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.

Nursing independence bill to get State Capitol committee hearing – your voice needed to help promote physician-led care
State legislation that would allow certain nurses to provide patient care with no physician involvement is tentatively scheduled for a public hearing before a key legislative committee later this month. While a public hearing does not necessarily signal further advancement in the legislative process, it does show the need for legislators to hear from their physician constituents.

Medical Mystery Tour webinar series now on demand
The Medical Mystery Tour webinar series is now available on demand. Medical professionals are frequently called upon to diagnose a wide variety of disorders, initiate treatment regimens and recognize when specialist referral or emergency management and hospitalization are necessary – particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of rare or unusual clinical diseases or syndromes.

WisMed Meet Up Happy Hour next Thursday
Enjoy a fun happy hour from the comfort of your couch! Join your fellow Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members for the next virtual WisMed Meet Up. Feedback from previous Meet Ups have requested a happy hour, so don't miss this chance to connect with your peers across the state while enjoying your favorite beverage.

Personal finance classes for Resident programs
Improving personal financial health and knowledge among physicians is a core mission of both WisMed Assure and WisMed Financial, both part of the Wisconsin Medical Society. To provide a solid foundation before even entering practice, we have developed personal finance classes specifically for residents.

Register for virtual Advance Care Planning learning series
The Fox Valley Advance Care Planning Partnership is launching a monthly series of virtual learning events featuring trusted experts from a variety of backgrounds to discuss aspects of Advance Care Planning. The free sessions are held via Zoom and are also recorded for on-demand viewing.

Nursing independence bill to get State Capitol committee hearing – your voice needed to help promote physician-led care

State legislation that would allow certain nurses to provide patient care with no physician involvement is tentatively scheduled for a public hearing before a key legislative committee later this month. While a public hearing does not necessarily signal further advancement in the legislative process, it does show the need for legislators to hear from their physician constituents.

The Wisconsin State Assembly’s Committee on Health is tentatively scheduled to meet July 29 on a variety of bills, including Assembly Bill 396 – a nursing omnibus bill that includes empowering Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) with the ability to diagnose and treat patients without needing to have any relationship with a physician. The Wisconsin Medical Society and other physician-led groups oppose the bill.

Among other provisions, AB 396:

  • eliminates requirements for APRNs (certified nurse-midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners) to collaborate with physicians,
  • writes into the statutes the ability for an APRN to assess, diagnose and treat patients, including prescribing most drugs, independently from a physician,
  • mandates that the state "opt out" of federal certified registered nurse anesthetist supervision requirements, and
  • eliminates current law requiring certified nurse midwives to have a collaborative arrangement with a physician who has experience with obstetrics.

Contact your legislators
With a public hearing looming, now is an opportune time to reach out to your State Senator and State Assembly Representative to let them know you support maintaining Wisconsin’s high quality, physician-led health care system. You can find your elected officials’ contact information on the State Legislature’s home page by putting your voting address in the “Who Are My Legislators?” box on the right side of the page.

When you contact your representatives in Madison, let them know that physicians offer the most education, training and experience that patients deserve when they seek care, and that removing physicians from the health care team threatens Wisconsin’s status as a national health care leader. Ask your elected officials to oppose moving any bill forward – including AB 396 and its Senate companion, SB 394 – that removes physicians from patient care.

To stay up-to-date on AB 396 and other developing advocacy topics, be sure to sign up for updates on WisMed Community’s Advocacy in Action page. Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for additional information.

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Medical Mystery Tour webinar series now on demand

Medical Mystery Tour - CME Webinar Series

The Medical Mystery Tour webinar series is now available on demand. Medical professionals are frequently called upon to diagnose a wide variety of disorders, initiate treatment regimens and recognize when specialist referral or emergency management and hospitalization are necessary – particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of rare or unusual clinical diseases or syndromes.

This 4-part webinar series covers current clinical information on the diagnosis and treatment of rare medical conditions such as Acute Lyme Disease, Spontaneous Bowel Rupture, Rare Fungal Infections and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Wisconsin Medical Society members get discounted registration.

  • Tick-Borne Illnesses Lyme Disease-Background and Acute Management, presented by Samuel Shor, MD, FACP
  • Spontaneous Bowel Rupture: Connective Tissue Considerations, presented by Elizabeth Petty, MD
  • Pulmonary Fungal Infections: Dimorphic fungi, presented by Greg Gauthier, MD, MS
  • Anaphylaxis without an allergy: An introduction to mast cell disorders, presented by Joshua Steinberg, MD

View all sessions and register here! This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Please email 
education@wismed.org with any questions.

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Wismedassure.org

WisMed Meet Up Happy Hour next Thursday

WisMed Meet Up Happy Hour - July 15 - Zoom

Enjoy a fun happy hour from the comfort of your couch! Join your fellow Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members for the next virtual WisMed Meet Up. Feedback from previous Meet Ups have requested a happy hour, so don't miss this chance to connect with your peers across the state while enjoying your favorite beverage.

Details:
WisMed Meet Up: Virtual Happy Hour
Thursday, July 15, 6-7 p.m.
Register here 

Raffle prizes will be awarded!

All WisMed members are welcome. Contact membership@wismed.org for additional information.

Thank you to WisMed Assure for sponsoring this event. 

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Personal finance classes for Resident programs

Personal finance classes for medical students and residents. Free for members!

Improving personal financial health and knowledge among physicians is a core mission of both WisMed Assure and WisMed Financial, both part of the Wisconsin Medical Society. To provide a solid foundation before even entering practice, we have developed personal finance classes specifically for residents.

Here is an outline of the curriculum.

  • Overwhelmed by where to start – prioritizing what to do and when
  • Student loan repayment options and forgiveness programs
  • Insurance 101 personal lines and medical malpractice
  • Employment contracts
  • Investing foundation

Each financial class runs 30-60 minutes with time for Q&A.

There is no cost for members of the Wisconsin Medical Society. If you are interested in joining the seven other programs across the state that are already providing personal financial education for their residents, please contact Tom or Mark.

Tom Strangstalien
tom.strangstalien@wismedassure.org
608.304.1579

WisMed Financial
Mark Ziety, CFP(R), AIF(R)
mark.ziety@wismedfinancial.org
608.442.3750

 

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Register for virtual Advance Care Planning learning series

The Fox Valley Advance Care Planning Partnership is launching a monthly series of virtual learning events featuring trusted experts from a variety of backgrounds to discuss aspects of Advance Care Planning. The free sessions are held via Zoom and are also recorded for on-demand viewing.

The next two sessions are:

July 14, 5pm: Let's Talk: What is Palliative Care? Olumuyiwa Adeboye, MD, MBA, FACP, FAAHPM, Palliative Care Physician, Ascension St. Johns (Tulsa, OK)

August 11, 5pm: Let's Talk: Celebrity Death Plans, John Maycroft, Founder of Maycroft Advance Care Planning Services

Registration for these events is available here. Contact WisMed Past President George M. Lange, MD for additional information.

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