News

Monday Rx: Dr. Omer Deen, AB 1636, Health Fair, Clear as Mud, AB 35, HOD and Upcoming Events

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Message from LACMA President Dr. Omer Deen on Member Engagement

As we continue to make impacts on several fronts relative to access to care, medical provider burnout, gun violence as a public health crisis, Medi-Cal Medicare parity and forge new relationships with organizations like Garfield Medical Center, Allied Pacific IPA and LA Care, I’m excited to see more active board engagement and member engagement. I encourage our members to attend board meetings and if they would like to make comments, we will have a public comment period at the end of every board meeting. This open process will allow us to hear from members directly and I will share this with membership in the coming weeks thru several communications channels.

If you would like to attend a future LACMA board meeting, I encourage you to contact Lisa Le, VP, Operations and Strategic Initiatives at Lisa@lacmanet.org and you will have up to five minutes to share your points of view. Members may also submit comments in writing.

Assembly Bill 1636 and Securing Patient’s Trust

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1636 last week, sponsored by CMA and authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D., to preserve the integrity of the medical profession by ensuring physicians convicted of sexual assault with a patient lose their license with no ability for it to be reinstated.

“Nothing is more fundamental to the California Medical Association and the integrity of the medical profession than protecting patients and the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship,” said CMA President Robert E. Wailes, M.D.  “We thank the Governor for signing AB 1636 to ensure the Medical Board of California has the tools they need to protect patients and keep any physician who violates a patient’s trust from practicing medicine.”

“AB 1636 will preserve confidence in the medical profession by ensuring physicians convicted of sexual misconduct would automatically have their license revoked and cannot acquire or have it reinstated,” said Assemblymember Weber. “The heinous behavior of abusing patients goes against everything physicians stand for and should not be tolerated. This legislation is essential to protect patients and the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship.”

In December 2021, the Los Angeles Times reported that at least 10 California physicians had regained their licenses after investigations of sexual misconduct with their patients. In all reported instances, the physicians either had their licenses revoked or surrendered their licenses. These physicians subsequently petitioned the Medical Board of California for license reinstatement. According to the published report, the medical board reinstated 10 of 17 (59%) of the petitioning physicians.

Currently, a person can petition the medical board for reinstatement three years after having their license revoked or surrendered for unprofessional conduct. The medical board can also specify in a revocation order that a physician may file a petition for reinstatement after two years.

This bill removes the discretion of a medical board to give or reinstate a physician or surgeon who lost their license due to sexual misconduct with a patient. This bill would also deny a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate to an applicant who has been or is required to register as a sex offender.

LACMA Member Leads Health Fair in West Covina

Dr. Basil Vassantachart is coordinating a Mega Health Fair for the West Covina community on October 9th. See the attached flyer for more details or if you would like to help, volunteer, or support in any way. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will have its mobile health team to provide vaccinations. There will be obstacle courses and giant jumpers (shaped like brains and hearts) for kids.

Look for media coverage next week!

Learn more


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Happy Rosh Hashanah

Rabbi Rob Gleisser, the Peter J. Rubinstein reform senior Jewish educator at Penn State Hillel, told USA TODAY. "Think about the ways that we want to create a safe community, a welcoming community, a warm community, and then be able to enrich the world around us after having those moments of introspection." 



Clear As Mud Episode 16

In this podcast episode, LACMA CEO Gustavo Friederichsen speaks with LACMA Membership Engagement Coordinator Stephanie Mares about the full LACMA membership experience, benefits, and resources. Listen to learn more about the NEW LACMA Solutions Portal, which provides more than 100 solutions to independent practices and medical groups.

 


Listen here.

Click here to access the LACMA Solutions Portal.


The Impact of AB 35 on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

A likely surge in medical malpractice claims frequency and severity is expected to occur when Assembly Bill (AB 35) goes into effect on January 1, 2023. Register for CAP’s free webinar, AB 35: Truth and Impact, to learn more about how this legislation impacts your medical professional liability and what you can do to protect your practice.

