January 2013 - Spokane County Medical Society

Transcription

message
THE
A MON T HLY NE WS M AG A ZINE OF
SPOKANE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY – JANUARY 2013
WELCOME TO YOUR
2013 SCMS
By Anne Oakley, MD
SCMS President
Do You See What I See?
Spokane Leads the Country in
Applying Brain Science to Keep
Us Healthy
What’s New with Consistent
Care Washington?
The Story of One
Healing for the Homeless
welcome home
WINTER PACKAGE #1
AT M O U N TA I N L O D G E
*
featuring one night in a Standard Room
WINTER PACKAGE #2
AT S PA T O W E R S *
featuring one night in a Deluxe Room
20% OFF on any service or retail purchase
at Spa Ssakwa’q’n
$80 Spa Ssakwa’q’n credit with complimentary day pass
for two to enjoy the amenities (valued at $40).
$10 Extra Play Cash • $10 Gas Coupon
$50 Extra Play Cash • $10 Gas Coupon
$109.98
$299.98
*Mention offer code WINTER1 or WINTER2 when booking at 1 800 523-2464.
Subject to availability. Offers valid Sun – Thurs through March 15 th, 2013.
All stays incur a 7% tribal tax. 24-hour cancellation policy.Must be a Rewards member. Ask how!
1 800 523-2464 | CDAC A SI N O.COM |
/CDAC A SI N O R E S O RT
25 miles south of Coeur d’Alene at the junction of US-95 and Hwy-58
January SCMS The Message Open2
T a b l e o f C o n t e n ts
2013 Officers and
Board of Trustees
Anne Oakley, MD
President
David Bare, MD,
President-Elect
Terri Oskin, MD
Immediate Past President
Shane McNevin, MD
Vice President
Matt Hollon, MD,
Secretary-Treasurer
Trustees:
Robert Benedetti, MD
Audrey Brantz, MD
Karina Dierks, MD
Clinton Hauxwell, MD
Charles Benage, MD
J. Edward Jones, MD
Louis Koncz, PA-C
Gary Newkirk, MD
Fredric Shepard, MD
Carla Smith, MD
Newsletter editor –
David Bare, MD
Welcome to Your 2013 SCMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Do You See What I See? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Spokane Leads the Country in Applying Brain Science to Keep Us Healthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
What’s New with Consistent Care Washington? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Healing for the Homeless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
The House of Charity Medical Clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Health Care Inequalities Seen In Community Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Spokane Community Health Centers Impact the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
How’s Project Access Doing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Council on Health Disparities Works to Promote Health Equity for All Washingtonians . . . . . . . 12
CPIN Can Help Reengineer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
In The News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2013 SCMS Officers and Board of Trustees Elected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Membership Recognition for January 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Continuing Medical Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Meetings/Conferences/Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
New Physicians and Physician Assistants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Spokane County
Medical Society Message
A monthly newsletter published by
the Spokane County Medical Society.
The annual subscription rate is $21.74
(this includes the 8.7% tax rate).
Advertising Correspondence
Quisenberry
Marketing & Design
Attn: Lisa Poole
518 S. Maple
Spokane, WA 99204
509-325-0701
Fax 509-325-3889
[email protected]
Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Of
all the forms of inequality, injustice
in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
All rights reserved. This publication,
or any part thereof, may not be
reproduced without the express
written permission of the Spokane
County Medical Society. Authors’
opinions do not necessarily reflect the
official policies of SCMS nor the Editor
or publisher. The Editor reserves
the right to edit all contributions
for clarity and length, as well as
the right not to publish submitted
articles and advertisements,
for any reason. Acceptance of
advertising for this publication in
no way constitutes Society approval
or endorsement of products or
services advertised herein.
January SCMS The Message Open3
Welcome to Your 2013 SCMS
By Anne Oakley, MD
SCMS President
Hello fellow members of the Spokane County
Medical Society and welcome to 2013! My name is Anne Oakley and I am your new
president. My first duty as the new President
is to thank our last President Terri Oskin for her great service! She
and our executive Director Keith Baldwin, his staff and our Board
of Directors have accomplished much this past year, and the work
continues.
I have been a member of the Spokane County Medical Society since
joining the Physician Anesthesia Group at Sacred Heart in 1992. My
husband, Russ Oakley, is a fellow member and works as an Orthopaedist
for Providence Inland Orthopaedics. I have a great life—a strong
marriage, two great kids in college and a group of partners in my
practice that make me feel proud every day. I enjoy traveling, skiing,
hiking, gardening, cooking, entertaining, sewing, reading and working
hard to keep myself and those I love happy and healthy.
We chose Spokane off the map 20 years ago from our far-away
homes on the East Coast primarily because of the amazing medical
community it had to offer, and have never regretted the decision. The size of Spokane’s medical community was especially appealing
to two doctors trying to avoid performing cases together (much
better on a marriage!), but who preferred not to raise a family in
a big city. We wanted to live in a safe town that was close to the
outdoor activities we love, had excellent schools and offered plenty
of nice neighborhoods only 10 minutes from work. Spokane has
exceeded our expectations in every way! Our friends and family
from back East still cannot believe we left for Washington, and
continue to ask if it rains here every day. So why am I jumping into this role and writing this message today
(and every other month) for the next year??? I am not really sure! But
I do believe that now—more than ever in our history—doctors need
an organization that brings us together and provides a united voice.
Every few years since I have become a doctor there has been a new
governmental policy, malpractice crisis, health care remodeling, cut
in payments or regulation. DRGs , HMOs, HIPAA, ACOs etc., etc. All
predicted to “ruin the practice of medicine as we know it.” Through it all we have managed to take good care of our patients,
continue learning and inspire bright young men and women to
follow in our footsteps. Why does “medicine as we know it”
keep surviving? I think it is pride in our profession that keeps us
performing, and that the Medical Society is supportive—even
critical—to this sense of pride in a profession that everyone else
wants to control and regulate.
Toward this end of remaining a united group of professionals, the
Medical Society has spent the last year creating a new strategic plan
to enhance its relevance to its members and further the mission of
safeguarding our community’s health and wellness. The new plan,
which The Message has outlined in several previous issues, addresses
our shifting demographics. Those shifts include a large change
from private group practice to employed practice models, a higher
percentage of female members and a generational change as the
“GenXers” replace the “Boomers” as the predominant age group. The “GenYers” will be old enough to be doctors soon, too! We need
to help each other navigate the changes in health care. Each group
has its strengths, as well as something to learn from the other.
During the next year we will be implementing the new strategic
plan, which can involve any member with an interest to participate!
Let me know what you want from your medical society. Encourage
physicians to maintain their membership or rejoin if it has lapsed. Pay attention to health care policy and use your voice, individually
and as a group!
Happy 2013! January SCMS The Message 1
Do You See What I See?
By Heather Wallace, Youth Coordinator
Spokane Youth Photovoice Project
In the summer of 2012, three Ferris High School sophomores worked with
staff and interns from the Spokane Regional Health District to research
alcohol and tobacco advertising in their home neighborhood utilizing a
method called Photovoice. The project started with the question, “How
does alcohol and tobacco advertising affect youth in East Central?”
Photovoice is a method of participatory action research that is
becoming increasingly more common in public health research. The
process, developed by Caroline Wang and Mary Ann Burris 1 in the
1990s, seeks to give voice to disempowered groups by allowing them
to capture images of conditions in their lives and then define the
deeper social significance of those images.
The teens used a survey called the Community Assessment of
Neighborhood Stores to assess grocery, discount and convenience
stores as to their placement, pricing and advertising for alcohol and
tobacco and healthy food products (specifically milk, eggs and fresh
fruits and vegetables). They compared stores in the East Central
neighborhood (lower South Hill east of Division) with those less than
five miles away in the more affluent neighborhood of Comstock (the
area of 29th Avenue and Grand Boulevard).
The young people also looked
at the data produced in the
Spokane Regional Health
District’s 2012 Health Inequities
Report. According to the report,
nearly 45% of adults living in
the East Central neighborhood
indicated that they had lived with
a problem drinker or alcoholic
before they turned 18. The
comparable rate for Comstock
was only 20%. Even more striking
was the difference in the rate
of tobacco users - 30.5% for
East Central and only 11.5%
for Comstock. The maternal
smoking rate of 28.7% in East
Central equates to a 500% higher
rate than Comstock’s 5.7%.
Those and other socio-ecological factors contribute to the statistic
that most startled the fifteen-year-old researchers; that there is a nine
year difference in life expectancy for 15-17 year-old individuals based
on whether they live in East Central (approximately 56 more years) or
Comstock (approximately 65 more years).
