Physician Networking Social

Capital Area Food Band-Volunteer Opportunity

Business over Breakfast

TMA Presents: The Satisfied Patient

TCMS Members: Download DocBook App Free

Business of Medicine Dinner

Ask the Doctor

Retired Physicians' Organization

TDI Wants Medical Reviewers

TMA Rewards Outstanding Science Teachers

Texas Medical Board Online System

TMA History of Medicine Gallery

TCMS Membership Applicants

Join TCM Alliance

Spanish Meducation Fall Classes

Cruise Lady Bird Lake with your colleagues! Thursday, August 12, 2010 with Capital Cruises, 208 Barton Springs Road (behind the Hyatt Regency Hotel).

Board at 6:30 pm

Depart at 7:00 pm

Dock at 9:00 pm.

Beer and Pizza (and some wine).

$10.00 for Physicians and guest.

$5.00 for Residents and guest.

Space limited; 2 tickets per member.

Tickets must be paid for in advance.

RSVP: Call 206-1146 or email tcms@tcms.com.

This event sponsored in part by these Friends of the Society: Medical Service Bureau; Texas Medical Association Insurance Trust; Texas Medical Liability Trust; Cedar Park Regional Medical Center; Brian Novy Company; Independent Bank; On-Air Development; Physician’s Resources; and Stanberry & Associates.

The TCMS Public Relations Committee invites physicians and their families to participate in a volunteer opportunity for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, 8201 S Congress on Saturday, August 14.

Volunteers will work in the “product recovery” area determining if donations are safe, edible, and usable. “Recovered” items are then sorted and packed for distribution.

Two shifts are available: 9:00 am-noon and 1:00 pm-4:00 pm. Minimum age for volunteers is 8 years old. All participants must arrive on time and stay for the entire shift. Volunteer orientation and training will take place at the beginning of each shift.

To volunteer, contact the Society at 206-1249 or tcms@tcms.com.

Click on the links below for Capital Area Food Bank policies.

CAFB Saftey Rules

CAFB Guidelines

Megan Cermak, program director of the Austin Tobacco Prevention & Control Coalition which is coordinated through the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, will present how physicians can establish patient tobacco cessation programs in their practices on Thursday, August 19 at 7:30 am in the TCMS second floor boardroom.

The presentation will include a review of Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance benefits, as well as common diagnostic and cessation counseling codes for billing.

To RSVP or for more information, contact the Society at 206-1146, tcms@tcms.com.

Event sponsored in part by these Friends of the Society: Medical Service Bureau; Texas Medical Association Insurance Trust; and Texas Medical Liability Trust.

TMA presents The Satisfied Patient: How to Lower Your Liability Risk from 9 am-4 pm on August 10 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel, 3401 S I-H 35 @ Woodward.

Sarah Fontenot, BSN, JD and Rose Shattuck, CPC, CCP, CHBME, PCS will and cover topics such as HIPAA, patient privacy, and staff accountability. Participants will examine ways to make sure your patients are satisfied customers; learn best practices in patient relations, and earn CME credit.

Check-in begins at 8:30 am. Registration fee for TMA members or their staff is $159; fee for nonmembers is $209.

Course bonuses include sample patient surveys, collection letters, policy and procedures for handling patient complaints, and web resources and links.

For additional seminar and registration information, view the brochure click here.  

TCMS members download – for free – the DocBook app to their iPhone, iTouch, and the iPad. Texas Medical Liability Trust, a loyal supporter of Texas physicians, and organized medicine has partnered with TCMS and DocBook to provide this application at no cost to TCMS members.

DocBook was designed by physicians for physicians as a flexible, efficient, and easy-to-use communication tool that allows a TCMS member to search for another member and then text, call, or e-mail them with just one touch. There’s even a look up feature for pharmacies.

TCMS DocBook is secured through the highest levels of encryption and verification and may be activated only by TCMS members with a unique access number provided by the Society.

For your access number and download instructions, contact the Society at
206-1252 or shinojosa@tcms.com.

On Thursday, September 2 at 6:00 pm in the TMA Thompson Auditorium, 401 W 15th Street, Donna Kinney, director of research and regulatory advocacy in TMA’s Division of Medical Economics will present Do This Now: Health Care Reform Impact on Physician Practices.

For the past four years, the A/TCHHS Community Health Initiative Unit has brought free health screening services to historically underserved communities and at-risk populations. The initiative is looking for physician volunteers to be a part of Take a Loved One to a Check Up Day  on Saturday, September 18.

Physicians are needed at two locations – HEB Springdale Road and HEB N Lamar from 11 am to 4 pm. To volunteer for a shift at the “Ask the Doctor” booth to answer questions and provide referrals, please contact Herman Gentry at (512) 972-5651 or (512)696-6598.

