Medigram - July 31, 2008 | Wisconsin Medical Society

NEWS BRIEFS

What delegation process is best for you and your patients?

An audioconference discussing how patient care and the scope of practice guidelines affect delegation of tasks to Physician Assistants, Advance Practice Nurses and other professionals and clinical staff will be held Tuesday August 12 from noon to 1 p.m. Risk management consultant Kyle Fromm, BSN, JD, will emphasize patient safety and risk management from a clinical and professional liability perspective.

The audioconference will be hosted by PIC WISCONSIN and calling instructions can be found here after Tuesday, August 5.

Health care requires your input

The Wisconsin Medical Society would like to hear from every physician in Wisconsin regarding health care reform. How well is the current system working? Should any changes be dramatic or incremental? What will best serve our patients in the future?

Physicians who did not fill out a previously mailed survey can complete the survey on-line via a Web site hosted by the Wisconsin Survey Center. The Society is conducting this survey in partnership with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and with support from the American College of Physicians.

AMA campaign focuses on process to reduce administrative costs for claims

As mentioned in Medigram May 8, the American Medical Association is working to help physicans reduce unnecessary administrative time in the health care claims process. The “Health the Claims Process’ campaign was previously named “Cure for Claims.” More information can be found here.

QUALITY & EFFICIENCY

Q&A with Julie Bartels, executive director of WHIO: Key issues

As part of Medigram’s continuing series of articles about the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO) and its role in health care transparency efforts underway in Wisconsin, this week’s installment is a Q&A with WHIO Executive Director Julie Bartels, focusing on current key issues. Previous installments include topics ranging from the Society’s Quality Forum to information about the Data Mart project. Click here to read more.

FOUNDATION FOCUS

Falk named Foundation President

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation made significant progress toward increasing support for medical and health education under the leadership of Ayaz Samadani, MD. Doctor Samadani now passes the torch of leadership to David K. Falk, MD, who formerly served as Treasurer. Doctor Falk was formally approved as new Foundation President by the Wisconsin Medical Society Board of Directors at their meeting on July 19, 2008.

As Dr. Samadani stepped down, he noted his proudest accomplishment as president. “My work with other past presidents to establish the Presidential Scholar Award Fund to provide support and recognition for future medical leaders has been most rewarding.”

Foundation Executive Director Renee Reback explained “what started as a discussion over lunch in 2003 resulted in a $3,000 Presidential Scholar Award to a top medical student each year since 2005.” All four recipients show promise of becoming leaders in medicine through their activities during medical school and strong references from current leaders. Close to $50,000 has been contributed or pledged to make this award available for decades to come.

Doctor Falk lauded his predecessor, while looking to expand on the recent milestones. “In addition to other accomplishments under Dr. Samadani’s tenure, the Foundation was able to increase the number of fellowships offered in 2008 by 10-fold over previous years and I want to build on that success,” said Dr. Falk.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Falk and the following new members of the Foundation Board of Trustees:

Catherine Coyle, RN, PhD, Public Member
Timothy Muldowney, JD, Godfrey and Kahn, Public Member
Sri Vasudevan, MD, Physician Member

Quality Corner

HHS takes new steps to encourage electronic prescribing

In an effort to encourage physicians to adopt e-prescribing systems, Medicare will provide incentive payments beginning in 2009 for physicians who meet the requirements of the program. During the four year program, eligible professionals will receive a 2 percent incentive payment in 2009 and 2010; a 1 percent incentive payment in 2011 and 2012; and a one half percent incentive payment in 2013.

Eligible professionals who are not successful electronic prescribers by 2012 will receive a reduction in payment.

To read more, click here.

FAQ

Question:
Can I re-release health care records to a patient that were generated by another health care provider?

Answer:
Yes. Although many physician office and clinic policies restrict patient access to records prepared at a different clinic or office, neither Wisconsin law nor the HIPAA Privacy Rule dictates such a policy.

Click here to continue...