July 23, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE

WSU Med School Dean Earns Fellowship
Southeast Michigan Wins Health Info Tech Grant
AARP, AMA Join Forces On Ad Campaign For Kids, Elderly
Coalition Advises On Disaster Response
Edwards Talks Universal Coverage
Can There Be Compromise In Ethical Disagreements?

Click Here To Contact Us


 

WSU Med School Dean Earns Fellowship

Robert M. Mentzer, Jr., MD, Dean, Wayne State University School of Medicine, recently received an Honorary Fellowship in the International College of Surgeons (ICS) at a special ceremony held during the college’s 40th North American Federation Congress.

Honorary Fellowship in the International College of Surgeons is limited to surgeons who, by virtue of their commitment to medicine and surgery, share national and international repute. As a nationally recognized cardiothoracic surgeon and medical school administrator with vast experience in medical education and research, Dean Mentzer epitomizes the basic fundamentals and foundation of ICS, which is the global advancement of surgical excellence and knowledge.

“His advocacy for organ donation and awareness along with his continued current research interests for organ transplantation and organ preservation will ultimately achieve new heights in the surgical arena,” according to the ICS. “Certainly, Dean Mentzer, a recognized leader in his own profession--will inspire others, as he himself has done--to give of themselves to bring health and well-being to the people of our world.”

ICS World President Fidel Ruiz Healy of Mexico City, and United States Section President Dr. Sibu Saha, of Lexington, Ky., presided over Dean Mentzer’s induction into the ICS. One of 25 current honorary fellows nominated by the US Section and approved by the ICS Parent Body, Dean Mentzer joins the distinguished register of honorary fellows that includes such notable physicians as Drs. Denton Cooley, Michael DeBakey, Basil Pruitt, Jr., Howard and Georgeanna Jones, Earl Bakken, Francis Robicsek, John Sciarra and Vincent Gott.

  Back to top

Southeast Michigan Wins Health Info Tech Grant

The state of Michigan has awarded a grant to aid in the planning process for a Health Information Exchange (HIE) in southeast Michigan. The funds are part of a $4.5 million state effort to create a statewide infrastructure for healthcare information exchange.

The $658,356 planning grant for the Southeast Michigan Health Information Exchange will go to the Altarum Institute, a nonprofit research institution in Ann Arbor, Mich., that specializes in health systems research and consulting. Altarum serves as the objective facilitator and subject matter expert on the southeast Michigan HIE project.

"As health systems researchers, we are always seeking ways to develop and deliver new tools that help health care providers and health care users make better, timelier decisions,” said Linc Smith, Altarum’s president and CEO. “The HIE for southeast Michigan has the potential to make that promise a reality for more than 40 percent of Michigan's population.“

For the past two years, a working group which includes the Big Three automotive manufacturers, the Wayne and Oakland County Medical Societies, Greater Detroit Area Health Council, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and the Henry Ford, Oakwood, Trinity and St. John Health Systems have engaged in exploratory discussions regarding an HIE for southeast Michigan.

Altarum’s role as project facilitator began in mid-2006, and the organization says that the new state funding will allow the HIE exploratory process to mature into concrete planning and development activities.

"With these grants, Michigan is taking a real step forward as a health information technology leader,” said Smith. “It could have an enormous impact, and we are proud to have a central role.”

The Southeast Michigan Health Information Exchange covers Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair and Monroe counties. State officials claim that the HIE will advance the implementation of an integrated, interoperable health information exchange across the state, supporting the information needs of physicians, health systems and hospitals, patients, employers and insurers.

  Back to top

AARP, AMA Join Forces On Ad Campaign For Kids, Elderly

AARP, representing nearly 39 million Americans 50-plus, and the American Medical Association joined forces July 20 to announce a national TV advertising buy to push for legislation that protects Medicare and extends health insurance to millions of uninsured children.

The TV ad will run across the country and in Washington, DC, from July 23 through Aug. 3. This first phase will be at least a $1.3 million ad buy and will coincide with additional tactics the two groups are employing, including print ads and direct mail.

"Older Americans need reduced health care costs and access to their doctor; the CHAMP Act could help accomplish both," said AARP, CEO Bill Novelli. "These ads, combined with direct mail, e-mail, visits to legislators offices and other activities planned during the next few weeks will amplify the voices of nearly 39 million AARP members. The message is clear: We're asking both parties and both chambers to work together to put a bill on the president's desk this year and we are asking the president to sign it."

"This bill is a win-win-win," said AMA President-elect Nancy Nielsen, MD. "It helps both America's seniors and America's children get the health care they need, and it's paid for with a tobacco tax and an end to subsidies to insurance companies. Today, the nation's patients and physicians call on every member of Congress to support this effort for the health of America."

The House will be considering the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act (CHAMP Act) in the next few days. The Act would preserve access to doctors for Medicare patients, limit older Americans' out of pocket costs, strengthen Medicare for lower-income people and extend

Health care coverage to millions of uninsured kids.

The CHAMP Act would be paid for by reducing excess payments to insurance companies and by raising the tobacco tax, which would have the additional benefit of decreasing smoking.

