ACMS March 2024 Bulletin

BULLETIN

March 2024 / Vol. 114 No. 03

Opinion Society News

Editorial

• Spring News

Deval (Reshma) Paranjpe, MD, MBA, FACS

Opinion

• About the Patient Safety Authority

Eugene Myers

Opinion

• Patient Safety Efforts In Our Region & Beyond

Karen Feinstein, PhD

Editorial

• The Legend of Willis Reed Anthony L. Kovatch, MD

ACMS News

• ACMS in Action Women in Healthcare Commitee Event

ACMS News

• Wear Red Day February 2024

ACMS News

• 2023 Legislative Wrap-Up & 2024 Legislative Preview Zachary Gates

ACMS News

• An Update From the ACMS Board of Directors

Raymond E. Pontzer, MD

ACMS News

• Meet The Editorial Board

ACMS News

• Specialty Group Updates

ACMS Staff: Nadine Popovich, Eileen Taylor, and Melanie Mayer

Articles

Legislation

• Alleviating Medical Debt Saves Lives

Rep. Arvind Venkat, MD

Materia Medica

• If it's COVID, PAXLOVID unless... Emma Darling

Resources

• Resources Following Change Healthcare Cyberattack

Sara C. Hussey, MBA, CAE

Cover Photo by Adam Tobias, MD Adam Tobias, MD specializes in Emergency Medicine

2024

Executive Committee

and Board of Directors

President

Raymond E. Pontzer, MD

President-elect

Keith T. Kanel, MD Secretary

Kirsten D. Lin, MD Treasurer

William F. Coppula, MD Board Chair

Matthew B. Straka, MD

Directors

Term Expires 2024

Douglas F. Clough, MD

David J. Deitrick, DO

Jan B. Madison, MD

Raymond J. Pan, MD

G. Alan Yeasted, MD, FACP

Term Expires 2025

Anuradha Anand, MD Amber Elway, DO

Mark A. Goodman, MD

Elizabeth Ungerman, MD, MS Alexander Yu, MD

Term Expires 2026

Michael M. Aziz, MD, MPH, FACOG

Michael W. Best, MD

Richard B. Hoffmaster, MD

Micah A. Jacobs, MD, FIDSA

Jody Leonardo, MD

PAMED District Trustee

G. Alan Yeasted, MD, FACP

2024 Board Committees

Bylaws

Kirsten D. Lin, MD Finance

William Coppula, MD Nominating

Keith T. Kanel, MD

Women’s Committee

Anu Anand, MD & Tiffany DuMont, DO

Bulletin

Managing Editor

Sara C. Hussey, MBA, CAE ACMS Executive Director shussey@acms.org

Medical Editor

Deval (Reshma) Paranjpe, MD reshma_paranjpe@hotmail.com

Bulletin Designer Victoria Gricks victoria@thecorcorancollective.com

Term Ending 2024

Richard Daffer, MD; Anthony Kovatch, MD; Andrea Witlin, DO, PhD

Term Ending 2025

Robert Howland, MD; John Williams, MD; Alexandra Johnston, DO; Charles Mount, MD

Administrative Staff

Executive Director

Sara Hussey shussey@acms.org

Vice President - Member and Association Services Nadine M. Popovich npopovich@acms.org

Manager - Member and Association Services

Eileen Taylor etaylor@acms.org

Operations CoordinatorACMS & ACMS Foundation

Melanie Mayer mmayer@acms.org

Part-Time Controller Elizabeth Yurkovich eyurkovich@acms.org

Bulletin Designer Victoria Gricks victoria@thecorcorancollective.com

Issued

month. Deadline for submission of copy is the SECOND Monday preceding publication date. Periodical postage paid at Pittsburgh, PA.

Bulletin of the Allegheny County Medical Society reserves the right to edit all reader contributions for brevity, clarity and length as well as to reject any subject material submitted.

The opinions expressed in the Editorials and other opinion pieces are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Allegheny County Medical Society, the institution with which the author is affiliated, or the opinion of the Editorial Board. Advertisements do not imply sponsorship by or endorsement of the ACMS, except where noted.

Publisher reserves the right to exclude any advertisement which in its opinion does not conform to the standards of the publication. The acceptance of advertising in this publication in no way constitutes approval or endorsement of products or services by the Allegheny County Medical Society of any company or its products.

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Spring News

By: Deval (Reshma) Paranjpe, MD, MBA, FACS

Spring is here, bringing sunshine, birdsong, green lawns, flowers and rebirth. Not only rebirth of the earth, but rebirth of the spirit. The dark depths of January may bring New Year’s resolutions, but the warm whispers of Spring actually breathe life into new ideas, new ventures, and change.

Here at ACMS, many fresh and imaginative ideas are afoot. At the Bulletin, we have a re-energized editorial board whose members I encourage you to get to know. Some of them you have known and loved for years for their consistently insightful, powerful and well written articles; some are new and bring fresh voices and ideas for your perusal. You’ll find their round-table answers to questions that concern all of us (an idea put forth by editorial board member Dr. Andrea Witlin) further on in the magazine on pages 20-21. We hope that these will stimulate discussion and introspection among readers and welcome other round table question ideas as well as other ideas you’d like to see.

The Bulletin will feature theme issues and a revamped pharmacy column, among other refreshing changes. We’d like your feedback and input on what you’d like to see and what you’d like to see more of. This is your Bulletin, and we aim to be a place where you can come to relax, learn, laugh, think and connect outside of your clinical life.

With that, let me start off the round table.

What do I love most about practicing medicine?

I love the aspect of connection— with patients, with colleagues, with patients’ families, with everyone in the

process. I love the fact that our very job is to help our fellow humans. Think about that. How crazy that people with careers in other disciplines (finance, business, etc) have to actually make an effort to help their fellow man by doing charitable work, while we have that privilege every hour of our workdays! I love that what we do is inherently noble and moral and kind, and that it is not just a job but a calling.

How do I relax/unwind?

Sometimes, I hide, rest, and recover. More often, I connect with other people in nonclinical ways. I love spending time with friends and family. I love finding new things to experience in the arts, and love learning about new and eclectic subjects. And of course, I love trying new restaurants and cooking.

My #1 tip to colleagues who might be facing physician burnout?

Remember that you are more than your job. Cultivate other parts of your life and yourself so that medicine is not your sole identity. Give yourself permission to take time off. Build a life such that if you could no longer practice medicine tomorrow, you would be ok emotionally, physically, psychologically and financially. Connect with others.

On the subject of connection, keep two dates on your calendar:

Thursday April 18th is the ACMS Honors Gala at the Heinz History Center. Buy your ticket today and come enjoy a fun night out with colleagues, make new friends, and support the medical society and the ACMS Foundation. You can buy tickets at https://www.acms. org/events-news/acms-honors/ or scan the QR code on the back cover of this edition of the Bulletin.

