UPDATE JULY 2014 ISSUE

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1 Chartered 1909 UPDATE JULY 2014 ISSUE Foundation & PMAP Help Maintain Association Each of you will receive your dues invoice probably before you receive this newsletter. I have included a letter in with the invoice that discusses the membership database that PPMA has been utilizing since Recently the database and website transitioned to a new cyber-home through the YOUR- MEMBERSHIP.COM organization and has now gone live. YOUR MEMBERSHIP houses the database that retains our member records; automatically creates our invoices; tracks each payment made; allows you to pay your dues online; update or edit your membership profile; and check your balance. This system is a platform from which we can expand our membership benefits and membership interaction in the future. YOUR MEMBERSHIP (previously Affiniscape) replaced the former antiquated system in which many of the updates required hands-on edits. This system eliminated most of that type of work. However, transitioning to its new source took more time than the contractor and the staff estimated. The reason that I am reiterating the same message here that s in the letter is because these improvements to the Association s administrative tools Joseph C. Smith DPM comes without an increase in our dues. We are able to do this because of all the other membership benefits that we offer. If you look at the PPMA budget, the Goldfarb Foundation wwpage 2 in this issue DIA-FOOT P. 3 SOS: Start Healthy Training Program P. 4 High Five for PA Special Olympics! P. 7 PPMA Armed Forces P. 11 Legislative Report P. 15 YM Corner: Jeanine Brinkley, DPM P. 19

2 PA PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Michael Q. Davis Executive Director (ext. 15) Lara Beer-Caulfield Dir. of Education & Meeting Planner (ext. 14) Jenna Clay Dir. Membership Services (ext. 13) PPMA OFFICERS Joseph Smith, DPM President Joseph Gershey, DPM President-Elect Peter C. Smith, DPM Vice President John A. Mattiacci, DPM Secretary Mark E. Pinker, DPM Treasurer Joseph Pasquino, DPM Immediate Past-President PPMA BOARD MEMBERS Stevan Anselmi, DPM Gerald Gronborg, DPM Maryann Hartzell, DPM Sabrina Minhas, DPM Richard Rettig, DPM, Parliamentarian Howard Schake, DPM, Convention Manager Frederick Tomassi, DPM Laura Virtue-Delayo, DPM Todd Zeno, DPM PPMA BOARD CONSULTANTS Bert Altmanshofer, DPM Steven Conner, DPM, JD John Fawcett, DPM Edwin Hart III, DPM Robert W. Herpen, DPM Marc Karpo, DPM Neal Kramer, DPM Craig G. Kriza, DPM, JD John A. Mattiacci, DPM Angelo S. Monaco, DPM Stephen A. Monaco, DPM Larry M. Newman, DPM Thomas Ortenzio, DPM Robert Weber, DPM, JD, MBA PPMA STAFF Leisa R. Rupp Finance Administrator (ext. 16) Susan R. G. Kramer Newsletter Editor (ext. 18) Lindy Kelsey Admin. Asst. (ext. 10) PRESIDENT S MESSAGE from page 1 88 and PMAP program annually contribute substantial sums to the Association. Those contributions allow us to continue to be as active as we have been within the profession and not look to the membership dues amounts for increases. The value of the Goldfarb Foundation programs and the PMAP Professional Liability purchasing group lies in savings that each product offers to each member. The per hour cost of Goldfarb CMEs continues to match or beat all competing CME programs for quality education in the everyday medical fields that our members practice. The Annual Clinical Conference continues to have a sold-out exhibit hall, and the mix of surgical and non-surgical topics that reflect the membership practice profile. The PMAP program continues to offer the highest, most financially stable insurance products to the PPMA membership at the lowest responsible rates. We operate PMAP because it allows us to protect our membership in professional liability markets, which have seen low ball pricing and the disappearance of carriers that do not have secured market positions. Through PMAP we constantly state that: 1. We want your business; we value you and your group as members; and we value your profile in our profession. 2. We utilize the highest quality experts for testimony in cases that are in the more difficult range category. 3. The PMAP program has survived many market challenges in the past because our members are the most important component of our program; and we have tailored the program and premiums to meet individual member needs or individual member challenges. 4. We have seen many companies launch efforts to enter the Pennsylvania podiatry professional liability market by making unsustainable bids for wwpage 17 PPMA Update JULY

