Monday Rx | August 13, 2018 | Organizational Updates, Community Health and More! August 17, 2018 Monday RX, MondayRx 1001 Organizational Updates I wanted to share the latest in the organization's transformation. Most of you have had to adjust your practices, your technology, staffing models and reimbursement models to keep pace with the massive changes in healthcare. That said, LACMA is in exciting negotiations with Medical Practice Purchasing Group (MPPG) led by Dr. Brian Greenberg, to create LACMA's first e-commerce site for physician members to find what they need to have a thriving practice. MPPG has partnerships with Sanofi, Merck, Pfizer, Henry Schein, ProficientRX, McKesson, VaxServe, ClearGate Merchant Services and Staples Advantage, and much more. LACMA has 25 partnerships including athenahealth, American Career College, PatientPop, Paragon Private Health, Wells Fargo, Four Seasons Resorts and others. The goal is to combine our respective portfolios into one online site that allows members convenience, competitive pricing and much more. Launch date is late Fall, 2018. I attended the fifth annual gala hosted by American Career College and West Coast University and had the distinct privilege of meeting deeply committed leaders in academia and healthcare such as Eleanor Ramirez, RN, PHN, BSN, MS and Harsha Upadhyay, Regional CEO, Prime Healthcare. Part of LACMA's evolution to better serve the needs of all physicians are the changes at the staff levels. I'm happy to share that 10-year employee, Lisa Le, has been promoted to Vice President, Operations and Strategic Initiatives. Most of you know Lisa's commitment to serving the needs of our members. She will now undertake a critically important role that will significantly impact organizational growth, sustain that growth and create the best value for our membership. Congrats Lisa! Last week, LACMA staff had the pleasure of visiting with our sponsored insurance program provider, Mercer, at their beautiful new offices in the US Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles. For those who are not familiar, Mercer provides exclusive business and personal insurance programs for LACMA and CMA members. From workers comp, group health, and cyber liability to life, auto, and home insurance, and more, if you need to purchase or renew an insurance program, please contact the members-only line at 1-800-842-3761 or email at cmacounty.insurance.service@mercer.com. Your Online Reputation Last Monday, I shared a story about a physician whose reputation and career were destroyed when a patient falsely accused him of lying to cover up a surgical mistake. While I hope these types of stories are far and few between, it is today's reality that patients can all too easily go online and share negative experiences which can have catastrophic impacts on a physician's practice. I would like to hear from you. Are you dealing with negative online reviews? How have you dealt with them? What kinds of reviews come up when you google your name? LACMA's practice growth partner, PatientPop, is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, August 28, at 12:30 PM that will explore the 5 most common online reputation killers that many practices and physicians fall victim to. I hope you can join us to learn more about how you can protect yourself from a bad online reputation. Register here. Achieving Health Equity in LA County As many of you may have heard, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Los Angeles County Health Agency and community partners announced the release of a plan to promote health equity across LA County. Over the next five years, the Health Agency will join with others to sustain efforts to reduce and eliminate some of the biggest gaps in health outcomes. The plan focus areas include: Reducing the gap in black infant mortality by 30% in five years; Eliminating congenital syphilis entirely in five years; Reducing hazardous exposures to harmful toxins in low-income communities; Improving health outcomes for residents with complex health needs; Ensuring health agency services are accessible and culturally and linguistically appropriate. LACMA is pleased to support the initiatives in the five year plan and will continue to educate members on how providers can get involved in efforts to achieve health equity. Click here to see more on the five-year action plan. The Center for Health Equity will also host a webinar this Thursday, August 16, 2018 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am where participants can learn more about the Center and the plan to promote a culture of equity and collaboration across our county. Speakers will include: Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director, Department of Public Health Vincent Holmes, County of Los Angeles, Chief Executive Office Christina Altmayer, Vice President of Programs, First 5 LA Río Oxas, Policy and Programs Organizer, People for Mobility Justice No registration required. Click here to join the webinar. State of Reform Health Policy Conference Last week, LACMA was invited, in partnership with CMA, to participate in the 2018 Los Angeles State of Reform Health Policy Conference on September 19th at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel. Now in its third year in Los Angeles, and fourth year in Southern California, the 2018 Los Angeles State of Reform Health Policy Conference convenes one of the largest, most diverse gatherings of senior health care executives and health policy leaders from across the state. All members are invited to attend on September 19th to connect, network, and discuss the most pressing, most practical health care issues facing the system today. You may register here. State of Reform pulls together practitioners, thought leaders, and policymakers – each working to improve our health care system in their own way – into a unified conversation in a single place. It is sure to be one of the most diverse gatherings of senior health care leaders in Southern California, and one of the most important statewide events in California health care. Gustavo Friederichsen Chief Executive Officer Los Angeles County Medical Association "If it matters to our LACMA members, it matters to me." Friday, August 17th, 2018 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm The Truckstop 9040 Lindblade Street, Culver City, CA 90232 NOTE: The Truckstop services two separate event locations. The mixer will be held at 9040 Lindblade Street in Culver City RSVP: losangelesmedicine.org/mixer Interested in Concierge Medicine? If you have ever wanted to learn more about the impact a concierge medicine model will have on your practice and patients, you should join us on August 29th in Santa Monica for a special program and meet n greet with Paragon Private Health. Converting to a concierge model of care has helped countless independent physicians restore doctor patient relationships and improve income. See the flyer here and RSVP at RSVP: Brad Haines at 805.952.9593 CME Programs FINDING EFFECTIVE CURATIVE OPTIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE WHEN: September 14, 2018 WHERE: Brookside at the Rose Bowl, Mediterranean Room, 1133 Rosemont Ave. Pasadena, CA 91103 Click here for more information This seminar will discuss the rapid development of new gene therapy and need for access to novel curative modalities for Sickle Cell Disease. MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO CANCER SYMPOSIUM WHEN: September 20 to 23, 2018 WHERE: Loews Coronado Bay Resort 4000 Coronado Bay Road Coronado, CA 92118 Click here for more information. This intensive program will provide participants with an enhanced ability to interpret and apply best treatment options to their individual cancer practices. NEOPLASTIC HEMATOPATHOLOGY UPDATE WHEN: November 8 to 10, 2018 WHERE: The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel 21100 Pacific Coast Highway Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Click herefor more information. Join experts for this exclusive interactive conference. This is a unique opportunity for up-close learning and discussion with experts in the treatment of neoplastic hematopathology. HOW THE EXPERTS TREAT HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES WHEN: March 21 to 23, 2019 WHERE: Waldorf Astoria, Las Vegas 3752 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89109 Click here for more information. This two-and-a-half-day symposium has been designed by experts in the field of hematologic malignancies and affords the conference attendee specialized educational tracks for both physicians and nurses, providing an opportunity to learn about the most recent advances in the treatment of bone marrow transplant, multiple myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia. For questions contact: cme@coh.org or 626-218-5622.