Wisconsin Science Fest inspires kids (and adults)!

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation was thrilled to be back in person at last week’s Wisconsin Science Festival, a statewide celebration of science with hands-on activities for people throughout the state. Physician volunteers and medical students in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Doctors Ought to Care student group interacted with thousands of kids over the course of the event and explained how to stay healthy while allowing participants to safely hold organs to gain a deeper understanding of how the body works. Kids also had the chance to visualize themselves as a physician by trying on a white coat.

Through youth programing like the Wisconsin Science Festival, Prescription for a Healthy You and other community grant projects, the Foundation aims to encourage Wisconsin kids to keep their bodies healthy – inside and out – and to consider pursuing careers in medicine and health care.

Tim Bartholow, MD, one of the busy Science Festival volunteers, reflected afterward that opportunities like this from the Foundation “are a key experience-making pipeline to help heal our workforce tribulations, teaching each medical student, and ultimately reminding ourselves, of the awesome magic of knowing enough science and practicing interpersonal empathy and compassion to have individuals and communities believe in themselves and thrive.” Doctor Bartholow added, “At a time when we feel historic strain, gloved fifth graders felt awe, amazement, curiosity and pensiveness as they held a human heart, and opened the tissue to see valves generously provided by one of our patients. And over these anatomic specimens we used the teachable moment to remind that excellence requires that you study every day, that you thank your teachers and that each of us needs to practice self-care like no vaping. They want to grow up and achieve like us, some of them becoming healers, and we need to create the best health care workplaces for them to join us.”

In the past the Foundation has partnered with the La Crosse and Eau Claire, Dunn, Pepin County Medical Societies to put on events in their communities. In Eau Claire it has grown over the years as a community event. Foundation President and Eau Claire physician, Jose Ortiz, MD, noted, “There is science all around us. We are grateful to our community partners who supported the festival and helped to show the science in everything. We are also very fortunate to have partnered with the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire who made a major contribution to this year’s festival.”

Fellow Eau Claire physician Donn Dexter, MD, added, “This is a great opportunity for our local Medical Society to get involved with our community and encourage people to appreciate the science that surrounds us.”

The Foundation would welcome working with other County Medical Societies to spread the excitement. If you would like to learn more about the Wisconsin Science Festival or how to get involved in your community, please contact Jaime Craig at jaime.craig@wismed.org. To help support youth programs to encourage careers in health and medicine, please contribute to the Foundation’s Brighter Future Fund.

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Less than three weeks to election day! Are you ready?

Everyone can agree that the upcoming elections will have a significant impact on the direction of our state and country. If you are considering a contribution to your favorite candidates, don’t wait. They need the money now. Contact Heidi Green, 608.442.3720, and she can answer any questions and distribute your contributions. Through WISMedDirect, you can contribute to state and federal candidates quickly. The impact physicians make as a profession, when we band together and make political contributions, is significant. It’s important. It’s noticed.

Another important consideration: If you anticipate not being able to vote in person on November 8, request an absentee ballot now. These requests must be fulfilled within 24 to 48 business hours. You can fill out your ballot and return it by mail.

This website also provides your polling place address and what’s on your ballot. If you’re not registered to vote, you can register at your polling place the day of the election with proof of residence (such as paycheck, utility bill or bank statement). Alternatively, early voting starts next Tuesday, October 25 – contact your municipality to find a location near you. Additional information and deadlines can be found here.

Our influence and access to decisionmakers, at all levels of government, is dependent on our participation in the political arena. Thank you for your contributions, your opinions and your political action. Most importantly, be sure to vote!

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Private practice or employment – free webinar for student and young physician members

The Wisconsin Medical Society partnered with the Arizona Medical Association and the Missouri Medical Association to develop a webinar series for student and young physician members. Each one-hour webinar in this six-part series will air Sundays at 7:00 p.m. Participation is free, but separate registration is required for each session.

Register here for Private Practice vs. Employment, which will be presented by WisMed President Wendy Molaska, MD, FAAFP, on October 23 at 7:00 p.m.

Register for these upcoming sessions:

• Investing & Retirement 101, Oct. 30
• Diversity & Health Equity, Nov. 6

Please contact membership@wismed.org with any questions.

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Don’t forget to call your mom, and your insurance agent

With the intention of easing administrative burden for WisMed Assure client physicians, several of our Medical Professional Liability (MPL) carriers have significantly reduced or suspended asking for renewal applications over the past few years. While this does save time, renewal applications were an opportunity to touch base, review and discuss any changes to your practice that could impact your premium or coverage.