3 DIA-FOOT Ever evolving diabetic shoe business With the advancement of technology and the increased documentation required by Medicare, the face of the diabetic shoe/orthotic business has changed considerably within the last decade. Dia- Foot, Wellington, FL, has met these changes head-on, and continues to perfect them. Dia- Foot has initialized a program for podiatrists to copy and paste their EMR notes on our website, with our staff getting the necessary documentation from the PCP and then mailing the shoe order along with the documentation back to the podiatrist, says Robert M. Gaynor, DPM, C.Ped, President and CEO of Dia-Foot. Those without EMR can use Dia-Foot s online template to complete their clinical foot exam. According to Dr. Gaynor, the number one brand of diabetic shoes sold by Dia-Foot is New Balance ; the #812 model being their best seller since it features a roll-bar and comes in up to six width sizes. Dia-Foot also offers both prefab diabetic inserts #812 NEW BALANCE wwpage 5 Registration Opens AUGUST 1! DECEMBER 2014 ANNAPOLIS Annapolis Conference DECEMBER 5 7, 2014 Historic Inns of Annapolis Annapolis, MD 12 CE Contact Hours NOVEMBER 2014 VALLEY FORGE 42nd Annual Clinical Conference NOVEMBER 6 9, 2014 Valley Forge Casino Resort King of Prussia, PA CE Contact Hours FEBRUARY 2015 PHILADELPHIA 2015 Board Review Course Also Available ONLINE!! Featuring the Computer-Based Patient Simulation (CBPS) Experience FEBRUARY 4 7, 2015 Marriott Philadelphia Airport Philadelphia, PA 30.5 CE Contact Hours Tentative Proud Metallic Sponsors of the Goldfarb Foundation TRANSDERMAL THERAPEUTICS PPMA Update JULY

4 Start a Healthy Training Program By Lynn Homisak, SOS Healthcare Management Solutions, LLC Based on the many practices I have been in, it seems you can be the BEST doctor around, but if you don t have a staff that is professional and properly trained, you put your entire practice in jeopardy! You ve heard it before your staff is the first contact on the phone or at the front desk. Since you can t be everywhere at once, you want to be certain these individuals are acting on your behalf, share your philosophies, and are an extension of you. If you delegate responsibility, particularly related to patient care, you want the outcome to be the same as if you were doing it yourself. And finally, you want to rely on them as a trusted part of your success team, working to build your healthy practice. If you believe that surrounding yourself with people who have those traits, goals, philosophies, and desires to succeed just happens by chance, think again. In order to have the staff that everyone else wishes they had, you need to make the effort to treat them right and TRAIN them well! After orienting new staff to your practice, give them a good week to shadow every job even if doesn t seem directly related or feels like a waste of time. It isn t. In fact, the reason so many practices are subjected to the ever-so-common front office-back-office conflict is because staff do not take that proverbial mile-long walk in each other s shoes; and as a result, fail to appreciate their co-workers duties. Especially insist that they follow you around so they can learn to be anticipatory by seeing how you treat certain conditions, what instruments and products you reach for, and how you respond to patient questions. It will help them understand simple foot anatomy and to a lesser degree some basic biomechanics by watching you review X-rays with your patient. Shadowing is tremendously worthwhile because it gives staff a good sense of what they are expected to accomplish on a day-to-day basis and provides endless learning opportunities. Encourage staff to ask questions and of course, insist that they carry around a notebook to record what they see and hear. Writing things down helps remembering; and since their note entries will become a resource for them going forward, they should always be reviewed for accuracy. Proper instruction and training are most acknowledgement. PPMA Update JULY In order to have the staff that everyone else wishes they had, you need to make the effort to treat them right and TRAIN them well! successful when they are pro-active. The alternative slip-shod method wastes time on the back-end having to UNDO (mistakes), CORRECT, and RE-DO and is frustrating for both trainer and trainee. Consider the following protocol for pro-active training: 1) Demonstrate; 2) Explain HOW; 3) Clarify the importance; 4) Encourage questions; 5) Allow time to observe and monitor their actions; and 6) Let them go solo. Telling your staff is not the same as teaching them. They should never be left to assume or read your mind when patient safety and care is at stake. Other significant tools that strengthen a healthy, successful training program include: Written Job Descriptions including a job title, definition of what the job entails, required skills, who this person reports to, delineation of duties, and a signed