The images they captured demonstrate how alcohol advertising
frequently targets youth. For example, the design of the high-alcohol
content beverage, Four Loko, is remarkably similar to that of the
popular energy drink, Rockstar. Both products are bottled in vibrantcolored cans and eye-catching, youth-friendly logos. Although it
appears youth-friendly, Four Lokos is 12% alcohol by volume.
The youth were also struck by how frequently alcohol products were
placed directly next to items meant for children and youth such as
candy, ice cream and soda. The youth researchers wanted to know,
“Why, what is the subtle advertising message?” They surmised that
producers place alcoholic beverages in those locations in order to
minimize the perception of their inherent risk and create a scripted
desire for them as “treats.”
Busch advertisement at the
Conoco gas station on the
corner of 29th Avenue and
Grand Boulevard.
Busch advertisement at QuikiMart on Sprague Avenue and
Havana Street
In their comparative study the youth researchers found that there were
twice as many alcohol advertisements in the East Central area than
there were in the Comstock area. They were even more shocked by
the different types of images used to advertise the same products.
The stores located in Comstock displayed images of Americana such
as fish, flags and vintage memorabilia, whereas the images in East
Central were of provocatively dressed women and gangsters.
Continued on page 3
January SCMS The Message 2
Continued from page 2
After completing the photography and analysis portions of the
project the youth developed action tasks in two categories: personal
responsibility and those that they would go on to seek support
for from policy-makers in the community. Their areas of personal
responsibility included:
• Testifying in front of the Liquor Control Board in support of the
Alcohol Impact Area for East Central. (The measure passed summer
2012)
They also recommended that a “Family-Friendly” business criterion
be developed to honor businesses that choose to frame their business
practices in ways that support youth and families in the neighborhood.
For further information or questions regarding the Spokane Youth
Photovoice Project, please contact the Youth Coordinator, Heather
Wallace at (509) 990-0566.
1 Wang, C., & Burris, M. (1994). Empowerment through photo
novella: Portraits of participation. Health Education Quarterly,
21(2), 171-186. doi:10.1177/109019819402100204
• Presenting to the Spokane City Council regarding laws currently
exempting Spokane and Spokane Valley from certain alcohol
advertising restrictions.
• Connecting with East Central organizations and businesses
regarding voluntary changes to their advertising practices.
• Enlisting neighbors in a neighborhood clean-up. (Completed fall 2012).
• Continuing to educate the community through their Photovoice
presentation.
The youth asked the community adults and most specifically
those with the ability to affect policy decisions to support them by
considering voluntary or statute-imposed changes to alcohol and
tobacco advertising and placement.
From left to right: Megan Wallace, Elizabeth Wallace and Dustin
Schaefer
Spokane Leads the Country
in Applying Brain Science
to Keep Us Healthy
By Kristen West
Vice President , Grant Programs EHF
and Rowena Pineda, M.Ed.
Program Manager
Neighborhoods Matter & Weaving Bright Futures SRHD
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study conducted in the
1990s by Dr. Robert Anda of the Centers for Disease Control and Dr.
Vincent Felitti of Kaiser Permanente examined the childhood origins
of many of our leading health and social problems. According the
Dr. Anda’s article, The Health and Social Impact of Growing Up with
Adverse Childhood Experiences, the key concept is that stressful or
traumatic childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, witnessing
domestic violence, or growing up with alcohol or other substance
abuse, mental illness, parental discord or crime in the home are a
common pathway to social, emotional and cognitive impairments
that lead to increased risk of unhealthy behaviors, risk of violence
or re-victimization, disease, disability and premature mortality.
Furthermore, ACEs have been shown to disrupt brain and organ
development causing lasting effects on brain structure and function.
If the ACEs are chronic and persistent, complex trauma may result.
A newly released book, “Scared Sick” by Robin Karr-Morse,
connects psychology, neurobiology, endocrinology, immunology
and epigenetics to demonstrate how chronic trauma in pregnancy,
infancy and early childhood lies at the root of common diseases.
This book is a collection of cutting edge scientific findings that link
persistent stress to diabetes, heart disease, obesity, depression and
addiction later in life.
Washington State is a leader in the nation for recognizing that
ACEs are an underlying cause for stress and complex trauma
impacting health. Washington State uniquely collects ACEs data
by county through Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. In
Spokane County, an in depth study conducted by Washington State
University’s Area Health Education Center (WSU-AHEC) involving 10
elementary schools in four school districts found that out of 2,101
randomly selected students, 23% of children have been exposed to
two or more ACEs. Of those, 55% were eligible for free or reduced
price lunches. The study also found that 35% of the students
with two or more ACEs experience academic problems, 45%
have attendance problems and 42% have serious school behavior
problems. Furthermore, frequently reported poor health (defined
as at least once a month interfering with school) occurred in 8% of
children but was four times more likely to occur in children with three
or more ACEs.
Several organizations in Spokane are doing pioneering work on ACEs
and complex trauma. Those efforts build the resilience of children,
families and the broader community to overcome the negative
impact of ACEs. WSU-AHEC, through a grant from the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation, is using a unified school-improvement
model with six elementary schools in four school districts to integrate
evidence-based social-emotional learning (SEL) practices for all
students, with trauma sensitive responses for at-risk students. Their
goals are to: 1) increase academic outcomes and 2) demonstrate
how schools can be a practical vehicle for addressing the effects of
traumatic stress in children. The Spokane Regional Health District
(SRHD) is a partner in this effort. SRHD embeds two public health
nurses (PHNs) in the schools. The PHNs work closely with WSUAHEC in the implementation of the Attachment, Self-Regulation,
Competency (ARC) framework that is developed by Dr. Margaret
Blaustein and Kristine Kinniburgh. It is a components-based model
that identifies three core domains of intervention for children and
adolescents who have experienced trauma and their caregiving
systems: attachment, self-regulation and competency. Within those
three domains, nine building blocks of interventions are identified
including caregiver affect management, attunement, consistent
response, routines and rituals, affect identification, modulation, affect
expression, executive functions and self-development and identity.
A tenth target of intervention, trauma experience integration, involves
an integration of all other targets, including both external resources
and individual skills, addressed within this intervention framework.
Empire Health Foundation (EHF) is interested in investing in policy
and program strategies to prevent ACEs and to mitigate their
impacts through greater resilience. EHF has conducted a Spokane
metro sector readiness assessment that is available on their website,
www.empirehealthfoundation.org. In addition, EHF is funding the
first three-year start-up of a Spokane Tribe Network that will focus
on historical trauma. EHF is also participating in a statewide publicprivate partnership to evaluate the effectiveness of community
capacity building coalitions to prevent and mitigate ACEs. Six sites
statewide will be chosen to participate in the evaluation. Community
partners interested in learning more about the statewide publicprivate partnership should contact Kristen West, Vice President, EHF
at [email protected].
In April of 2013, we have an opportunity to bring together service
providers, health care, government agencies, philanthropy,
businesses and education to begin to develop a plan on how to
build a resilient community. Our Kids Our Business is planning to
bring Robin Karr-Morse, author of “Scared Sick,” to Spokane. Ms.
Karr-Morse will share her research on ACEs and set the stage for
a community discussion on how we can promote trauma-sensitive
practices within organizations and through policy. Pediatricians,
primary care practitioners, OB-GYNs, ED practitioners, etc. could
all play a significant role through early identification and by learning
complex stress-informed practices that could be effective with high
users of the health care system. Members of the Medical Society
who are interested in attending this event to learn more and become
part of the community response should contact Rowena Pineda at
the Spokane Regional Health District, [email protected].
What’s New with Consistent
Care Washington?
By Lee Taylor
Director Strategic Initiatives
Consistent Care Washington (CCW) – One of the
Regional Strategic Initiatives and a Major Component of
the New Mission of the Spokane County Medical Society
The community health and wellness regional strategic initiatives are
programs of the Spokane County Medical Society Foundation, which
is governed by the executive committee of the Spokane County
Medical Society. The initiatives are carried out in two programs Project Access and Consistent Care Washington.
The following is a summary of the current activities in Consistent Care
Washington:
1.
Emergency Department (ED) to Primary Care Program
The ED to Primary Care Program provides access to primary care
medical services from providers willing to donate their services,
for low-income uninsured people residing in Spokane County.
Participating providers are Group Health and Providence Internal
Medicine Residency Spokane. They provide no cost care for up to
six months for 50 patients per year referred by all four Spokane EDs.
