cms 0#/0'$'#/ #$,.# c'04 c,1+!') ,+ 6& +/-,+)47 cpr€¦ · lich maneuver....

newsletter, 2011, Vol. 114, no. 2

;

struct adults on giving “hands-only” CPRto victims of sudden cardiac arrest that oc-curs outside the hospital setting.

The hands-only CPR campaign oper-ates under the aegis of Project SMILE

CMS testifies before City Council

on “hands-only” CPr campaign

president’s message

CMS President Dr. David A. Loiterman discussed the ”hands-only” CPR campaign before aldermen at City Hallon March 8. From left: Dr. George Chiampas, director CCARES, Dr. Loiterman; Marc Levison, assistant deputyfire commissioner for EMS services, Ald. Margaret Laurino (39th Ward), and Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward).

Empowering bystanders to help save lives

Founded in 1850 to promote pub-lic health, your CMS is leading amodern-day campaign to in-

(continues on page 2)

Inside

Spread word about “hands-only”..4

Council highlights....................9

Understanding ACOs.............12

Save the Date!

CMS Quarterly MiDweSt CliniCal ConferenCe,

June 8, oak Brook...See pages 20-21

(Saving More Illinois Lives through Edu-cation), a growing coalition of health-re-lated organizations and medical profes-sionals.

Our efforts have sparked the interest ofthe Chicago City Council’s Committee onPolice and Fire. At the Committee’s invi-tation, we gave testimony and showed al-dermen how this simple tool empowerscitizens to help save lives.

Joining me at City Hall were Marc Levi-son, assistant deputy fire commissionerfor EMS services, and George Chiampas,DO, director of CCARES (Chicago CardiacArrest Resuscitation Educational Service).

Dr. Chiampas, who is also assistant pro-fessor of emergency and sports medicine,Northwestern University, and medical di-rector for the Bank of America ChicagoMarathon, gave aldermen a live hands-only demonstration. (For a video demo

and comprehensive information, pleasego to www.handsonlycpr.org.)

To further dramatize our testimony, werelayed an amazing survival story fromMinnesota. As recounted in numerousnews stories, a man received 96 minutes ofboth hands-only and conventional CPRfrom more than two dozen different respon-ders after he collapsed on the sidewalk.

The obvious lesson here is that alladults should be able to recognize thewarning signs of sudden cardiac arrest,and be ready to administer good, hard,fast CPR.

It can be a lifesaver.

Chicago Medicine, No. 2, 2011

David A. Loiterman, MD, fACSPresident,

Chicago Medical Society

neWs FOr CHiCagO pHYsiCians

515 N. Dearborn St.Chicago IL 60654

Liz Sidney, Co-Editor/EditorialScott Warner, Co-Editor/Production

Chicago Medicine (ISSN 0009-3637) ispublished monthly for $20 per yearfor members; $30 per year for non-members, by the Chicago MedicalSociety, 515 N. Dearborn St. Chicago,Ill. 60610. Periodicals postage paid atChicago, Ill. and additional mailingoffices. Postmaster: Send addresschanges to Chicago Medicine, 515 N.Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610. Tele-phone: (312) 670-2550. Copyright2011, Chicago Medicine. All rights re-served.

newsletter, February 2011, Vol. 114, no. 2

Chicago medical society

OffiCERS Of tHE SOCiEty

David A. Loiterman, MDPresident

thomas M. Anderson, MDPresident-elect

Kenneth G. Busch, MDSecretary

Philip B. Dray, MDTreasurer

Howard Axe, MDChairman of the Council

Robert W. Panton, MDVice-chairman of the Council

William N. Werner, MD, MPH,Immediate Past President

president’s message (continued from first page)

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DR. GEORGE CHIAMPAShas a request for his fellowphysicians: “Help get theword out to your patients,your community organiza-tions, your school systems,about hands-only CPR.” Asdirector of CCARES (Chica-go Cardiac Arrest Resuscita-tion Education Service), Dr.

Chiampas calls the hands-only technique a lifeskill that is as easy for lay people to perform in anemergency as calling 911, or applying the Heim-lich maneuver. He sees many more lives beingsaved as the public learns this new technique andcan jump in to help a stricken person before theparamedics arrive.

Dr. Chiampas suggests physicians provide pa-tients the following link to as many resources aspossible: www.handsonlycpr.org.

a skill everyone can useNATIONALLy, FEWER THAN33% of victims of sudden car-diac arrest occuring outsidethe hospital setting receivebystander CPR, and fewerthan 8% of victims live to bedischarged from the hospital.Death rates remain highmostly because bystandershesitate to give CPR. Manydon’t feel comfortable giving

mouth breaths, while others worry about germsand transmitting disease.

