Physicians and medical professionals from across Tennessee ‘met in the middle’ for MedTenn16. The annual conference, sponsored by the Tennessee Medical Association and a number of medical specialty societies, was held April 28-May 1 in Murfreesboro.
The busy three days featured more than 30 hours of proprietary CME offerings, a range of speakers and sessions focused on key healthcare issues, vendor exhibits, networking opportunities, a poster competition for medical students and resident physicians, transition of TMA leadership, policymaking by the House of Delegates, and recognition of outstanding service.
Russ Miller, CEO of TMA, noted, “We increased educational offerings this year. There was probably 20 percent more than we offered last year.” He added MedTenn16 featured 32.25 hours of CME options, of which 19.25 hours were attainable for participants. Considering the requirement is 40 hours every two years, Miller pointed out physicians could meet almost half of their obligation in a ‘one stop shop’ setting. “We are continuing to grow the opportunities for physicians to get their educational requirements with relevant content at a great value,” Miller said of the meeting’s robust offerings.
Courses covered a wide range of topics from non-pharmacologic management of agitation in dementia, aging successfully, and the death with dignity debate to updates on chronic care management, legal issues involved in treating minors and antibiotic stewardship. In addition, the conference featured two Maintenance of Certification courses – one for obstetrics and the other for internal medicine.
MedTenn16 also saw the debut of the latest iteration of TMA’s proper prescribing course. “The biggest update this year is the continued discussion on opioid prescribing, proper use of opioid pain management, and an added section about medical marijuana,” Miller said. He added the course is now available online for those who were not able to attend in person during the conference but still need to fulfill the two-hour CME requirement from the Board of Medical Examiners.
Another topic of interest was physician burnout. “The pressures and demands to practice medicine today are overwhelming our already thin supply of physicians. We are acutely aware of that,” Miller said. He continued, “We’ve got to clear the deck for more time on direct patient care and less on burdensome requirements. Doctors spend more time on a computer or filling out forms than with patients.”
Lotte Dyrbye, MD, MHPE, FACP, led “Do You Smell Something Burning? Strategies to Reduce Your Risk of Burnout.” The professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, who is widely published on the subject of physician fatigue and satisfaction, covered the signs, prevalence and consequences of burnout, as well as support strategies.
There were also sessions and discussion around telemedicine. “Done properly, we see that as a very good solution to access and patient convenience,” Miller said. “But,” he continued, “you’ve got to marry up the capabilities of technology and the capabilities of healthcare providers.” Miller added the regulations and requirements for the technology must ensure that patient safety comes first. As an aside, properly implemented telemedicine protocols could have the potential to ease some of the pressures contributing to provider burnout by taking travel time out of hectic days for physicians, while still giving patients in rural communities the access they need.
As for the House of Delegates’ policymaking session, Miller said the biggest issue right now is tied to TennCare rate bump audits and recoupments. “They are retroactively going back to recoup the increases given to primary care physicians for treating TennCare patients,” he said of the battle brewing over the methodology used to determine eligibility for increased Medicaid payments as part of a provision in the Affordable Care Act.
Miller added most everyone in organized medicine is anxiously watching the presidential race and the impact that might have on healthcare. “We continually monitor the federal and state levels that dictate how the profession has to be carried out,” he said of the regulatory landscape. “Everything new that comes in that isn’t direct patient care affects access,” he pointed out.
While there were plenty of issues impacting the practice of medicine to discuss, MedTenn16 also was a celebration of the quality of patient care being delivered across Tennessee and an opportunity to recognize outstanding physician leaders. John W. Hale, Jr., MD, wrapped up his year as TMA president and passed the gavel to Memphis cardiologist Keith G. Anderson, MD, FACC (see physician spotlight feature on page xx.)
The conference also included presentation of the organization’s annual awards.
Community Service Award
- A Step Ahead Foundation, Memphis
- Tennessee Rep. Ryan Williams, Cookeville
- Safety Net Consortium of Middle Tennessee, Nashville
- Kathi Potts, CMPE, Administrator at Siskin Spine & Rehabilitation, Chattanooga
Distinguished Service Award
- James C. Gray, MD, Tennessee Oncology, Nashville
- Kelly Arnold, MD, Family Medicine Practitioner and UTHSC Faculty, Chattanooga
- Michel McDonald, MD, Vanderbilt, and Jane Siegel, MD, Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance, Nashville
Outstanding Physician Award
- Roland E. Gray, MD, of Middle Tennessee
- Jerre Minor Freeman, MD, of West Tennessee
- Nat Edens “Ed” Hyder, MD, (posthumous) of East Tennessee
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