5 Scripting Create appropriate responses for your staff for the 10 most commonly asked questions to assure that patients are getting accurate information, just the way you expect they should. The Employee Handbook This tool provides necessary guidelines and consequences relating to Human Resource issues, expected behaviors, and policies. It s your office rule book. Procedure Manuals Procedure manuals are how-to-office-cookbooks, instructing employees on the correct methods of practice procedures. Using photos to illustrate these procedures are extremely helpful. Performance Reviews People don t know what they don t know until you tell them; so the performance review can serve as both a measurement and a communication tool. Staff want to learn and they want to do things right. Help them. Continuing Education Encourage them to attend outside conferences, workshops, and seminars; engage in webinar opportunities; share and bring new ideas back to the practice; read articles; subscribe to educational podiatry publications and professional e-zines. The proficiency of a well-trained team can whip an office into peak condition, and it all starts at the top with you. Be their inspiration! Put a great program in place in which staff can flourish, and if you ve done your part, YOU will reap the benefits. That prescription is the secret of success. Invest in your staff, teach them to fly. Your healthy practice will never feel better! UPdate2 Ms. Homisak, President of SOS Healthcare Management Solutions, has a Certificate in Human Resource Studies from Cornell University School of Industry and Labor Relations. She is the 2010 recipient of Podiatry Management s Lifetime Achievement Award and recently inducted into the PM Hall of Fame. Lynn is also an Editorial Advisor for Podiatry Management Magazine and recognized nationwide as a speaker, writer, and expert in staff and human resource management. DIA-FOOT from page 3 88 and custom-made inserts. The company manufactures Pure Stride, a prefabricated polypropylene shell encased between two layers of EVA and is heat-moldable. Its laboratory services produce custom-made orthotics and feature Diagnosis Specific Orthotics, using the Oretech Reuter and 3D laser scanner to produce the orthotics based on a podiatrist s diagnosis. Specialty orthotics are now being made based on diagnosis, sport played, or foot type, says Dr. Gaynor. Dr. Gaynor started Dia-Foot in 2002, which began as a shoe store for local podiatrists. Dia-Foot also offers footwear from leading manufacturers like Rockport, Propet, Orthofeet, Hush Puppies, and more. For more information, visit or call UPdate2 PPMA Update JULY

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7 High Five for the 45th Pennsylvania Special Olympics! This year s volunteers, l-r: Tyler German (Kris German s son); Kris German, C.Ped; Kristen Heard, DPM; Larry Assalita, DPM; Amanda Leonheart, LPN; John Ziegler, DPM; Angie Morrison; and Stephen Bui, DPM, with daughter Kiley Bui. Summer Games 2014 On the 70 th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, more than 2,000 Special Olympic athletes invaded the campus of Penn State University, in State College, PA, to participate in the 45 th Special Olympics Summer Games. Three PPMA members and five other volunteers (see photo at top) provided special operations ground assistance for approximately 10 percent of the athletes. Our efforts were successful, thanks to all the volunteers and our Commander John Ziegler, DPM, a 10-year veteran of this event who has unwaveringly been busy this year organizing the Fit Feet Healthy Athletes screenings. Our reward was of course worth much more than the volunteer shirts that we received, screening 163 athletes and fitting 116 insoles. In turn, we hopefully helped some people along the way. Like the 17-year-old male swimmer whose mother was with him during the screening, and ever since he was a toddler questioning medical staff if those protrusions on the side of his feet (pictured left) were normal. But no one had responded to her concerns or given her any referrals. We recommended further follow up after making him a simple heat-moldable innersole on-site for this flexible deformity. Or the young athlete who, not with a parent, is pretty sure this greater-than-6mm (pictured right), irregularly raised border lesion has always been present since a child. He might be right, but the prescription/screening report given to his coach (and to be taken back to his parents) at least can allow someone to verify if this lesion needs more immediate attention. Whatever foot problems these screenings reveal, the screenings are a simple starting point to further examination via referrals. So, keep us in mind to help next year. We also believe that more athletes might be interested in being screened if we had something tangible to provide: perhaps a pair of athletic socks; a foot hygiene kit; or wrist band anything that you might think of or a company you are in contact with could provide for these special athletes. Contact Dr. John Ziegler at if interested to volunteer or provide a giveaway for next year s event. We couldn t have done the work without the support of Kris German, with Hanger Labs, and the hundreds of heat-moldable arch supports provided at no cost to us from Aetrex Shoes. Larry Assalita, DPM UPdate2 PPMA Update JULY