Hands-only CPR is simpler and safer to per-form than conventional CPR, or mouth-to-mouthresuscitation, and can be just as effective. Whengiven within three to five minutes of collapse,CPR can “buy time” as the bystander calls 911.When combined with early defibrillation, plusearly advanced care, long-term survival rates canexceed 50%, according to the American HospitalAssociation (AHA) website.

As George Chiampas, DO, emphasized to al-dermen at City Hall on March 8: “CPR is a life skilleveryone in the community can use.”

For a demonstration, go to www.handsonlycpr.org.As Project SMILE enlists other state and coun-

ty medical societies, the CPR campaign willreach citizens through hospitals, clinics, housesof worship, schools, stores, and other publicvenues. Physicians and other health profession-als can partake of online courses and live pro-grams covering basic and advanced cardiovascu-lar life support, including the use of AEDs.

The Project SMILE coalition exists today be-cause of Chairman Vemuri Murthy, MD. A mem-ber of CMS’ District 5, Dr. Murthy is active in theAmerican Heart Association, teaching AHAcourses on advanced cardiovascular life support.He is also chairman of the Department of Anes-thesiology at West Suburban Medical Center.Troubled by needless deaths every year, often re-sulting from lack of training, Dr. Murthy ap-proached CMS last year to lead the Project SMILEcoalition, complementing efforts by the AHA andRed Cross.

Please consider asking your hospital to become a partner.For information, please contact Ashley Robbins (312) 670-2550, ext. 326, [email protected].

Hands-OnlY Cpr

Call to physicians: Spread word about hands-only CPr

Dr. Murthy

Dr. Chiampas

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Protecting the practice of medicine in Illinois


Next step—CPR ordinanceTHE PROJECT SMILE COALITION IS WORkINGwith members of the Chicago City Council to draftan ordinance requiring signs in public areas thatdemonstrate how to give hands-only CPR. Alder-men are also considering a pilot hands-only pro-gram in the Chicago public schools. The ChicagoPolice Department has also expressed interest inbasic training for the 11,000-member police force.

Hands OnlY Cpr (continued)


Project SMiLE coalition membersPLEASE CONSIDER JOINING OUR GROWINGcommunity of hands-only CPR partners. For more in-formation, contact Ashley Robbins (312) 670-2550, ext. 326.

Chicago Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Education Service (George Chiampas, DO)

Chicago Fire DepartmentChicago Police DepartmentChicago Medical Society

Illinois State Medical SocietyCook County Health and Hospitals System The Region 11 EMS SystemAmerican Heart AssociationNorthwestern Memorial Hospital Oak Park Fire DepartmentRegion V, Dept. Health & Human ServicesAmerican Red Cross

Vanguard Health Systems(West Suburban Medical Center)

What is optimal hands-only CPR?STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT 100 CHESTcompressions per minute provide the most ef-fective CPR. Listening to the Bee Gees’ song,“Stayin’ Alive,” helped researchers perfecttheir rhythm because the music contains 103beats per minute.


RESOLUtiON

Sponsored by Ald. Margaret Laurino (39th Ward)

WHEREAS, sudden cardiac arrest claims hun-dreds of thousands of lives each year. And failureto provide effective CPR is one of the primary rea-sons for the high death rate. Indeed, AmericanHeart Association (AHA) statistics show that less

than one-third of victims receive life-saving CPR.However, when provided correctly and immedi-ately after a sudden cardiac arrest, CPR can morethan double a victim’s chance of survival; and

WHEREAS, the AHA announced a new tech-nique everyone can use to help victims of suddencardiac arrest--hands-only CPR, or chest compres-sions, instead of mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths.Since 2005, several studies have shown that hands-only CPR can be as effective as conventional CPR(mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths) in the out-of-hospital setting. And so on March 31, 2008, scien-tists at the AHA authored an advisory statementfor the public encouraging the use of hands-onlyCPR by untrained bystanders and trained by-standers who are not confident they can performconventional CPR; and

WHEREAS, some surveys suggest people arereluctant to perform conventional CPR (mouth-to-mouth breaths) due to fear of infection and dis-ease. Hands-only CPR could eliminate that riskand fear, and potentially lead to increased survivalrates for victims of sudden cardiac arrest; andtherefore be it

RESOLVED, that representatives of the Chica-go Fire Department and American Heart Associa-tion be invited to provide testimony before theCommittee on Police and Fire on public outreachand education pertaining to hands-only CPR.

