What’s New in SMA’s CME Library

March 20, 2023 // Southern Medical Association

SMA’s Online Continuing Medical Education Library offers a variety of on-demand courses, presented in various formats. From podcasts to webinars and journal activities, there are numerous clinical and non-clinical topics available, with recent additions including: 

Courses are free and new content is being added on a consistent basis. Simply log in to your SMA account or register to create an account!

Spending Time with the Future of Medicine

March 17, 2023 // Randy Glick

In my role as SMA’s Executive Director I recognize that our physicians-in-training are incredibly active within the Association and are dedicated to learning and supporting each other as they navigate the beginnings of their medical careers. But recently I had the privilege of seeing their commitment and enthusiasm firsthand when I attended our 3rd Annual Physicians-in-Training (PIT) Leadership Conference at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis, Tennessee. Our PIT leaders, in conjunction with SMA leaders and staff, put together a perfect blend of leadership development, scholarly activities, mentoring, and fun. 

First off, I would like to offer a very special thank you to UTHSC College of Medicine Executive Dean Dr. Scott Strome and Dr. G. Nicholas Verne, Chair of the UTHSC Department of Medicine, SMA President-Elect Dr. Christopher Jackson, and the incredible staff at UT for allowing us use of their incredible facility to host this event. The weekend featured abstract sessions as well as several faculty presentations:

  • “Ask Me Anything” with Dr. Steven Baldwin, Editor-in-Chief of the Southern Medical Journal 
  • “Primary Care and Urgent Care Synergy: Pieces of a Puzzle” presented by Dr. James "Bernie" Short
  • “Proactive Medicine in a Reactive World” presented by SMA President Dr. Lawrence "Lee" Carter
  • “The Audacity to Lead: My Journey in Academic Medicine” presented by Dr. Christopher Jackson

Complementing the conference’s educational offerings were social events and networking opportunities that allowed attendees the chance to get to know each other or reconnect. 

In addition to our wonderful hosts and faculty, I am grateful for the support of our conference sponsors and exhibitors – Irontribe Fitness, SMA Services Inc., The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and ZeaHealth. They each contributed significantly to the success of this event.

As I reflect on this year’s meeting and look ahead to 2024’s conference, I am honored to work with such passionate medical students, residents, and fellows who are hard working, thoughtful, and dedicated when it comes to their careers and taking care of people. These individuals are clearly leaders who will be making a future impact in all our lives. I'm proud to be associated with their development and I hope you will become a part of their journey as well. 

No matter where you are on your career path, you are part of the SMA Family of Medicine and I encourage you to get involved if you haven’t already.

If you are a physician-in-training

If you would like to support SMA’s physicians-in-training

Images from 2022 ASA and SMArtBowl

March 9, 2023 // Randy Glick

The 2022 Annual Scientific Assembly was held at the Black Fox Lodge in Gatlinburg, TN. Here are the images from the 3-day event, which included the First Annual Physicians-In-Traning SMArtBowl Competition.

Dr. Donna Breen Continues Her Support of Tomorrow’s Physicians

March 2, 2023 // Randy Glick

The Southern Medical Association would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to Dr. Donna Breen for her continued support of educating tomorrow’s physicians with her recent $5,000 donation to SMA’s Research & Education Endowment Fund. 

Dr. Breen, who last year donated $10,000 to the Fund while serving as SMA President, spoke of this passion during her Presidential address and encouraged others within SMA to also invest in SMA. “We can be a benefactor to the up-and-coming doctors,” she said. “This would be our legacy.” 

An SMA member since 1984, Dr. Breen presented at Association meetings as a resident and experienced firsthand the dedication and inclusion of the SMA mentors and leaders who helped guide her journey in becoming the physician she is today. “Everyone was very generous in helping,” she said. In addition, even while attending her first SMA meeting, Dr. Breen was immediately  impressed by the quality of presentations, the spirit of congeniality, and the stress-free learning atmosphere. “SMA is an organization where everyone has equal time, every question has equal value, and everyone has the right to understand the concepts that are being presented," she noted. “No question or thirst for knowledge is too little and everyone is included in the quest for medical knowledge and skills in the healing arts.”

Through generous donations such as those made by Dr. Breen and others who share a commitment to learning, SMA is able to continue its longstanding tradition of educating future generations of physicians and providing financial support through scholarships, research presentation awards, and travel stipends. 

Please donate to SMA’s Research & Education Endowment or contact Randy Glick, SMA Executive Director, at (800) 423-4992 for additional information.

SMA ASA 2023 Save-the-Date

February 13, 2023 // Randy Glick

Stay up to date with all the News about this year's Annual Scientific Assembly! Click the graphic below to see it all!

Doctors’ Day Give90 Campaign

February 13, 2023 // Randy Glick

GIVE90...it's every Member sharing this mission with Family, Friends, Patients and Colleagues...Giving Over and Beyond by just $90 this year...the difference it could make in the journey of young medical school students and residents...it would change the world.

What better way to Honor the Physicians in Your Life than by Giving 90 to help ensure that your kids, grandkids and family will have Southern-minded, Patient-centric Doctors who have their best interest in mind?