8 $500 GIFT CARD RAFFLE! Please note that with every $100 contribution, your name will be entered at the end of 2014 in a raffle for a $500 gift card. So FILL UP THESE BLANK SPACES and keep the profession in the forefront on the Hill in PA!! BERKS Berks Division $1,000 Kevin Naugle $150 Joseph C. Smith $1,000 BUCKS/MONTGOMERY John Dahdah $250 CENTRAL Central Division $250 Gerald Gronborg $130 DELAWARE ERIE/N. WESTERN John Marty $150 LACKAWANNA Laura Virtue-Delayo $135 LANCASTER Peter Smith $430 LEHIGH VALLEY Lehigh Valley Division $1,000 LUZERNE/N. CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA Lawrence Kassan $100 Philadelphia Division $1,000 Richard Rettig $100 SOUTH CENTRAL Jeff Dunkerley $188 Thomas Ortenzio $39 John Salahub $150 South Central Division $1,000 WESTERN TOTAL: $7,072 My Commitment to PENNSYLVANIA PPAC To maintain and strengthen podiatry s involvement on the state health care scene, I pledge my support to PA-PPAC s 2014 Campaign. My voluntary political contribution of $ is enclosed. Name Address City/St/Zip Make check payable to PA PPAC. PERSONAL FUND CHECKS ONLY Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. You may contribute any amount or no amount without concern of being favored or disadvantaged. Send to PA PPAC, 757 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill, PA, PPMA Update JULY

9 Richard C. Albright $100 Paul R. Barton $150 Gregory Bentzinger $5 Adam M. Budny $300 Harry Burke $200 Alan Catanzariti $250 Michael J. Cherella $100 Terry H. Clarke $150 Paul J. Creeden $50 John Dahdah $200 Kirk W. Davis $500 William DeFeo $150 John M. Fanelly $100 David Flannery $150 Raymond A. Fritz $100 Gerald Gronborg $140 Edwin S. Hart $200 Arthur E. Helfand $150 Peter S. Holtz $150 Lawrence Kassan $100 William Lynde $300 Bradley J. Magill $250 Richard Maleski $150 Gregory Markantone $150 Stephen Markantone $150 R. Craig Martin $100 John A. Marty $150 Richard T. Meredick $150 Stephen J. Mills $100 Sabrina Minhas $75 George Nassoor $300 Kevin T. Naugle $150 Anita A.C. Onufer $200 Joseph D. Pasquino $250 Mark E. Pinker $300 Mark Ray $100 Gary A. Raymond $500 Richard Rettig $300 Nicholas M. Romansky $300 Rosemarie Rynkiewicz $100 John Salahub $150 John Scanland $150 I.E. Schifalacqua $150 Timothy J. Scott $150 Rick Simon $100 Clayton Smith $250 Joseph C. Smith $1,075 John M. Snyder $150 Michael Stevens $100 Christina Fleis Teimouri $150 Frederick J. Tomassi $200 William M. Urbas $150 Robert B. Weber $150 TOTAL: $9,445 My Commitment to apmapac Check here if this contribution is drawn on: q 12-Corporate Account Enclosed is my voluntary, personal political contribution of: q$25 (Student) q$75 (Young Physician) q$150 q$300 q$500 q$1,000 q$2,500 q$5,000 Name APMA# Address State Zip Address q Check q Credit Card q Other Credit Card Number: qqqq-qqqq-qqqq-qqqq Expiration Date Signature IMPORTANT: These are suggested amounts. You may contribute more, less, or not contribute without concern of being favored or disadvantaged. This information is required for contributions of $200 or more by the Federal Election Campaign Act. *Federal election law does not permit corporate contributions to be used for donation to candidates for federal office. Political contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Mail your contribution to: APMAPAC, 9312 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD PPMA Update JULY