Register Now

AB 35: Truth and Impact

Date: Thursday, October 6

Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT

This webinar will help physicians:

  • Identify the most impactful changes to MICRA contained in AB 35 that increase physicians’ liabilities for claims of medical negligence
  • Understand the increases in noneconomic damage caps and attorney’s fees
  • Formulate specific steps to ensure patient safety
  • Prepare for the medical professional liability landscape in 2023 and beyond

The discussion will be followed by audience Q&A. All registrants will receive the recording and slides once they are available.

To learn more about becoming a CAP member, please call 800-356-5672 or email MD@CAPphysicians.comRequest 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

Impact and Knowledge About AB 35

At LACMA, we want to make sure we're providing the right resources to help you and your practice succeed. Please take a minute to answer a brief survey about your knowledge surrounding Assembly Bill 35. 

Take Survey


House of Delegates

The 151st Annual Session of the California Medical Association (CMA) House of Delegates (HOD) will convene on October 22-23, 2022, at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. The HOD establishes broad policy on current major issues that have been determined to be the most important issues affecting members, the Association and the practice of medicine. This year’s major issues are: Physician Workforce, Health Care Reform and Mental Health.

If you are interested in joining as a guest, please reach out to Lisa Le at lisa@lacmanet.org.

 


 

Date: Thursday, October 6, 2022

Time: 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Online

Register

 

Defeat Burnout and Boost Retention Within Your Healthcare Facility

This webinar will focus on how to make administrative work easier for staff by improving systems and processes to reduce their workload long term.

What you can expect to learn:

  • Why onboarding is crucial to success, and how to optimize it for staff retention
  • How modernizing your administrative procedures can reduce stress and burnout
  • Why “set-and-forget” systems improve work life for employees and help create a happier, more productive workplace
  • And more!

Date: Friday, October 21, 2022

Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: Marriott LA LIVE, Diamond Salon 10

Register

 

Understanding the Climate Health Crisis & How Californian Physicians Can Make an Impact

This will be an engaging two-part panel discussion that will explore the health impacts of climate change in California and the opportunities for California's physicians to advance policy-level climate solutions with enormous public health co-benefits. Sponsored by Climate Health Now and the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy (CFEE) in coordination with CMA.

Please note: This event is available to attend either in-person or virtually via Zoom. During registration, please choose the registration option for how you intend to view this discussion. 

Date: Friday, November 4, 2022

Time: 6:30 PM PDT

Location: Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills 300 Doheny Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90048

Purchase Your Ticket

 

10th Annual Los Angeles Healthcare Awards Honoring Healthcare Heroes

Join us as we recognize the 2022 honorees! This year’s 10th Annual LA Healthcare Awards is set to take place on November 4th at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. 

This is an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate and honor the incredible healthcare heroes who have selflessly demonstrated their dedication to the health and safety of the community. 

We invite you to join us as we recognize these healthcare heroes. In addition, proceeds from the event support medical students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and want to return and give back to their communities. Learn more about the honorees and event here.



Date: Thursday February 23, 2023 - Saturday February 25, 2023

Location: UCLA Luskin Conference Center 42 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, California 90095

Subscribe for Updates

 

Southern California Burnout Symposium Set for February 23-25, 2023

Mark your calendars for next February as LACMA presents the first Southern California Burnout Symposium coordinated by International Conference Development Events. US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is the confirmed keynote speaker, and the UCLA Luskin Conference Center will be the site! Featuring the most dynamic and relevant program covering two full days, there will also be a panel featuring eight physicians who will share their stories dealing with mass shootings and the impact of gun violence on physicians and first responders. 

#MondayMessage

"Don’t aspire to be the best on the team. Aspire to be the best for the team."

Gustavo Friederichsen

Chief Executive Officer

Los Angeles County Medical Association

“If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me.”

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