Please contact WisMed Assure if any of the following changes have occurred or are anticipated in your practice:

• Have any health care professionals changed practice procedures, such as added or reduced surgical procedures?
• Have you contracted with any independent health care professionals to provide services?
• Are any physicians changing their practice hours? How many hours per week are they working now? 
• Have you added or changed your use of telemedicine? 
• If you are a Wisconsin Medical Society Member with Medical Professional Liability coverage through ProAssurance, you can earn premium credit on your renewal by completing their online risk management coursework. If you are not a member and would like to become one, please let us know.

Contact your agent or insurance@wismedassure.org (608.442.3810) with any questions or changes to your practice.

Wisconsin Medical Society members are invited to attend the complimentary one-hour loss prevention webinar on October 25 at 7 a.m. This virtual event, presented by risk and legal experts, will provide attendees with actionable guidance for improving care team relationships to optimize and mitigate liability in their practices.

This presentation is appropriate for a wide-variety of audiences—including small, large, independent and system practices. Attendees will learn from real-life case studies and current Wisconsin law in order to mitigate risk and liability in their own practices.

Physician Care Team Collaboration Success: Understanding Current Requirements Under Wisconsin Law
Tuesday, October 25
7:00 - 8:00 a.m. CT
Register

WisMed Assure is the Wisconsin Medical Society’s insurance agency – profits earned support the mission of the Medical Society.

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Health Care Action Accelerator event to discuss workforce shortages

The Wisconsin Tomorrow: Health Care Action Accelerator will explore what we need to do now to address challenges impacting public health and recruiting and retaining the workforce. The discussion will focus on the threat to public access to health care caused by pandemic pressures and staffing shortages along with the challenges families and employers face in accessing affordable health care. Although health care professionals, those who train them and policymakers are working on these challenges, many Wisconsinites – including those with illnesses that weren’t addressed during the pandemic, rural residents with limited access to care and children – need help now.

The November 3 event will be held in person at the Western Technical College Mauston and via webinar from 8 a.m. to noon. The Wisconsin Medical Society is proud to co-host this event.

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Lunch & Learn: Paxlovid facts, information and safety with Q&A

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), an option for some high-risk patients affected by COVID-19 infection, has data showing decreased hospitalizations when prescribed early in the course of the illness. This new oral therapy is the focus of a 1-hour webinar on Wednesday October 26, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. (Central Time), hosted by the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin. Representatives from Pfizer will share information highlighting:

• Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) mechanism of action, standard dosing, dosing for impaired renal function and cautions for renal and hepatic function.
• Common drug-drug interactions (DDI) associated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid).
• Tools for checking DDI associated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid).
• Under which conditions Pharmacists can prescribe Paxlovid.
• Frequently asked questions.

This session will not be eligible for continuing education credit, but will be an opportunity for participants to review, refresh or build upon their Paxlovid knowledge. Interested attendees are asked to register in advance for the event. Click here to register.

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Free fentanyl test strips now available statewide to reduce drug overdose deaths

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that 120,600 fentanyl test strips have been distributed to organizations across the state to help prevent drug overdose deaths. Drugs mixed with fentanyl are the leading cause of overdose deaths in Wisconsin.   

“Wisconsinites who use drugs are more likely to encounter fentanyl than ever before,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “Tragically, many people who use drugs have no idea they are ingesting fentanyl until it’s too late. That’s why we need to empower our family members, friends and neighbors who use drugs to have as much information as possible to protect their safety. Fentanyl test strips are a critical tool in our efforts to save lives.” 

The first phase of the DHS fentanyl test strip distribution program is a partnership with tribal nation health clinics, county health and human services departments, county and municipal health departments, and organizations that work with people who inject drugs. These agencies are receiving fentanyl test strip packages directly from the manufacturer. Each package contains one fentanyl test strip and instructions on how to use it. The participating organizations are handing out the packages at no cost. A map of pickup locations is available on the DHS website.

There is no limit on the number of fentanyl test strips that someone can receive through this program. Participating organizations have access to an unlimited supply of packages. Other types of organizations are expected to be eligible to participate in the program in future phases.

People struggling with substance use can contact the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline to be connected to treatment options. Call 211 or go to addictionhelpwi.org.

View the entire news release.

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