Currently 35 clients are receiving care through the program. Client
care includes ongoing care coordination and support including help
with connections to behavioral health and other community services.
2.
Behavioral Health Workgroup
This workgroup brings together the ED providers, case management
staff, hospital Psych staff and providers of behavioral health services
to establish community-wide protocols and pathways for discharging
acute mentally ill patients from the local hospital EDs in Spokane.
On December 12 over 30 people from all four hospitals and the key
providers of behavioral health services participated in an all-day
facilitated meeting creating a plan for community wide changes
designed to improve patient care and operational efficiency in the EDs.
3.
Prescription for Housing Community Care Coordination
CCW received a grant from the City of Spokane called the Health
Homeless Housing Systems Integration Pilot Project. The community
name for the project is Prescription for Housing because the clients
who will benefit from the services provided need health care services
to “turn the ship” in the right direction for successful transition away
from homelessness. The pilot project will serve approximately 40
homeless persons with complex medical conditions.
Early progress in the project has created new communication
protocols for hospital social workers to identify homeless patients and
refer them to a housing services coordinator. The coordinator works
collaboratively with the social workers on a discharge plan that moves
the homeless patient as quickly as possible to safe housing. The
multidisciplinary team then connects the patient with an appropriate
medical home that manages the patient’s condition in the home
setting and dramatically reduces the chance of hospital readmission.
4.
“Hot-Spotters” Community Collaboration
This activity identifies high risk patients with a history of high
utilization of health care services and develops a community care
plan that provides the best care available while working to reduce
community costs. On December 12, a community group including
the Fire and Police Departments, behavioral health providers and
Consistent Care Washington staff met to develop a plan for a person
with a history of very high utilization of the “911” emergency system
and being transported to the ED as many as 40 times over two
months. The meeting was the beginning of an important focus on
community-wide collaboration to solve some of the most challenging
medical and behavioral health challenges in the community.
Please call me if you have questions or if you have ideas that you
would like to share, at (509) 220-2651 or email me at [email protected].
The Story of One
By Scott Hippe, MS1
UWSOM
"Carla, is there a Carla here?" I ask the group of patients waiting
to be seen at the House of Charity Clinic. I am a first-year UW
medical student at the Riverpoint Campus. As a class we support
this clinic on a completely volunteer basis along with community
physicians. A woman seated in the corner of the room stands
gingerly and walks into the exam room. Her shoulders are
hunched and her head is angled down towards the tile floor.
She blinks and a single tear slowly slides down her cheek, shimmering
in the fluorescent lighting coming from the ceiling above.
"What can we do for you today, Carla?" I inquire.
"I... need... help," she begins with a quivering lower lip. "My
endometriosis is getting worse. The doctor didn't get it all when I
had surgery. My belly hurts. And my back. I can't hold my son like
I used to. You can't imagine how depressing it is. Nothing helps.
Ice, Advil, pain pills. Nothing. I can't function anymore. And then
there's the test..."
I momentarily stop my frantic note-taking to glance up at her. She
cannot contain her emotions any longer and begins to sob in earnest.
Continued on page 7
NO SERVICE?
NO PROBLEM—
WE’VE GOT
YOU COVERED.
Every patient you refer to us will have
their end-of-life care needs met, 24/7.
To refer, call 509-456-0438.
Northeast Washington’s only nonprofit hospice
"I ran out of medicine for my ADHD. Next week I take the
manager's test at the fast food restaurant where I work. But
without the medicine I can't focus. I need to pass that test so I can
get benefits. Otherwise I—" she pauses to clear her eyes and wipe
her nose, "—I'm at the end my rope."
The physician preceptor and I did everything we could for Carla.
She stood a little taller and looked the world in the eyes as she
left the clinic. My soul was moved, and to this day I continue to
wonder how she did on her manager's test. I will not forget how
she cried. That is why I signed up to be a doctor after all, to help
people who find themselves in times of need.
There are plenty of people in great need both near and far. Health
inequities run deep in our Spokane community. For example, life
expectancy is about fifteen years higher for residents of South
Hill neighborhoods compared to residents downtown. Teen
pregnancy rates are thirteen times higher in West Central than in
Manito. But the numbers are cold and, if anything, discourage me
from engaging in issues of health inequity. Statistics and data do
not capture what health inequity is really about.
Behind every statistic is a story and a human being with hopes,
dreams and fears. Carla's story compels me to continue as a medical
student and to become a future physician who is committed to
reducing health inequity. Not because it seems like the statistically
sound thing to do, but because addressing health inequity changed
Carla's story and will change the stories of many like her for the
better. I offer my efforts and support to House of Charity, Spokanearea students and other projects in the community because I want
others to look the world in the eyes like Carla did.
The title of this article comes from a simple quote that says
"the story of one is the story of us all." And we—the poor and
rich, unfortunate and fortunate, healthy and sick—are all in this
together. I for one will be playing a part in writing a good end
to our story, and I hope you consider taking up the pen to be an
author yourself.
UGM staff assisted Larry with the paperwork to apply for Project
Access, a network of local hospitals and doctors serving the poor.
When all was said and done, Larry had no bills from the surgery
that required an overnight stay at Sacred Heart Medical Center.
“This is life changing for me because I’m able-bodied and ready
to get back to work,” Larry said.
UGM has two free medical clinics serving the poor and homeless.
One is located at the Men’s Shelter on East Trent Avenue and
the other is for women and children at Anna Ogden Hall on West
Mallon Avenue. In addition to serving guests from both shelters,
the men’s clinic sees people off the streets as walk-ins and the
women’s clinic serves guests from the UGM’s Crisis Shelter for
Women & Children on East Sprague Avenue. A third clinic will soon
be operational at the new Center for Women & Children in Coeur
d’Alene, Idaho. An eye clinic is also available at the Men’s Shelter.
“The existence of the clinics means that those people with
hypertension, diabetes, depression, respiratory issues, urinary
tract infections – who have no ability to pay and would otherwise
have no other recourse than to go to the ED – are able to get
the medical care they need,” said Jenny Edminster, a nurse
practitioner who volunteers at UGM on a weekly basis.
The UGM medical clinics conducted 1,237 patient visits over
the past 12 months. The majority of those clients have been
in survival mode for a long time. Having to deal with being
homeless, suffering from abuse, addiction and dangerously low
self-esteem, they are primarily concerned about where they (and
often their children) are going to sleep and what they are going
to eat. Once their immediate needs of food and shelter are met,
the goal is to break the cycle of homelessness in their lives by
addressing the myriad of factors behind it – physical, emotional,
social, educational and spiritual. Taking care of themselves –
believing they are worth the effort – is often a new idea and one
that must be encouraged and reinforced.
Healing for the Homeless
By Barbara Comito
Staff Writer
Union Gospel Mission
When he arrived at the Union Gospel Mission (UGM), Larry had a
hernia that prevented him from working. Having worked
survival-type jobs most of his life he had no money and no
insurance. By the end of each day, he was often doubled over in
pain. Dr. Allen Seely, one of the volunteer doctors who serves in
the UGM medical clinic, examined Larry and arranged for him to
see a surgeon who agreed to repair the hernia free of charge.
UGM patient Larry with Dr. Allen Seely
Continued on page 9
COLUMBIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATES
Diagnostic Excellence
is currently seeking a BC/BE Internist to join
Spanning the State
our Northside Internal Medicine Group in
Spokane, Washington to meet our increased
service utilization. We are a group of over 40
physicians providing comprehensive medical
care to families and individuals of all ages
within the Spokane region. The position
offers the following:
•Flexible schedules and outstanding teams
make this opportunity worth exploring.
•Competitive Salary and Generous Benefit
Packages
•Conveniently located only two blocks from
Holy Family Hospital
•Established relationship with local hospitalist
group for admitting, rounding, and discharge
Our physicians are committed to maintaining
the health and well being of all their patients
through preventive care measures and
working closely with community specialists.
Our new partnership with Group Health and
collaborative care models ensure patients
have access to the best care in Spokane.
Two premier laboratories have
joined forces to deliver
progressive diagnostics and
patient care to the Northwest.
InCyte Pathology and Eastside Pathology
have entered into a merger agreement.
The merger will create a northwest
regional pathology practice where
physicians and hospitals can access
36 board certified pathologists
with expertise in
27 disciplines and subspecialties.