It's a pretty simple concept.

According to recent AMA numbers, the Physician Deficit in the South will exceed 100,ooo by 2030.

With barriers multiplying every day; more red tape, politics and fabricated narratives meant to serve the almighty dollar, the world of medicine and healthcare is facing, not only a physician shortage, but a LEADERSHIP shortage.

For the ones called to be physicians, there are very few programs along the way that are designed to help them stay-course for when the option to give up or quit seems inevitable.

That's the SMA Mission.

The Education-based MEMBERSHIP of SMA provides SCHOLARSHIPS for financial support, RELATIONSHIPS for mental support, FELLOWSHIP for social support and MENTORSHIPS for educational support.

And it's all funded by your STEWARDSHIP.

We are a 501(c)(3A) Non-Profit organization. Every penny we receive from donations goes to fund medical student scholarships and programs designed to improve patient care, and combat physician burnout through apolitical, multidisciplinary physician education. We seek to unite healthcare professionals at every level of medicine.

We would greatly appreciate your help.

If you would consider donating to the Give90 Initiative of SMA, please share this link with anyone you think would do the same.

We are so grateful. The Physicians of Tomorrow Will Be Too.

Thank you.

Doctors’ Day 2023

February 13, 2023 // Randy Glick

NATIONAL DOCTORS' DAY IS MARCH 30

Remember to say thanks to your doctors!

Join SMA as we GIVE90 as we celebrate 90 years since members of the Southern Medical Association began observing this "Day to Honor Physicians".
DOCTORS' DAY RESOURCES
SUPPORTING THE PHYSICIANS OF TOMORROW, TODAY.
SMA STORE DOCDAY (1)

Celebrate 90 Years of Celebrating Doctors with Southern Medical Association!

Observed by the Southern Medical Association since March 30, 1930, Doctors’ Day was officially designated “National Doctors’ Day”, by signed resolution of President George H. Bush on October 30, 1990.

The very idea of Doctors' Day was created by members of the Southern Medical Association Barrow County, GA Alliance in an effort to bring recognition and express thanks to the leaders in their fields of medicine: Physicians.

February 2023 CME Webinar

February 9, 2023 // Randy Glick

Management of Hypertension : Time for Increased Patient Involvement

Donald DiPette, MD, FACP, FAHA

REGISTER HERE

This webinar will focus on delineating patient-related barriers, addressing these barriers, and increasing the involvement of the patient in the management and treatment of their hypertension. The importance of educating the patient on the critical role that hypertension plays in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and that lowering the blood pressure decreases this enhanced morbidity and mortality will be addressed. Novel modalities to increase the involvement of the patient as part of the “team” will be discussed. Such modalities include using a simple and standardized pharmacologic protocol in the treatment of hypertension once diagnosed and the critical importance of including teaching the protocol and its titration steps to the patient. Such modalities to be discussed will enhance the patient’s knowledge of the hypertensive process and a “team-based” treatment approach that increases the patient’s involvement. Such an approach will address patient-related barriers and lead to an increase in hypertension control rate at individual and population levels and will be effective across a wide range of demographics such as race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic, and geographic.

SMA Members Approve Changes to Bylaws

January 4, 2023 // Randy Glick

The SMA membership recently voted on and approved changes to the Association’s Bylaws; these changes addressed:

  • International Membership: Approval is required by the SMA Board of Directors
  • Committee Name Change: Membership Committee to Outreach Committee
  • Committee Member Approval: Calls to Committee are no longer necessary to be considered for appointment
  • Creation of the Awards and Scholarships Committee: This Committee will oversee policies and procedures related to awards and scholarships
  • Revisions to the Creation of Ad Hoc Committees: These Committees may be created by the SMA Board of Directors

“As an association, it is important to regularly review our Bylaws to ensure we are operating at an optimal level of efficiency and providing the best service possible to our members,” said SMA Executive Director Randy Glick. “We appreciate our membership taking the time to review and approve the proposed changes and believe these revisions will result in improved operations and member offerings."

To view the Resolution, click here.

Veritas Medical Real Estate Advisors

January 4, 2023 // Randy Glick

The Practice Is Always a Tenant

Many medical practices assume that owning their real estate is something to be aspired to, while in reality, owning the property where a medical practice sees patients may not always be the best option.  When weighing out leasing versus owning, it is important to look at the occupancy cost of leasing regardless of the ownership of the physical building.  There are plenty of instances where leasing creates not only a more flexible arrangement, but leasing may also be the better financial decision as well.  In any event, the practice itself should never be the purchasing entity of a real estate asset.  The practice needs to always be a tenant through a lease that is signed with a separate building ownership.

When searching for real estate, the practice must do so with the intent of taking care of “practice needs” as the first and most important priority. Ownership should be a lesser priority.  Once the appropriate location is determined, the practice will need to be prepared to sign a lease agreement with whomever the owner is, regardless if members of the practice also own the building.  If there is an ownership opportunity available, the owners of the practice will want to run a pro forma to assess the value of being an owner of the building.  The pro forma helps determine what the cost of occupancy (rent plus expenses) needs to be to create a viable purchase opportunity.  The cost of occupancy that is in the practice lease has to be a fair market value rent and not a “boosted” rent to justify the purchase of the asset. 