Hands-OnlY Cpr (continued)

following testimony on hands-only CPR, members ofthe Project SMiLE coalition joined Ald Margaret Lauri-no outside the City Council Chamber (from left): AmerZ. Aldeen, MD, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, North-western; George Chiampas, DO, director CCARES(Chicago Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Education Ser-vice); David A. Loiterman, MD, fACS, President, CMS;Ald. Laurino; and Robert Herskovitz, JD, Deputy Re-gional Health Administrator, Region V, U.S. Dept. of HHS.

alderman laurino paves way for hands-only testimony

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The Project SMILE coalition is grateful to Ald. Margaret Laurino (39th Ward) for inviting members of thecoalition to give testimony on March 8 before the Police and Fire Committee, and to Committee Chair Ald.Michelle Harris, for presiding over the meeting. We’ve reprinted Alderman Laurino’s resolution below.

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Chicago Medicine, No .2, 2011

THE CMS COUNCIL, THE POLICy-MAkINGbody of the Chicago Medical Society, met on Feb.8, 2011, to hear updates and plan the 2011-2012agenda. In addition to the elections reported inthe last newsletter issue, the Council adopted tworesolutions for passage to the ISMS House.

l indoor tanning Restrictions (Sponsor—Howard Axe, MD, trustee, District 4)

CMS will introduce and promote legislationbarring all minors from using indoor tanning par-lors in Cook County. The language further re-quests CMS to forward the resolution to ISMS tointroduce legislation at the state level, and forISMS to consider submitting the resolution to theAmerican Medical Association for national action.

This resolution is based on the same publichealth considerations that led to bans on the sale ofcigarettes and alcohol to minors in the U.S., thesponsor testified. According to the AmericanAcademy of Dermatology Advisory Board, “peo-ple receive most of their lifetime carcinogenic ex-posure to UV radiation during their most vulnera-ble years, which are 17 years of age and younger.”

l Creating an Official CMS Position on CalorieCounts (Sponsor—Joshua t.B. Williams, MS3,Co-chair, Medical Student Section)

CMS will adopt an official position on postingcalorie counts by supporting federal legislationunder the Patient Protection and Affordable CareAct (PPACA). The resolution further requestsCMS to forward the resolution to ISMS for reaffir-mation of existing policy on posting calorie countsin restaurants.

(The PPACA requires restaurants to begin post-ing calorie counts in 2011, but the law applies onlyto chains with 20 or more restaurants. Two-thirdsof Illinois adults are obese, according to the spon-sor, and the state should enact a labeling law aspart of a multi-pronged attack against obesity.

CMS Council backs public health resolutions

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Susan B. Kern, MD, chair of the CMS Resolutions Ref-erence Committee, comments on a resolution duringthe Council meeting.

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HealtHCare OVerHaul

understanding accountable Care organizationsBy terrell J. isselhard and Kimberly t. Boike

introductionSIGNED INTO LAW By PRESIDENT OBAMA ONMarch 23, 2010, The Patient Protection and Afford-able Care Act (PPACA) will dramatically overhaulthe U.S. healthcare system. It also creates variouschallenges for solo medical practitioners and smallmedical practices. However, by participating inlarger business models or joining larger medicalgroups, those physicians can alleviate some pres-sures from high overhead expense, medical liabili-ty premiums, litigation awards, as well as the costof adopting EHR systems.

ACO participantsThe PPACA requires that ACOs be made up of

physicians, physician networks, partnerships, orjoint venture arrangements between hospitals andphysicians, or hospitals employing physicians.The key word in all of these options is “physi-cians.” The federal government finally recognizesthat unless physicians are made an integral part ofthe healthcare delivery system, the cost of care willnot be reduced. Therefore, physicians should seri-ously consider establishing business models thatprovide high-quality coordinated care in cost-effi-cient delivery systems. Such systems should fi-nancially reward participants through shared costsavings. The goal is for patients to receive high-quality care as service providers become more ef-ficient in providing that care.