To apply or inquire for further information
please contact:
Nancy Longcoy, Physician Recruiter
[email protected]; Ph: 206-448-6132
Learn more by visiting www.incytepathology.com
or calling 509.892.2700
Proudly serving the greater Spokane
healthcare community since 1957
This holistic approach requires a long-term commitment and a
willingness to stand by people over the long haul. “Three-fourths
of what we do here is education,” said Clinic Coordinator Susan
Vowell, BSN, with the major emphases being smoking cessation,
eating right and exercising. The goal is for each individual
entering UGM’s recovery programs to receive a physical exam
and to assume personal responsibility for his or her health by
sitting down with a medical professional and creating a long-term
wellness plan with incremental goals.
Dr. Charlie Wolfe, who has been serving at UGM’s medical
clinic for 16 years, said the average age of the men he sees
has dropped considerably over that time. He now sees a large
number of men in their late twenties and early thirties. When he
first started, his Mission patients were predominantly in their late
fifties or sixties and suffering the effects of decades of alcohol
abuse. “Now, the number one problem is meth,” said Dr. Wolfe.
“They are aging prematurely. It affects everything: their blood
pressures are up; their lungs are damaged; their skin is older; their
teeth are terrible. It’s a premature aging and, along with that,
come the diseases of aging.”
Dr. Wolfe added that if even half of the patients seen in the
UGM medical clinics in a year ended up in the area’s emergency
departments, the costs (estimated at $500 per visit) would have added
up to over $300,000. It is also important to note that UGM operates
100% free of government funding and practices careful stewardship. In
2011, 88% of funding went directly to program services.
UGM has been meeting the needs of the poor and homeless
for over 60 years and is privileged to partner in its health and
wellness efforts with the Empire Health Foundation, the Safeco
Insurance Foundation, Bank of America, Every Woman Can and
the Eastern Washington Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure,
as well as the extraordinary medical professionals who volunteer
their time in our clinics.
“I believe the Mission is a picture of the church community caring
for the poor in the way God designed,” said UGM Executive
Director Phil Altmeyer. “The doctors and nurses who serve in our
medical clinics are the reaching arms and healing hands of Christ,
and we are incredibly blessed by their dedication and enthusiasm.”
Dr. Charlie Wolfe examining a UGM patient
The House of Charity
Medical Clinic
By Jerry Schwab
Assistant Director House of Charity
The House of Charity Medical Clinic is the oldest free medical clinic in
the state of Washington, running for over thirty-six years. It was founded
by Sister Peter Claver, Sacred Heart president, in 1976 to provide high
quality, basic medical care, without cost, to the homeless, indigent,
elderly and underserved of Spokane. The House of Charity is the host
for the clinic, with Providence Sacred Heart providing resources and
volunteer doctors and nurses. The clinic is the only completely free clinic
in Spokane. It doesn’t even take medical coupons.
For the majority of those years, Dr. Arch Logan oversaw the clinic.
He has retired his license recently but continues to help organize the
clinic in its off hours. The clinic runs on Tuesday and Friday afternoons
and now also on Saturday morning with the help of the University
of Washington Medical School at WSU to provide service learning
opportunity for first and third year medical students. Dr. LeRoy Byrd
is now the clinic director.
The clinic provides primary care to homeless and low-income
community members. One day last week there were 13 new patients
out of the 25 seen. Of the 1,000 plus patients seen in a year, 85% are
seen three or fewer times. Dr. Logan saw one patient for over 15 years.
The clinic takes the load off of local emergency departments except
in cases where there are severe acute life-threatening issues. Many
patients report frustration with other health care providers because
they feel they are dismissed or discounted due to being poor,
homeless or powerless.
Most commonly seen issues are respiratory infections, skin
infections (MRSA), abdominal problems, joint conditions, diabetes,
hypertension, hepatitis, foot care and mental health concerns
(depression, bi-polar, schizophrenia, and anxiety).
The House of Charity is located at 32 West Pacific Avenue. For more
information call (509) 624-7821.
Health Care Inequalities
Seen In Community Health
By Rita Davis MSN,
FNP-C, Lead Provider Spokane Urgent Care
On any given day a community health center in Spokane sees an
average of 215 uninsured patients that range in age from infants to
the elderly. They are representative of both those who have been
of low socioeconomic status their entire lives and the “new poor”,
people who once had good jobs or businesses of their own and now
find themselves unemployed and uninsured. Those in middle age
are the hardest hit by this. They are the people who are getting to
the point in life where they need some medical care so the loss of
insurance hits them hard. They are also the ones finding it hardest to
secure a new job that provides them with insurance. Patients new to community health centers are characteristically
different from those who have adequate medical coverage. They
rarely come here early in their disease process or condition. They
wait for care. They wait because they know they will have to pay outof-pocket for the visit and for any labs, radiology or medication they
need. They may also wait because they are not aware that there are
organizations in Spokane that offer care on a sliding scale. Those patients also come to us with conditions that would better be
worked up in the emergency department (ED), including chest pain,
because they are unable to pay an ED bill. Many of them tell us they
are here instead of the ED because they have already learned what
it is like to owe money on a medical bill. Yes, the hospitals may write
off some of their costs, but rarely do medical providers, ambulance
companies or radiology afford the same charity. Some have had
their lives completely turned upside down by an illness while not
insured. They tell stories of daily calls from collection agencies,
bad credit (which many employers check during the hiring process),
bankruptcy and increased stress in their lives. Delay in care often leaves those patients with a much more
complicated or advanced illness. Case in point: the patient with
strep throat who waits four weeks to seek out medical care and only
comes to us when they can barely open their mouth and their face is
significantly swollen. Instead of a simple case of strep throat they now
have a peritonsillar abscess that needs surgical draining. Another specific case is that of a 62 year-old man with “bladder pain”
and “peeing blood”. He staggers into our waiting room with the help of
his wife because he lost so much blood in a short time that he is in need
of a blood transfusion. In two weeks his hemoglobin and hematocrit
went from 16 and 47 to 7 and 21. He sought out care previously. He
was seen in the ED on two occasions and sent home. He applied for
assistance and was referred to a specialist both by the community health
center and by the ED, but it is very hard for the community to absorb all
the patients in need of specialty care, so he had to wait. On this day I personally wheeled him over to the ED and after giving
the staff a thorough history he was seen, given a much needed
transfusion and admitted to the hospital. He did then receive the care
that was needed but there was a two-month delay from the time he
originally presented with this significant complaint until he was treated. This man was diagnosed with advanced stage, extremely aggressive,
prostate cancer. This story is not over. After 42 treatments with
radiation he is in "wait and see" mode. We may never know whether
that two months made a huge difference, but it does highlight the
difficulties of the uninsured.
Or there is the all too common story of the patient that has already
gone to a for-profit medical organization. The patients are told that
they will have to pay up front, in cash, since they don’t have insurance. If unable to do so they won’t be able to afford the care that their
provider insists they have if they are going to be treated. So they
come to us. Yes, it would be wonderful if they could receive state-of-the-art workups, specialty care and treatment, but they can’t afford them. So we
at community health centers spend our days problem-solving along
with our patients’ input. How can we achieve the same results with
less expense? How can we get a patient into specialty care? How can
they get the treatment they need for a lower cost?
Spokane Community Health
Centers Impact the Community
By Glenn Cassidy
Public Relations Director
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic
For many living in the Spokane area, community health centers offer
affordable, accessible care. They provide treatment without regard to
a person’s ability to pay, welcoming Medicaid and Medicare patients
and offering sliding fees based on a family’s income.
Two of those centers are Spokane Falls Family Clinic, which opened
in 2001, and Riverstone Family Health, which opened in Spokane’s
Northeast Community Center in early 2011. Both are affiliated with
the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic that operates 18 health centers
throughout Washington and Oregon.
At the two Spokane clinics, it’s estimated that over 80 percent of
the patients are under the federal poverty level. The family practice
physicians there treat people of all ages, with a significant share
of their patient panels consisting of children and women receiving
prenatal care.
Like most family practices, common diagnoses include colds, viral
infections, hypertension and diabetes. Depression is detected in many
patients, a diagnosis that’s not uncommon among the population with
which they typically deal.
Continued on page 11
of funds; and counseling and education programs, to help patients
understand the factors that affect the health of them and their children.
Riverstone Family Health also offers dental care, with special emphasis
on preventive care for children. It’s also home to the Spokane Dental
Society’s IDEA Clinic, which relies on volunteer dentists donating their
time to treat patients in need.
As Dr. Cox points out, it’s rewarding for her and others at Spokane’s
community health centers to make a difference. After all, “it’s why
most of us got into medicine in the first place.”
A pharmacy has been serving patients of the Spokane Falls clinic since
it opened. Riverstone is set to open its pharmacy in the spring of 2013.
How’s Project Access Doing?