10 PPMA/ APMA DUES PAYMENT REMINDER 1) First Quarter Payments were due no later than JUNE 1, IF PAYMENT WASN T SENT, IT IS NOW PAST DUE!! Contact PICA for more information on medical professional liability insurance or to request a quote. Podiatry is in our DNA. To say that PICA knows about protecting podiatrists more than any other professional liability carrier might be an understatement. Podiatry is at the very essence of who we are. PICA was created for podiatrists, by podiatrists. We understand podiatrists and the podiatric profession because podiatry is our true focus. Podiatric professional liability insurance is not just our product, it is in our DNA and who we actually are. 2) Remember to place your PPMA Member Number or full name on check if remittance stub not sent back with payment. 3) Don t forget to PAY ONLINE to assure payment is received on time!!! 4) Because APMA and PPMA engage in certain restricted lobbying activities, 5% of your National Dues and 10% of your State Dues are not deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense, if otherwise deductible. If you are having a problem paying your dues, please contact Jenna Clay at , Ext. 13, or Jenna@ppma. org to discuss possible payment options that may be available to you. (800) PPMA Update JULY

11 Saluting Captain Peter Smith, USAR, DPM Dr. Pete Smith s Milestones: 1982: Joined the Army via ROTC scholarship program at Lycoming College. 1984: Commissioned as a 2 nd Lieutenant straight out of college and went to Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (then PCPM) on an educational delay, which meant I had no obligation to the Army until after podiatry school and residency. 1989: First year in the Army and first assignment at Ft. Dix (home to 40, 000 basic trainees in the lovely Pine Barrens of New Jersey). 1989: Made Chief of Podiatry at Ft. Dix and saw about 200 patients a week. Great for sports medicine and especially stress fractures. 1990: Desert Storm kicked off, and I was made the Company Commander at Walson Army Hospital and the Medical Holding Company for the soldiers returning from Desert Storm. 1992: Went to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, for training and got a call about my next duty assignment. In Dr. Pete Smith s Own Words about his service in the Army One of the highlights during my time at Ft. Dix... I was pulling night duty and I got a call from HQ at Ft. Bragg saying that they were mobilizing 50 of our medical/nursing personnel who needed to be on a plane headed for Ft. Bragg, NC, in 24 hours. Well a majority of the folks tasked for this were at a full-military-dress wedding, and I had to go to the wedding reception and tell the Commander what was up. Almost the entire wedding party, bride included, were on the list and off to Ft. Bragg the next day. Col. Michael Neary, DPM, Chief of Podiatry for the U.S. Army was my extern for a month at Ft. Dix; he will be lecturing at this year s November Goldfarb Foundation Clinical Conference on The History of Flatfoot in the Military and The OIF/OFF Podiatric Experience at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. A change of plans... when they were going to send me to West Point (30 miles from where I grew up), and the duty was six days a week of 6:00 AM clinic for cadets, I called around and found out that the podiatrist stationed in Alaska wanted to go East. So I swapped assignments with him and then had to tell my lovely wife that the Army was sending us to Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. PPMA Update JULY wwpage 16

12 The John Yurconic Agency is pleased to offer GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE to qualified members of PPMA. RATE QUOTES ARE AVAILABLE TODAY! Fully insured plans Discounted rates for PPMA members available PPO plans Qualified Health Savings Accounts Electronic enrollment and billing available Complementary Wellness Discount program available...and more! For more For more information on on this exclusive offer, offer, contact Donald Patty Friedman Cox at at ext. ext. 138, 109 or This program This program is currently is currently offered offered to to practices located in in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, PA PPMA Update JULY

