MMS, MHA, and Reliant publish paper on EHR; Mass. Sepsis Consortium report

News and announcements

MMS, MHA, and Reliant Medical Group publish paper on EHR as an asset

A joint Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) and Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) task force has released a white paper in partnership with Reliant Medical Group that details best practices Reliant has adopted to optimize its electronic health record (EHR).  Patient satisfaction surveys of EHR users conducted by Press Gainey in 2016 showed Reliant Medical Group’s EHR scoring in the 97th percentile nationally for usability.

The white paper urges health care providers to consider implementing these best practices as appropriate, and to share with the MMS-MHA task force any additional techniques they have adopted to improve their own EHRs and/or otherwise address clinician burnout.

The paper’s authors are Steven Defossez, M.D., EMHL, CPE, vice president, Clinical Integration, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association; Larry Garber, M.D., medical director for Informatics, Reliant Medical Group; Alain Chaoui, M.D., FAAFP, president, Massachusetts Medical Society.

Massachusetts Sepsis Consortium publishes new report 

The report, " Advancing Sepsis Care in Emergency Medicine," includes a new set of recommendations and a toolkit of evidence-based best practices to improve sepsis care.

Nine months ago, the Massachusetts Sepsis Consortium created the Emergency Department Sepsis Protocols Task Force to review the current state of sepsis care in Massachusetts emergency departments. As part of their fact-finding work, the task force interviewed representatives from all 71 Massachusetts emergency departments and satellite facilities. The task force's recommendations for improving sepsis response and outcomes were grouped into seven categories, which were (1) adult screening and treatment, (2) pediatric screening and treatment, (3) patient management, (4) appropriate antibiotic use, (5) staff education and feedback, (6) data collection and quality improvement, and (7) patient education.

"This has been a practical, collaborative, patient care-focused and productive process involving patients, clinicians and other stakeholders," said Dr. John Walsh, co-chair of the task force and a representative of the Massachusetts Medical Society, "all deeply committed to advancing sepsis care in emergency departments across the state."

Dr. Chaoui's farewell party: Congratulations on a great year!


MMS President Alain Chaoui, MD and his wife Nahed with the governance department


MMS and NEJM leadership show off their MMS seal hand stamps


Dr. Chaoui with Jeffrey Drazen, MD, NEJM Editor-in-Chief


MMS Committee on Diversity in Medicine hosts medical student networking event

This past Tuesday at Harvard Medical School, faculty from the Massachusetts medical schools shared their career experiences, tips for success, and resources for minority medical students. The program included short presentations followed by Q&A, roundtable discussions, and networking sessions.

(Speakers, left-right) Fidencio Saldaña, MD, Harvard Medical School and Vice-Chair MMS Committee on Diversity in Medicine; Josephine Hernandez, MD, Tufts University School of Medicine; Rafael Ortega, MD, Boston University School of Medicine; Simone Wildes, MD, Chair MMS Committee on Diversity in Medicine

Ronald Dunlap, MD, past MMS president and advisor to the Committee on Diversity in Medicine, participating in a roundtable discussion

Annual meeting reminders – Avoid the wait;  PRE-REGISTER TODAY 

The 2019 Annual Meeting will be held May 2-4 at the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center. Please register by April 29, noon, at massmed.org/annual2019/register.

The online Delegates’ Handbook is available at massmed.org/A19handbook.

Testify online today at massmed.org/hodcommunity legislative meetings.

May 3: 2019 Annual Education Program and Shattuck Lecture

Annual Education Program: Restoring the Art of Medicine: The Power of Physician Wellness 

More than 50 percent of US physicians report significant symptoms of burnout, and evidence indicates that this public health crisis is growing quickly. Join us as we address the issues and challenges around physician burn out and discuss ways by which we can restore physician wellness and joy of practice.

Shattuck Lecture: Future of Care: A Call to Collaboration

Amid high anxiety about health care costs, a shifting health care landscape, and an epidemic of professional burnout, the future of care must focus on the patient. The 2019 Shattuck Lecture will focus on the future of care and will be delivered by John Noseworthy, MD, president and CEO emeritus of Mayo Clinic.