In purchasing the real estate, a separate building ownership is typically in the form of a limited liability company (LLC).  This LLC will own 100% of the building with the physicians having the option to own portions of the LLC or the entire LLC.  The cleanest way in which to set up the LLC is when the owners of the practice acquire the same percentage of ownership in the real estate LLC, however this set up is not mandatory.  As the practice moves forward, a buy/sell provision can be incorporated to accommodate any make up of ownership that is not equal.  Buy/sell provisions can be found within the Operating Agreement and the provision will exist with or without equal ownership.  Having a good buy/sell provision in the beginning of a new acquisition may prove to save partners from unnecessary emotional hardship when partners need to move in and out of the LLC.  The management and control of the LLC is also very flexible and can be drafted in the operating agreement to give control elements to an LLC manager even if they are not 51% owners of the LLC.        

Most medical building acquisitions involve properties that are either non-medical buildings needing to be converted to medical, or existing medical buildings that require a good amount of work to accommodate the new practice needs.  If a fair market deal is achievable and maintained, there are some notable advantages of being an owner occupant.  Among these advantages is the ability to include turn-key tenant improvements in the budget, financing the improvements over 20-25 years which may render financial benefits, possibly limit up-front cash, and keep the occupancy cost lower for the tenant.

The bottom line is that it is imperative that the practice is not unnecessarily weighed down by a high cost of real estate.  The practice must focus on the lease agreement, making sure the terms match the practice’s monthly budget as well as availability of cash for tenant improvements. The golden rule will always prevail – the practice is always the tenant. 

Veritas Medical Real Estate Advisors
www.veritasmre.com

on Mentoring: Mary Thomas

December 12, 2022 // Randy Glick

DR MARY L. THOMAS and DR. CHRISTOPHER JACKSON

Dr. Jackson and Dr. Thomas started their mentoring relationship in 2020 while Dr. Thomas was a 2nd year resident at UTHSC Internal Medicine.  Unlike many of either of their previous mentoring arrangements, they quickly determined that addressing impostorism, sponsorship, and clinician educator development were key areas of focus for them. Looking over these past 2 years, they reflect on why this mentoring relationship has been so mutually beneficial. 

 

Mentoring is remarkably interesting to think about. While there are components that are common among effective mentor-mentee relationships, no one relationship is the same. The key is establishing the mentee’s needs early on by making this topic an intentional point of discussion. For example, some mentees may be looking for career advice while others need research advice. While reflecting on our mentor-mentee relationship, we determined the three key components that have made our mentor-mentee relationship highly effective: navigating impostorism, the importance of sponsorship, and personalizing your mentorship approach. 

Unfortunately, for many in medicine impostorism is a well-kept secret. People with impostorism may think, “I only got that promotion by accident, not because of my qualifications.”  Combating these feelings in mentees poses a significant challenge but is crucial to their professional identity formation. Additionally, showering your mentee with praise may not be enough to wash that self-doubt down the drain. Instead, consider providing both encouragement and opportunities for them to prove their qualifications to themselves.  

Sponsorship is an underutilized approach to extending the positive impacts of mentoring. Multiple studies demonstrate that underrepresented individuals in medicine are over-mentored and under-sponsored. If we consider mentoring as the mechanism to help mentees see what discussions happen at the table, it is also important as mentors to use our influence and positions to sponsor mentees for opportunities that they would not be able to access otherwise. As mentors, we should make a concerted effort to involve our mentees in invited talks we give, manuscripts we are asked to write, and organizations in which we have leadership roles. With sponsorship, mentees see the full extent of how their skills can meaningfully impact the lives of others and their professional development. Moreover, sponsorship becomes the opportunity to help undo the negative impacts of impostorism on our mentees.  

Personalizing the mentor-mentee approach is essential for the relationship to have bi-directional benefits. Recognizing that mentorship is not a one-size-fits-all approach is paramount as many of us have felt the impact of mentor-mentee relationships designed with someone else in mind. When I meet with mentees for the first time, I clarify that my goal is for them to become the best personal and professional versions of themselves, not a replica of me. Take the time to learn their personal and professional goals and use that to help them make a roadmap for success. As the relationship matures, do not be afraid to share parts of your journey as a mentor when you had similar concerns to your mentee. This reflective practice helps humanize the mentor to the mentee and provides a foundation for the mentor-mentee relationship to become more unique and worthwhile.  

As mentors and mentees, intentionality with the mentoring relationship you create is paramount to it being successful. High-value mentoring requires a shift in perspective to consider the mentor's unique skills to the mentees' unique needs. Addressing impostorism, prioritizing sponsorship, and embracing individuality in mentorship are three lessons we learned that took our mentoring relationship to the next level. 

Posted in: Physicians-in-Training

SMA Increases Support for ASA and PIT Leadership Conferences

December 10, 2022 // Randy Glick

With a mission to “Improve quality of patient care through multidisciplinary, interprofessional education”, the Southern Medical Association has always believed in fostering the professional development and growth of its young physicians and physicians in training. During her 2021-2022 term as SMA President, Dr. Donna Breen set forth an initiative to increase funding for awards, scholarships, and membership to further promote the education and support of future generations of physicians.