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15 July 2014 Orthotic Fitter Legislation Narrowed by Work of PPMA HB 2242, otherwise named Protecting Patient Access to Diabetic Shoes, was passed by both the House and Senate in June and was signed into law by Governor Corbett on July 2. This legislation amended Act 90 of 2012 (The Medical Practice Act) and defined training and credentialing requirements for the licensing of prosthetists, pedorthists, orthotists, and orthotic fitters in Pennsylvania. The new Act extended the time to come into compliance and receive a license. Nothing in ACT 90 or this Amendment prohibits a podiatrist from engaging in the practice for which that individual is already licensed. However, ACT 90 did create an issue for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) suppliers who had been fitting and dispensing diabetic shoes. While the original language in HB 2242 widened the scope of practice to provide a full orthotic and prosthetic license to anyone who was dispensing DME, PPMA and its members acted swiftly to ensure that any expansion was limited. For individuals who are not already licensed to provide DME, the legislation would require that within three years after the effective date of the legislation The State Board of Medicine shall grant an individual an orthotic fitter license only if he or she has been dispensing over-the-counter prostheses, orthoses, or pedorthic devices for two years prior to March 31, 2015; but only if they are under the supervision of a nationally certified pedorthist or are employed by an entity accredited by an accredited organization under CMS. The regulations for Act 90 still need to be written and may clarify specific requirements. PPMA will continue to monitor this issue. The language in the Bill is far from perfect, but it does limit the scope of activity further than the initial proposition. A review of the minimum requirements to dispense therapeutic shoes is as follows: Manufacturer s training is the minimum training requirement; Anyone dispensing shoes must be accredited or receive an exemption from CMS; Written prescription from a physician or podiatrist is needed; Statement of certifying physician (CMN) signed by an MD or DO; Physician notes must be less than six months old; The physician must physically have seen the patient and ordered diabetic shoes and inserts. The patient must have diabetes and at least one of the qualifying conditions to qualify for reimbursement; Therapeutic shoe assessment completed; and Technicians with manufacturer training may see patients, but a physician and or podiatrist must sign off on the final assessment form. All podiatrists are encouraged to remain vigilant to any potential problems that may occur as a result of improperly fitted devices and should document them so that if necessary we can revisit this issue in the spring to encourage further restrictions. PA State Budget Signed by Governor Health-care highlights of the $29 billion spending package signed by Gov. Tom Corbett for the fiscal year that started July 1, 2014, provided the following: Increases Medicaid aid to hospitals by $175 million to $4.5 billion. It does not include $393 million in payments postponed until next fiscal year; Increases aid for long-term care by $170 million to $1.66 billion; Increases funding for the Department of Public Welfare operations, county assistance offices, information systems by $69 million to $499 million; Increases funding for mental health services by $41 million to $732 million; Increases funding for county child welfare services by $28 million to $1.08 billion; and Increases funding for services for Medicaid eligible people with intellectual disabilities by $40 million to nearly $1.07 billion. wwpage 17 PPMA Update JULY

16 PPMA ARMED FORCES from page ICD-10 DELAYED AT LEAST UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2015 On March 31, 2014, the US Senate passed HR 4302, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act The Bill was signed into law by President Obama on April 1, This law delays ICD-10 implementation until at least October 1, (Source: pa.us/provider/icd10information/index.htm) Pete Smith s family, l-r: wife, Jo; myself; son, Tim (16); son, Jamie (24); daughter, Ellie (23); and son, Pete (26). It was a great tour and I took full advantage of my time up there. Temps got to 80 degrees in the summer (2 days) and 53 below in the midst of winter. Unfortunately, the reality of inadequate pay along with heavy student loan debt forced me to leave the Army, so I came back to my wife s hometown of Reading, PA, to go into private practice. My two oldest sons are in the Army with one in his fourth year at TUSPM; the other graduating from West Point and serving in the Infantry. My daughter is a nurse at Reading Health Systems and youngest son a senior in high school. I did not tell my wife that I traded West Point for Alaska until a few years ago. Still married now for 29 years! UPdate2 PPMA MEMBERS ENCOURAGED TO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS APPLY FOR $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP PPMA is marking its third year in offering a Family Member Scholarship. The applicant must be a child of an active PPMA member in good standing and must have professional liability insurance supplied through the PMAP program. To apply and for more information about scholarship qualifications, visit Many thanks for the John Yurconic Agency for underwriting part of the Scholarship Fund. Let Some Sunshine In Call Jo & Pete PPMA Members who have served, please contact Susan Kramer, susan@ppma.org or x18, so that you can be recognized in future newsletter issues. THE PHYSICIANS RECOVERY NETWORK PPMA Update JULY

