Medigram, the Society’s electronic newsletter for physicians, features timely news, upcoming events, answers to frequently asked questions and all the information you need to know to make your practice run more efficiently. Topics include legislative updates, legal information, practice management information, government regulations, and much more. Published weekly, Medigram is delivered via email on Thursdays.

If you have a Medigram story idea or would like to offer feedback, please email us or call 866.442.3800.

Share your white coat stories
Every year, the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) provides a white coat to every incoming medical student in Wisconsin. The Foundation wants to share your white coat experience with the donors who make this work possible and hopes to make it a little more fun this year!

Society-supported COVID-19 liability protections signed into law
Governor Tony Evers signed legislation into law earlier this morning that provides civil liability protection against opportunistic COVID-19 lawsuits. Under the new law, entities such as physician offices will be immune from civil liability for harm related to someone’s exposure to SARS-CoV-2, unless the entity engaged in reckless or wanton conduct or intentional misconduct.

SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Children and Adolescents and Pathophysiology of Unusual Effect of the Virus, next Wednesday
Elizabeth Ann Misch, MD, and Joseph McBride, MD, will present the last live webinar of the SARS-CoV-2 CME series* with SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Children and Adolescents and Pathophysiology of Unusual Effect of the Virus.

WisMed leaders attend AMA National Advocacy Conference
Gathering virtually rather than in Washington, D.C. this year, a group of Wisconsin Medical Society policy leaders participated in the AMA’s two-day National Advocacy Conference, held on February 23 and 24. 

Learn how to improve patient health, recruitment and manage costs via the Climate-Smart Healthcare webinar
The Climate-Smart Healthcare webinar, April 20 at noon, will explore how increasing energy and material efficiency, shifting to renewable energy and becoming resilient to natural disasters is an opportunity for organizations to make progress towards improving their patients’ health, recruiting and retaining skilled staff, managing costs and benefiting their communities. 

White Coat Investor webinar
James Dahle, MD, of The White Coat Investor will present a one-hour webinar on March 25 at 5:00 p.m. Early Career Financial Management will address issues physicians encounter at the beginning stages of their careers which are critical to their financial health and overall well-being. 

Share your white coat stories

Every year, the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) provides a white coat to every incoming medical student in Wisconsin. The Foundation wants to share your white coat experience with the donors who make this work possible and hopes to make it a little more fun this year!

What is the best or worst thing your white coat has seen during your training? Share a picture of yourself or your peers in action, a story of what your white coat means to you or a meaningful moment from your training. The Foundation is asking past and present medical students to share their white coat stories!

Students (past and present!) who submit a picture and a story will be entered into a drawing to win free wine and cheese* from our upcoming tasting series!

Please enter submissions by March 1 to be included in the drawing and reach out to Jess Bourin-Schreiter with any questions.

*Must be at least 21 years of age to win

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Society-supported COVID-19 liability protections signed into law

Governor Tony Evers signed legislation into law earlier this morning that provides civil liability protection against opportunistic COVID-19 lawsuits. Under the new law, entities such as physician offices will be immune from civil liability for harm related to someone’s exposure to SARS-CoV-2, unless the entity engaged in reckless or wanton conduct or intentional misconduct.

The bill was January 2021 Special Session Senate Bill 1, which the State Senate approved Feb. 18 on a bipartisan 27-3 vote and was unanimously approved in the State Assembly on Tuesday. It is now 2021 Wisconsin Act 4. The lawsuit protection begins for any incidents from March 1, 2020 or later, but does not affect any official claims that have already been filed.

“Protecting physicians and their clinics from unscrupulous lawyers looking for an easy payday has been one of the Society’s priorities this winter,” Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) CEO Bud Chumbley, MD, MBA said. “While it’s extremely difficult to determine where someone was exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, that doesn’t stop some people from trying to make a quick buck at a physician’s expense by claiming their client caught the virus at a medical facility.

“That’s not acceptable, and the Society wasn’t going to let that happen,” Dr. Chumbley said.

The Wisconsin Medical Society is a founding member of the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council (WCJC) – a tort reform watchdog entity that includes a variety of advocacy groups like the Society. The WCJC was the driving force ensuring these protections were enacted.

Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Children and Adolescents and Pathophysiology of Unusual Effect of the Virus, next Wednesday

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Elizabeth Ann Misch, MD, and Joseph McBride, MD, will present the last live webinar of the SARS-CoV-2 CME series* with SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Children and Adolescents and Pathophysiology of Unusual Effect of the Virus.

Dr. Misch joined the faculty of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Wisconsin in 2016, where she is currently an Assistant Professor. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has served as the Chair of the COVID Therapeutics Working Group (CONSIDER), which has developed an iterative set of treatment guidelines for COVID-19.