With the recent passage of an SMA Board resolution, the annual budget for SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly (ASA) and for the Physicians-in-Training (PIT) Leadership Conference was increased to $153,000. Drawn from SMA’s Research and Education Endowment Fund, these funds will allow for additional opportunities at these events and for the Association.

 “SMA understands that the young physicians and physicians-in-training are not only the future of our Association, but they are also the future of medicine,” SMA Executive Director Randy Glick said. “With the increase in these funds, we will be better able to invest heavily in these future leaders, as well as in our meetings as they are the engine that drives membership and sponsorship which are necessary for future growth.”

For SMA’s Annual Scientific Assembly, the resolution provides $100,000 in support of the meeting itself and $18,600 allocated toward scholarships and monetary competition awards presented at the Assembly. This resolution also provides $25,000 in support of the Physicians-In-Training Leadership Conference and $9,400 in competition awards to be given at this meeting.

If you would like to contribute to SMA’s Research and Education Endowment Fund, please visit: https://sma.org/donation/. Your tax-deductible donation will continue the legacy of supporting today’s young physicians becoming tomorrow’s healthcare leaders and innovators.

Posted in: Annual Scientific AssemblyPhysicians-in-Training

Dec CME Webinar

December 1, 2022 // Randy Glick
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HOW TO PREPARE A MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION - Dr. Steven Baldwin

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS SPECIAL LUNCHTIME CME - Dec 14, 2022 at Noon CST!

Join Southern Medical Journal Editor-in–Chief as he discusses areas of consideration prior to submitting a manuscript, the differences among types of submissions, as well as the steps necessary to submit a manuscript. Dr. Baldwin will also provide information regarding the peer review process once a manuscript has been submitted.

Posted in: SMJSpecial Feature

The Best Way to Take Charge of Your Healthcare

September 21, 2022 // Randy Glick

The healthcare industry of the United States is a $3.5 trillion industry that has been growing for decades. It's a system with which all Americans need to be familiar, especially as the number of people living longer and the number of people living with chronic diseases increase.

In order to take charge of your own healthcare, you need to advocate for yourself and understand your rights as an individual. You should also have a good understanding of how to care for your own health and well-being.


Take Charge of Your Health

Diet and exercise are the two main aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Most of us know what we have to do, like eat more fruits and vegetables, stay away from refined sugars and processed foods, drink more water, and get 30 minutes of exercise every day.

The hardest part is getting started, and the second hardest part is staying motivated. But the good news is that there are plenty of apps and tools to help with just that.

My Fitness Pal is a great calorie counter with thousands of foods in its database. It takes you less than 5 minutes a day to track your diet and exercise, meaning it’s a quick habit to get into.

Fitbit is good for tracking your steps and day-to-day activity. You can use it to log the food you eat via its barcode scanner and see your meal history at a glance. Water intake and sleeping patterns can also be tracked.

MyNetDiary is not a free app, but you may find that it’s worth the investment. You set a weight goal and the app analyzes your diary, calculates the targets you’ve set, and provides you with personalized advice and diet tips.

 
Keep Track of Your Health

Keeping track of your medical records is important for many reasons. It allows you to know what medications you are taking, what diseases you have been diagnosed with, if there are any side effects that you need to be aware of, your health status, and allergies. It's also important to know when you have a new doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant so that you can update your records accordingly.

Keeping track of your medical records is also important because it helps prevent identity theft and health insurance fraud.

Many people are not aware of the importance of keeping a paper copy of their medical records as a backup in case you or someone close to you gets sick. This includes doctors’ notes, prescriptions, lab results, and insurance papers. Securely store these documents in a fireproof document safe with a combination lock that only you and a trusted family member or colleague can open.  

But you’ll also want to store them online so you can access them from anywhere. Instead of using many files, you can utilize a PDF merging tool to keep all your documents in one file, which will cut time on having to find a document. A PDF merger could be used to combine PDF files so that you can move PDF pages to keep your medical records in the right order.

 
Get a Second Opinion

You might be hesitant to seek a second opinion from your doctor. However, it may be important to secure one in some circumstances, such as the diagnosis of a new significant medical condition or the recommendation of an elective surgery or other major intervention. The process of getting a second opinion can be intimidating, but it can help the patient and family be more confident in selecting a treatment plan.

Reach out to your insurance carrier for a list of providers in your network that specialize in the area you’re concerned about. Avoid potential conflicts of interest by not requesting a second opinion from a colleague or partner of the physician who provided the “first opinion”.

 

Understand How to Get Insured

If you’re not covered with an employer plan and are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, you can and are, in fact, required to be covered with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Use this link to see if you qualify for coverage under the PPACA.

 
An Informed and Assertive Advocate

You are your best and most important health care advocate. By understanding how to protect your health, keep track of your records, and receive affordable health insurance, you can make sure you’re never in the dark about the most important part of your life, your health and well-being.