17 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE from page 2 88 coverage; and those bids resulted in either market abandonment or predictable rate hikes when the losses hit their policies. 5. Our PMAP program is the principle reason that the Administration is moving forward with our exit from MCARE. PPMA has underwritten all of the actuarial and professional costs associated with MCARE withdrawal, and PMAP s market- share has given us the requisite credibility with the Department of Insurance. 6. We like you and want PPMA membership to deliver its full value to your practice. I urge you to continue to support our Goldfarb Foundation programs and to use PMAP for your insurance requirements. If you are receiving bids for coverage that are competitive, let our program discuss those bids with you. There is a reason that we are still here and that they are new. These Association programs help us to help you by keeping your dues stable and by supplying products that you need at prices that meet and beat the competition. I thank you for allowing us to work for you. UPdate2 LEGISLATIVE REPORT from page 1588 Gubernatorial Candidate Positions on Pennsylvania Pension Crisis Governor Corbett declared that he was blue-lining part of the legislature s budget because of its failure to properly address the state s pension crisis. His political campaign released a website ad criticizing his opponent Tom Wolf for denying that the state s pension plan, underfunded by nearly $50 billion, is even facing a crisis. Interestingly, Wolf moved his own company s employees from a defined benefit plan to a 401k-style defined contribution plan. 70 percent of Physicians Send Prescriptions Electronically According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, far more doctors are filing prescriptions electronically than in As of the end of April, 70 percent of doctors say they are using the e-prescribing function common in electronic health record (EHR) software to send prescriptions to pharmacies. The prescription pad, the phone, and the fax machine have been the dominant means of writing prescriptions for most of medicine s modern age. Just 4 percent of new prescriptions and refills were filed electronically in By 2013, that number had risen to 57 percent. The study points to the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), which went into effect in December 2008, as the reason for the spike in e-prescribing. MIPPA provides doctors with financial incentives to use e-prescribing. Before MIPPA, only 7 percent of U.S. physicians used e-prescribing. Prescription Drug Abuse Remains a Concern Prescription drug abuse and overdoses have escalated to a full-blown crisis for families and communities across the Commonwealth. Currently, Pennsylvania s prescription drug monitoring program only collects data on Schedule II narcotics such as OxyContin, Percocet and Fentanyl. There is no means to track other, highly-addictive Schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances. Legislation introduced by state Sen. Pat Vance, R-Cumberland, and supported strongly by Attorney General Kathleen Kane, would expand the state s existing database to allow for the collection of data for all dispensed Schedule III, IV, and V narcotics like Vicodin, Xanax, and Suboxone. UPdate2 Valerie Gaydos 51st Associates LLC Government Relations vgaydos@51st.com PPMA Update JULY

18 APRIL/MAY 2014 JULY 2014 PODIATRIC COVERAGE FOR ILLNESS, PREGNANCY LEAVE, AND VACATIONS: Self-insured, Diplomate of ABPS, for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Philadelphia counties; will consider other counties or locations. Call or (S JULY - OCTOBER 14) NEWS TO SHARE? Contact Susan Kramer susan@ppma.org EXPERIENCED PODIATRIST WANTED FOR THREE-MONTH ASSIGNMENT: Valor Healthcare is seeking an experienced Podiatrist for a locum tenens assignment from August until October at our outpatient clinic in Greensburg, PA. This is an all-clinical assignment. Competitive salary includes malpractice. Please contact Steve Camden for more details at scamden@humana.com or (APR/MAY JULY 14) FOR SALE: THERABATH (Parafin Bath), Medical Electronics, Inc. Complete Unit = $ Call (215) (S APR/MAY 14) FULL- OR PART-TIME ASSOCIATE WANTED: Pennsylvania Immediate part-time or full-time position available. Busy, diverse, and well-established Philadelphia practice seeking part time or full-time associate. Must be energetic, motivated, and personable. Certification preferred. Please send letter and CV to Podiatric.Medicine@gmail.com. (S APR/MAY 14) Other FOR SALE QUALITY NEW & USED PODIATRY EQUIPMENT & NEW INSTRUMENTS: Most of our equipment is refurbished and comes with a one-year,100% parts & labor or replacement warranty. Our instruments come with a life-time warranty so long as they are used for their intended purpose. Our chairs are almost all reupholstered in a choice of color; we have been told that it is as good as or better than the best new upholstery currently being sold by the leading chair manufacturers in the field in terms of fabric and workmanship. We also carry Mini C-Arms with Windows 7 computers that enable you to download images into your patient software. Let us equip your office for a fraction of the cost of new equipment. Phone (440) ; Fax (440) ; parkhaven@hotmail.com; We also purchase name brand used equipment that is in good condition. (JULY 14 - AUGUST 15) Classified Ad Placement , x18 Please Fax Ad to ; or Mail Ad to 757 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011; or Preferred Method ad to susan@ppma.org. Name Address City/State/Zip PH: FAX: PPMA MEMBERS MAY ADVERTISE IN THE PPMA NEWS AT NO CHARGE. Please limit your ad to words. Ads expire after 90 days and will be deleted. NON-MEMBERS: Marketplace rates are $25 per issue. Payment for all classified ads must be made prior to ad being placed in the newsletter. PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY FORM. Member Ad - Complimentary Non-Member Ad - $25 per issue METHOD OF PAYMENT: CHECKS payable to PA Podiatric Medical Association CREDIT ACCEPTED: MC VISA AMEXP DISCOVER Account # Exp. Date Amount $ Billing Zip Code Signature PPMA Update JULY

