 |
| Edward Warren, MD, CMD |
|
|
|
| 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 Nicole Germain, Membership amd Communications Coordinator, at ngermain@amda.com.
|
|
| State Chapter Meetings |
|
Click here for a listing of state chapter meetings.
|
|
| 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.
|
|
|
|
Download PDF version of the newsletter.
Message from AMDA's House of Delegates Chair
AMDA's House of Delegates (HOD) does not rubber
stamp resolutions, not even those from the Board. At
the March HOD meeting, resolution F06 "Position
Statement on Oversight of the Medical Director in
their Role as Attending Physician", introduced by the
AMDA's Board of Directors, failed to pass. The
resolution addressed the dual role of medical
directors who also serve as attending physicians in
the nursing facilities that they also serve as medical
directors. Delegates from rural areas felt that there
was nobody else in their community who could
perform such reviews independently.
The performance review resolution was reconsidered
by the board and a work group with representation
from the states, chaired by Keith Krein MD, CMD,
was convened to review the resolution. "Our intent in
moving forward with this resolution is not to be
proscriptive, restrictive or detailed in language," said
Dr. Krein. With this in mind, the group went about
their work, with three guiding principles:
- reconfirm support for the Medical Director's
leadership role in developing a system
for "Performance Review" in concert with prior
AMDA Position Papers and F-Tag 501
- acknowledge that such a review includes all
practitioners (e.g., the Medical Director is not
exempt when serving in the valuable dual role
as both attending physician and Medical
Director) and,
- acknowledge that the process may look different
in various settings based on demographics,
geography and availability of resources (e.g.
details to be worked out at the local level via the
quality improvement process).
Fittingly, when the work group met, a number of
concerns were presented that indicated the group's
strong commitment to the review process. The
defeated resolution created the illusion of conflict of
interest where perhaps none existed, and lacked
latitude in effective implementation. Simple chart
review has not been proven to be especially effective
in improving patient care.
In the months to come, the work group will re-draft
the resolution using historical AMDA position papers
such as the Role and Responsibilities of the Medical
Director in the Nursing Home and the Tool Kit for
Managing Attending Physicians. The group also will
look to the State Operations Manual, Guidance to
State Surveyors, and F- Tag 501.
The revised resolution will be resubmitted to the
board and then forwarded for consideration to
AMDA's House of Delegates. The tremendous
dedication and commitment by the work group shows
that the resolution process is something AMDA can
be proud of. Members of the performance review
work group include: Keith Krein, MD, CMD,
(chairperson); Jacob Dimant, MD, CMD; Ralf C.
Habermann, MD, CMD; Mark Leenay, MS, MD,
CMD; Karyn Leible, MD, CMD; Susan M. Levy MD,
CMD; Michael E. Maddens, MD, CMD; David F.
Polakoff, MD, MSc, CMD; Dennis L. Stone, MD,
MBA, CMD; Eric Tangalos, MD, CMD; Edward S.
Warren, MD, CMD; and Kathleen M. Wilson, PhD
(staff liaison).
Resolutions are needed from the state chapters to
bring frontline issues to our attention at the national
level. As you face problems AMDA might be able to
help with, put your ideas down and develop
resolutions for next year. Think carefully about the
wording and be sure they are able to be
implemented. The AMDA staff is also a great
resource in such matters. You may also contact me
at e-warren@att.net.
Edward S Warren MD, CMD
Chair, House of Delegates
In This Issue of State Network News:
Message from Executive Director, Lorraine Tarnove
Quality Initiative Launches September 29th - State Leaders Invited
Taking Steps to Engage Futures Participants
The AMDA Foundation Futures Program is a unique opportunity that exposes physician, residents and fellows with an interest in geriatrics
to the numerous prospects in long term care. To further cultivate their interest in geriatrics, the State Chapters can take steps to engage these
participants in their local chapters.
State Chapter Resources at Your Fingertips
Being that AMDA is a democratic organization
governed by a board of directors that is elected by
a House of Delegates, with delegates from 41
state chapters; we felt that placing the state chapter
resources under Governance on the Web site
made the most sense.
.
Revised State Chapter Handbook is Online
AMDA is proud to announce that the revised State
Chapter Handbook is available online at
www.amda.com/governance/chapters/guides.cfm.
A Partnership that Works
As part of our ongoing Best Practices series,
State Network News interviewed Robert J
Sullivan Jr., MD, CMD, a member of the North
Carolina Medical Directors Association and the
Medical Advisor for North Carolina since 2003. In
the following interview he discusses how North
Carolina Medical Directors Association worked to
established a partnership with the State and how
his work has improved the survey process for all
those involved.
Advocating Your Cause in the State Legislature
AMDA has provided state chapters with updated
state legislative information via AMDA's Web site.
CMS Announces Payment Increase for Skilled Nursing Facilities
On July 27, 2006, the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services announced a 3.1% increase in
payments, totaling $560 million, to the skilled
nursing facility prospective payment system.
|