The next meeting of the TCMS RPO will be Tuesday, August 17 at Tarrytown Methodist Church, 2601 Exposition at 11:30 am. Christie Garbe, MA, Chief Communications and Planning Officer of Central Health (formerly Travis County Healthcare District) will present Central Health: Five Year Report Card.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Division of Workers’ Compensation is looking for physicians to serve on its Medical Quality Review Panel. Members are paid $150 per hour for their services.

Qualifications and other information about the review panel are on the TDI website at www.tdi.state.tx. The deadline to apply is 3:00 pm on August 6.

For more information, contact Sandi Morgan, TDI Purchasing and Contracting Department MC 108-1 B, at PO Box 149104, Austin, TX 78714. Inquiries must be made in writing.

The TMA’s Ernest and Sarah Butler Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching honor teachers who share their energy and enthusiasm for science through creative and innovative methods. TCMS members can help identify nominees for these awards. Nominations are open through Friday, October 15, 2010. All nominees will be contacted by TMA and asked to complete an application packet by Friday, December 17, 2010. Three Texas science teachers will receive $5,000 each, a $2,000 award for their schools, and an expense paid trip to TMA’s annual conference in May 2011.

Visit www.tmacares.com for additional information and nomination forms.

Texas Medical Board Online system for supervision and prescriptive delegation registration. The Texas Medical Board has launched an online Supervision and Prescriptive Delegation Registration System for the immediate registering of:

1) notice of a physician assistant’s intent to practice with a particular doctor (note: supervision must be registered before a physician assistant may begin work)
2) notice of a doctor’s intent to supervise a physician assistant
3) termination of a supervisory relationship
4) a doctor’s delegation of prescriptive authority to a physician assistant or advanced practice nurse

The new system, which requires a username and password, replaces the paper system. Hard copy supervision and delegation forms will not be accepted after July. Physician assistants, doctors and advanced practice nurses may all initiate registration, letting the other party complete his or her part later.

The new system, as well as further information about the system, can be reached on the TMB website at www.tmb.state.tx.us.

Since January 31, 2010, physicians who delegate prescriptive authority have been required to register with the Texas Medical Board, to fulfill requirements of legislation passed in 2009. Senate Bill 532 expanded physicians’ ability to delegate prescribing to physician assistants and advanced practice nurses. This authority includes prescribing dangerous drugs and Schedules III, IV and V controlled substances.

For more information, visit the TMB website or contact Pre-Licensure, Registration and Consumer Services at 512-305-7030. An article about prescriptive delegation that ppeared in the fall 2009 Texas Medical Board newsletter can be accessed here.

Visit the latest TMA History of Medicine Gallery exhibit, Courage & Determination: A Portrait of Pioneering African-American Physicians in Texas. This exhibit tells the stories of more than 60 African-American physicians from all regions of the state. Their portraits, along with other vintage images and artifacts from their struggle for education and inclusion, fill 12 exhibit cases. Maps and biographies show migration patterns and identify cities and towns where these pioneers established their medical practices in Texas.  

The exhibit highlights the medical societies they founded, the hospitals they formed, and the public health issues they fought. It also reveals the important role Prairie View A&M played in supporting medical education and advanced training for African-American physicians, and the integration of organized medicine in Texas.  

For more information, visit www.texmed.org.

The following physicians have applied for TCMS membership. Under the provisions of the Bylaws, names of applicants are presented to the membership for review. Written objections to the applicant’s membership must be directed to the TCMS Board of Ethics within 30 days of publication.

Click here for New Member Applicants

Throughout the year, there are numerous recruitment opportunities such as social functions and ten special interest groups (including such groups as Book Review, Lunch Bunch, Mah-jongg, For Parents Sake, and Austin Fun Runs). These opportunities are available to members and new recruits for support and fellowship.  

Contact VP Membership, Mari Josey at mari.josey@gmail.com or visit www.traviscountymedicalalliance.com.

The fall session of Spanish Meducation®, the practical medical Spanish program offered through the Travis County Medical Society since 1994, starts on October 4.  The 10-week session (meeting once a week) promotes beginning, intermediate  and advanced communication in general Spanish with concentration on health care situations.  Listening and speaking skills are developed, while grammar takes a back seat.  All handouts are included in the tuition cost - no textbook is required.

Free booster make-up lessons are provided in case of absence from the level I class.  TCMS members and their staff are invited to enroll. The evening classes take place at the Travis County Medical Society (4300 N. Lamar). 

Tuition is $250 for new students and $230 for continuing students. A $20 early registration discount is available to those who register by September 10. If you are a true beginner, then level I is for you.  If you have had any previous Spanish (class, travel, family), then please call for placement advice.

For all questions and forms, please contact Program Director Jill Snyder, PhD, at jld@io.com or 835-7612.