Realistic expectations or a dream?Both the federal government and healthcare

community recognize the current system is unsus-tainable. While no one can predict whether thislaudable goal of reducing costs can be achieved,the federal government has determined that incen-tives to practice “smart” medical care will encour-age cost-efficiency, while also improving care forpatients in both the public and private sectors.

fundamental requirements of an ACOThe seven requirements entities must meet to

qualify as an ACO organization are as follows:

l Three-year agreement with CMS (Centers forMedicare and Medicaid Services).l Legal structure to receive and distribute sharedsaving to participating providers.l Include primary care providers.l Serve at least 5,000 Medicare fee-for-service ben-eficiaries.l Leadership and management structure that in-cludes clinical and administrative systems.l Processes to promote evidence-based medicineand patient engagement; measure quality andcost; and coordinate and monitor care (throughtele-health and remote patient systems).l Patient and caregiver assessments or use of indi-vidualized care plans.

Essentially, an ACO must have primary careproviders who can bring in at least 5,000 Medicarefee-for-service patients for treatment and a busi-ness model that promotes quantitative evidence-based statistics for measuring quality and cost.

Use of technologyTo accumulate the data necessary to fulfill these

goals and criteria, ACOs must invest significanttime and resources into electronic systems thatmonitor and measure all aspects of care and relat-ed costs. Who will pay for this? Most solo practi-tioners and small medical groups lack the re-sources to invest in electronic medical care deliv-ery systems. Many hope the federal governmentwill continue to provide financial incentives andauthorize new incentives. In addition, a numberof private insurance companies monitor cost andquality of care. Insurance companies, therefore,may help physicians establish their own in-officeelectronic monitoring programs.

Payment mechanismsMedicare fee-for-service payments will contin-

ue to be made to healthcare providers. If, howev-er, physicians belong to an ACO, the PPACA willallow shared savings only if (1) quality perfor-mance standards are achieved; and (2) estimatedaverage per capita Medicare expenditures are lessthan the CMS benchmarks. The government is


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preparing rules and regulations that define thesebenchmarks. There is debate over how aggressivethe benchmarks should be in the initial years.

As in private insurance carrier agreements, therecan be various levels of savings and risk betweenMedicare and the ACO. For example:

Level I – The ACO bears no financial risk andsimply shares in any savings or bonuses for meet-ing quality requirements.

Level II – The ACO is eligible for a larger shareof savings, but would also be liable if costs riseabove predetermined targets.

Level III – The ACO is paid through full or par-tial capitations.

Significant advantages over other business models

It is extremely important to recognize that thePPACA specifically authorizes CMS to waive re-quirements of certain statutes (Stark, Fraud andAbuse, and Civil Monetary) for ACOs.

Because final rules governing ACOs are not

complete, the breadth of waivers should be re-viewed to insure the ACO remains in compliance.Why are waivers so important? First, all otherhealthcare delivery business models are still re-quired to conform to onerous, unrealistic statutesthat promote inefficiency and make it difficult tocreate coordinated, cost-efficient healthcare deliv-ery systems. Under current statutes, there is noincentive to provide care in a cost-efficient man-ner. In addition, restrictions on owning multipleentities that provide a continuum of care createunnecessary overhead and administrative costs.All these costs can be avoided under one businessmodel with common ownership, where thehealthcare provider monitors quality and cost,and rewards participants with savings achievedunder the model.

forming ACOsThere are various ways solo practitioners and

small medical groups can create an ACO or otherbusiness model that will achieve the same goals of

HealtHCare OVerHaul (continued)

(continues on next page)


HealtHCare OVerHaul (continued)

an ACO: 1) Merge or consolidate their practiceswith other practitioners; (2) Join or merge withlarger medical groups; (3) Join ACO organizationscreated by hospitals or other healthcare providers;or (4) Create a larger patient pool to achieveMedicare’s 5,000 patient requirement, and assumeresponsibility for monitoring and measuring quali-ty and associated costs.

Healthcare industry with or without ACOsRegardless of whether the PPACA is finally de-

termined to be constitutional, the U.S. healthcareindustry is forging ahead to create the same busi-ness model for all patients (not just Medicare pa-tients). For the first time, technology and softwareprograms have been developed to monitor andmeasure quality and cost. It is also indisputablethat providing a continuum of preventive care,cost-efficient treatment during acute and terminalillness, and post-hospital care, including homecare, reduces costs and improves the quality oftreatment.

All physicians are urged to embrace this goldenopportunity. The federal government, insurancecarriers, hospitals and other healthcare providers,finally recognize that physicians are the true gate-keepers of cost-efficient quality care. your deci-sions and how you treat patients ultimately affectcost and quality of care.

Mark Twain said it best: “Even if you are on theright track, you will get run over if you just sitthere.” Good luck on your journey!