If for any reason, you cannot fill the role of the informed and assertive health care advocate, seek out a trusted relative or friend who is willing and able to take on this responsibility for you, including accompanying you to your health care visits.

The Southern Medical Association is an organization whose mission is to support the well-being of its communities. If they don't have the answer to your health concern, they probably know someone who does. It's about their patients. It's about family. And, as they state, “Nothing is more important than that."

October 2022 CME Webinar

September 14, 2022 // Randy Glick

Common Tendinopathies: Trigger Finger, de Quervain and Tennis Elbow...and a Few Less Common Ones

David Netscher, MD and Christine Yin, MD

"Tendinitis" is probably more correctly termed tendinopathy. It may occur from friction within a constricted tunnel such as trigger finger or de Quervain disorder or it may occur at an enthesis (point of bone attachment of muscle or tendon) such as tennis elbow. There are also true inflammatory conditions that may present so acutely as to mimic an infection. Tendinopathies are very common and may present to the pediatrician or geriatrician alike. Obstetricians may encounter de Quervain patients in young nursing mothers, while sports medicine physicians and orthopedists frequently encounter tennis elbow. Indeed, these disorders will present to family physicians, rheumatologists, and even emergency physicians.

The webinar will discuss the pathology, presentation, and diagnosis of these common disorders. Many will be treated nonoperatively and best evidence for treatment practices will be provided. On occasion, surgical treatment is required.

Register Here

Perspective on Childhood Cancer

September 1, 2022 // Randy Glick

Editor’s Note: September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and SMA's Jennifer Price had the opportunity to speak with one mother who is honoring her daughter’s life and legacy by giving back and raising awareness about pediatric cancer.

How It Began

When her daughter Elaine was diagnosed with metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, Laura Roberts found herself in a position parents neither envy nor envision. “Cancer was the furthest thing from my mind,” Laura recalls. “I told Elaine, ‘This will be a year out of your life and then you will be as good as new.’” Laura chronicled Elaine’s journey that began in fall 2014 after the 15-year-old, fun-loving teenager and member of the Thompson High School (Alabaster, AL) Tennis Team complained of foot pain. When the first X-rays came back negative, a diagnosis of tendonitis was given and Elaine, feeling better, played through the spring 2015 tennis season. The pain returned, during which time more negative X-rays led to an MRI and the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma in May 2015.

In the days following the diagnosis, the family researched hospitals that could best treat Elaine. “We had Children’s of Alabama and UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) close by, but we also consulted MD Anderson in Houston, and Children’s Hospital in Boston,” Laura said. Upon learning that Children’s of Alabama utilized the same protocols of chemotherapy and radiation as those in Houston and Boston, the decision was made to stay close to home. “It’s what Elaine wanted and we had our family and friends, our support here,” she added. “That made it much easier.” And so did Elaine’s medical team at Children’s. “The love and compassion these doctors, nurses, and staff showed her were wonderful,” Laura said. “They loved her.”

Finding Comfort in Faith, Family, and Friends

Throughout Elaine’s treatment, which initially yielded encouraging results, Laura, who purposely chose not to consult “Dr. Google” regarding statistics and prognoses, always maintained her strong composure for Elaine. “Her attitude was paramount,” she said. “I was the cheerleader, plus I kept her focused on school work and other future things like when she was going to return to tennis. I kept her mind on getting well.”

When anxiety and doubt would cloud Laura’s mind, she made sure to take some time for herself. “If I cried, it was normally in the shower. If Elaine viewed me as doubting that she would make a full recovery then she might [have the same doubts],” Laura recalled. “If I felt anxious I would sometimes go outside with the dogs and call a family member or a friend to vent. I had to be talked off the ledge a couple of times, and I ate a lot of Cheetos!” Even with some old-fashioned comfort food, Laura found her greatest solace in God. “The main thing I did when I felt very anxious was go to my Bible,” she said. “He will and did provide a peace that passes all understanding.” It is this serenity that allowed Laura to be calmer and to continue in a productive way that was helpful to Elaine. “She wanted me 90% of the time and I had to be strong and able to be there for her,” Laura said. “Jesus was the best decompressor I had.”

As Laura took care of Elaine, family and friends rallied around them, never leaving their side. “God truly provided for us with a spectacular support system,” Laura said. “It’s pretty amazing how people from all seasons of my life came to our aid to help us in any and every way they could.” These included her family who “was right in the trenches with me the entire time”; her “incredibly supportive” boss, colleagues, and owner of the company; her church family; and the Thompson Tennis Team, coaches, and parents. Laura’s Auburn University sorority sisters also stepped in, making sure that when Elaine was placed in hospice care, they were there to help by sitting with her and pushing the pain pump button at the appropriate time throughout the night, which allowed Elaine to sleep pain free and Laura to get some much needed rest. “They did something for me that I can never repay,” Laura shared. “Without them, I never would have made it through.” Laura also found strength through the kindness of strangers via Elaine’s CaringBridge website. “People who read our updates were encouraging, and some of these people I didn’t even know,” Laura recalled. “There were people all over Alabama and the entire country praying for us.”