Click the thumbnail below to learn more about these programs and register today!




Benefit Buzz

Having accurate and updated information listed in the CAQH “Direct Assure” portal is essential for provider directory accuracy and network and referral management. If you are having problems updating your practice, provider or accepting new patient information --call us today. The PPRC can help you address issues in less time with less stress and with better outcomes. Feel free to contact us today at PPRC (781) 434-7702 or email us at pprc@mms.org.

Educational programs and events

Featuring 2019 Annual Education Program and Shattuck Lecture

2019 Annual Education Program and Shattuck Lecture 

2019 Ethics Forum – Ethical Values in Value-based Care Models  

Featured Online CME Course

The Medical Professionals Empowerment Program (MedPEP)

Upcoming lectures and training

May 7: The 7th annual communication, apology, and resolution forum (MMS Headquarters)

The forum will take place at the Massachusetts Medical Society Conference Center on Tuesday May 7, 2019. The event includes live simulation of using the CARe process in adverse event situations, an update on the CARe pilot study data, as well as a keynote by Richard Boothman, J.D., formerly of the University of Michigan Health System. Register for this free event online before May 1st.

June 6-7: Managing workplace conflict: Improving leadership & personal effectiveness (MMS Headquarters)

This program explores complex relationships within the medical work environment. The course provides techniques for addressing and resolving difficult relationships and stressful situations, as well as strengthening relationships with other team members and patients. Read the full program flyer here.

Quote of the week

"This crisis is not caused by an inability to access life-saving vaccines. Rather, families have been misled into believing that vaccines pose a greater risk than the diseases they prevent."

—  Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, co-founder and president of Vaccinate Your Family   (USA Today)

Tweet of the week

@AGBecerra
California Attorney General. Proudly Working to Defend the Rights of All Californians

What’s new in health care

Check out the most clicked-on stories from this week's MMS Media Watch. Sign up for daily Massachusetts media roundups by email. Some publications are fully accessible only to their subscribers.

Boston hospital receives largest gift in history for HIV/AIDS research (WCVB)

Massachusetts General Hospital received its largest philanthropic gift in its history to support research into a potential HIV/AIDS vaccine. The $200 million contribution will go to support the Ragon Institute of MGH, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard. The gift comes from Phillip (Terry) and Susan Ragon, long-time supporters of the hospital. The Ragon Institute was founded in 2009 through a $100 million donation, which at that time was the largest gift the MGH had ever received, from the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Foundation.

More layoffs at athenahealth (Boston Business Journal)

Athenahealth, the fourth largest software development firm in Massachusetts, is laying off more employees amid a reorganization, two months after the health IT company was taken private by Veritas Capital. After initially declining to say how many employees were let go or if the layoffs were confined to the Watertown headquarters, athenahealth spokespeople said the number came to less than four percent of athenahealth's total corporate workforce across all offices. According to the company, the reorganization is an effort to reduce duplicate jobs between athenahealth and Virence Health, a Veritas health IT business that is being merged with athenahealth.
 
Patient sues Holyoke hospital over assault in ER (Boston Globe)

A patient who was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Holyoke Medical Center emergency department has sued the hospital, charging that staff members failed to protect her from another patient while she slept. Both the victim and the alleged assailant apparently were seeking treatment in the emergency department's behavioral health unit in November. The four staff members on duty were busy with other patients and did not notice the man enter the woman's room, according to internal investigation reports the hospital filed with state regulators.

16 on flight landing at Logan taken to hospital with illnesses (MassLive)

Sixteen people on a flight landing at Logan International Airport were taken to an area hospital after all of them reported an illness, according to WCVB. A Massachusetts Port Authority official told the television station the American Airlines flight started in Miami and landed in Boston Sunday morning. Boston EMS said officials were called to the airport around 9:20 a.m. A spokesman for the airline said the 16 people were all from the same group, WCVB reports. The passengers' symptoms are minor, authorities told the television station.