|
|
|
|
NEED TO KNOW
|
|
|
Registration Deadline Extended to October 22nd for the VMS Physician Wellness Retreat
Join the Vermont Medical Society from Sunday, January 25th at 3pm through Tuesday, January 28th at 12pm for deep rest and a reprieve from the busy-ness of medicine. Experience the benefits of mindfulness, restorative yoga practices and culinary medicine. Cultivate relationships with other physicians while you re-connect with what matters most to you in a grounding, natural environment. Instructors include Dr. Anna Benvenuto, a practicing OBGYN hospitalist, and Doug Wysockey-Johnson, the Program Director of Lumunos. Included with registration are all meals, overnight accommodations at Setu Retreat Center in Brattleboro, 1 massage, and all yoga/meditation/ group sessions & activities.
Registration is open until October 22nd. Learn more and register here. |
|
|
Washington County
Legislative Reception Tomorrow October 16th
Our fall legislative receptions will wrap up
this week, with our last reception being held from 6-8 pm tomorrow night,
October 16th, at Barr Hill in Montpelier. The events have
provided physicians and PAs the opportunity to talk with legislators about the
recent Green Mountain Care Board Act 167 Oliver Wyman report and how the
recommendations could impact patient care in their communities as well as
discuss legislative topics of interest from recruiting more health care
professionals to Vermont to strengthening community services. We hope all
VMS members who live or work in Washington County will join us tomorrow
evening. Learn more and register at: https://vtmd.org/fall-candidate-meet-and-greet-receptions.
Thank you to the members who have attended all of the receptions this fall and
we look forward to seeing many of you at morning coffee events we are planning
this winter at the Statehouse in Montpelier.
|
|
|
Board of Medical Practice Scam Alert; Reminder Vermont MD Licenses Expire November 30th
The Board has of Medical Practice has released an updated Scam Alert – the Board was recently notified that a physician was called by someone claiming that they were from the Board of Medical Practice. The call showed on the Caller ID as coming from the Board's main telephone line. Frequently scammers claim to be medical board investigators, DEA agents, or FBI agents. In several reported cases, the scammers claimed that the professionals' medical licenses or prescribing permits had been compromised and were being used by criminals in drug trafficking schemes. If you have any doubt at all about the source of the call, tell the caller that you will contact the Board, then hang up and call the Board of Medical Practice office to confirm whether a Board staff member was calling you. For more information and recommendations on how to recognize a scam call and respond, visit: https://www.healthvermont.gov/systems/board-medical-practice.
A reminder to all MD members that MD license renewals are due by November 30th of this year. Any license issued prior to September 1st of this year will also expire on November 30th. For more information, including CME hour requirements for 2024 and CME FAQs, see the Board of Medical Practice website, here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/systems/board-medical-practice/applications-licensing-and-fees. For information on no- or low- cost courses that meet the CME requirements, see the VMS CME webpage here: https://vtmd.org/cme-requirements-and-course-resources |
|
|
|
|
AMA Update on Shortage of Sterile Fluids
The American Medical Association understands that many physicians are concerned about the shortage of IV fluids that were caused by the floods from Hurricane Helene. The AMA has been in touch with the Biden administration, and the administration is taking multiple steps to address the shortage. The Department of Health Human Services (HHS) circulated a letter with information about the shortage. Also, here is a link to the FDA site with the latest updates on the issue. Baxter, the primary manufacturer impacted by the hurricane, also maintains a website for updates. Additionally, groups such as the American Society for Health-System Pharmacists and HHS have developed guidances for how to best conserve or substitute sterile fluids.
The Commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration, Robert Califf, MD, insists that when there are problems at the local level the agency wants to hear about it. Please reach out to Jessa Barnard at jbarnard@vtmd.org and we will share information with the AMA. The AMA will continue to monitor the situation and weigh in with HHS as appropriate. |
|
|
Register Today for the 2024 Collaborative Meeting
The 2024 Collaborative Meeting of the Vermont Medical Society, American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, and Vermont Psychiatric Association being held Friday, November 1st through Saturday, November 2nd at Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, VT.
You don’t want to miss this opportunity to come together to learn, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues around the state. Register today for the meeting and to ensure you have childcare! |
|
|
|
|
MISC.
|
Medical Aid In Dying (MAID) Listening Sessions with Patient Choices Vermont Physicians Diana Barnard, Zail Berry, & Jaina Clough
Do you have thoughts or questions about prescribing for Act 39/Medical Aid in Dying?
Have you experienced prescribing MAID, either for Vermont residents or patients from out-of-state? What barriers do you anticipate, or have you encountered?
Patient Choices Vermont wants to hear your questions and concerns, to lower logistical or other barriers for physicians whose patients ask about MAID, and to provide requested information.