Unfortunately, by January 2016, Elaine’s treatment protocol was no longer effective and the cancer was spreading. Because she was now only 16 years old, she wasn’t eligible for adult clinical trials. “There were no trials going on that Elaine could participate in and the chemo drugs she had been taking were developed decades ago. We really didn’t have anything out there to try,” said Laura. Sadly, Elaine’s battle ended February 6, 2016, six weeks after her father Brent passed away unexpectedly. But, Elaine’s story doesn’t end there…a new chapter was beginning.

A New Chapter…The Elaine Roberts Foundation

Shortly after her daughter’s passing, Laura established the Elaine Roberts Foundation with the purpose of educating people about pediatric cancer and to raise money for research to cure childhood cancers. “Elaine’s outcome is not what we wanted, but the cancer was ugly, rare, and aggressive,” she said. “We need better treatments for this particular type of cancer and other pediatric cancers. Some are very beatable, but we need all cancers to be cured.” It is the desire for no other families to suffer the loss she did, as well as a determination to fund research that will ultimately lead to a cure that drive Laura in her dedication and devotion to the Foundation. “The reality is my daughter lost her life,” she said. “But through that, I have seen how much people want to help; they may not know just how.” Through the Foundation, those wanting to help can do so by simply visiting the Foundation website and finding a way – whether through a variety of fundraising and volunteer opportunities or a monetary contribution – to “rid the world of rhabdo and ALL childhood cancers”.

Launching Your Medical Start-Up

August 24, 2022 // Randy Glick

A knowledge-based medical startup is a medical company that provides healthcare and medical services with the use of technological advances, innovative research, and the latest in diagnostic equipment. It should prioritize the user experience and needs to match the target audience. It should also focus on the current trends and patterns in the industry.

Launching a med-tech startup takes a considerable amount of time, and an entrepreneur should have knowledge of how to manage the company as well as develop and implement innovative products. Here are some tips and resources from The Southern Medical Association to get you started on the right path.

Getting Funding
Most startups require funding and if you don’t have the resources yourself to invest in your start-up, you can get help from a variety of sources. Angel investors are people with the ability to help you finance and may be willing since they have a personal interest in the field you’re pursuing.

 Additionally, universities or large companies, hoping to attract technology partners, often offer technology contests with sometimes significant payouts in cash and in-kind services. Last but not least, local governments sometimes take advantage of tax breaks or other incentives to draw entrepreneurs into development zones.

Business Considerations
Med-tech start-ups are subject to the same rules when it comes to best business practices as any other new business. Many of the steps are the same no matter the entrepreneurial enterprise, such as:

  • A business plan. That’s something every business should begin with. It’s a blueprint for exactly how you’ll build your company. It will include a description of the company, market analysis, competitors, products and services provided, sales strategy, financial projections, and more. Using a business plan template can benefit you by letting you understand the steps to follow and making sure you don’t miss any steps.
  • A business structure. This includes sole proprietorship, partner, LLC, and corporation. Many new start-ups choose to structure as an LLC since it keeps your personal and business finances separate. It also requires less paperwork, lowers the tax burden, and is easy to do yourself and thus saving hefty lawyer fees.
  • Marketing. This is a critical part of any business start-up. You can’t sell if you don’t have a buyer. For medical start-ups, your consumer or your client will be another business. The focus should be on how different you are from your competitor, the clinical outcomes you expect them to receive, and the financial benefit for your client in using your service/product.
  • Employees.  It’s important to have an employee payroll system in place before you begin to hire. Setting up a payroll system requires that you determine a regular pay schedule, ask new hires to fill out W-4s to determine withholdings, manage records for tax reporting and keep all of your payroll information organized. Having a password-protected website to view and print pay stubs, review payroll history and keep track of sick, personal and vacation days provides a better service for your employees and will make it easier for them to track their own finances.

 

Final Tips
If you want to give yourself an edge over the competition, you might want to check out one of the online courses for medical coding. The program is short – less than 30 hours – and could give you additional knowledge of and insights into the medical field.

Last but not least, you need to familiarize yourself with HIPAA. According to HIPAA Journal, it lists three specifications for technology to comply with HIPAA. Those include: 

  • All Protected Health Information (PHI) must be encrypted at rest and in transit.
  • Each medical professional authorized to access and communicate PHI must have a “Unique User Identifier” so that their use of PHI can be monitored.
  • The use of any technology to comply with HIPAA must have an automatic log-off to prevent unauthorized access to PHI when a mobile device is left unattended (this also applies to desktop computers).

Medical startups are rapidly emerging in the global entrepreneur community. You can be a part of this exciting and fast-growing industry as long as you give it time and understand it will take some hard work and time for it to pay off, but the odds are definitely in your favor.

The Southern Medical Association has been uniting the family of medicine through education since 1906. If you have any questions, please call (800) 423-4992.

A History Worth Repeating

August 3, 2022 // Randy Glick

SMA Marketing Director, Rob Ingram

Five months ago, I walked into the SMA offices with little-to-no clue of what I had just committed myself to. All I really knew was that the extensive interview process confirmed one thing: that I was going to genuinely enjoy working with these people.

