Newsletter 78 July 06
Malpractice Filings Against Health Care Providers, Jan 2001 – May 2006
Southern Nevada Health Officer
Report
Southern Nevada Health District
Stats
2006 Endorsement List Primary
Election
By
Thank you Dr. Kline for many years of
service to organized medicine and for the last year acting as president of
Thanks to Question 3, we have stabilized the crisis here in
I am very honored and grateful to be elected as the 52nd President of the Clark County Medical Society. I promise to act with responsibility, integrity and humility at all times.
As the Medical Professionals of Nevada we work hard to give great medical care. We are working hard to improve medical care and to also maintain access to medical care. However, we face unprecedented challenges which affect all of us, not just OB/GYN's.
As president of
I would like to review the Clark County Medical Society mission statement and our vision and goals.
Our vision: to be advocates for physicians, their patients, and the health of the entire community; to preserve the physician/patient relationship and to ensure quality healthcare in both; to be the representative and voice of the entire medical community; and to be an important source of unbiased quality continuing medical education, especially filling physicians' needs that are not elsewhere met.
Our first goal is to defend Question 3.
Our second goal is to support the creation of a Health
Sciences Center (HSC) in
Our third goal is actively soliciting membership, encouraging participation and encouraging participation of members.
Our fourth goal is to promote leadership and participation among members.
Our fifth goal is to prepare for the next legislative year.
Our sixth goal is to establish stronger professional networks.
And our seventh goal which I am adding for this year is to bring health care to the uninsured.
I have been in
Our hospitals now almost number one dozen. However, unfortunately some not so wonderful
things have occurred such as the professional liability crisis which made it
impossible for many physicians to practice and drove them from our state or
caused them to restrict their care. We
have become the 47th lowest in number of physicians per population in the
country. We have the lowest number of
nurses per population and very low numbers of other health care work
force.
It sounds like we have a lot to do but if there is any city
who can turn things around it is
As noted by Richard Harwood in a public report on
So today in
In Richard Harwood's report he speaks about how everyone does their own thing and they do not know who lives next door. Individuals are strong but as a community their connection is fragile. The report said that if you asked people for a motto to describe their chosen city they would use such phrases as "Me First" or "I'm for me and you're for you". The lack of connection to neighbors, co-workers and leaders comes at a time when the community has so many growing issues, particularly health care.
So I ask you, each of you: how can we help? What can we do for these two cities, the
vibrant Strip and the surrounding beautiful neighborhoods with their growing
problems? Well, we can do plenty and we
must. As physicians many of us knew
In the last few years we have taken greater leadership roles
in our community which has led us to a marked improvement in our health care
system. As a result, we won Question 3
and we now have a large number of doctors who have stayed in
I challenge you to be more than physicians, to be community-minded leaders, to connect your heart to the hearts of the people and watch amazing changes in health care occur. In our tale of two cities we will transform our neighborhood city with its mounting problems into a city every bit as vibrant as the city on the Las Vegas Strip and we will all be proud to call ourselves Nevadans.
We must be leaders now and at all times, we must do this in our practice as we care for patients, we must educate the patients on the issues and show them who to vote for. They know and trust us. We must be leaders out in our community and participate in organized medicine in whatever large or small way that we can. We must join committees at the medical society and be teachers to medical students and residents at our local hospitals. As Dr. Will Mayo said,"Join your local medical society". Do not isolate yourself. As a physician be a leader in your neighborhood by getting involved in service opportunities and take the time to serve the people around you. Show your community how much you care. Give two hours a week or two hours a month to local groups, to service opportunities.
The doctors in
People always ask what can
As
Therefore, Clark County Medical Society is creating a web page on our web site to help physicians who are interested in helping people in need.
Let us take a moment to look at some of the various entities.
1. Access Health of
2. Clinic on Wheels (C.O.W.)
3. Paradise Park Clinic, known as the Open Arms Clinic
First let us take a look at Access Health. In January 2006 I
wrote an article about Access Health in the
Another organization which is seeking physicians to help provide
more medical care in the community is COW.