Sign up to participate with other Vermont physicians in one of the following virtual informal listening sessions:
|
|
|
Medscape Report: PA Burnout Rates Rival Those of Doctors
In a recent Medscape report on physician assistant burnout and depression, one PA summed it up: “I feel used at work and pressured to do more and more without the resources needed.” Explore the key factors fueling burnout and discover how to better support PAs in their demanding roles. Read the report here. |
|
|
Rep. Balint Joins Letter on Medicare Physician Payment
Representative Becca Balint has joined with 233 bipartisan co-signers (140 Ds, 93 Rs) on a letter urging House leadership to expeditiously replace the 2.8% Medicare cut slated for 2025 with a payment update reflective of inflationary pressures before January 1, 2025. See the letter here. VMS thanks our Congressional delegation, including Representative Balint, for leadership on this issue. |
|
|
DMH Quarterly Update October 2024
Click here to find the latest Department of Mental Health quarterly update for the legislature, covering topics including the current number of beds in use, an update on
Certified Community Based integrated Health Centers, mental health urgent care, 988 and enhanced mobile crisis. |
|
|
Next Commissioner Call November 7th
The Commissioner of Health, Mark Levine, MD, will hold his next Public Health Update with VMS Members Thursday, October 3rd at 12:30 pm. You can join the zoom meetings here.
He held his most recent VMS member call on October 3rd. Notes from the call are here. |
EVENTS
|
|
|
Mental Health Urgent Care Webinar
October 16, 2024, 6pm -7:30pm
Virtual Webinar
This October Howard Center will open a new Mental Health Urgent Care in partnership with the University of Vermont Medical Center, Community Health Centers, Pathways Vermont, and the Vermont Department of Mental Health. The clinic will offer mental health support services, peer support, and medical care in a trauma-informed, suicide-safe setting located at 1 South Prospect Street in Burlington. Care will be available for adults over 18 seeking immediate support or in self-defined crisis as a therapeutic alternative to emergency department care. You can learn more about Mental Health Urgent Care and watch a recording of the first town hall here.
Register here.
|
|
|
2024 Clinical Quality Symposium - Comprehensive Care Nourishing Minds, Bodies, and Communities
October 16th Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, VT Explore key topics like food as medicine, poverty's impact on brain health, care coordination in hypertension, acute help for patients needing behavioral health supports, and how weight stigma impacts management of chronic conditions. This event offers valuable insights, networking opportunities, and actionable strategies to enhance patient care and drive positive change in health care.For more details on the sessions, speakers and to register, please visit here.
|
|
|
Vermont ACP Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting
October 18, 2024
Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, VT
Join us for the in-person Vermont ACP Chapter's Annual Scientific Meeting.
Meeting Highlights
- Atrial Fibrillation Update
- Lung Cancer Screening
- Update in Hospital Medicine
- Update in General Internal Medicine
- Physician Wellness
- Principles in the Care of Gender Diverse Persons
- Things We Do For No Reason
- Public Health Highlights
Designated for a maximum of 4.5 AMA PRAA Category 1 credit(s) and up to 4.5 medical knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Visit the Meeting Hub for registration, agenda and details of the meeting here.
|
|
|
How to Protect your Practice and Patients from Cybersecurity Threats
Webinar
October 18th, 1:30pm EST
After the Change Healthcare cyberattack earlier this year, cybersecurity has become a central concern for physicians and patients alike. Join us for this AMA Advocacy Insights webinar on Oct. 18 at 1:30 p.m. eastern time to learn about how to implement appropriate cybersecurity measures to protect your practice as well as your patients against the cybersecurity challenges of today. Also hear about advocacy that is underway to strengthen cybersecurity systems and provide support to physician practices for enhancing their cyberhygiene. Register here. |
|
|
|
|
Care, Connections, and Community: Supporting Behavioral Health of Pregnant and Postpartum People
Webinar
October 29th, 1:00pm - 3:30pm EST
This event is part of a webinar series that includes the September 2022 New England Maternal Health Summit and the April 2024 webinar titled Progress Through Policy: Advancing Birth Equity and Maternal Health in New England.
This webinar will highlight programs, resources, and innovative approaches that improve behavioral health of pregnant and postpartum people in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Register here. |
|
|
Learning Collaboratives on In-Basket Reduction and Reducing Regulatory Burden
October 2024 – March 2025
AMA STEPS Forward® Innovation Academy is launching two new, six-month learning collaboratives on optimizing the in-basket to reduce work burden and rethinking how organizations apply regulatory rules to clinical practice. Each collaborative will convene dyads or triads of leadership representatives from multiple organizations to engage in a longitudinal shared learning experience. Limited space available. Learn more.
|
|
|
For more information about offerings from UVM
CMIE, visit here. |
|
|
|
|
Vermont Medical Society 134 Main Street Montpelier, VT 05602 -- Unsubscribe -- |
|
|
|
.png)