Mr. Isselhard is a principal in the Chicago-basedhealth law firm of Chuhak & Tecson, PC, where Ms.Boike is an associate. Inquiries or suggestions should beemailed to Mr. Isselhard at [email protected] or toMs. Boike at [email protected].

(On March 31, 2011, the Centers for Medicare andMedicaid Services (CMS), proposed new rules under theAffordable Care Act for accountable care organizations(ACOs). There is a 60-day public comment period onthis proposed rule. CMS encourages all interested mem-bers of the public, including providers, suppliers, andMedicare beneficiaries to submit comments so that CMScan consider them as it develops final regulations on theprogram.)

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why back-to-basics may be best

COnFrOnting reFOrm issues

By John Cercone, CMS Relationship ManagerHealthcare Business Banker, PNC

THERE’S SOMETHING IN THEmassive healthcare reform legisla-tion for everyone to love and hate.

To be sure, change of this scaleevokes strong feelings on both sides.There has been much prognosticat-ing and handwringing over the im-pact of healthcare reform on the day-to-day operations of healthcare prac-tices.

But, in reality, succeeding in this post-reform era mightsimply require a re-focus on the best practices that better-performing physicians have implemented for years.

Best practice: promote primary careUnder healthcare reform, physicians will see incen-

tives to provide basic care. In fact, Medicaid paymentsfor primary care services will increase to 100% of theMedicare payment rates for 2013 and 2014. In addition,for 2011 through 2016, primary care providers qualifyfor a 10% bonus payment if they charge at least 60% oftheir total allowed Medicare charges as office, nursingfacility, or home visits.

l Action: adjust your panel. Evaluate the financial im-pact of increases in Medicaid payments for primary careservice and whether it would justify increasing the num-ber of Medicaid patients you see.

l Action: consider additional covered services. Alsoconsider whether your practice can provide additionalcovered services. Tobacco cessation for pregnantwomen, for example, will now be covered under Medic-aid, and Medicare patients will have access to a compre-hensive health risk assessment as of 2011.

Best practice: verify eligibilityThe Medical Group Management Association’s Per-

formance and Practices of Successful Medical Groups (aka“The Gold Book”), which outlines best practices of bet-ter performing medical offices, notes that better per-forming practices consistently take these steps: l they validate insurance and address information.l they verify insurance and benefits eligibility. l they provide new patients with a written financial policy.l they have a written policy for when co-paymentmust be paid and the few times when co-payment canbe deferred.l they collect all payments at time of service.

l Action: streamline the verification process. Seek tohighly automate the verification process for both new andestablished patients (e.g., by using Internet-based toolsthat enable real-time insurance verification). Look also forpractice management software that offers so-called “eEli-gibility” functions that pre-check insurance eligibility.

l Action: take advantage of administrative simplifica-tion. Long-promised standards and operating rules forclaims, enrollment, premium payments, claims attach-ments and referral certification/authorization are all slatedfor implementation between 2013 and 2016. Prepare yourinternal systems to implement the new standards and pro-vide billing staff with the training they need.

Best practice: mine your dataAs both commercial insurance and Medicaid expand

to cover substantially more Americans, physicians mayfind that lucrative self-pay patients are now covered bylower-reimbursing commercial insurance. At the sametime, they may find that the low-income patients theyonce provided charity care for now have coveragethrough Medicaid.

l Action: crunch the numbers. Evaluate your existingsystems to uncover some basic yet critical data. Do youknow how much you are being paid? Which insurancepays better? Which payers abide by the terms of theircontract? Once you have identified your preferred pay-ers, you can look at how you want to shift your reim-bursement mix of commercial and federal payers.

l Action: get the mix right. Be selective and evaluatewhich payers you want to accept patients from. Com-pare what private payers are paying for your top billingcodes. For example, if ABC Health Plan consistentlypays 130% of the Medicare allowable while XyZ HealthPlan is paying 105% for the same code, you may want toclose the practice to XyZ members.

A final thought: Keep it simple. Change is certainlyin the air. But one thing will remain constant: Success inthis changing landscape will go to those physicians whoprovide quality care while focusing on sound principlesof practice management.

PNC understand that generic financial services aren’t al-ways the right solution for the unique needs of physicians.

To learn more about the solutions offered at PNC, pleasecontact Mr. Cercone at (312) 338-5288; or email:[email protected].


Cercone

Kindred Healthcare understands that when people are discharged from a traditional hospital, they often need continued care in order to recover completely. That’s where we come in.