I am sure that many of you are familiar with them and their brightly
painted COW busses. They hope to
establish some educational programs especially on prevention of teen pregnancy
and suicide, and other key issues which will not only involve some physicians
but also residents and medical students as they reach out to our very, very
needy communities. If you have any
interest in this type of activity please contact
And finally there is the Open Arms Clinic which is a long
time dream of Dr. Raj Chanderraj's. He
will be giving free medical care to the very needy at
The growth of our city out paces the growth of almost any other city in the world and with that comes the usual problems of homeless and the working poor. Questions arise as to how we are going to do this but I have no doubt that we will figure it out and as Jane Goodall said, "we must always have hope." Jane says that there are several reasons we should never give up hope. One reason is because of our brilliant brains. (And you guys are certainly brilliant.)
We need to start right here and now at home and have a dream
that no one in
I know that some of you out there are probably saying that
you are too busy and that you don't have the time. I know as an OB/GYN in
I know at this point many of you are asking, "Where will I find the time? There is just no time." But, we must make time. There is always time to help your brothers and sisters in need. And if we in the medical community won't do it, who will? I hope that you will share my dream and let this dream become your dream and make it a reality.
I hope 20 years from now when I look back and read the Tale
of 2 Cities that I will be able to say "Once upon a time Nevada was the
poster child for health care in this country. Once upon a
time
The following
referrals were provided to
Specialty Referrals
Addiction Medicine 0
Allergy 0
Anesthesiology 0
Cardiology 5
Cardiovascular Surgery 0
Dermatology 4
Diagnostic Radiology 0
Endocrinology 0
Family Practice 16
Gastroenterology 2
General Surgery 1
Geriatrics 1
Gynecologic Oncology 0
Hematology 0
Infectious Medicine 0
Internal Medicine 13
Nephrology 0
Neurology 4
Neurosurgery 1
Ob-Gyn 5
Occupational Med 0
Oncology 2
Ophthalmology 2
Oral/Maxillofacial Surg. 0
Orthopaedic Surgery 6
Otolaryngology 1
Pain Mgmt/Medicine 6
Pathology 0
Pediatrics 1
Ped. Surgery 0
Physical Med/Rehab 0
Plastic Surgery 3
Psychiatry 6
Pulmonology 1
Radiology 0
Rheumatology 2
Thoracic Surgery 0
Toxicology 0
Urology 3
Vascular Surgery 2
Website Referrals 37
Totals 122
2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006
Jan 39 33 108 61 41 50
Feb 20 14 98 72 63 61
Mar 35 30 169 123 64 38
Apr 37 34 111 81 70 58
May 37 35 126 65 14 71
Jun 27 24 103 90 65
Aug 54 51 76 67 33
Oct 37 83 110 59 26
Nov 38 184 59 78 68
Sum
372 823
1246 867 581
Physician’s
Assistant Members:
Applicants to Go Before Credentialing Committee
If you have any pertinent information about the following membership candidates, please contact:
For information on becoming a member of the
July 2006
July 4 - Independence Day
July 12 - NSMA CME Accreditation Commission
Mtg at
July 13 - NemPac Mtg
July 15 -
July 18 - Executive Council Meeting at
Improved relationships
with industry, leads to improvements in public health
By Donald S. Kwalick,
MD, MPH, Chief Health Officer, Southern Nevada Health District
Over the past several years the Southern Nevada Health District has developed positive relationships with the industries it regulates in order to improve their operations and further protect the health of the public.
Prime examples of these partnerships are evident in our collective responses to norovirus outbreaks at hotel properties and the recent, comprehensive update of our regulations governing the health and safety of public accommodations.
Personnel at the health district have worked to develop productive relationships with staff at public accommodation facilities while still preserving the integrity of our regulatory role. Notifications of illness among guests at a hotel are often first reported to the health district by the property's security staff. This is due to a better understanding by the properties of the importance of addressing disease outbreaks in order to prevent the spread of disease.
This better understanding is the product of the property management's desire to protect their guests as well as the efforts of the health district to ensure they understand our goal is to work with them to provide a healthy environment for their guests and not to "penalize" them for events that may occur. Often times, outbreaks that receive widespread media attention are caused by norovirus. By highlighting the actions the property is taking in conjunction with the health district, the ensuing media stories will report on the extent of the outbreak, but they will also highlight the positive steps being taken to mitigate the spread of illness and do not look to assign blame to the property.
The end result is a more timely response to the incident and the opportunity to quell further progression of the illness - outcomes that are beneficial for the promotion of public health as well as the business activities of the property involved in the incident.