The ad can be viewed on the AARP and AMA Web sites.

www.ama-assn.org

www.aarp.org

 Back to top

Coalition Advises On Disaster Response

Last week a coalition of 18 health organizations led by the American Medical Association and American Public Health Association released a consensus report with 53 strategic recommendations for legislators, government officials and organizational leaders to more effectively prepare for and respond to catastrophic emergencies. The recommendations, especially nine identified as "critical," serve as a national call to action from medicine, dentistry, nursing, hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), and public health. The recommendations seek to strengthen health system preparedness and response through increased funding, greater integration, continued education and training and ensured legal protections for responders.

"Most disasters are unplanned, but the response shouldn't be," said AMA President and WCMSSM member Ronald Davis, MD. "Whether disasters are natural or man-made, infectious disease pandemics or terrorist attacks, physicians, health care professionals and public health workers must be prepared to respond to emergencies and aid in the recovery efforts that follow. We can't predict when a disaster will strike, but as first responders, we can better prepare ourselves and others to protect the health and safety of our patients and citizens."

The AMA and APHA convened the AMA/APHA Linkages Leadership Summit, which met in 2005 in Chicago and 2006 in New Orleans to develop consensus recommendations that would be used to promote a coordinated national agenda for strengthening health system preparedness for terrorism and other disasters. Nine critical recommendations from the consensus report make up a call to action in four categories:

Public health systems must be appropriately funded to adequately respond to day-to-day emergencies and catastrophic mass casualty events;

Public health and disaster response systems must be fully integrated and interoperable at all government levels;

Health care and public health professionals should maintain an appropriate level of education and training; and

Health care and public health responders must be provided and assured adequate legal protections in a disaster.

The AMA/APHA Linkages Leadership Summit project was funded under a cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Terrorism Injuries: Information Dissemination and Exchange (TIIDE) program. For more information or to obtain a copy of the full report, please visit: http://www.ama-assn.org/go/disasterpreparedness

The following organizations are members of the AMA/APHA Linkages Leadership Summit: American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Emergency Physicians; American College of Surgeons; American Dental Association; American Hospital Association; American Medical Association; American Nurses Association; American Osteopathic Association; American Public Health Association; American Trauma Society; Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; Emergency Nurses Association; National Association of County and City Health Officials; National Association of EMS Physicians; National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians; National Association of State EMS Officials; National Native American EMS Association; and State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association.

 Back to top

Edwards Talks Universal Coverage

Presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) at a mid July town hall meeting in Las Vegas said that he would use the "bully pulpit" of the presidency to prompt reforms in the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries and address problems with the "dysfunctional health care system," the Las Vegas Sun reports. During the meeting, held at Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 88, members of an audience of about 300 union members told Edwards about their problems with access to health care. Edwards said, "My universal health care plan covers all the things you're talking about," adding, "No one would ever have to worry about preventive care" (Ritter, Las Vegas Sun, 7/13).

Back to top

Can There Be Compromise In Ethical Disagreements?

The Michigan State Medical Society is proud to invite physicians and other health care professionals to its 11^th annual Conference on Bioethics, scheduled for Friday-Saturday, October 5-6, at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City.

This year’s event, titled “When Values Collide: Integrity Preserving Compromise,” promises lively discussion, expert insight, and the opportunity to share your views on a number of contentious health care issues.  Among this year’s topics and speakers:

·        Integrity Preserving Compromise – Martin Benjamin, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Philosophy, Michigan State University and author, Splitting the Difference: Compromise and Integrity in Ethics and Politics

·        Embryonic Stem Cell Research Revisited: Searching for Integrity Preserving Compromise – Frank Bongiorno, MD, Wound Specialists of Michigan, PLLC, and MSMS Committee on Bioethics; and Ed Rivet, Legislative Director for Right to Life of Michigan

·        Ethical Principles in Sound Decision Making – Leonard Fleck, PhD, Professor, Philosophy and Medical Ethics, Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

·        Mandating HPV Vaccine for All Pre-Teen Girls – Terence Joiner, MD, MHSA, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Health System

·        Transparency in Supervisory Relationships – Ruth B. Hoppe, MD, FACP, Professor of Medicine and Senior Associate Dean Emeritus, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Governor, Michigan Chapter, American College of Physicians

·        Community-Wide Initiatives for Respecting End-of-Life Choices – Michael D. McManus, MD, MA, Medical Ethicist, Munson Medical Center; David P. Blauw, MS, M.Div., Chair, Healthcare Ethics Committee, Holland Hospital; Jane L. Dinnen, RN, Coordinator, Advance Care Planning, Munson Medical Center

·        The Duty to Report Diminished Capacity to Drive – Cheryl C. Farmer, MD, Internist, Department of Medicine, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, and Co-Chair, 11^th Annual Conference on Bioethics

Cost of the program is $175 for physician members, $250 for physician non-members, $175 for nurses, $175 for others, and $100 for spouses or guests.  To help sponsor a medical student, cost is $50.  A maximum of eight hours of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may be earned.

For more information or to register, visit www.msms.org/eo or contact Angie Kemppainen, Education Coordinator, at (517) 336-5724 or akemppainen@msms.org.

 Back to top

This publication brought to you by Natinsky Publishing Network.

Problems seeing this email? You may view it online at http://www.wcmssm.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter contact info@wcmssm.org