Dr. McBride is an assistant professor of adult and pediatric infectious disease at the University of Wisconsin. He has research activities in antimicrobial stewardship and endemic fungal infections. During the COVID-19 pandemic his clinical and research activities include alternative COVID-19 diagnostics, COVID-19 surveillance in schools and COVID-19 in Dane County's homeless population.

This live webinar is free for Wisconsin Medical Society members, but registration is required to attend.

After the completion of this presentation, all sessions will be made available on-demand. Watch future issues of Medigram to register for the entire series if you missed it!

Please email education@wismed.org with any questions.

*This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 credit™.

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Doctor Day 2021 May 5

WisMed leaders attend AMA National Advocacy Conference

U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman used Twitter to highlight his conversation with Society physician leaders on Feb. 23.
U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman used Twitter to highlight his conversation with Society physician leaders on Feb. 23.

Gathering virtually rather than in Washington, D.C. this year, a group of Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) policy leaders participated in the AMA’s two-day National Advocacy Conference, held on February 23 and 24. Attendees heard from thought leaders, industry insiders and members of Congress on important health care topics such as telemedicine, maternal health, “medical” marijuana and preventing federal across-the-board cuts to physician reimbursements.

Wisconsin physicians and medical students met virtually with U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) as well as U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI 02), Glenn Grothman (R-WI 06) and Brian Steil (R-WI 01) to emphasize how federal action – or inaction – can affect Wisconsin physicians and their patients.

“These opportunities to share information with our elected leaders in Congress are even more critical while we fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tosha Wetterneck, MD, who heads the Society’s delegation to the AMA. “It’s clear that our Congressional delegation wants to hear what matters to physicians – we’re a true resource for their offices.”

“Face-to-face conversations with our elected officials really do matter – even though this year we had to do it remotely,” said Society Board of Directors Chair Jerry Halverson, MD. “Whether it’s in Madison or Washington, D.C., the Society will continue to lead the conversation over how health care can be improved at both the national and state levels.”

You can read more about this year’s National Advocacy Conference here. Contact Heidi Green or Mark Grapentine, JD for more information about the Conference or how you can become more involved in physician advocacy.

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Learn how to improve patient health, recruitment and manage costs via the Climate-Smart Healthcare webinar

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The Climate-Smart Healthcare webinar, April 20 at noon, will explore how increasing energy and material efficiency, shifting to renewable energy and becoming resilient to natural disasters is an opportunity for organizations to make progress towards improving their patients’ health, recruiting and retaining skilled staff, managing costs and benefiting their communities. During this one-hour webinar, attendees can learn from world leaders, connect with their peers and gain access to resources to start achieving these benefits for their organization, patients and community.

 

This webinar is intended both for the senior leadership from hospitals and health care organizations and general Wisconsin health professionals. Speakers include former Gundersen CEO Jeff Thompson and Jonathan Patz, National Academy of Medicine, Nobel co-recipient. See full speaker lineup here. Programming is presented by Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action, a fast-growing group of Wisconsin health care professionals advocating for equitable solutions to the climate crisis.

This event is sponsored by the Wisconsin Medical Society, Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, Gundersen Health Systems, Bellin Health, UW Health and the UW-Madison Global Health Institute. 

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White Coat Investor webinar

White Coat Investor webinar

James Dahle, MD, of The White Coat Investor will present a one-hour webinar on March 25 at 5:00 p.m. Early Career Financial Management will address issues physicians encounter at the beginning stages of their careers which are critical to their financial health and overall well-being. Topics include student loan debt, investing and insurance protection. The event is being sponsored by ProAssurance and hosted by the Wisconsin Medial Society, WisMed Assure and WisMed Financial.

Dr. Dahle is convinced that increasing the financial security of physicians enables them to be better partners, parents and doctors along with reducing burnout, decreasing suicide risk and improving patient care.

Dr. Dahle is a practicing emergency physician and veteran from Salt Lake City, UT. He became interested in personal finance and investing after becoming disillusioned with the way he was treated by several unscrupulous financial professionals. In an effort to help his fellow physicians avoid the same errors, he started The White Coat Investor website in 2011. He has written three Amazon bestselling books, publishes two weekly podcasts, developed multiple online courses and holds an annual conference all aimed at helping his fellow physicians become more financially literate.

This is a great opportunity for WisMed member residents and early career physicians to learn from one of the most revered peers in the medical field on this subject matter. Early registration is encouraged. And don’t forget to set aside time on your calendar for this rare opportunity.

Please click here to register and contact Demitra Adams with any questions.

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