The recent update and approval of public accommodation regulations also highlights the benefits of a positive working relationship with industry. The new regulations represent a two-year process that included soliciting industry input and public comment. The previous regulations were outdated and did not address current issues faced by public facilities. The new regulations were designed to allow the Southern Nevada District Board of Health to ensure environmental, health and safety controls at these facilities. They include guidance on such issues as emerging biohazard events, communicable diseases, hazards associated with clandestine drug laboratories and broad environmental health issues.
The Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association was very involved in the process and demonstrated their active interest and understanding of the need for these regulations. Industry members turned out to support the passage of these regulations to the board of health and to express their appreciation of the extensive and inclusive process in which they were developed.
Recent changes to the makeup of the Southern Nevada District Board of Health will only serve to enhance our partnerships with industry. During the last legislative session our board membership was revised to include an at-large member who represents an industry that is regulated by the health district. This change further demonstrates a broad recognition of the need to employ a policy making process that takes into consideration the expertise of those who are subject to public health regulations.
In recognition of the importance of the expertise the at-large members will bring to the board, members also voted to include alternate seats for each of the positions. This ensures redundancy and consistency of input on an ongoing basis. The health district is committed to continuing its collaborations with community and business partners to ensure the public health of residents and visitors is protected.
By
As if you can’t tell by the smoking hot leather in your car seat, summer is here! School is out (which hopefully means smoother commutes) and the city census drops significantly as citizens attempt to escape from the roasting heat. However, the Clark County Medical Alliance Board is busy planning a year full of exciting, educational and community service programs.
During this
planning period, we would like to remind our physician-spouses why the
Our work
supports the work of the Clark County Medical Society. To demonstrate our solidarity with the
Society, the
If you have
a spouse or know of a spouse that would enjoy supporting the family of
medicine, serving the community's health needs and learning about issues
impacting the family of medicine, please have them contact us at
jpaslee@cox.net (
Regards,
SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT
DISEASE
STATISTICS* - May 2006
DISEASE
CASES REPORTED YEAR TO DATE
May 2005 May 2006 2005 2006
VACCINE
PREVENTABLE DISEASES
DIPTHERIA 0 0 0 0
HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZA . 0 10 6
HEPATITIS A 0 . . 5
HEPATITIS B . . 10 13
INFLUENZA 9 0 118 138
MEASLES 0 0 0 0
MUMPS 0 0 0 0
PERTUSSIS . . 17 12
POLIOMYELITIS 0 0 0 0
RUBELLA 0 0 0 0
TETANUS 0 0 0 0
SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASES
AIDS 25 17 118 61
CHLAMYDIA 511 466 2417 1972
GONORRHEA 212 165 1021 813
HIV 31 33 149 151
SYPHILIS (Early Latent) . 11 10 30
SYPHILIS
(Primary & Secondary) 9 17 45 55
ENTERICS
AMEBIASIS . . 8 .
BOTULISM-INTESTINAL 0 0 0 0
CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS 7 . 31 24
CHOLERA 0 0 0 0
CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS 0 0 . .
E. COLI
O157:H7 0 0 0 0
GIARDIA . . 20 20
ROTAVIRUS 55 18 317 424
SALMONELLOSIS 11 8 50 38
SHIGELLOSIS . 5 23 27
TYPHOID
FEVER 0 0 0 0
VIBRIO 0 0 0 0
YERSINIOSIS 0 . 0 .
OTHER
ANTHRAX 0 0 0 0
BOTULISM INTOXICATION 0 0 0 0
BRUCELLOSIS 0 0 0 0
COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS 5 . 31 26
ENCEPHALITIS 0 0 . 0
HANTAVIRUS 0 0 0 0
HEMOLYTIC
UREMIC (HUS) 0 0 0 0
HEPATITIS C 0 . 0 0
HEPATITIS D 0 0 0 0
INVASIVE STREPTOCOCCAL 0 . . 9
LEGIONELLOSIS . 0 7 .
LEPROSY 0 0 0 0
LEPTOSPIROSIS 0 0 0 .
LISTERIOSIS 0 0 0 .
LYME
DISEASE 0 0 0 0
MALARIA 0 0 0 0
MENINGITIS,
ASEPTIC/VIRAL 6 5 22 22
MENINGITIS, BACTERIAL . 0 7 .
MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE . 0 . .