The two clinics also operate a First Steps program that provides
maternity support services and infant case management. Through
the program, Medicaid-eligible women have access to a team that
includes a community health nurse, a counselor and a community
health worker. The intent of the statewide program is to provide
enhanced preventive health and education services and brief
interventions to pregnant women as early in a pregnancy as possible.
Following birth, the goal is to improve the welfare of infants by
providing parents information and assistance on accessing medical,
social and educational services in the community.
By Lee Taylor
Director
We are thrilled to report that our community stakeholders have
provided the funding necessary to keep Project Access going.
Continued funding from many organizations, as well as new funding
from community stakeholders in response to our “Call-to-Action”,
helped us solidify our funding for the next several months.
Lanie Cox, M.D., a family practice physician and clinical medical
director for Spokane Falls and Riverstone, appreciates the challenges
of providing care to a diverse population that can often have
problems accessing care. “It is very rewarding to be able to serve
people who would otherwise not get care and to make a positive
difference in patients’ and families’ lives. This is why most of us got
into medicine in the first place.”
Dr. Cox is joined by a roster of colleagues at the two clinics that
includes four other physicians, four nurse practitioners, a psychiatric
nurse practitioner, two dentists, two dental residents and four
pharmacists.
Health Sciences and Services Authority
Providence Health Care
Premera Blue Cross Health and Welness Fund
The Mike and Muffy Murphy Fund
Numerica Credit Union
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Group Health
Physicians Insurance
First Choice Health
AmericanWest Bank
Empire Health Foundation
PACT Project - Client led cycle team
Avista
They, along with other community health centers serving the Spokane
area, are committed to serving a population that often has healthrelated issues. According to the Spokane Regional Health District,
adults in the county who are below 100 percent of the federal
poverty level (FPL) are 7.1 times more likely to be in fair or poor health
compared to adults at or above 400 percent of the FPL.
At the same time, parents below 100 percent FPL are 17.4 times more
likely to rate their children’s health as fair or poor compared to parents
at or above the 400 percent level.
The health district also reports that the rates of diabetes and obesity
are higher among low-income populations. And adults who are at or
below 100 percent FPL are 10.4 times more likely to experience poor
mental health.
The disparity in health rates is the reason that community health
centers in the region have strived to expand facilities and add staff in
recent years. And it’s why Spokane Falls Family Clinic and Riverstone
Family Health maintain programs and services that complement
a physician’s care: dentistry, since poor oral health has a direct
connection with physical health; pharmacies with reduced-price
medications, to help avoid prescriptions going unfilled due to a lack
Project Access is very grateful for the financial support from the
following organizations:
Spokane Tribe of Indians
PhRMA
WSMA
Inland Imaging
City of Airway Heights
City of Cheney
City of Deer Park
City of Liberty Lake
City of Medical Lake
City of Millwood
City of Spokane Valley
INHS
While the short-term concern about a financial shortfall is behind us,
we still must work on sustainability. We have trimmed our budget
for 2013 by approximately 20% and we believe we have solid
commitments for funding to support our budget. We must continue
pursuing financial support for Project Access to ensure that an
increasing number of clients are served and that our financial reserves
are restored.
Project Access will serve more than 900 clients in 2012, up from 651
in 2011. The need continues and Project Access continues to grow
even while operating expenses shrink. We need the full support of
our community to help us continue this important work.
We encourage you to help us shape the future of Project Access.
Your thoughts about the value of Project Access in our community
are important. Please feel free to contact me, Lee Taylor, Director,
Project Access, at (509) 220-2651 or [email protected] to share your
thoughts. Also, please contact me if you have any thoughts about
people or organizations that may be interested in making cash
donations to support Project Access.
Thank you for your support of Project Access and your participation
in this important discussion.
CDC Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health
Resources
The following resources can be located on the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/
nccdphp/dach/chhep/library/social_determinants.htm
Council on Health Disparities
Works to Promote Health
Equity for All Washingtonians
CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report—United
States, 2011 underscores CDC’s commitment to health equity.
The report provides analysis of the recent trends and ongoing
variations in health disparities and inequalities in selected social
and health indicators, both of which are important steps in
encouraging actions to reduce modifiable disparities by using
interventions that are effective and scalable.
By Christy Hoff, MPH
Health Policy Advisor, Governor’s Interagency Council on Health
Disparities
Promoting Health Equity—A Resource to Help Communities
Address Social Determinants of Health This workbook is for
community-based organizations, public health practitioners, and
community health partners seeking to create health equity by
addressing the social determinants of health. The workbook can
be used to help expand new or existing public health initiatives,
for example:
• Developing successful partnerships and guiding principles.
• Assessment methods for social determinants.
• Creating action plans to address social determinants.
Data Set Directory of Social Determinants of Health at the
Local Level This directory contains an extensive list of existing
data sets that can be used to address the social determinants of
health. The data sets are organized according to 12 dimensions,
or broad categories, of the social environment. Each dimension is
subdivided into various components.
Additional Health Disparities Resources
• THRIVE (Tool for Health and Resilience in Vulnerable
Environments) is an interactive Internet tool to help
communities understand and prioritize environmental factors
that impact health disparities.
• Strengthening Communities: A Prevention Framework for
Eliminating Health Disparities examines the environmental
conditions that hold the most promise for reducing health
disparities in low-income communities of color, and further
delineates the community factors that can contribute to or
prevent health disparities.
• The Imperative of Reducing Health Disparities through
Prevention outlines promising approaches and next steps for
reducing health disparities.
• Laying the Groundwork for a Movement to Reduce Health
In Washington State, Native American men can expect to live seven
years fewer than their white neighbors, and black mothers are twice
as likely to have their babies die during their first year of life as white
mothers. These are just two examples of health inequities that persist
in Washington State.
Underlying these inequities
are the many interrelated
social and economic factors
that lead to differential
access to resources and
conditions that influence
health. Specific examples
include less access to
nutritious food, safe and
healthy environments, and culturally and linguistically appropriate
health care services, as well as increased exposure to chronic stress
resulting from institutional and interpersonal racism.
Eliminating health inequities is a daunting yet attainable challenge.
Washington has taken important steps toward meeting that challenge.
In 2006, the Legislature created the Governor’s Interagency Council
on Health Disparities. The Council has seventeen members—a Chair
and two consumer representatives appointed by the Governor as
well as representatives from fourteen state agencies, boards and
commissions. The Council’s primary responsibility is to identify
policy recommendations to eliminate health disparities by race/
ethnicity and gender. The Council convenes advisory committees with
representatives from the public, private and community sectors to
assist with identifying recommendations.
In 2010, the Council released its first State Policy Action Plan
to Eliminate Health Disparities. The plan outlined policy
recommendations aimed at closing the academic achievement gap;
increasing health insurance coverage and access to culturally and
linguistically appropriate health care services; promoting a diverse
health care workforce; and ensuring all Washingtonians have equal
opportunity to access healthy environments, make healthy choices
and manage their health in order to reduce disparities in obesity and
diabetes. The action plan is available on the Council’s website: http://
healthequity.wa.gov/About/docs/ActionPlan.pdf.
Disparities assesses the landscape of existing efforts to address
disparities, identifies gaps and imbalances, and discusses
what elements are necessary to develop an effective national
The Council has recently updated its action plan and will submit it to
the Governor and Legislature by the end of December 2012.
movement.
The recommendations in the 2012 update are aimed at increasing
access to and quality of behavioral health services by promoting
diversity and cultural competency in the behavioral health
workforce and ensuring health equity is considered in health reform
implementation; reducing environmental health disparities by
promoting environmental justice, community capacity building and
the precautionary approach; and reducing poverty and the impacts of
poverty on health disparities by increasing capacity for culturally and
linguistically competent early learning services, healthcare services in
rural communities and access to healthy foods in diverse communities.
Faced with the reality of the State’s continuing budget deficit, the
Council’s focus was to deliver recommendations that state agencies
and their partners could immediately take steps toward implementing
within existing resources. The Council intends to monitor the
implementation of its recommendations through briefings and
updates at future Council meetings.
In creating the updated action plan, the Council identified a
number of recurring themes from its advisory committee work
over the years. While looking at issues as varied as diabetes, the
academic achievement gap, environmental exposures and hazards
and poverty, among others, the following issues reemerged as
important considerations and as such may be particularly important in
eliminating health disparities:
• Early Learning. The Council’s advisory committees for
education and poverty both stressed the importance of
ensuring high-quality early learning programs are available
for communities affected by health disparities.