ACMS in Action

February 2024

Last month, our Women in Healthcare Committee hosted its Speed Networking and Wine Tasting Night at the Pittsburgh Winery. It was a fun opportunity for medical students, residents, fellows and earlycareer physicians to connect and learn from established physicians.

3. Alexandra Johnston, DO; Rachel Toney, MD; Marissa Tremoglie-Barkowski, med student; Jordan Gladys-Oryhon, DO

4. Valentyna Ivanova, MD; Kendall Curtis, Med Student; Tiffany DuMont, DO

5. Amber Elway, DO; Emily Scott, DO; Lillian Emlet, MD

6. Renee Levesque, MD; Anuradha Anand, MD; Lisa Nath, MD

7. McKenzie Sicke, med student; Kelli Ruby, DO

1. Sabrina Bruno, med student; Marissa Tremoglie-Barkowski, med student; Sara Hussey, ACMS Executive Director

2. Renee Levesque, DO; Hemamalini Karpurapuc, MD; Sabrina Bruno, med student; McKenzie Sicke, med student

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Wear Red Day February 2024

Offices across Allegheny County joined forces in February, donning vibrant shades of red to mark Wear Red Day and promote heart health awareness. Their collective effort showcased unity and commitment to community wellness, inspiring others to prioritize heart health. Thank you to all the practices who participated in this effort. Our very own ACMS team and the Babb Insurance Team took part in the initiative as well. We look forward to making this an annual spotlight campaign!

1. Dr. Stacie McKnight, Dr. Stephen Leibensperger, Dr. Gary Sauer and Dr. Amber Elway

2. Staff at Heritage Valley Health System Heart & Vascular Center Leetsdale

3. Back row (left to right):  Wafaa Domat, Paula Tortorete, Karen Piazza, Donna Lindsay, Lynn Winberg; Front row: Lori Birch, Gina Jurik, Jennifer Gibson

4. Crystal Korey, Leah Petrelli, Amanda Hatfield, Rhonda Jones, Hannah Campano, Thomas Bane

5. Genesis Medical Associates

6. Quality Specialist - Bonnie Downs, Prior Auth Specialist - Amy Walsh-Smith, Clinical Coordinator - Kim Rotellini-Ficarri

7. Joni Roskowski, Lori Gastner, Terri Wingertsahn

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Legislation

Alleviating Medical Debt Saves Lives

By: Arvind Venkat, MD — State Representative

Today, Americans owe at least $220 billion in medical debt, and Pennsylvanians have more than $1.8 billion in medical debt in collections.

Even with the Affordable Care Act of 2008 making health insurance more accessible, the cost of health care continues to rapidly rise, so much so that medical debt contributes to more than 66.5% of bankruptcies in the U.S. Visits to the emergency department are costly and contribute to medical debt the most, which strains patients’ finances as they experience acute health care challenges.

Often, patients accrue medical debt when they’re most vulnerable, seeking treatment for a medical condition that threatens their lives or prevents them from working. The cost of care also threatens their finances and ability to afford daily expenses.

In Pennsylvania, we now have the opportunity to address the medical debt crisis that threatens our patients. Under the Medical Debt Relief Act (H.B. 78), which I authored and sponsored with Reps. Donna Bullock, D-Phila.; Tarik Khan, D-Phila.; Bridget Kosierowski, D-Lackawanna; and Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, Pennsylvania would establish the Medical Debt Relief Program. Governor Shapiro has now proposed including this program in the 2024-25 state budget. By appropriating funding for this program, we can save thousands of lives, diminish a key driver of health care inflation, and assist struggling hospitals, emergency medical service providers, and other clinical practices.

The Medical Debt Relief Act would establish the Medical Debt Relief

Program within the Department of Health to discharge medical debt of eligible Pennsylvanians by contracting with a medical debt relief coordinator. Since distressed medical debt can be purchased for pennies on the dollar, a small budget allocation can enable the relief for thousands of Pennsylvanians with hundreds of millions of dollars in medical debt. To prevent the accumulation of new medical debt, the legislation would also require hospitals to inform patients of their financial assistance programs, assist patients with applying for financial assistance when eligible, and hold bills in abeyance until that eligibility is determined.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the Medical Debt Relief Act on a bipartisan basis. With Governor Shapiro’s proposal to appropriate $4 million to fund the Medical Debt Relief Program, as proposed in the Medical Debt Relief Act, we have the opportunity to alleviate up to $400 million in medical debt in collections in Pennsylvania.

Providing medical debt relief to Pittsburgh residents now, all Pennsylvanians in the future

The Pittsburgh City Council recently allocated $1 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to relieve medical debt, serving as the model for the proposed Pennsylvania Medical Debt Relief Program. In Allegheny County, 7% of residents have medical debt in collections. Some of these residents with medical debt include staff in our own healthcare practices, such as Nila Payton who worked at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and also owed medical debt to the same

health care system.

In Pennsylvania, medical debt affects residents of Bradford, Franklin, Greene, McKean, and Warren counties the most, three of which are counties in western PA. Appropriating funding for the Medical Debt Relief Program would ensure that patients in rural areas –where the prevalence of medical debt is the highest – would receive relief.

Moreover, with more than 4 in 10 hospitals losing money, the Medical Debt Relief Program is a win for hospitals as it would alleviate medical debt for patients, but also put money in the hands of these institutions. With more and more hospitals closing, the Medical Debt Relief Program can serve as a vehicle to alleviate medical debt for patients and assist the finances of health care institutions. As drafted in the Medical Debt Relief Act, EMS agencies and other clinical practices would also be eligible to participate.

Alleviating medical debt also helps all Pennsylvanians. With the cost shifting so that health care providers will receive payment for previously uncompensated treatments, medical debt relief can help inflation in the health care industry, as well as those with their debt alleviated to participate in their local economy.

Medical debt interferes with patients’ health care, then and now

Medical debt continues to increase in the U.S., causing more strains on the American health care system, which already lags behind other countries in key patient outcomes. With more and more Americans taking on medical debt, this financial burden exacerbates Americans’ worsening health as their

debt acts as a barrier to accessing necessary health care.

When I began my career as an emergency physician, I treated a woman who delayed breast cancer treatment due to her fear of the cost of health care from previously accrued medical debt. As a result, the cancer spread prior to her presentation, and she died. With assistance available through the Medical Debt Relief Program, she may have been more comfortable seeking care sooner.

Even now, medical debt continues to act as a barrier to accessing health care.

According to the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, Phillip Wendell, an 80-year-old man from Pittsburgh, underwent an emergency surgery in

for these treatments. Phillip then opted to negotiate with the hospital, but they insisted he pay off the debt within 6 months with payments of up to $750 a month. Phillip’s story shows how vulnerable seniors in Pennsylvania are to medical debt, especially for those like Phillip who live on a fixed income.

It is 2024. Patients should have the ability to seek treatment for their medical issues without medical debt acting as a barrier. Hospitals should increase transparency about their financial assistance programs and aid patients so that eligible patients receive the benefits. That is why we must enact the Medical Debt Relief Program and begin its funding in the 2024-25 state budget.

Moving beyond medical debt relief

make healthcare more affordable and accessible in Pennsylvania.

Among these are:

• Extending the Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment moratorium for PACE and PACENET until 2025, allowing more seniors to continue to receive assistance to pay for their prescriptions.

• Ensuring privacy protections for pregnant patients.

• Providing funding for mental health services.

• Regulating artificial intelligence in health insurance claims processes.

• Expanding staffing flexibility to respond to the opioid epidemic.

By allocating funding for the Medical

2023 Legislative Wrap-Up & 2024 Legislative Preview

By: Zachary Gates

“Unpredictable” is probably the best word to describe the many changes that have taken place over the past year… both from a legislative perspective and a political one, although the two are often inextricably linked. November 2022 brought the election of a new Governor, Josh Shapiro, and a historic shift of power in the state House of Representatives with democrats edging out a one seat majority. These changes, coupled with the untimely death of Anthony DeLuca, a democratic member of the House, impacted the ability of the General Assembly to “hit the ground running” in early 2023. Adding to the political complexities of a new legislative session was the resignation of several democrat house members who had been elected to other offices, including Lt. Governor Austin Davis. As a result, the “business” of the House didn’t really get started in a serious way until April 2023.

We are seeing yet another “unpredictable” start to 2024 as the General Assembly has not convened for a voting session day since midDecember 2023. On March 18th the Pennsylvania Legislature returns to session after almost 100 days without session. This gap is due to yet another resignation within the State House, Representative John Galloway resigned after winning an election to become a Magisterial District Judge. His resignation brought the House to 101-101 until a special election was held to replace him. Following March 18th, the General Assembly has a flurry of session days where we anticipate a busy legislative agenda where PAMED will continue to engage on a variety of

issues.

One area to highlight is PAMED’s continued vigorous opposition to bills that would expand the scope of practice to non-physician providers throughout the Commonwealth. Senate Bill 25 (Bartolotta) and House Bill 1825 (Guenst), bills that would allow for the independent practice of Nurse Practitioner’s, were both reintroduced. HB 2037 (Bullock) was introduced, which would allow pharmacists to vaccinate children down to the age of three, and we expect a Senate companion bill to be introduced in the near future. We have also seen a push to allow psychologists to prescribe medications in HB 1000 (Frankel). PAMED, and our physician specialty partners, will continue to advocate for physician-led team-based care.

Another advocacy priority for the Pennsylvania Medical Society is Restrictive Covenant legislation. As mandated by the PAMED House of Delegates, we continue to discuss the issue of non-compete agreements in physician contracts with a number of legislators. Interest in this area seems to be growing as lawmakers learn more about how these contractual agreements negatively impact patient access and continuity of care. Sen. Michele Brooks (R-Venango) has re-introduced a proposal, Senate Bill 521, that would require that patients be notified when their physician provider has left a given practice and to provide patients with direct contact information in the event they wish to continue seeing their physician in another location. The bill would also void non-compete agreements when a

physician is terminated “without cause.” The state hospital association, HAP, opposes this legislation.

In the House, Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) has introduced House Bill 1633, a proposal that would outright ban the use of non-compete agreements in all physician employment contracts. PAMED will be working with Rep. Frankel, and other policy makers in the House, to move this proposal forward. While PAMED supports House Bill 1633, our support is contingent in adding a provision that would permit the use of non-compete agreements that would help protect private physician practices. We are hopeful to see movement on the proposal by Representative Frankel in the spring.

For more information regarding PAMED’s advocacy issues and our efforts on your behalf, please visit pamedsoc.org or keep an eye on our weekly newsletter The Dose. As always, PAMED members are encouraged to develop relationships with their local state representatives and state senators. These relationships will play a key role in helping PAMED to achieve our legislative goals.

Zachary Gates is the Senior Director of Government Relations with the Pennsylvania Medical Society. He can be reached at zgates@pamedsoc.org.

About the Patient Safety Authority

By: Eugene Myers

When you see the letters PSA, “public service announcement” is likely the first thing that comes to mind; however, in Pennsylvania, PSA commonly refers to something else: the Patient Safety Authority.

While public service announcements are some of what we do, we don’t stop at raising awareness of safety and health concerns. The Patient Safety Authority partners with healthcare facilities in identifying potential risks, developing strategies to prevent harm, and collaborating with those who can best use them to protect patients and staff: healthcare workers like you.

How do we accomplish this? The core component of our work is the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System—the nation’s largest event reporting database, with more than 5 million reports. Acute care facilities are required to report all incidents of harm or potential for harm, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act. Commonly called the MCARE Act or Act 13 of 2002, this is the same legislation that created the PSA as an independent state agency, under an 11-member board appointed by the governor and state legislature. Similarly, long-term care facilities report infections into PAPSRS, as outlined by Act 52 of 2007.

Do you know that Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that requires healthcare facilities to report serious events and incidents? As the saying goes, “knowledge is power,” and this patient safety information is among our most vital tools for improving the quality of healthcare. Unlike health regulatory agencies, the PSA collects

and analyzes these reports solely to better advise facilities through publication, education, collaboration, and recommendations.

Every report in PA-PSRS helps prevent an event from happening again, allowing PSA to identify trends unapparent to a single facility or flag a single event that has a high likelihood of recurrence. In 2022 alone, 256,679 serious events and incidents were reported to PA-PSRS, which our analysts studied and analyzed to focus improvements. Their data were published in the PSA’s award-winning journal, Patient Safety, reaching more than 75,000 readers throughout all 50 U.S. states and 174 countries.

As just one example of the power of event reporting: While reviewing high harm events, a PSA analyst noted a report describing the near-death of a newborn after the mother fell asleep with the baby in her arms. The event prompted the analyst to determine whether any other similar events had occurred, and what she found was shocking—dozens of reports of newborns falling across the state, every year. Because an individual facility may only experience one or two newborn falls annually, it would be nearly impossible to measure the true scope of the problem without a broader perspective. This analysis brought light to an otherwise hidden and lifethreatening issue.

As you can see, event reports can be the first indication of underlying problems, regardless of whether harm occurs. They also are essential tools for triggering widespread change throughout a facility—and beyond.

Event reporting isn’t about pointing the blame at someone, but about explaining what went wrong so that next time, and every time thereafter, it goes right.

When we know what happened, we can understand why it happened, and figure out how to prevent it from happening again. Sharing details about these events—telling the stories behind them—helps other healthcare facilities and staff avoid mistakes, learn from proven best practices, and better care for patients.

With this powerful impact in mind, the PSA launched Changemakers: Stories That Made a Difference, a collection of stories about events that inspired people to improve care across their hospital, health system, or even nationwide. We invite you to visit our website to read and share accounts of how a reported event, whether through PA-PSRS or an internal system, catalyzed improvements. If you have a story about how an event inspired staff to make changes that improved patient care and safety at your facility, please consider sending it to us for inclusion.

Thank you for joining in our vision of safe healthcare for all patients. Together we save lives.

Eugene Myers is the associate editor of Engagement and Publications for the Patient Safety Authority. He previously served as editor-in-chief of Communications, Office of Institutional Advancement, at Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, and as a development writer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is an award-winning author of eight books for young adult readers.

An Update From the ACMS Board of Directors

By: Raymond E. Pontzer, MD – 2024 ACMS President

Warm Spring greetings to you all –thankful that winter has been cut short by Punxsutawney Phil. I felt it worthwhile to report to you regarding our recent Board of Directors meeting that took place on February 13, 2024. First off, we welcomed our newly elected board members Michael Best, David Deitrick, Jody Leonardo, Micah Jacobs, and Rick Hoffmaster. They add to the existing Board, which in my opinion, is a very talented and diverse group that well represents our society. Additionally, the Board confirmed the appointments of members to the various ACMS committees as well as the Bulletin Editorial Board. To those of you who find yourself on a committee, thank you for your time and commitment.

A significant portion of our meeting was devoted to the decision on whether we at ACMS should take the opportunity to subsidize the recent dues for membership that were recently levied by PAMED to begin this year for resident physicians and medical students. Up until this year, their membership was gratis. Starting this year the fee for membership is $20 annually for residents and $5 for students. Although the dues set by PAMED for medical student and resident membership are relatively low, it quickly became apparent that this change resulted in a marked reduction in the number of students/residents renewing or obtaining new membership here at ACMS. Reportedly PAMED issued projections indicating a probable retention rate of students and residents state-wide of less than 20% because of the dues levied on them.

Following a discussion, led in part

by Drs. Deitrick and Hoffmaster, there was concern that the negative impact caused by the membership fees may result in disengaging students and residents from organized medicine early in their career, potentially creating a negative impact on the long-term legacy of organized medicine, including our Society. The Board then voted to subsidize the membership fees for 2024. Reportedly PAMED is continuing to debate and study the issue of whether to require membership fees for residents/students in coming years.

The final portion of our meeting was dedicated to discussion with our guest speaker, and fellow ACMS member, Representative Arvind Venkat, MD. As many of you know, Arvind is the only physician member of the Pennsylvania legislature. He continues to practice emergency medicine here in Allegheny County, but to our benefit he now is an active voice in our state legislature. Arvind is particularly effective in creating and steering medical legislation in impactful and positive ways to benefit the medical community. He encouraged us to engage in relationships with our state legislators to better educate and influence them regarding our perspective on the many issues passing through the legislature. These include issues such as restrictive covenants, malpractice venue changes and nurse practitioner/physician assistant autonomy. The meeting concluded with expressions of gratitude to Dr. Venkat for his unwavering commitment to representing physicians’ interests.

Thank you for tuning in to this Board of Directors report. The administrative

and leadership team here at ACMS remain grateful for your ongoing support. Please keep us informed if there is any way in which we can assist you.

Dr. Pontzer is Chief of the division of Infectious Diseases at UPMC St Margaret Hospital and senior partner at Romano Pontzer and Associates, an independent infectious diseases practice servicing multiple hospitals in the Pittsburgh metropolitan region. Additionally, he serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and is the 2024 president of the Allegheny Medical Society.

Patient Safety Efforts In Our Region & Beyond

By: Karen Feinstein, PhD — President and CEO of the

Jewish Healthcare Foundation and Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative

For the last two and a half decades, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) has advanced safety in health care as a primary focus. We established the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI) in 1998 specifically to address healthcare safety and quality, and we have had moments of success, such as our efforts to reduce central lineassociated bloodstream infections1 But overall, progress in patient safety has been frustratingly slow and difficult to sustain. We have, on the other hand, been strikingly successful in keeping people out of hospitals. Given the spike in adverse events post-epidemic, however, we have recommitted with additional vigor to addressing safety in all healthcare settings with expertise in a range of industries and disciplines.

Advancing Patient Safety as a National Priority

Last spring, I wrote in the ACMS Bulletin about PRHI’s support of a legislative effort to create a National Patient Safety Board (NPSB), which would provide a federal home for safety in health care. I am thrilled to announce that bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the 118th Congress by Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-CA) and Michael Burgess (R-TX). Given the reports of increased patient safety events and worsening strains on the healthcare workforce, there is a heightened sense of urgency to identify solutions to improve patient safety while supporting and empowering healthcare professionals in delivering safe care—without adding burdensome data collection and reporting. An NPSB will consist of a nonpunitive, data-

driven, collaborative, public–private research and development team housed within the Department of Health and Human Services that is solely dedicated to preventing and reducing healthcarerelated harms.

By leveraging interdisciplinary teams of researchers enabled by new technologies, including automated systems with AI algorithms, the NPSB would help relieve the burden of data collection at the front line while also detecting precursors to harm. Validating interventions that draw on human factors engineering principles and other fundamentals of safety science, the NPSB would help to create a better, safer work environment. This effort is a critical step to improve safety for patients and work satisfaction for healthcare providers by adopting solutions that ease the stress on the frontline workforce.

Last fall, the President’s Council of Advisors on Safety and Technology (PCAST) released a report2 on their patient safety workgroup’s recommendations for strategies to improve patient safety in the U.S. Among these recommendations were the establishment of a National Patient Safety Team including appointment of a patient safety coordinator reporting to the President. The report also recommends advancing technological solutions to address patient safety and alleviate the burden on the frontlines. Both of these recommendations align with PRHI’s national patient safety efforts.

Promoting Safety Innovations

A key feature of the NPSB legislation

is the ability to leverage advanced technologies, including automated systems using AI-powered algorithms. Pittsburgh, given its rich resources in life science, technology, academic research, and industrial engineering, is well-positioned to emerge as a hub for creation of autonomous patient safety solutions. PRHI launched the Pittsburgh Regional Autonomous Patient Safety (or RAPS) initiative to promote our region’s potential in this space. On February 28, we partnered with Pittsburgh Technology Council to host the Safety Innovation Summit, bringing together safety experts from a broad swath of industries and showcasing Pittsburgh’s rich history of producing innovative engineering and technology solutions that have made multiple industries dramatically safer. From manufacturing and mining to autonomous transportation—on roads, railroad tracks, in the air and outer

Medical Pathbreakers Panel at the Safety Innovation Summit, Feb. 29. Left to right: Moderator: Ron Poropatich, MD. Panelists: Chandan K. Sen, PhD, MS; Michael Pinsky, MD; Phil Spinella, MD; Frank Guyette, MD, MS. Host: Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD. CDR Jean-Paul Chretien, MD, PhD, also participated virtually.

Opinion

space, and our region has pioneered modern safety science innovations. The day-long event featured panel discussions with experts showcasing how their industries prioritize safety and the role that advanced technologies will play in shaping the future of safety.

We look to capitalize on the energy and enthusiasm generated at the Summit to inform ongoing work related to elevating autonomous solutions to enhance safety in health care and making the Pittsburgh region a global hub for this innovation.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Patient Safety Innovators

While the Safety Innovation Summit convened today’s industrial leaders, we’re also focused on motivating safety leaders of the future. Since 2022, PRHI has sponsored the Patient Safety Technology Challenge, an effort to infuse patient safety awards into existing competitions and inspire the innovators of tomorrow to develop safety solutions for health care. The goal has been to excite young innovators and educators from a range of disciplines about the promise of patient safety technology to save lives and prevent disability. The

Challenges focus on tech solutions within five problem categories: Medication-Related Harms, Medical Complications With Patient Care, Procedure/Surgery-Related Harms, Infections, and Diagnostic Errors. To date, the Challenge has sponsored 53 events across 26 innovation hubs, involving 625 patient safety teams and more than 2,000 student participants. Eighty-five patient safety prizes have been awarded to the most inspiring safety innovations. We are beginning plans for a “grand challenge” that brings together participants from the previous participating patient safety competitions to elevate those ideas with the greatest potential to improve safety.

The excitement and enthusiasm for the potential of technology to transform patient safety inspired us to embark on a new documentary. From the director of the acclaimed 2018 film To Err Is Human: A Patient Safety Documentary (2018), The Pitch: Patient Safety’s Next Generation portrays the serious challenge of patient safety and some potentially transformational solutions through expert interviews, recent technology breakthroughs, and one young innovator’s journey into the frontiers of medicine. The film will premiere during the 48th Cleveland International Film Festival this April, followed by a broader release. Until then check out the trailer here

Connect With Us

The year ahead in patient safety is shaping up to be an exciting one. We invite you to learn more about our efforts and how you can get involved.

For more information on the NPSB, visit npsb.org. To stay up to date on the RAPS initiative and engage with us on the goal of establishing Pittsburgh as a global home for patient safety tech, sign up at prhi.org/raps. Sign up for updates on the Patient Safety Tech Challenge at patientsafetytech.com/updates.

References

1. Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative. Pittsburgh posts major reduction in healthcare-associated infections. July 13, 2005. https://www. jhf.org/publications-videos/pub-andvids/archives/2005-and-earlier/156pittsburgh-posts-major-reduction-inhealthcare-acquired-infection/file

2. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Report to the President: A Transformational Effort on Patient Safety. September 2023. https:// www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/ uploads/2023/09/PCAST_PatientSafety-Report_Sept2023.pdf

Official poster for The Pitch documentary.

Patient Safety Track Winner PatientWatch team members Michael Byrant and Kevin Deng accept their award at HackAuton, held Sept. 15–17 at Carnegie Mellon University.

The Legend of Willis Reed

By: Anthony L. Kovatch, MD

https://youtu.be/_shxzlTRK44

“Or when, Willis Reed stood so tall Playing D with desire, it's Basketball”

It has been one year since the basketball world mourned the passing of NBA player and coach Willis Reed on March 21, 2023. Although his stardom was not largely appreciated outside New York, on May 8, 1970 an act of pure heroism occurred that would capture the admiration of the Knicks faithful, the basketball world—if not, the world at large! I not only privately remember the event, but I've been compelled to report on it for the next 54 years.

On July 20, 1969, members of the human race for the first time landed on the moon and took “one giant step for mankind.” One month earlier, those of us who I had graduated from high school became official members of a “generation lost in space.” Over the next few years, my baby-boomer generation of confused, highly-vulnerable individuals transitioned into adulthood, buckling under the heavy weight of historical events beyond our control: the riots protesting the unpopular Vietnam war—culminating in the “March Against Death” in Washington, DC; the fatal shootings by National Guardsman of 4 students at Kent State University who were protesting the USA’s invasion of Cambodia ("Four Dead in O-hio"); 500,000 fatalities in Bangladesh in the aftermath of the Bhola tropical cyclone; the untimely break-up of the Beatles, our spiritual and existential advisors; to name a few. All of this was against the backdrop of the Cold War with the Soviet Union internationally and

the deepest national wound of all, the assassination of Martin Luther King on April 4, 1968.

Fortunately, for an anxious, bookwormish boy hanging onto hope by a thread in the New York Metropolitan area there were periodic distractions: the music festival at Woodstock in the summer of 1969, preceded in 1968 by the incredulous upset of the NFL champion Baltimore Colts by the upstart AFL champion New York Jets; these were followed by the even more incredulous upset of the dominating Baltimore Orioles over the previously hapless “Amazin” New York Mets in the 1969 World Series! We should have been on top of the world, but we still lacked a legitimate personal hero!

For those of us who “stank” at sports and were only able to entertain our fantasies as legitimate “athletes,” there was playground basketball, or “B-ball” if you wanted to appear “cooler” than the rest. Every playground in New Jersey and “The City” has a full court on asphalt and some of their backboards were lucky enough to still have chain baskets on the rims (these were rarely, if ever, replaced). In the summer evenings on break from school—although our dedication did not preclude shoveling the snow and playing during Christmas break, too—we congregated at these hallowed watering holes to “forget about life for a while.” I imagined I was the masterful Bob Cousy dribbling behind his back and through his legs or the diminutive 5 foot 7 inch Nate “Tiny” Archibald leading the league in scoring. However, when I was downand-out, needed a kick in the keister, or felt physically or psychologically lame, I

imagined that I was Willis Reed. When Reed passed away on March

William Reed, Jr., who grew up in Louisiana in the segregated South, was a star at Grambling State University before spending an illustrious 10 year professional career with the Knicks (1964-74); however, he will forever be remembered for walking onto the court “one-legged” on the evening of May 8, 1970.

21, 2023, it jolted my memory into reliving an event that inspired me for over 50 years and provided a tale of courage that I would narrate to my patients and their parents over 45 years of medical practice--in my own words, to anyone who would listen. I have fondly called the revelation “The Legend of Willis Reed.” Although the game was played at the then “new” Madison Square Garden in New York City, I have no recollection of where I was watching the game on television.

It was game 7 of the NBA finals and the series was tied at 3 games apiece. NBA icon Jerry West had made a full court shot for the favored Los Angeles Lakers (who had towering superstar Wilt Chamberlain dominating all other players in the series with his 7 foot 2 inch height--a formidable advantage) to send game 6 into overtime, which the Laker won to tie the series. In game 5, Knicks star Willis Reed had sustained a torn right thigh muscle serious enough to make him leave the contest and likely be out for the rest of the series; the prospects of winning the finals appeared dismal for the Knicks, in spite of the fact that the deciding game 7 would be played at the Knicks home court. The overall consensus was that it would take a miracle for the Knicks to win without #19 Reed, their all-star center, who at a “listed” height of 6 foot 10 inches was the only Knick capable of neutralizing Chamberlain.

The atmosphere at the Garden at pregame warmup time was foreboding-I remember that I could feel it just watching on television. All of a sudden (or “deus ex machina” as the ancient Greeks would have declared), Reed hobbled out of the locker room in his uniform. We assumed it was a psychological stunt contrived by the Knicks coaching staff. Next, Reed limped pathetically onto the court dragging his right leg in pain and started taking practice shots. The Garden crowd cheered ecstatically-part of the ploy, I thought. To everyone’s astonishment, #19 took the court to start the game and won the opening tipoff. The home team moved the ball around until Reed limped to the elbow of the foul line. They fed him the ball, he took a jump shot with the Lakers dumbfounded, and “swish”—the Knicks are up 2-0! The crowd erupts into a frenzy that leaves the Garden vibrating! After the Lakers fail to score, the Knicks pull off the same play with Reed hitting a jumper from the same left elbow. The crowd goes wild, seemingly drowning out the noise of every honking vehicle in the Big Apple!

Although the score was only 4-0, the Lakers (already sensing a dire outcome)

called an immediate time out. However, they could not reverse the juggernaut of momentum produced by the heroics of one player, who risked the long-term function of his leg and his career for the hopes and dreams of his team, his city, his planet--and for a generation of kids for whom basketball was religion, politics, and almost everything else that mattered.

Willis Reed played very little more that night, as the Knicks never looked back. The dependable guard Walt “No Fault” Frazier aka “Clyde” took over the game and spearheaded the 113-99 “blowout,” scoring 36 points with 19 assists; unlike Reed, Frazier was a flashy, “Broadway-type” of personality, but his superior performance was dwarfed by the former’s display of courage that fateful evening at the Garden! The series MVP was awarded to #19.

When asked by the press after the

game why he took the risk, Reed simply confided “I didn’t want to look at myself in the mirror 20 years later and say I wished I had tried to play.” Now 53 years later, nobody would dare to argue with his decision!

"And that is the legend of Willis Reed" I would dogmatically state to end my story; the parents generally appeared more entertained than the kids. I am sure that very few of the listeners remember a word of what I preached, but I am hoping that the new generation of young athletes will at least hear the tale from an old man’s mouth and remember 1.) that you do not have to be good at sports to enjoy them or be inspired by them; 2.) that the challenges of modern-day life are still won on the basketball courts and sandlots of our neighborhoods; and, most of all, 3.) that there can and will be miracles if you believe!

Materia Medica

If it’s COVID, PAXLOVID unless...

By: Emma Darling

Overview

The medication Paxlovid is considered the go to antiviral treatment for adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk for severe disease. Approved by the FDA in May 2023, Paxlovid contains two medications packaged together, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Although this drug has shown efficacy, Paxlovid has seen controversy when it comes to topics such as drug interactions and patient safety. In this article we will briefly touch upon some of the important facts you need to know when prescribing Paxlovid to your patients.

Drug Interactions

While almost all drugs have various interactions, Paxlovid is known for having a plethora of interactions with some of the most commonly prescribed medications.

Statins

According to a study from Yale in 2024 approximately 40 million Americans are currently on a statin. When a patient is on Paxlovid, high intensity statins should be avoided. Other statins like Simvastatin and Lovastatin have stricter recommendations and should not be taken 12hrs prior to Paxlovid and then avoided for 5 days after the patient’s last dose.

Direct 10 Inhibitors

Another commonly prescribed medication that may cause prescribing hesitancy is blood thinners such as Eliquis and Xarelto. It is recommended by Lexicomp that when a patient is on Paxlovid patients receiving Eliquis 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily, that the dose of Eliquis should be decreased by 50%

and with patients receiving a dose of 2.5 mg twice daily, coadministration of Eliquis should be avoided. When it comes to coadministration of Paxlovid with Xarelto, the combination should be avoided all together.

Alpha Blockers

If a patient is taking Tamsulosin, Paxlovid should be avoided due to increased tamsulosin exposure.

PDE-5 Inhibitors

When taking Paxlovid, popular medications used for erectile dysfunction, the PDE-5 inhibitors (Sildenafil and Tadalafil) should be taken at a lower dose than initially prescribed.

Seizure Medications

Paxlovid should be avoided in patients with seizure disorders that take Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, or Phenytoin due to decreased efficacy of Paxlovid.

Drug Interaction Wrap Up

Although this is not a comprehensive list of interactions, this illustrates just how many problems Paxlovid can create when it is prescribed to a patient who is also on multiple medications.

Patient Safety

When prescribing Paxlovid, patient safety is of the utmost importance. Since Paxlovid is a relatively new medication, some patient considerations exist.

Pregnancy

One consideration point is the use of Paxlovid in patients who are pregnant. While drug information resources state that COVID-19 treatment is the same for pregnant patients as nonpregnant patients, it is also important to note that currently there is very limited data surrounding pregnant patients

and the treatment of COVID-19. When prescribing Paxlovid in pregnant patients, strong considerations and shared decision making should be incorporated.

Oral Contraceptives

Another important consideration is patients who are on oral contraceptives. Paxlovid may decrease the efficacy of a patient’s birth control and patients should be advised to use alternative contraception while taking Paxlovid.

Hepatic Disorders and Hypersensitivity

According to Pfizer, Paxlovid is contraindicated in patients with clinically significant hypersensitivity reactions and caution should be used in patients with hepatic disorders such as liver disease and hepatitis.

HIV-1 Infections

An addition point of consideration is patients with uncontrolled or undiagnosed HIV-1 infections. Since one of the components of Paxlovid is Ritonavir, there is an increased risk of a patient with HIV developing resistance to their HIV treatment regimen.

Testing and Drug Interactions

One of the most essential steps to prescribing Paxlovid is early detection and testing. Encouraging patients to have at home tests available as well as helping patients utilize resources to find testing centers is important for treatment and overall patient safety. When it comes to prescribing Paxlovid, the most important patient safety point is looking at all the patient’s current medications to avoid severe drug interactions.

Materia Medica

Alternative Options

Molnupiravir, an alternative to Paxlovid, is recommended for therapy in non-hospitalized patients aged 18 and older with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms, who are at risk for severe disease progression and do not have Paxlovid available, feasible to use, or clinically appropriate. It is not recommended for pregnant patients. While both Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are both appropriate treatments, studies show that Paxlovid is more effective.

Conclusion

Paxlovid is an effective drug for the treatment of mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 for patients who are at risk for severe disease progression. It is essential that when prescribing Paxlovid to patients that there is awareness that the presence of drug interactions is significantly increased, especially with commonly prescribed medications. Counseling patients on these possible drug interactions help increase patient safety and also decrease patient hospitalizations and hospital related costs due to adverse reactions. Staying diligent when putting our patients on Paxlovid can help alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 while also keeping patient safety at the forefront.

References

1. Azanza JR, Mensa J, González Del Castillo J, Linares Rufo M, Molero JM, Madero Valle N, Barberán J. Interactions listed in the Paxlovid fact sheet, classified according to risks, pharmacological groups, and consequences. Rev Esp Quimioter. 2022 Aug;35(4):357-361. doi: 10.37201/ req/054.2022. Epub 2022 Jul 13. PMID: 35822605; PMCID: PMC9333114.

2. Zheng Q, Ma P, Wang M, Cheng Y, Zhou M, Ye L, Feng Z, Zhang C. Efficacy and safety of Paxlovid for COVID-19:a meta-analysis. J Infect. 2023 Jan;86(1):66-117. doi: 10.1016/j. jinf.2022.09.027. Epub 2022 Sep 30. PMID: 36191676; PMCID: PMC9523907.

3. Safety | PAXLOVIDTM (nirmatrelvir tablets; ritonavir tablets). www. paxlovidhcp.com. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.paxlovidhcp.com/ safety

4. Login. Lexi.com. Published 2019. https://online.lexi.com/lco/action/ interact

5. Should You Take a Statin for Your High Cholesterol? Yale Medicine. https:// www.yalemedicine.org/news/shouldyou-take-a-statin-for-high-cholesterol

Emma Darling is a student at Duquesne University currently pursuing her PharmD as well as her MBA. Emma

grew up in Warren, Pennsylvania but currently resides in Pittsburgh. She is very passionate about the pharmacy profession and is a member of the National Community Pharmacist Association and the Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association. She grew up as a competitive dancer, danced in college at Duquesne University, competed at College Nationals and won a College National Championship back in 2021. In her free time, she likes to go on runs, travel, and spend time with friends, family and her black lab puppy Nori . In the future Emma hopes to either own her own independent pharmacy, or work in the business sector of pharmacy.

Face Sheet for Healthcare Providers: Emergency Use Authorization for Paxlovid. Accessed May 2, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/media/155050/download

Society News

Meet The Editorial Board

ACMS 2024 Bulletin Editorial Board

Richard H Daffner, MD, FACR

Retired Radiologist who Practiced 30 Years at AGH

What did you love most about practicing medicine?

I have been retired for 11 years now. While practicing, I liked teaching the science and art of radiology to residents and medical students.

How do you relax/unwind?

I'm happiest when I have tools in my hands. I get that when volunteering at Global Links, rebuilding/ repairing wheelchairs and doing carpentry projects at our Boy Scout camps. I also continue teaching as a study leader in the Osher program at CMU.

What is your #1 tip to your colleagues who might be facing physician burnout?

Enjoy each day. If your practice is no longer fun, it is time for a significant change, which could involve a move or retirement itself.

Charles E. Mount III, MD, FAAD

Dermatologist and Associate Director, AHN Cancer Institute Skin Cancer Center

What do you love most about practicing medicine?

The opportunity to challenge myself daily working in a field that requires continuous learning and improvement to provide my best in our patients' worst of times. Specifically, as a dermatologist, I am passionate about teaching patients their skin health is intricately tied to their overall well-being and often related to their other underlying medical conditions.

How do you relax/unwind?

Exercise, running, yoga, skiing, and time with family.

What is your #1 tip to your colleagues who might be facing physician burnout?

It is not selfish to make your own needs and desires a priority. For example, find time to exercise more or in a new, more enjoyable way, take the new class you've been thinking about, take the trip with your friends or family you've been putting off because work has been so busy. A happier, more satisfied version of you only benefits your patients and family.

Anthony L. Kovatch, MD

Retired Pediatrician Who Still Works Part-time at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital

What do you love most about practicing medicine?

As a pediatrician, I enjoy watching children grow up in today's world, with special attention to the activities they pursue (sports, music, drama, etc.). Compared to when I was a kid, the options today are boundless!

How do you relax/unwind?

I have been an avid runner in my late adult years and still participate in marathons and sprint triathlons— in spite of often finishing last! In the evenings, my wife and I are riveted on the family room sofa watching Turner Classic Movies, even the old black-and-white variety! On weekends, we take to the highways, visiting our children and grandchildren who all live out-of-town.

What is your #1 tip to your colleagues who might be facing physician burnout?

I believe burnout is in essence a state of mind involving denial of physicians to acknowledge their "humanness." Changing the mindset will effect a change of heart toward their professional aspirations. PS: To avoid burnout in retirement, be sure to establish a fulfilling "post-game show"!

John P. Williams, MD

Professor - VA Pittsburgh Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine

What do you love most about practicing medicine?

The best part for me is the ability to constantly ask questions about those things that most accept as dogma. Of course, one could do this in any field but it carries a special aura in medicine.

How do you relax/unwind?

I love to read. I am constantly reading various magazines, reddits, Facebook, etc. I do read books sporadically, but I try and keep myself to shorter items like those in Scientific American, National Geographic, popular mechanics, etc.

What is your #1 tip to your colleagues who might be facing physician burnout?

The best or at least one method of improving your state is to find another outlet that provides the challenge and interest you are missing. That could be a hobby, or it could be traveling with medical missions. In any case, look for those areas that allow your mind to expand.

Alexandra Johnston, DO

Associate Program Director, AHN Internal Medicine Residency Program

What do you love most about practicing medicine?

The part of medicine that I love most is working with, teaching, and learning from our resident and medical student trainees. I feel privileged and thankful each day for this opportunity.

How do you relax/unwind?

It depends on the day but a run or spending time with a couple of friends.

What is your #1 tip to your colleagues who might be facing physician burnout?

We know that burnout is not generally an individual issue, but more of a systemic issue that should be addressed by advocating at the systemic level. I've always been an advocate for peer support. If you can establish a group that meets periodically that is supported by your employer to discuss issues that are distressing as well as positive things going on in your lives and workplace, this can be very impactful.

Robert H. Howland, MD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

What do you love most about practicing medicine?

Being able to help people in need through the mix of clinical work, teaching, and research I do. Although I am a psychiatrist, I enjoy the interface with other medical specialties. I love most the challenges, the scientific developments, and the learning opportunities in the field of psychiatry.

How do you relax/unwind?

Exercise (I'm a regular runner). Reading. Music.

