Edward Warren, MD, CMD

State Network News Special Issue May 2007, Issue 61 • Front Page: HOD Chair's Message • From Lorraine Tarnove, Executive Director, at the National Office • In this Issue: Editor's Note • 2007 Member-Get-A-Member Campaign • Developing a Membership Committee for your Chapter • Best Practices • CMD Update • Clinical Affairs Department • Futures Participants in your State • Membership Survey   Printable Version of This Issue

Membership in A Box AMDA will soon make available to state chapters "Membership In A Box" for meetings. The kit will include membership applications, an AMDA and state chapters joint membership promotional poster, AMDA's frequently ask questions sheets, name tags, information on upcoming AMDA meetings, product fliers, and one new AMDA product for display at state chapter meetings. Contact Kris Bieg with questions.

Acknowledgements AMDA would like to express thanks to Sanofi Aventis for their support of AMDA's House of Delegates business meeting and luncheon at our 2007 Annual Symposium and Johnson & Johnson Health Care Companies for supporting the State Chapter Working Session and State Chapter Receptions.

Keep National Updated Please submit your annual meeting report and update your state chapter contact information if there have been changes. Also, be sure to tell us about any upcoming state chapter meetings and post the information on www.amda.com.

E-mail Your Articles What better way to disseminate information to other AMDA chapters than to include an article in State Network News (SNN)? If you would like to include an article in an upcoming issue, please e-mail it along with permission to reprint to Kris Bieg, Membership amd Communications Coordinator, at kbieg@amda.com

AMDA Contacts for State Chapter Business: Kris Bieg , Membership and Communication Department 410/992-3114 or kbieg@amda.com Gaby Geise, Government Affairs Department 410/992-3145 or ggeise@amda.com

Download PDF version of the newsletter.

Message from AMDA's House of Delegates Chair

A "Position Statement on Physician-Consultant Pharmacist Roles and Collaboration in the Nursing Home" was passed. It essentially stated that physicians and consultant pharmacist both have proper roles and should respect each other as they deal with each other. A similar document was passed by American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP).

The issue of monitoring the quality of records of medical directors who are also attending physicians was brought back. The solution offered by the Workgroup on Oversight of the Medical Director in their Role as Attending Physician was to institute performance review. Criteria can be devised and applied in an unbiased fashion to the records in the facility. This could include items such as timeliness of visits, immunizations, laboratory monitoring, etc.

The White Paper on Palliative Care and Hospice was passed. It was from the Workgroup on Hospice and essentially encourages medical director's involvement in hospices so that we can help provide quality care.

Finally, the Minnesota Medical Directors Association introduced a resolution this year. It was titled "Improving Medication Profile for Transfers from Hospital to Assure F-Tag Compliance." It asks the AMDA Board to approach CMS about requiring hospitals to send medication profiles with all patients transferred to nursing homes that would be compliant with F-Tags 428 and 329.

At the House of Delegates meeting, we heard several reports from the staff and officers. Of importance was the report about the status of previously passed resolutions. This helped to give perspective to the ongoing work and mission of AMDA.

New officers were also elected. The slate of candidates was excellent and strong. Any of them were well qualified to fill the positions for which they were nominated.

• David A Brechtelsbauer MD, CMD (SD)
  Vice President

• Jonathan M Evans MD, CMD (VA)
  Treasurer

• Jeffrey Nichols MD (NY)
  Board Representative from the State Presidents

• Karyn Leible MD, CMD (CO)
  Board Representative from the House of Delegates

I want to thank Dr. Verna Sellers (VA) for serving as Parliamentarian for the HOD as well.

As we approach the 31st Annual AMDA Symposium in Salt Lake City, UT, look for issues that the AMDA HOD can address. Submit resolutions about those concerns that require national action or coordination with other national medical organizations. Your resolutions bring needed guidance to the board about the issues and expectations of the general membership.

REMEMBER: The moral high ground in all of our efforts is patient advocacy.

Edward S. Warren, MD, CMD Chair, House of Delegates

In This Issue of State Network News:

From Lorraine Tarnove, Executive Director, at the national office
After the initial strategic discussions by the board and staff in December, a survey that captures the discussions content was posted on the AMDA Web site to gain a broader perspective and input...more

In this Issue: Editor's Note
Membership recruitment has been a popular topic for state chapters over the past two years and it was on the mind of many at the annual symposium in March....more

2007 Member-Get-A-Member Campaign
That's right! We're going for the gold in 2007. With the Member-Get-A-Member campaign underway—we are on target to reaching our membership goal...more

Developing a Membership Committee for your Chapter
Per AMDA bylaws, the Membership Committee shall be concerned with all matters relating to membership and utilization of AMDA services by members...more

Best Practices
Membership Recruitment and Retention: A joint effort always in progress
The Alabama Medical Directors Association (ALMDA) is celebrating our 13th Annual Conference. We have acquired double the number of members during the past four years!...more

CMD Update
CMD Program staff and Board members stayed quite active during AMDA's Annual Symposium in Florida last month...more

CLINICAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT: New Products Just Released
Palliative Care in the Long-Term Care Setting: This information tool kit provides helpful and practical guidance to long-term care professionals who are motivated to improve palliative...more

Futures Participants in your State
Fifty-nine fellows represented twenty-eight states at the AMDA Foundation Futures Program held during the 30th Annual AMDA Symposium in Hollywood, Florida...more

Membership Survey
Gauge the needs of your new members with a "Welcome Survey." Below is AMDA's member survey feel free to adapt as your own...more