• Cultural Competence and Diversity. The Council’s
advisory committees for education, healthcare workforce
diversity, behavioral health and poverty all emphasized
the importance of providing culturally and linguistically
competent health care and other services, as well as
ensuring service providers reflect the diversity of the
population they serve.
• Language Access. The Council’s advisory committees for
health insurance coverage, behavioral health, environmental
exposures and hazards and poverty discussed the need for
ensuring meaningful interpretation and translation services
for individuals with limited-English proficiency.
Community Engagement. The importance of ensuring affected
communities are consulted with and engaged in activities related
to health or the social determinants of health is an important theme
discussed in all committees convened over the years.
Capacity Building. All of
the Council’s committees
have identified a need for
enhanced resources, staff,
programs and/or expertise
to effectively work toward
the elimination of health
disparities in different
communities.
Data. Another theme repeated across numerous advisory
committees is the need to ensure data are routinely collected,
analyzed and disseminated to track disparities and evaluate the
effectiveness of interventions. An important consideration is the
need to collect racial/ethnic and other data disaggregated to the
finest extent possible in order to unmask where disparities exist
among racial/ethnic subgroups.
The Council’s 2012 action plan will be available in electronic
format on the Council’s website at http://healthequity.wa.gov/.
to numerous Eagle Scout projects including the Avenue of Flags,
Honor Guard Walkway, Scatter Garden and others. Many offerings
have also lead to improved landscape features such as trees and
shrubs. Special events held at the cemetery such as Memorial
Day, Missing in America Project and Wreaths Across America are
largely funded by the community. Because of the generosity of the
community, those projects and events have been made possible.
Community support of the cemetery is also shown by the charitable
donations of time made by individuals, groups and organizations. A
Cemetery Advisory Board consisting of seven members volunteer
their time to provide advice and assistance. When the cemetery
provides a military honors service volunteer groups and individuals
play essential roles. Individuals, groups, businesses and organizations
regularly contribute their time, resources and expertise for special
events and maintenance and landscape projects. The facility and the
service we provide is enhanced and fortified by these examples of
selflessness commitment to the cemetery and our veterans.
Because of the patriotic commitment and continued support of the
community, The Washington State Veterans Cemetery will be honoring
veterans and serving their families for many decades to come.
To learn more about the cemetery, please visit the website at www.
dva.wa.gov and follow the cemetery link.
CPIN Can Help
Reengineer Care
Topics covered will include:
The Washington State Medical Association has done a great deal this
past year to support physicians’ ability to anticipate – and work with –
the changes coming our way.
• The percent of local medical groups have implemented these
• Specific processes, tools and practice structures linked to
patient care improvement.
One example: The Clinical Performance Improvement Network
(CPIN) programs the Foundation for Health Care Improvement has
been producing with the Puget Sound Health Alliance (PSHA) and the
Washington Academy of Family Physicians.
In 2012 the following programs were conducted: Reducing
Readmissions, Efficient Visit Guide to Specialty Referral, Improving
Pediatric Dental Care in Primary Care Settings, How to Improve the
Patient Experience, Shadow Coaching, Intensive Care for Persons
with Multiple Chronic Conditions, Medication Reconciliation
Following Hospital Discharge and the Choosing Wisely Washington
component of our Know Your Choices/Ask Your Doctor Campaign.
Programs identified for 2013 include Clinical Decision Support,
the PSHA Medical Group Transformation Survey results, Results of
the Alliance Community Checkup, Developing and Implementing
Office-based Nursing Care Management, Registries Revisited,
Improving Access – How one WA clinic reduced ED use, Results from
the hospital readmission pilots in Pierce and Spokane counties, How
to Conduct a Rapid Process Improvement workshop, Better Care
Practices for Medical Homes, Patient Engagement – communicating
with older patients, Motivational interviewing, Patients with Low
Health Literacy, End-of-Life Planning – actively engaging physicians
and patients and results from the Beacon Project in eastern
Washington.
January CPIN Programs
processes and tools.
• The major barriers to successful implementation and how to
overcome them.
More information, including how to register, can be found online
at http://www.wsma.org/clinical-performance-improvementnetwork#nineteen.
In The News
Nicholas T. Ranson, MD to Be Inducted into the ASOPR
Spokane Eye Clinic is proud to announce that Dr. Nicholas T. Ranson has
successfully completed a written and oral examination for ASOPRS and
will be inducted into the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery at their spring meeting in June 2013. There are
fewer than 600 surgeons world-wide that have earned the ASOPRS board
certification. Members have education, training and experience in highly
specialized fields of eye, plastic, facial and reconstructive surgery.
2013 SCMS Officers and
Board of Trustees Elected
At the December Board of Trustees’ meeting Anne Oakley, MD took the
oath of office as the 2013 SCMS President. The Executive Committee
officers include David Bare, MD, President-Elect; Shane McNevin, MD,
Vice-President and Matt Hollon, MD, Secretary-Treasurer. Terri Oskin,
MD is the Past President.
Wednesday, January 16, 12:15–1:15 pm CPIN Webinar | Intensive
Care Management Services for Patients with Multiple Chronic
Conditions – Colette Rush will present the Washington State
Department of Health’s new statewide initiative to increase intensive
care management for persons with multiple chronic illnesses. More
information, including how to register, is at http://www.wsma.org/
clinical-performance-improvement-network#nineteen. The webinar
is free for all physicians, medical group staff or other care providers.
This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.
Trustees elected to the board are Louis Koncz, PA-C; Fredric Shepard,
MD; Clinton Hauxwell, MD; Charles Benage, MD and J. Edward Jones,
MD. Judy Benson, MD was reelected to serve on the Credentials
Committee. Elected as Washington State Medical Association alternate
delegates for the House of Delegates to be held in Spokane September
28 – 29, 2013 are Melanie Lange, MD; William Faloon, MD; Don
Cubberley, MD; Amy Occhino, MD and Jeffrey Snow, MD.
Wednesday, January 30, 12:15–1:15 pm – CPIN Webinar | Survey
of Local Best Practices for Effective Patient Care – This webinar
will present the results of a 2012 survey of over 40 medical groups
in the Puget Sound region regarding their current use of specific
tools and processes for effective patient care. Structural elements
of best practices surveyed included adoption of electronic medical
records, use of registries, strategies for improved access to care,
collecting information on health outcomes, patient satisfaction and
health disparities, as well as care coordination resources and patient
reminders.
Thank you to the member listed below. His contribution of time and
talent has helped to make the Spokane County Medical Society the
strong organization it is today.
Membership Recognition
for January 2013
30 Years
P. Z. Pearce, MD 1/24/1983
Continuing Medical Education
Promoting Healthy Families (Practice Management Alerts from
the American Medical Association) is designed to help physicians
successfully talk about healthy behaviors with their adult patients in
a way that may spark—and help sustain—positive changes for the
whole family. The continuing medical education activity includes a
video module, a detailed monograph and patient handout. These
activities have been certified for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. For
more information www.ama-assn.org.
Update in Internal Medicine 2013: This seminar is jointly sponsored
by the Spokane Society of Internal Medicine and the Spokane County
Medical Society. 9.25 AMA Category 1 Credits. Conference will be
held on February 22, 2013 from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Spokane
Convention Center. For additional information please contact Jennifer
Anderson at (509) 448-9709 or email [email protected].
Meetings/Conferences/Events
Institutional Review Board (IRB) - Meets the second Thursday of
every month at noon at the Heart Institute, classroom B. Should you
have any questions regarding this process, please contact the IRB
office at 509.358.7631.
WSMA & UW Physician Leadership Course Offered in Spokane
Spring 2013 - WSMA/UW Physician Leadership Course is a
comprehensive leadership skills development program that offers ten
weeks of interactive hybrid distance learning specifically designed
for physicians. The course is based on UW MHA and Certificate of
Medical Management curriculum. Eight weeks of online assignments
and group work is bookended by two in-person weekend meetings,
allowing physicians to develop their leadership skills in a convenient
manner without needing to take significant time away from their
practice or personal lives.
course will be offered spring 2013 in Spokane. In-person dates are
March 8 and 9 and May 10. Between March 9 and May 10 the course
is conducted online. The course is limited to 30 individuals. Tuition
for WSMA members is $2,000 and non-member tuition is $2,550. To
apply for the spring 2013 course, send your CV, a letter of interest
and a letter of recommendation before January 1, 2013 to Jennifer
Hanscom at [email protected].
Spokane Guild of the Catholic Medical Association- Meets second
Wednesday of each month at 6 PM at Providence Sacred Heart
Medical Center Administrative Board Room in Administration on the
Main Floor. All are welcome. For inquiries contact Phil Delich, MD at
(509) 465-1554 or e-mail at [email protected].
