assist in making correct coding choices.
Updated to include the 2017 code set, it helps health care professionals learn how to make correct decisions when selecting diagnosis codes from the ICD-10-CM code set. It is written for all skill levels and is appropriate for both self-learners and the classroom. It will help you:
Understand the purpose of ICD-10-CM and its relationship to the reimbursement process
Unde...
Source: AMA Wire - August 12, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Timothy Smith Source Type: news
Register for the Interim Meeting by November 5
Register for the American Medical Association Young Physicians Section (YPS) Interim Meeting, which will take place on Nov. 11 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, Orlando, Florida.
The AMA-YPS Interim Assembly Meeting is the ideal venue for young physicians to take a stand and become a force for change for the future of medicine. This year ’s meeting offers a variety of events, including leadership training, policy discussion and education sessions.
The deadline to submitresolutions for consideration at the Interim Business Meeting of the AMA YPS is Sept. 30.Register for the meeting by 3 a.m. Eastern Time...
Source: AMA Wire - August 12, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Medical students get first-hand experience serving the underserved
Medical schools are finding effective ways to embed students into their communities to care for underserved patients and gain hands-on experience that could change both how and where they ultimately practice medicine. See how some students and schools are making a difference.
The immersions into the clinics and greater community are part of the schools ’ work with the AMA’s Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium. The consortium, working to modernize and reshape the way physicians are trained, brings leaders form schools together to share ideas and experiences with new programs that are designed to improv...
Source: AMA Wire - August 11, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
How a new transitions model helped one patient
After discharge it has often been up to the patient to adhere to medication regimens and alert their physician to any complications or confusion, but patients don ’t always have the tools or circumstances to make this an easy task. Learn how a new transitions model helped one patient take charge of his health and better understand and adhere to his care plan.
TheSafeMed model was developed at the University of Tennessee in partnership with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis. It was designed with the strengths of primary care in mind and relies on a collaborative team effort from physicians, pharmacists, nurses a...
Source: AMA Wire - August 10, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
More residents building families during training
Having children isn ’t easy, but intense medical training, limited parental leave and a shrinking workforce make building a family even more difficult. With more residents working to build their families during training, a new study looks at the trends and calls on graduate medical education (GME) to improve policies to increase work-life balance for residents.Who is having children and when
According to a 1983 survey, about 13 percent of female residents became pregnant during residency. More recently, that number has increased significantly, demonstrating that residents are spending their GME years building families.
...
Source: AMA Wire - August 10, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
AMA members recently appointed to med ed leadership roles
Several AMA members were recently appointed by medical education organizations to leadership positions. These individuals were nominated by the AMA to the respective organizations, each of which made the final appointment decision from among the candidates it received.Sepideh Amin-Hanjani, MD,Chicago, Ill., has been appointed to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education,ACGME, Review Committee for Neurological Surgery, effective July 2017. Dr. Amin-Hanjani has been an AMA member for 15 years.Dusica Babovic-Vuksanovic, MD,Rochester, Minn., has been appointed to the ACGME Review Committee for Medical Genetics ...
Source: AMA Wire - August 10, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Timothy Smith Source Type: news
Physician wellness: A global collaboration
Researchers and physicians around the world are facing the same issue —keeping physicians healthy in a rapidly changing health care environment. Learn what one physician researcher from Mayo Medical School had to say about the need for a global collaboration to share approaches to physician, resident and medical student health and well-being.“Meeting with researchers from around the globe helps us get outside of our little box and think more broadly, get new ideas and approaches that we wouldn’t have thought about otherwise,” said Lotte Dyrbye, MD, professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School, who will participate ...
Source: AMA Wire - August 9, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
A primary care model for the new Medicare payment system
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the open application period for physician practices to participate in a new, nationwide primary care payment model. Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) is a primary care medical home that could qualify physicians for the incentive payment for AdvancedAlternative Payment Model (APM) participants under the new Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) starting in 2019.
In designing CPC+, CMS tried to build on physicians ’ experience with its predecessor medical home model and give participating practices better opportunities for success....
Source: AMA Wire - August 8, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Medical school burnout: How to take care of yourself
The pressures of medical school can have a major impact on students ’ mental health and wellness. A group of medical students recently gathered to discuss these pressures and maintaining mental health during medical school. Learn what an expert had to say about taking care of yourself during medical school and how students are taking their own steps toward improvi ng their own mental health and wellness.“Doctors actually live pretty healthy lives,” Joshua Nathan, MD, said to medical students at the 2016 AMA Annual Meeting. “If you look at the mortality rates, we tend to live at least as long if not longer than othe...
Source: AMA Wire - August 8, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Changes to shore up small practices under new Medicare payment system
The final rule for the new Medicare payment system is expected by November, yet the draft rule issued in April has many physicians in small or rural practices concerned that proper considerations have not been taken to set them up for success.When Congress enacted the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), it recognized the unique challenges of small and rural practices and required that special consideration be given to these practice types. But, theproposed rule provides only limited flexibility for small and rural physicians, which may jeopardize their ability to successfully participate.The infamous “t...
Source: AMA Wire - August 5, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
AMA-SPS at the 2016 Interim Meeting
Join members of the Senior Physicians Section (AMA-SPS) at the 2016 Interim Meeting in Orlando from Nov. 12 to 15. The section is hosting a number of meetings for its members.Assembly Meeting: Saturday, Nov.12, from 11 a.m. to noon in Americas Seminar (Dolphin). Those present may introduce new items of business related to the section ' s mission and review items in the House of Delegates Handbook related to senior physician issues. A luncheon will be served at 11:30 am on a first-come, first-served basis. We hope you can join us and enjoy the fellowship of your senior physician colleagues. If you have questions about the m...
Source: AMA Wire - August 5, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
