Monday Rx: AB 2236, Dr. Fauci, Chinese Massacre of 1871, Solutions Portal, Handling HR Issues and Upcoming Events August 22, 2022 AB 2236, Assembly Bill, Chinese Massacre, COVID-19, Dr. Fauci, Executive Committee, Healthcare Appreciation Night, High Growth Medical Practice, HR Issues, LA Dodgers, LA Dodgers Healthcare Appreciation Night, LACMA Solutions Portal, Medical Practices, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Policy, Profitable Medical Practice, Rapid Vendor Connect 728 AB 2236 is Bad Policy Assembly Bill 2236 (Low), would expand optometrists scope of practice by allowing optometrists to perform surgical procedures on the eye, including procedures that require the use of a scalpel, injection, or the use of lasers. Patient safety and quality of care demand that patients be assured that individuals who perform invasive procedures have appropriate medical education and training. Optometrists do not have the education, training, or experience to perform any type of surgery, including surgery involving the eye or tissues surrounding the eye. Allowing optometrists to perform surgery would pose a serious threat to the safety of patients in California which is why the AMA, CAES and LACMA oppose AB 2236. Period. AB 2236 allows optometrists to perform “Anterior segment laser” and minor procedures which involve the use of a scalpel or injections. The AMA defines surgery as the diagnostic or therapeutic treatment of conditions or disease processes by any instruments causing localized alteration or transposition of live human tissue, which include lasers, ultrasound, ionizing radiation, scalpels, probes, and needles. All of these surgical procedures are invasive, including those that are performed with lasers. The risks associated with any surgical procedure are not eliminated by using a light knife or laser in place of a metal knife or scalpel. Surgery on the human eye is not risk-free and there are no “uncomplicated” surgeries involving the eye or tissues surrounding the eye. Complex surgical procedures, such as laser eye surgery and needle injections administered to the eye, require specialized education and training. Additionally, surgery on the eye requires medical supervision during surgical preparation, the performance of the procedure, and postoperative patient care. Such training must include not only the technical skills needed to perform the procedure itself but also the medical knowledge needed to analyze when surgery may or may not be clinically indicated. Ophthalmologists’ training includes four years of medical education and an additional four to six years in postgraduate residencies and fellowships. During that advanced training, physicians learn the most effective, safe, and appropriate treatments, including surgical, pharmacologic, and other interventions based on each patient’s unique medical needs. In sharp contrast, optometric education and training rarely go beyond the postgraduate level and are focused almost entirely on examining the eye for vision prescription, dispensing corrective lenses, and performing some eye screening functions. Therefore, the requirements of AB 2236 – which include performing as few as ONE of some procedures – are totally inadequate. For these reasons, LACMA joined the opposition last week and shared with our members how to send “oppose” letters directly to legislators before the California Senate hears the bill later today. I also want to thank LACMA's past presidents, Dr. David Aizuss and Dr. Diana Shiba, for championing the opposition. It is for these reasons that the LACMA Executive Committee signed a letter to “oppose” to the Senate as well. Click here to read the letter. Dr. Fauci Steps Down Anthony Fauci, MD, will step down in December from his positions as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), as President Biden's chief medical advisor, and as chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation. Fauci, the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been at the helm of NIAID for nearly four decades and has served under seven presidents, beginning with Ronald Reagan. At the risk of dating myself, I had the privilege of working with Dr. Fauci’s team when I served under former Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Louis W. Sullivan during the battle against AIDS/HIV in the late eighties and early nineties. Here is a clip. Chinese Massacre of 1871 On October 24, 1871 (the same year as the founding of LACMA), racial violence erupted on the streets of Los Angeles as an angry mob descended upon what’s now downtown and killed 18 Chinese immigrants including the only physician at the time, Dr. Gene Tong. There is a movement to create a memorial. I’d like to host our Chinese American physician leaders for a conversation on the topic and include leaders from the Chinese American Museum and honor Dr. Tong as well. Please let me know if you would like to join us by emailing info@lacmanet.org. Have you checked out the new LACMA Solutions Portal? It features 68 new partners in addition to our initial 30+ “preferred partners”. If that wasn’t impressive enough, we’ve also included concierge support for interested physicians, an easy-to-use