19 YM Profile: Jeanine Brinkley, DPM We must continue strengthening our training programs and educating the next generation so we can continue to grow as a profession, represent our speciality well, and earn the respect of our medical colleagues. 1. In what ways do you see that you are making a difference in the lives of patients? We as podiatrists play an important role in the lives of our elderly patients. By preserving their foot health, we preserve their mobility and often times their independence. There are now more Americans age 65 and older than at any other time in U.S. history. According to a Census Bureau report, there were 40.3 million people age 65 and older on April 1, 2010, and that number will reach 70 million in 20 years. The CDC National Diabetes Fact Sheet estimated that 26.9 percent of people in this age group have diabetes. Clearly podiatrists play a vital role, with patients of all ages, but particularly this aging population. As a podiatrist, I continuously draw on many areas of expertise to keep patients ambulatory. These include general foot care, wound care, fall prevention, shoe-gear modification, biomechanics, surgical interventions, and reconstructive procedures as well as diabetic education and limb salvage. 2. Name some of your accomplishments thus far. I am a member of the Aria 3B Orthopaedic Institute, based out of Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County, PA. I am an associate of ACFAS, a fellow of APWCA, and a member of APMA and PPMA. I am also a physician certified in wound care. My interests include diabetes, wound care, limb salvage, general podiatry, trauma, sports medicine injuries, as well as forefoot and rearfoot reconstructive surgeries. I also serve as the Aria Health Assistant Residency director and the Aria Health student clerkship director. 3. Do you feel it s important for podiatrists to do community outreach? What kind? I believe community outreach as a podiatrist is quite important. I am fortunate to be a part of the Aria Health Hospital System in Philadelphia. Aria maintains an excellent relationship with the surrounding community via their Department of Preventative Health and Wellness. Throughout the year, I regularly give diabetes education and foot health lectures that target our local senior community. Much of what we do on a daily basis involves preventative medicine. We educate our patients about the pathology of their disease and how their feet can be affected by diabetes. Unfortunately, many diabetics do not understand this or simply need some encouragement to implement life-style changes. So why not share our message with the community we serve? 4. What is one of the most important things to you right now that has changed from before you started podiatry school? I have a greater appreciation for my educational and residency training as well as those who have been mentors to me throughout my journey. I also realize that it is, not only important to be a competent wellrounded physician, but it is also vital to obtain an understanding of the complexity of our changing health-care climate. I also feel strongly that as attending physicians, it is important for us to give back to our students and residents. We must continue strengthening our training programs and educating the next generation so we can continue to grow as a profession, represent our specialty well, and earn the respect of our medical colleagues. 5. Anything else you want to add your accomplishments, why you chose podiatry, your future plans? I truly enjoy being a podiatrist. I am fortunate to be a part of a well-rounded practice that allows for a variety of both surgical and non-surgical pathologies. It is a wonderful, interesting profession that allows me to make a positive contribution every day. I am thankful for the wonderful training and experiences I have had thus far. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, my two young children, and my dog. UPdate2 Dr. Brinkley is a 2007 graduate from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Professional Wound Care Association and is Certified in Wound Care by the Council for Medical Education and Testing. She is currently a podiatric physician with Aria 3B Orthopaedic Institute in Philadelphia, PA. PPMA Update JULY

20 Chartered Poplar Church Road Camp Hill, PA PPMA Young Member Eagles & Steelers Fans Chartered 1909 Join Peers for Football Season TV Camaraderie with Complimentary Food & Drinks on Us!!! September 7, :00 PM Philadelphia Chickie s and Pete s Crab House and Sports Bar, South Philly, 1526 Packer Ave. October 2014 TBD Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA RSVP: Sabrina Minhas, DPM, sabrina_minhas@hotmail.com by Friday, August 29 Sponsored by CSI, Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. Chartered Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill, PA Phone: Fax: info@ppma.org; Website: