PCMS Fall Bulletin 2022

B U L L E T N

PIERCE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY | FALL 2022

Passing of the Gavel

Dina Titova, MD PCMS President

It’s hard to believe that my time as President of PCMS is ending. Time goes by so quickly. I want to express my immense gratitude to all my colleagues at Pierce County Medical Society for all their hard work and resilience. We had such a successful year.

This year we accomplished a great deal:

Passed a non compete resolution at the WSMA House of Delegates and now WSMA will convene a group consisting of WSHA, health systems, large medical groups, and other interested stakeholders to raise awareness of how non compete agreements can burden the physician patient relationship and provide resources on best practices for physicians negotiating employment agreements Membership has grown 60% over the past year Foundation fundraising increased 92% because of your generosity. Launching the new PCMS website and membership system before the end of the year. Donated nearly $30,000 to local non-profit organizations doing great work in the community

PCMS is proud to be the newest partner of the Tacoma Public Schools Healthcare Careers Academy at Mount Tahoma and Stadium High Schools This four year, part time high school program allows students to build skills for healthcare careers The learning environment enhances student learning for those seeking higher education and a family livable wage

Our success would not have been possible without the dedication of my colleagues on the PCMS Board of Trustees and tireless work of our Executive Director Mary Eversole The PCMS Board is a diverse group of physicians of three different generations, genders, and ethnic backgrounds who share a common purpose They generously donate their time, energy, and enthusiasm

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the President of PCMS It is my privilege to pass the gavel to C Blake Perry, MD, Aesthetic Surgery Centre The Society will be in great hands under his leadership, and I look forward to what is ahead for PCMS

CONGRATS GRANTEES

Associated Ministries of Tacoma Pierce County

Catholic Community Services Healthcare Careers Academy Neighborhood Clinic

Perinatal Collaborative of Pierce County Pierce County Project Access

The Wishing Well Foundation Trinity Neighborhood Free Clinic

"The proper aim of giving is to put the recipients in a state where they no longer need our gifts."

–C. S. Lewis

SEASON OF GRATITUDE

Fall came fast after an extended summer we all relished. Now the leaves float through the air to their final destination. Towards the end of the season we will gather for the installation of the new PCMS President, C. Blake Perry, MD and celebrate Henry Retailliau, MD, the receipient of the year's Community Service Award on Wednesday, December 7 I am looking forward to our membership being together again

Despite the daily challenges in organized medicine, I am grateful for all the good the Society does in the community Thanks to your generosity the PCMS Foundation recently awarded $17,500 in grants to community non profits.

We also issued our largest grant since 2000 to our newest community partner, Healthcare Careers Academy HCA is unique public private collaboration providing career pathways for a wide range of healthcare careers. This is a long term partnership to support the clinical classrooms at Mt. Tahoma and Stadium High Schools

We will also develop a scholarship program and support the development of a mentorship program with the students. In the near term this program supports workforce pipeline efforts in the county helping critical staffing shortages Your generous gifts to the foundation make this all possible

In this season of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for such a generous membership and visionary board

I look forward to seeing you all at the annual holiday event (aka annual meeting) in a few short weeks.

Mary A EversolE Executive Director

“I am grateful for such a generous membership”

RespiratoryInfectionSeason

At this time each year, we brace for respiratory infection season. While we had very mild influenza seasons the last two years, we expect something different this year.

COVID-19 and influenza are circulating in Pierce County Atypically, we saw Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) circulating last summer and now it is back with a vengeance.

Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Seattle Children’s, and other emergency rooms and hospitals statewide are being deluged by RSV and other viral cases. Mary Bridge is providing guidance to parents to help decide whether to go to the ER, seek help from urgent care, or take care of their children at home. Hopefully, this will help limit the strain on our hospital systems. The Health Department is also helping to spread the word.

While we often hear “it’s just a cold” or “it’s just the flu,” we must do all we can to help keep everyone safe from respiratory illnesses, especially those most vulnerable to severe illness:

Children under 5 years (especially under 2).

Adults 65 years or older.

Those who are pregnant. Anyone living with a health condition like asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

We have seen the devastation the past few years that COVID-19 brought to our vulnerable populations We have had more than 1,500 COVID related deaths in Pierce County.

Anthony Chen, MD

The flu usually sends thousands of Washingtonians to the hospital each year. During the 2017 2018 flu season, the most severe in recent years, 31 Pierce County residents died from the flu. But the past few flu seasons have been mild due to COVID 19 precautions and high uptake of influenza vaccine. With most restrictions gone, we expect more flu cases this fall and winter.

And now we are seeing this early rise in RSV. Usually, RSV causes only mild cold like symptoms in older children and adults But it can cause severe illness in infants, especially premature babies, those with certain heart or lung diseases and older adults. It is the most common cause of severe lung infections in children (cont.)

younger than 1 year in the U.S. About 58,000 U.S. children under 5 years are hospitalized with RSV each year; 1 2% of children under 6 months who are infected with RSV may need to be hospitalized.

Limiting the spread of COVID 19, flu, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses all starts with the same safe practices. Especially if you are around young children or older adults, practice and share advice to:

Stay home if you are sick. Cover your coughs and sneezes Wash your hands often Consider wearing a mask, especially in indoor public areas Limit the time you spend in childcare centers, crowded indoor areas, and other potentially contagious settings. Get vaccinated.

Thankfully, Washington State Department of Health kept its mask requirement in place for now in healthcare settings. I supported this, as we must do all we can to not only protect vulnerable patients, but our healthcare workers.

We need to encourage everyone to use available vaccines to protect from flu, COVID 19, and—while they are at it—pneumococcus.

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine. You can share general information about the flu at tpchd.org/flu. We also have information specifically for healthcare providers.

Everyone 6 months and older should also get a COVID-19 vaccine Everyone 5 years and older can get an updated booster 2 months after the last booster dose or primary series. Bivalent boosters protect against both the original COVID 19 strain and omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. They provide the best protection against severe illness. For those who cannot or do not want to get an mRNA vaccine, Novavax is available as a primary series for those 12 years or older and as a booster for those 18 years and older. Find your dose today at tpchd.org/vaxtothefuture.

Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for children as part of their routine immunizations and for adults over 65 years or those with chronic medical conditions.

I know many of you are struggling to manage this surge in respiratory illnesses. Together, we can hopefully limit the spread.

"About 58,000 U.S. children under 5 years are hospitalized with RSV each year; 1 2% of children under 6 months who are infected with RSV may need to be hospitalized."

At PCMS

Practice Success

If your CME attestation is due on your birthday after October 27, 2022 your attestation will now be due on your birthday 2026

If you CME attestation is due on your birthday before October 27, 2023 your attestation will now be due on your birthday 2027

PAs

If your CME attestation is due on your birthday after October 27, 2022 your attestation will no be due on your birthday 2024

If your CME attestation is due on your birthday before October 27, 2023 your attestation will now be due on your birthday 2025

New

PHYSICIANS INSURANCE INTRODUCES CRIMINAL DEFENSE REIMBURSEMENT COVERAGE TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL & HOSPITAL LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICIES

SEATTLE, Sept. 27, 2022, Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company today announced the launch of their Criminal Defense Reimbursement Coverage, which enhances its professional liability insurance for physicians and hospitals to include defense costs incurred to respond to criminal allegations arising from patient care.

“The already challenging environment for physicians and hospitals has been made even more difficult as they now navigate the legal ramifications of increased criminal medical negligence and alleged medical errors claims as seen in the case of the Nashville nurse at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the potential for criminal state claims arising out of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and the subsequent state criminalization of healthcare practices that have long been the professionally accepted standard of care,” said Bill Cotter, CEO, Physicians Insurance. “Our quick response in creating this coverage reflects our commitment to protecting and defending healthcare professionals as they pursue their life’s work of practicing good medicine.”

While medical professional liability policies have historically excluded coverage for criminal actions, Physicians Insurance’s Criminal Defense Reimbursement Coverage expressly responds to reimburse defense costs up to $250,000 (without eroding limits of the main policy) when criminal actions arise from direct patient care.

The Criminal Defense Reimbursement Endorsement is available for Medical Professional and Hospital Liability policies for Physicians Insurance policyholders in Washington State and will be offered in other states pending regulatory approval.

For more information on this new endorsement, contact Robin Coggins, AVP, Marketing communications, Physicians Insurance, via email at rcoggins@phyins.com, or visit phyins.com/criminaldefense.

Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company has been providing professional liability solutions to physicians, physician groups, and hospitals for more than four decades, and is the largest insurer of physicians and rural critical access hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. The company also provides excess liability, assumed reinsurance, provider excess, health plan reinsurance, and employer medical stop loss solutions. Insurance offerings are paired with risk management, claims, litigation peer support, and legal defense services, which embody the company’s commitment to providing the strongest possible protection for policyholders and rigorously defending the practice of medicine. Through MedChoice, a risk retention group, Physicians Insurance is expanding its offerings strategically nationwide. Both Physicians Insurance and MedChoice are rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best.