PLAGUE 0 0 0 0
PSITTACOSIS 0 0 0 0
Q FEVER . 0 . .
RABIES
(HUMAN) 0 0 0 0
RELAPSING
FEVER 0 0 0 0
ROCKY MTN
SPOTTED FEVER 0 0 0 0
RSV 50 16 1218 1244
STREPTOCOCCUS . . 19 11
TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME 0 0 . 0
TOXIC SHOCK SYN 0 0 . .
(STREPTOCOCCAL)
TUBERCULOSIS 9 9 32 36
TULAREMIA 0 0 0 0
(ENCEPHALITIS)
*Numbers include confirmed and probable cases.
(Early
voting starts July 29 - Election is August 15)
US Congress
District *NEMPAC *MEDPAC
2 Dean Heller X X
Seat F Cynthia
Diane Steel X X
Seat G
Senate 2
Maggie Carlton (D) X X
Senate 5B Sandra Tiffany (R) X X
Senate 8
Barbara Cegavske (R) X X
Aseembly 7 Morse Arberry (D) X
Assembly 11 Bob McCleary (D) X X
Assembly 14 Ellen Koivisto (D) X
*NemPac
is the NSMA’s political action pac
and MedPac is the
ROSENBERRY CARPET
& FLOOR CARE:
Carpet -Tile - Grout - Upholstery Cleaning - Pet &
environmentally, safe, odorologist 24-hour flood
emergency, powerful truck-mount. Huge
Family owned & operated locally 20+ years Henderson Chamber Member, Licensed & Insured Call: 435-6547
Office Manager Needed: 42K starting
salary plus benefits. Typing
skills, and knowledge of Excel a must.
Quickbooks, Quark, Filemaker Pro, and transcription a plus. Some knowledge of politics
or political campaign helpful. Some evening meetings.
Fax resume to 739-6345 or mail to Clark County Medical Society,
Doctor “Moms” wanted: to share/co-op
office space with current Internal Medicine/Pediatric MD. Subspecialists
needing
for sale: Lumenis 1(one) laser- 39 use-hours three (3) head demo only; light sheer nd:YAG; IPL - chill tip computer records $100,000. Coherent microdermabrasion machine standing mangifying lamp, two (2) spa tables standing medical cabinets - all almost new, low price. Call (310) 274-2522.
Desert Valley Pediatrics has
openings for Pediatricians for our
Director@dvp.lvcoxmail.com or fax 702-260-4533.
medical office to sublet: Medical
office building connected to Southern Hills Hospital, 9280 W. Sunset Rd. Suite
418,
MEDICAL OFFICE FOR LEASE: Two locations, Summerlin & Green Valley each about 1300 sq ft, brand new, ready for occupancy located on busy street, next to busy pediatric office. Ideal for Internal Medicine, Family Practice, OB-Gyn, ENT and other specialtities. Contact 898-6400.
family practice physician seeks:
specialist to sublease large, brand new medical space. 1612.5 sqft available. X-Ray room, exam rooms, lab, office, staff lounge, storage, waiting room available. Great location. Close to hospitals. Call Yvonne Saunders, MD at 256-4646.
highest % reimbursement, increase your profits. Don’t gamble with your income. We’re the best choice for your medical billing needs. 10+ years experience. Electronic claims submission. The Billing Office, LLC: accurate, fast, lowest price. Call Diane at 702-992-0890.
Time Share Available: Excellent time-share opportunity with multi-specialty group in the new Southwest I-215 corridor or established Seven Hills location. Private entrance with reception seating and upgraded interior. For information, please contact Judy Duncan, Nevada Eye & Ear, 492-6928 or
jduncan@nveyepa.com
Physician wanted: Physician willing to learn hair transplantation by taking short course training. Part-time leading to full-time. Great opportunity to provide an elective service to very appreciative patients, receive excellent compensation and develop majority equity interest in practice. Low stress, very low malpractice liability. Call 839-2074.
physician licensed in
Office space available:
VASECTOMY AND
REVERSALS: I am now offering a modified version of the already popular
no-scalpel vasectomy without the initial use of needles for skin
anesthesia. After just completing a
visiting fellowship at a major teaching institution, I am also performing
vasectomy reversals with a multi-layer closure (highest patency
rates). Dr.
For lease: 1600 sq ft office space on
Rainbow near Russell and