The number of things I didn't know about this new venture, however...well, that number is not worth speculating on.

And so began my quest to direct, err, redirect the marketing of an organization that had not only been around for 116 years, but was (both, then and now) made up of physicians, medical professionals, scientists, etc. Translation: thousands of people with more education, more intellect and more value and responsibility to society than I could ever claim.

(For the sake of time, I will skip ahead to that pivotal moment when I realized that there was a second thing that I knew.)

I think it was on day 12. There were 8-10 new self-developed marketing concepts/directions in front of me. They all had color palettes, logos, brand framework, taglines, targets and multiple measurable outreach methods. I believed in every one of them, but I was continually bogged down by the multitude of facets that made up our storied Association. So, in an effort to potentially shift my perspective, I exited my office, walked over to a pile of moving boxes on a cart shoved into one of the unoccupied cubicles, and I opened it up.  I opened it up in search of some kind of historical SMA sign miraculously unveiling a clear direction.

Instead, all I found were old programs from decades of SMA Annual Scientific Assemblies; all emitting that familiar aroma reminiscent of that storage closet in that normally unused room at your grandparents house. You know, the closet that was reserved for Christmas decorations, out-of-style-and-season clothes, an uncomfortably large doll and some chairs with busted caning. Outta sight. Outta mind.

But, I digress.

I will admit, it was somewhat eye-opening to see the growth of SMA in direct correlation to the size of these bound programs, which went all the way back to 1910. With every passing year, the agenda, the attendance and the physical program got bigger, thicker and more descriptive. SMA was growing. It was thriving. Physicians all over the south were joining the Association, and once a year, they were coming together to connect, learn, teach and grow the Family of Medicine.

As I got to the 1950s, the 60s, the 70s and into the 80s, these Scientific Assembly "programs" looked more like event and entertainment guides than they did "assembly curriculum". It was clear that all of the scientific content remained the underlying necessity of attendance, but that's not why they journeyed every year to a different location in the region. They did it for the relationships. The face-to-face relationships with their fellow members and spouses of the Family of Medicine.

Then came the technological revolution of the 90s. Along with it came alternative connection opportunities. As technology emerged, those programs I was looking through...well, they responded accordingly. Getting thinner, less interesting, less attended with every passing year. (Disclaimer: it goes without saying that this in-person decline was not specific to SMA.)

Which brings us to today, and in turn, brought me to that second thing I know; and what I believe will be the SMA story.

Relationships. Physicians connected to one another. Regardless of specialty. Regardless of age or experience. No matter where you are in your journey as a medical professional, you have experiences, knowledge, insight, successes and failures that could impact someone in the Family of Medicine. When you impact a member of this family, your impact far exceeds that one individual. It may impact the course of their career. It may impact the methods in which they practice. It may impact the way they diagnose or treat a particular disease or health issue. It may even impact the course of Science.

As a physician, never underestimate the impact you can have on the next generation of MDs and DOs, and ultimately, on the Mission of SMA. You were where we started and how we continue.

If you are already Associated, we would love for you to contribute by being involved as a Mentor to our growing number of Physicians-in-Training. Or, maybe you want to teach...we'll give you the platform to host a podcast or CME webinar. If you are at a point in your career that allows you to support us through financial contribution, you can rest assured that every penny will go towards Improving the Quality of Patient Care Through Education. Your investment can be used however you choose.

If you aren't Associated, we'd love an opportunity to share with you the tangible and intangible value that your Association with us will have. Just email me at ringram@sma.org if you want to know more.

The Southern Medical Association is our people. Our people are leaders. Our people are mission-minded. Our people are relationship-driven. Our people are generous. Our people are grateful. Our people are mindful of the blessings of the present and hopeful for what the future holds. Our people love their home and all who enter. Our people are family.

Our people are Southern.

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SMA Marketing Director, Rob Ingram, is from Huntsville, AL and a business school graduate of Samford University. He currently lives in Hoover, AL with his wife, Wynter and 5 kids.

Become Your Own Healthcare Advocate

August 2, 2022 // Randy Glick

Become Your Own Healthcare Advocate With These Important Moves

- Janice Russell

Learning to advocate for yourself when dealing with health issues is extremely important. Even if your doctor visit is just for a routine checkup, it’s important to have the confidence and knowledge to speak up about any concerns or general questions you may have. Many individuals find it challenging to do this, either because they don’t want to question their healthcare provider’s expertise or because they feel they don’t understand enough about the medical field to make informed decisions on their own behalf. You can get more informed by keeping up with the posts at SMA.org, which cover everything from the benefits of telehealth appointments to self-care tips for kids; you can also take free online courses on various medical-related topics.

 Here are a few ways you can become your own best health advocate:

Listen and Record
No matter what you’re visiting the doctor for, it’s important to learn how to carefully listen to their input. Many appointments cover multi-faceted topics or include directions on how to change your lifestyle over the course of several weeks or months, so it’s crucial that you pay close attention and take notes. This will help you remember your conversation so you can stay on track, and it will also come in handy for your follow-up visit; you might even ask a friend, loved one, or volunteer to help with the note-taking process. If you’d rather record the visit on your phone, make sure it’s okay with your doctor/nurse beforehand. Some healthcare providers offer an app that allows you to keep up with your own medical chart, including appointment information, prescriptions, and diagnoses; ask your doctor if they have such an app.