Upcoming Aging and Mental Health Conference, March 8,
2013 Friday, March 8th, 2013 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The purpose
of this conference is to raise awareness of the issues involved with
mental health and older adults, as well as provide concrete tools for
assessment and intervention. Mark your calendars now. More details
to follow. For more information contact Jamie McIntyre, MSW Aging
and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington Assistant Planner/ Title V
Coordinator (509) 458-2509 x211.
Medical Reserve Corps of Eastern Washington General
Membership Meeting – Spokane Regional Health District
Auditorium, 1101 West College Avenue, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday,
9 January 2013. Everyone is welcome to attend. Disaster response
and preparedContinued on page 17
Health Care Reform Seminar Series Part 1: Overview and
Update on Health Care Reform Thursday January 31 8:00 a.m. to
noon WSU Riverpoint Campus Academic Center, Room 20 $199 per
person $149 for HPA students, alumni or board members For more
information contact Krista Loney at (509) 358-7980. Register at http://
hpa.wsu.edu/reg1212
The 40-hour course focuses on Leadership and conflict management,
Strategic planning and management, Safety and quality
management, Finance and Communication and advocacy. Our next
The following physicians and physician assistants have applied for
membership and notice of application is presented. Any member
who has information of a derogatory nature concerning an
applicant’s moral or ethical conduct, medical qualifications or such
requisites shall convey this to our Credentials Committee in writing
104 S Freya St., Orange Flag Bldg #114, Spokane, Washington,
99202.
PHYSICIANS
Atkinson, Benjamin E., MD
Neurology
Med School: Wayne State U (2005)
Internship: Sinai Grace Hospital (2006)
Residency: Detroit Medical Center (2009)
Fellowship: Detroit Medical Center (2011)
Practicing with Providence Medical Group 01/2013
PHYSICIANS PRESENTED A SECOND TIME
Atkinson, Marie D., MD
Neurology
Med School: Wayne State U (2002)
Practicing with Providence Epilepsy Center 01/2013
Fang, Chunhui, MD
Internal Medicine
Med School: Beijing Medical U-China (1999)
Practicing with Apogee Physicians 01/2013
Gomez Torres, Jeisa Y., MD
Internal Medicine
Med School: Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara-Mexico (2004)
Practicing with IPC of Washington/Holy Family Hospital 12/2012
Pounds, Denise R., MD
Family Medicine
Med School: Saint Louis U (2008)
Practicing with Group Health 09/2012
Tehrani, Hassan Y., MD
Thoracic Surgery
Med School: Royal College of Surgeons–Ireland (1993)
Internship: Boston Medical Center (1995)
Residency: St Elizabeth’s Medical Center (1999)
Fellowship: Northwestern Memorial Hospital (2001)
Fellowship: Jackson Memorial Hospital (2003)
Practicing with Rockwood Clinic 02/2013
Shibley, Eric R., MD (aka Choudhury Shiblee Nomany)
Internal Medicine
Med School: Sir Salimullah Medical College-Bangladesh (2002)
Practicing with Apogee Physicians 01/2013
Wood, Anthony J., MD
Anesthesiology
Med School: Oregon Health Sciences U (1994)
Internship and Residency: Oregon Health Sciences U (1996)
Residency: Oregon Health Sciences U (1999)
Practicing with Anesthesia Associates 02/2013
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PRESENTED A SECOND TIME
Owens, Gabriel P., PA-C
Physician Assistant
School: U of Nebraska (1999)
Practicing with Providence Spokane Cardiology 11/2012
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
PHYSICIAN OPPORTUNITIES AT COMMUNITY HEALTH
ASSOCIATION OF SPOKANE (CHAS) Enjoy a quality life/work
balance and excellent benefits including competitive pay, generous
personal time off, no hospital call, CME reimbursement, 401(k), full
medical and dental, NHSC loan repayment and more. To learn more
about physician employment opportunities, contact Toni Weatherwax
at (509) 444-8888 or [email protected].
QTC MEDICAL GROUP is one of the nation’s largest private providers
of medical disability evaluations. We are contracted through the
Department of Veterans Affairs to manage their compensation and
pension programs. We are currently expanding our network of Family
Practice, Internal Medicine and General Medicine providers for our
Washington Clinics. We offer excellent hours and we work with your
availability. We pay on a per exam basis and you can be covered on
our malpractice insurance policy. The exams require NO treatment,
adjudication, prescriptions to write, on-call shifts, overhead and case
file administration. Please contact Gia Melkus at (800) 260-1515 x5366
or email [email protected] or visit our website www.qtcm.com to
learn more about our company.
PRIMARY CARE INTERNIST WANTED (Pullman) - Immediate
opportunity for BE/BC primary care internist to join a privately
owned, multi-specialty, physician practice. Palouse Medical offers
a competitive employment package, guaranteed first year salary,
comprehensive benefits and partnership potential. Dedicated to
delivering quality care, we are proud to offer an extensive array of
patient services and on-site laboratory and imaging departments.
We can’t wait to introduce you to the communities that we love and
serve. Call Theresa Kwate at (509) 332-2517 ext. 20 or email tkwate@
palousemedical.com. Contact us today and discuss your future at
Palouse Medical!
CONTRACT BACK-UP PHYSICIAN 4 + HOURS/MONTH Octapharma Plasma is hiring a Contract Back-Up Physician in our
Spokane, WA Donor Center! This position requires just 4 hours per
month. GENERAL DESCRIPTION Provide independent medical
judgment for issues relating to donor safety, health and suitability for
plasmapheresis and immunization. Provide federal and international
mandated training and supervision of donor center medical staff
to assure compliance with applicable laws. We provide on-the-job
training. WHO IS OCTAPHARMA PLASMA? Octapharma Plasma, Inc.
is dedicated to improving the health and lives of people worldwide.
OPI owns and operates plasma collection centers critical to the
development of life-saving patient therapies utilized by thousands
of patients globally. Learn more at www.OctapharmaPlasma.
com. Apply today by sending your resume/CV to Careers@
OctapharmaPlasma.com!
FAMILY MEDICINE SPOKANE Immediate opening with Family
Medicine Spokane (FMS) for a full time BC/BE FP physician who
has a passion for teaching. FMS is affiliated with the University of
Washington School of Medicine. We have seven residents per year in
our traditional program, one per year in our Rural Training Track and
also administer OB and Sports Medicine Fellowships. This diversity
benefits our educational mission and prepares our residents for urban
& rural underserved practices. We offer a competitive salary, benefit
package and gratifying lifestyle. Please contact Diane Borgwardt,
Administrative Director at (509) 459-0688 or e-mail at BorgwaD@
fammedspokane.org. PREMIER CLINICAL RESEARCH, an independent dedicated
research facility here in Spokane with 20 years of research experience
is looking for a Pediatrician to be a part of our physician network
for future studies. For more information please contact: April
Gleason, Director of Business Development, (509) 390-6768,
[email protected].
PROVIDENCE HEALTH & SERVICES is building its Urgent
Care presence in Spokane. We are recruiting for BE/BC Urgent/
Immediate Care physicians and advanced practice providers (nurse
practitioners and physician assistants welcome to apply). This is
a great opportunity to join a growing employed medical group in
beautiful eastern Washington. The exceptional Providence care team
is implementing a system-wide standardized EHR and providers
benefit from shared best practices and robust clinical and business
support. Providence already operates hospitals, residency programs
and numerous primary care and specialty clinics in Spokane.
Competitive compensation and excellent benefits package, including
relocation. Learn more: Mark Rearrick, Providence physician recruiter
(509) 474-6605, [email protected], www.providence.org/
physicianopportunities.
SPRINGDALE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER ARNP or PAC N.E. Washington Health Programs (NEWHP) has an immediate
opportunity for an excellent Physician Assistant (certified) or Nurse
Practitioner with Family Practice experience to join our Springdale
Community Health Center located in rural Springdale, WA. This
position is for Family Practice outpatient care; urgent care experience
is a plus but not required. NEWHP offers competitive compensation,
comprehensive benefits. . NHSC eligible site. EOE and provider.
Application Deadline: Until filled. Send resume to: N.E. Washington
Health Programs Attn: Human Resources PO Box 808 Chewelah,
WA. 99109 or electronically to [email protected].
PHYSICIANS NEEDED FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION EXAMS
Let us help you get started in earning additional professional income!