What is your #1 tip to your colleagues who might be facing physician burnout?

Learn to appreciate and set limits on your time and commitments, but making time for and establishing regular habits of self-care that you enjoy (in my case, running, reading and music).

Andrea G. Witlin, DO, PhD

Retired, University faculty, Maternal-Fetal Medicine

What did you love most about practicing medicine?

Some of my most rewarding experiences were and continue to be as a mentor and teacher. Caring for patients and making a difference made a tough week or all-night shift feel gratifying rather than tedious.

How do you relax/unwind?

Sports have always been at the top of my list, but I also enjoy watching football or tennis on TV. My creative side loves oil painting and watching HGTV. In between, I read on my iPad or stream movies.

What is your #1 tip to your colleagues who might be facing physician burnout?

Recall why you chose a career in medicine and why you chose your specialty. Evaluate your current work environment, and don’t be afraid to change careers, specialty, or current job. Sometimes we make mistakes or our perspective changes. Life is too short to be miserable.

Specialty Group Updates

March 2024

By: Nadine Popovich, Eileen Taylor and Melanie Mayer

ACMS Alliance (ACMSA): South Hills Country Club was the venue for the annual ACMSA Winter Holiday Luncheon. Patty Barnett (Co-President), Barbara Wible (CoPresident), Tina Purpura, Rose Kunkel Roarty, and Sharon Wible Mankovich planned a festive event with musical entertainment by vocalist John Sarkis. Raffles were held to raise money for community-based charities like Operation Safety Net.

Allegheny County Immunization Coalition (ACIC) — 2024 Chair - Ashley Ayers, MBA, BS, CIC: We are excited to announce some important updates regarding our upcoming quarterly meetings and volunteer opportunities. For ACMS members interested in vaccines and community engagement, the Allegheny County Immunization Coalition (ACIC) offers various volunteer opportunities focusing on vaccine education. As a reminder, membership to the ACIC is free, and you can sign up at www.immunizeallegheny.org to stay informed and participate in our upcoming opportunities. (Stay tuned for our new and improved website coming this Spring!)

March Events:

General Membership Meeting with Divna Djokic, MD titled “Updates on Meningitis”

Date: March 21, 2024

Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Location: AIU Building's Dewey Room or Zoom

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Southside

Date: March 27, 2024

Time: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Southside Market House, 12th & Bingham St., Pittsburgh, PA

15203

American College of Surgeons

Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter (ACS-SWPA) — 2024 President –Richard Fortunato, DO, FACS: The ACS-SWPA is excited to host their second annual Debates & Dilemmas competition and dinner on Wednesday, March 27 at Eddie Merlots. Be prepared for an evening of intellectual intrigue, robust debate, and hearty competition as our regional faculty debate and discuss current surgical dilemmas. The ACS-SWPA is excited to increase member engagement with a quarterly newsletter for members, as well as hosting additional member-only events. Please visit www.acs-swpa.org for updates and to register for events.

Pennsylvania Geriatric Society Western Division (PAGS-WD) — 2024 President - Heather Sakely, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP: The PAGS-WD is hosting the 32nd Annual Virtual Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine on April 25-26, 2024. The goal of this conference is to help provide superb care to older adults by ensuring that each session provides evidence-based “pearls” that you can immediately incorporate into your practice. Conference registration is open through April 22. The PAGSWD Teacher of the Year Award is also accepting nominations for the 2024 season. Please visit www.pagswd.org for other society news and updates.

In photo left to right: Sharon Wible Mankovich, Rose Kunkel Roarty, Barbara Wible (Co-President), Patty Barnett (Co-President), Tina Purpura

In photo left to right: CJ Reshmi, Charlie Blume, Dr. Larry Purpura, Dr. Alan Barnett

In photo left to right: Patty Barnett, John Sarkis, Tina Purpura

Resources Following Change Healthcare Cyberattack

By: Sara C. Hussey, MBA, CAE -- ACMS Executive Director

On February 21, Change Healthcare fell victim to a cyberattack, compromising sensitive data, including patient records and financial information. The incident raised alarms across the healthcare sector, highlighting the sophistication of cyber threats targeting medical institutions. The ramifications of such breaches extend beyond financial losses, posing grave threats to patient privacy, trust, and overall healthcare delivery.

In response to the cyberattack and the resulting disruptions, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a vital lifeline for affected physicians. On Saturday, March 9, CMS unveiled a new opportunity for physicians impacted by the attack to request advanced Medicare payments, aiding in mitigating cash flow disruptions. This initiative aims to alleviate financial strains caused by the cyber incident, providing essential support to medical practitioners navigating these challenging times.

Physicians grappling with the aftermath of the cyberattack can access detailed information regarding the advanced Medicare payment program, including eligibility criteria, terms, and application procedures, through the following links. Physicians must familiarize themselves with these resources and take proactive steps to safeguard their practices against cybersecurity threats. These links are also available on the ACMS website.

Fact Sheet: https://www.cms. gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/changehealthcare/optum-payment-disruptionchopd-accelerated-payments-partproviders-and-advance

CMS Statement: https://www.cms. gov/newsroom/press-releases/cmsstatement-continued-action-respondcyberattack-change-healthcare

In response to the constant flow of incoming information being made available regarding this issue, ACMS has created a resource page on our website. We will continue to update the page with vetted links, articles, and resources. Visit https://www.acms. org/resources-following-changehealthcare-cyberattack/ to stay updated. If you have information to share with your fellow members, please email me at shussey@acms.org.

What is the Change Healthcare Cyberattack? On Feb. 21, 2024, Change Healthcare publicly disclosed that it had been impacted by a cyberattack. BlackCat/ALPHV claimed responsibility for this attack and demanded money to return services online. This type of cyberthreat is known as a ransomware attack, a type of malware that encrypts data on the victim's systems, making it inaccessible until a ransom is paid. The impact of the Change Healthcare cyberattack has been devastating for the healthcare industry and hundreds of millions of Americans who rely on services powered by victimized providers. The Change Healthcare platform provides several different services to healthcare providers including payment and revenue cycle management. The platform helps healthcare providers with claims processing and payments as well as integrating a system for appeals management from claimants for denied claims. Among those who have been affected by the Change Healthcare attack are millions of Americans who use Change Healthcare's platform either directly or indirectly. Change Healthcare often serves as a backend services provider for various healthcare insurance providers in the U.S. Because of this attack, Physicians and hospitals are impacted in their ability to bill, manage and issue prescriptions and healthcare procedures. Pharmacies are unable to get information and properly fill prescriptions. Individuals who are looking to make health claims as well as fill prescriptions have been affected by the breach

Reference: Kerner, S. M. (2024, March 8). The Change Healthcare Attack: Explaining how it happened. WhatIs. https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/ feature/The-Change-Healthcare-attack-Explaining-how-it-happened

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