Keep Track of All Your Important Documents
In addition to any medical documents you have at home, it’s important to keep your medication list up to date and include not only prescription medicines but also over the counter medicines, herbs, supplements, and topical medications. Include not just the name of these medicines but also the strength and dosage schedule for each of them. All providers need to know of diagnosed allergies and any history of side effects of medications you have experienced.

Whether you need to get the notes from your visit organized or just put all of your important medical documents in one place, it’s crucial to utilize the right tools in order to keep them safe and accessible. Using a resource like a Word to PDF converter will allow you to securely change your document to a shareable file, which will help you keep your loved ones, doctors, or the executors of your estate informed in the event of a major health issue. You can also keep invoices, insurance information, and a copy of your ID on file just so they’re easy to find when you need them.

Get to Know Your Rights and Coverage
When gathering your insurance policy info, it’s a good idea to go over it again and make sure you understand exactly what it covers. Being an advocate for your own health means feeling confident in your rights and knowing how you’re protected, so go through each section of your policy and don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions of your health insurance company's customer support personnel. Most insurance companies allow you to look at itemized claims and other info from doctor’s visits from the preceding year on their website, so keep an eye on these and speak to someone immediately if you find an error.

 

Don’t Be Afraid to Put Your Foot Down
Knowing your rights is about more than understanding your health insurance coverage; it also applies to being able to stand up for yourself when you feel your healthcare provider isn’t listening, or when you don’t agree with their diagnosis. It’s perfectly okay to get a second opinion in many cases, to speak up about a difference of opinion, or to even leave an appointment if you feel the provider isn’t taking your concerns seriously.

Becoming your own advocate takes a bit of self-confidence, but once you learn to take a stand for your health care, it does get easier. Get organized, use the technology available to you, and keep your most trusted loved ones informed about important visits so they can help when you need it.

Have a question or comment for the Southern Medical Association? Get in touch today.

Artificial Intelligence in Critical Care Medicine

July 21, 2022 // Randy Glick

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Target Audience
Healthcare providers of all specialties may benefit from the information presented.

Description
This webinar will provide an introduction to artificial intelligence  in medicine, as well as detail artificial intelligence and clinical informatics in critical care. Dr. Lal will also discuss future steps and research opportunities in this area of medicine.   

Bio
Amos Lal is a Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary physician at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minnesota, . His major clinical and research interests include Artificial intelligence in Critical Care, Clinical Informatics, infections in ICU, COVID-19 related research, Quality improvement and outcomes related research in Sepsis. Dr. Lal has published over 150 manuscripts in peer review journals internationally and has given presentations on his work at multiple international meetings and academic conferences. His diverse publication portfolio includes work in critical care/intensive care medicine and pulmonary diseases, infectious diseases and non-invasive cardiology. His other areas of interest include improvement in healthcare delivery in the underserved areas internationally by providing clinical care and teaching in developing countries such as Cambodia and Haiti. Dr. Lal is an elected Fellow of American College of Physicians, In-training Steering committee member for Society of Critical Care Medicine and a member of American College of Chest Physicians.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, the attendee should be able to:

  1. Have a broad overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medicine
  2. Understand the currently available AI models in critical care
  3. Envisage the current Approach to developing clinically useful AI models
  4. Identify future direction and research opportunities

References

  1. Komorowski M, Celi LA, Badawi O, Gordon AC, Faisal AA. The Artificial Intelligence Clinician learns optimal treatment strategies for sepsis in intensive care. Nat Med. 2018 Nov;24(11):1716-1720. doi: 10.1038/s41591-018-0213-5. Epub 2018 Oct 22. PMID: 30349085.
  2. Lal A, Li G, Cubro E, Chalmers S, Li H, Herasevich V, Dong Y, Pickering BW, Kilickaya O, Gajic O. Development and Verification of a Digital Twin Patient Model to Predict Specific Treatment Response During the First 24 Hours of Sepsis. Crit Care Explor. 2020 Nov 16;2(11):e0249. doi: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000000249. PMID: 33225302; PMCID: PMC7671877.
  3. Lal A, Pinevich Y, Gajic O, Herasevich V, Pickering B. Artificial intelligence and computer simulation models in critical illness. World J Crit Care Med. 2020 Jun 5;9(2):13-19. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v9.i2.13. PMID: 32577412; PMCID: PMC7298588.
  4. Eddy DM, Schlessinger L. Archimedes: a trial-validated model of diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2003 Nov;26(11):3093-101. doi: 10.2337/diacare.26.11.3093. PMID: 14578245.
  5. Dang J, Lal A, Flurin L, James A, Gajic O, Rabinstein AA. Predictive modeling in neurocritical care using causal artificial intelligence. World J Crit Care Med. 2021 Jul 9;10(4):112-119. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v10.i4.112. PMID: 34316446; PMCID: PMC8291004.

Disclosure
Dr. Lal did not report any financial relationships or conflicts of interest. 

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