menu driven experience, deeper discounts for all solutions and two easy ways to access these solutions: Rapid Vendor Connect (quick click and go) and the Marketplace which will provide a deeper dive of each solution. View Portal Free Webinar: Handling HR Issues in Your Practice Whether you manage a team of one or 100, implementing structured human resources policies and procedures can improve staff efficiency and help you avoid employment-related lawsuits. Join the Cooperative of American Physicians (CAP) for a free webinar with CAP's SVP of Human Resources and Operations Nancy Brusegaard Johnson, who will address how to hire great staff, effectively manage HR issues, stay current on employment regulations, and much more. Register Now The Top HR Issues Impacting Medical Practices…and How to Handle Them Date: Wednesday, August 24 Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT This webinar will cover: Interviewing and Hiring Non-Exempt & Exempt Classification Terminating Employees Harassment Avoidance Training Rest Breaks and Meal Periods Medical Leaves Employee Handbooks and Policies And much more! The webinar will be followed by audience Q&A. All registrants will receive the recording and slides once they are available. CAP is pleased to present this program in association with our county medical society partners statewide. As a leading provider of superior medical malpractice coverage in California for more than 40 years, CAP remains committed to providing physicians with secure and affordable protection and relevant practice and risk management resources, such as these webinars, to help them run safe and successful practices. To learn more about becoming a CAP member, please call 800-356-5672 or email MD@CAPphysicians.com. Request an Instant Quote today to see how much you can save on medical malpractice coverage through CAP. Professional liability coverage for CAP Members is provided by Mutual Protection Trust pursuant to Ins. Code section 1280.7 Join Us for LACMA Family & Friends at LA Dodgers Healthcare Appreciation Night! The Los Angeles County Medical Association is excited to spend an evening together with all members at the Dodger Stadium for Dodger Healthcare Appreciation Night! Tickets: $20 for LACMA members & first guest $34 for each additional guest up to 3 guests per member. Limited tickets available, RSVP by August 24, 2022. This special event ticket package includes your ticket to the game and an exclusive Healthcare Appreciation Night long sleeve shirt.* Be sure to stick around after the game for Friday Night Fireworks! ***Tickets will be distributed by LACMA prior to the game through MLB Ballpark App once payment has been completed. Attendees will need to download MLB Ballpark App*** Date: Friday, September 30, 2022 | RSVP BY AUGUST 24, 2022 Time: 7:10 pm PST RSVP Here How to Build a Profitable & High Growth Medical Practice This is an exclusive invitation to a networking breakfast for Presidents, CEOs, Senior Vice Presidents, Executive Directors, and Owners of medical practices in Southern California that want to reach significant growth this year, sponsored by COSi, Cycle of Success Institute (LearnCosi.com). Feel free to bring 1-2 of your key managers. During the session, you and your team will: Brainstorm and then capture $1,000,000+ of bottom-and top-line opportunities within your practice right now Learn about advanced business tools, techniques, processes, and skills necessary to transform your operation into a profitable high, growth business Discover step-by-step how to get your practice on the fastest path possible to growing patients, cash flow, and profitability, despite today’s economy Learn how to empower your people to work together, growing revenue and profitability Gain proven steps to creating teamwork, quality, communication, and accountability Attendees will receive a free digital copy of the #1 Best Selling Business Book, “The Profit Pattern” by John Mautner, Founder and CEO of COSi. Breakfast will be served. Seating is limited to only the first 40 practices. Date: Saturday, September 10, 2022 Time: 9:00 am PST Location: 801 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017, USA RSVP Here Now Accepting Applications for the Medical Practice Makeover Program! We are here to support your practice needs! If your practice needs additional assistance to hire staff, invest in technology, engage any one of LACMA’s 20+ preferred partners or needs assistance to improve billing, reimbursement and revenue generation, simply fill out the application. Five medical practices will be selected to receive financial grants and free practice assessments. Additional details and FAQs for this member-exclusive program are available here. The deadline for the Fall 2022 cycle is September 14, 2022. LACMA is here to help! We encourage you to apply today! Still have questions? Email Stephanie Mares. Apply Here #MondayMotivation "Tending to your mental health is not one and done. It is a lifelong journey that takes place one day, one step at a time." Gustavo Friederichsen Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles County Medical Association “If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me.”