We are an established I.M.E. practice currently looking for Active
Practice and Board Certified Orthopedic and Neurological Doctors,
to perform Workers Compensation Exams. Located just minutes away
from Rockwood Clinic in North Spokane, we offer a flexible schedule
in a helpful, working environment. Previous experience performing
Workers Compensation Exams is not required. Please contact Lorraine
Stephens for further information at (509) 484-0380.
EASTERN STATE HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRIST - ESH is recruiting
for a psychiatrist. Joint Commission accredited, CMS certified,
state psychiatric hospital. 287 beds. Salary $161,472 annually with
competitive benefits and opportunity for paid on-call duty. Join a
stable Medical Staff of 30+ psychiatrists, physicians and physician
assistants. Contact Shirley Maike, (509) 565-4352, email maikeshi@
dshs.wa.gov. PO Box 800, Medical Lake, WA 99022-0800.
MEDICAL DOCTOR (MD/DO) (PRN openings in Spokane, WA)
Physicians needed to perform physicals and health screenings at a
non-commercial medical facility. MD/DO must have a current active,
license from any state, available 1 to 3 mornings a week.
Send CV to or call: Gil: (210) 424-4008 [email protected] EOE
PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS is a humanitarian Spokane-based
nonprofit that is committed to ensuring that residents of the Kopanga,
Kenya community have improved access to healthcare, clean water,
sanitation and education. Through generous donors, P4P built a
clinic for the Comprehensive Rural Health Project that is run by Alice
Wasilwa RN with two other Kenyan nurses and provides primary care.
Some of the common diseases include malaria, water borne illness as
well as the diagnosis and treatment of HIV. There are approximately
12 deliveries per month and the clinic staff treats 900-1000 patients
monthly. We are in need of medical providers, optometrists and
dentists to travel to Kopanga to provide primary care on Oct. 18 – 28,
2012. If you would like to volunteer please contact Stacey Mainer at
[email protected].
NORTHWEST MEDICAL SPECIALTY EVALUATIONS - Physicians
wanted for medical disability exams in our Spokane office. Excellent
pay. Work is low stress with minimal paperwork and no ongoing
patient care responsibilities. We can schedule around your availability
seven days per week. For more information call (509) 588-7340.
REAL ESTATE
Luxury Condos for Rent/Purchase near Hospitals. 2 Bedroom
Luxury Condos at the City View Terrace Condominiums are available
for rent or purchase. These beautiful condos are literally within
walking distance to the Spokane Hospitals (1/4 mile from Sacred
Heart, 1 mile from Deaconess). Security gate, covered carports, very
secure and quiet. Newly Remodeled. Full appliances, including fullsized washer and dryer. Wired for cable and phone. For Rent $ 850/
month. For Sale: Seller Financing Available. Rent-to-Own Option
Available: $400 of your monthly rent will credit towards your purchase
price. Please Contact Dr. Taff (888) 930-3686 or [email protected].
FOR SALE: 16909 N Triple Butte Court, Colbert, WA $789,000
Beautiful home, custom built in 1996 by Copeland Design and
Construction. Situated on five wooded acres with two seasonal ponds
and 220 feet of river frontage along the Little Spokane River. Idyllic
country living but only 5 minutes from the Wandermere Shopping
Center and only 10 - 15 minutes from Holy Family Hospital. There are
4 bedrooms, a library, a formal dining room, an open kitchen with
eating area, great room, rec room, sun room, 2 full baths, a guest bath,
mud room, laundry room, a 3-car attached garage and a greenhouse
with fenced-in garden, covered front porch, large back deck with hot
tub and a patio of cobblestones. Views from the back deck look over
the Little Spokane River wetlands. Call Dr. Edward Petruzzello at (509)
879-3770. No realtors please.
MEDICAL OFFICES/BUILDINGS
South Hill – on 29th Avenue near Southeast Boulevard - Two
offices now available in a beautifully landscaped setting. Building
designed by nationally recognized architects. Both offices are corner
suites with windows down six feet from the ceiling. Generous parking.
Ten minutes from Sacred Heart or Deaconess Hospitals. Phone (509)
535-1455 or (509) 768-5860.
North Spokane Professional Building has several medical office
suites for lease. This 60,000 sf professional medical office building is
located at N. 5901 Lidgerwood directly north of Holy Family Hospital
at the NWC of Lidgerwood and Central Avenue. The building has
various spaces available for lease from 635 to 6,306 usable square
feet available. The building has undergone extensive remodeling,
including two new elevators, lighted pylon sign, refurbished lobbies,
corridors and stairways. Other tenants in the building include
pediatricians, dermatology, dentistry, pathology and pharmacy.
Floor plans and marketing materials can be emailed upon request. A
Tenant Improvement Allowance is Available, subject to terms of lease. Please contact Patrick O’Rourke, CCIM, with O’Rourke Realty, Inc. at
(509) 624-6522 or cell (509) 999-2720. Email: [email protected].
Office space located at 1315 North Division. This location is two
miles north of downtown Spokane and just west of Gonzaga and the
university district. It consists of 902 sq. ft. and rents for $1015 per
month plus 20% of the building Avista and City of Spokane bills. The
rest of the building is occupied by a physiatry and pain management
medical practice. The space would be ideal for an ancillary medical,
chiropractic or therapeutic clinic. Parking is ample and convenient.
The space has a nice waiting area and receptionist-enclosed area, with
several office, storage or exam rooms. Call (509) 321-2276 for more
information or for a showing of your ideal location.
Clinical Space for Lease 1602 square feet of office space for lease.
Available 1/1/2013 Ground floor, adjacent parking with easy handicap
access. Ideally located midway between Providence Medical Center
and Deaconess Medical Center at the corner of 5th and Bernard
Streets. This space has been continually occupied by medical and
medically-related tenants for over 20 years. Reception and office
configuration is ideal for immediate occupancy. Call (509)710-5732 or
(509)624-5121 for information.
OTHER
Ten (10) adjustable rolling physician stools, teal - $35.00 each, all
in great condition. For more information contact Colleen Kins at
Internal Medicine Residency (509) 744-3965 or email
Colleen.Kins@Providence .org.
Went into partnership - no longer need the following items: CIRC
BOARD & CLAMPS Circumstraint circumcision board $50. Gomco
circumcision clamps (sizes 1.1, 1.3, 1.45) $20ea size. Everything
like new. EKG & SPIROMETER - $200 WelchAllyn, Schiller AT-10
EKG and Spirometer. Low use. Maintained/inspected/serviced by
Sacred Heart Engineering. Comes with 14 reams of additional paper,
Spirometry calibration syringe and 50 disposable spirometry mouth
pieces. Original manuals included. AUTOCLAVE - $2000 Midmark,
M9 UltraClave, Steam Sterilizer/Autoclave. Low use, ideal condition.
Maintained/inspected/serviced by Sacred Heart Engineering.
Comes with assortment of sterilization envelopes, sterilization wraps
and confirmation tape along with 6 bottles of Speed-Clean, Autoclave
cleaning solution. Original manual included. All equipment located
in Spokane Valley. Email [email protected] for purchase,
pictures and/or questions.
Clinical Space for Lease - Built in January 2011. 1128 sq ft, four
exams rooms, two administrative offices, one office with a counter
(electronic bar for laptops, etc.), restroom, reception area and waiting
room. Rates are negotiable. Interested parties contact Sharon
Stephens at Bates Drug Stores, Inc. 3704 N. Nevada, (509) 489-4500
Ext. 213 or [email protected].
The Walk Shoppe
3707 S. Grand Blvd. Ste. A
Spokane, Washington 99203
509-747-2161
“The Stylish way to walk better”
Open Monday thru Friday
10:00am-6:00pm
Saturday
10:00am-5pm
Closed Sunday
Come shop with us,
Spokane Medical Community!
We have a great selection of
Danskos!
SPOKANE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY - ORANGE FLAG BUILDING
104 S FREYA ST STE 114
SPOKANE, WA 99202
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Spokane, WA
Permit No. 512
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Printed on GP Spectrum® Paper: Certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Please recycle.

January 2013 - Spokane County Medical Society

Transcription

Similar documents

Flour Mill-LI Teaser Page 051308.pub

CISSC Annual Report 2014-15 - Communities In Schools of

Piecing it Together - The Arc of Spokane

Certificate of Registration Lyn

Sunday 8am • Aug. 7, 2016 Q`emiln Park, Post Falls, ID .5K Swim

December 2011 - Spokane River Association

Jubilant HollisterStier employee newsletter, The Fill

the outreach - Mission Community Outreach Center