Kindred offers services including aggressive, medically complex care, intensive care and short-term rehabilitation.

Doctors, case managers, social workers and family members don’t stop caring simply because their loved one or patient has changed location.

Neither do we. To see how we care or to learn about a career with Kindred, please visit us at www.continuethecare.com.

Dedicated to Hope, Healing and Recovery

CONTINUE THE CARE

LONG-TERM ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS • NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTERS • ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS

Recovery doesn’t always happen overnight.

2011 OSHA Training What Your Office Needs to Know

Spaces Fill Up Quickly!

TARGET AUDIENCE: Physicians, nurses, medical office staff, dentists, dental hygienists & dental office staff.

COURSE TOPICS: Health Care Worker Safety and Health, Common Hazards from Bloodborne Pathogens Associated with Medical & Dental Offices, Compliance with OSHA Regulations, Emerging Infectious Diseases and Q & A.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1) Implement a training program for healthcare employees who may be exposed to blood-borne pathogens. 2) Identify appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). 3) Develop an emergency response plan. 4) Create a written exposure control plan for healthcare workers assigned as first-aid providers. 5) Develop a strategy to prevent the spread of pandemic flu within a practice.

2011 WORKSHOPS:

Wednesday, May 25: Advocate Christ Medical Center (Oak Lawn, IL) 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 8: Embassy Suites (Downtown Chicago) at 10 a.m. to 12N

Friday, August 5: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (Park Ridge, IL) 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 2: Hilton Oak Lawn Hotel (Oak Lawn, IL) 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 21: Embassy Suites (Downtown Chicago) 10 a.m. to 12N

Wednesday, Oct. 19: Advocate Christ Medical Center (Oak Lawn, IL) 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 21: Doubletree Hotel-Chicago (Oak Brook, IL) 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Friday, Nov. 4: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (Park Ridge, IL) 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

SPEAKER: Sukhvir Kaur, MPH, Compliance Assistance Specialist, OSHA-Chicago North Office. Ms. Kaur has disclosed that she has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

ee on Joint Sponsorship and staff have disclosed the following: Vickie Becker, MD, Chairman, Roger L. Rodrigues, MD, Planning Member, Bapu P. Arekapudi, MD, Planning Member, Marella L. Hanumadass, MD, Planning Member, Vijay Yeldandi, MD, Course Director, and Cecilia Merino, Director of Education, have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

ACCREDITATION AND DESIGNATION STATEMENTS: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the

Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). The Chicago Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Chicago Medical Society designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

REGISTRATION: Register Online at www.cmsdocs.org or contact Elvia Medrano at (312) 670-2550, ext. 338, or [email protected]


Calendar OF eVents

District 5 MeetingAllscripts & Healthdirections.com6:00-8:30 p.m.Location TBD

CMS Executive Committee Meeting8:00-9:00 a.m. Online

ISMS Executive Committee Meeting12:00-1:00 p.m.ISMS Headquarters

Chicago Gynecological Society Meeting6:00-8:30 p.m.Maggiano’s Banquets, Chicago

may 10

may 18

may 18

may 18

may 25

OSHA Workshop2:00-4:00 p.m.Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn

CMS Council Meeting4:30-9:00 p.m.

Maggiano’s Banquets, Oak Brook

CMS Annual Dinner 4:30-9:00 p.m.Maggiano’s Banquets, Oak Brook

ISMS Board Meeting9:00 a.m. ISMS Headquarters

June 8

June 8

June 11

Accountable care organizations, anti-trust issues, EMRs,and balance billing are among the topics at CMS’ up-coming conference at the Doubletree in Oak Brook.

Join us June 8 for CMe at Midwest Clinical Conference in oak Brook

LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST TRENDS INhealthcare reform at the CMS Midwest Clin-ical Conference, scheduled for June 8 at theDoubletree Hotel in Oak Brook.

CMS’ restructured MCC is being held ona quarterly basis this year, with each one-day conference offering up to seven hours ofhigh-quality CME credit.

Sessions in June will focus on accountablecare organizations and anti-trust issues,EMRs and meaningful use, patient safetyand full disclosure, payment reform andbalance billing. Trends in the Chicago mar-ket will be highlighted.

Physicians can also learn about the VA’svirtual lifetime electronic record (VLER), aseamless EMR shared by the VA and De-fense Department.

MCC participants can unwind during acocktail reception, attend the CMS CouncilMeeting and Annual Dinner, and installationof officers.

For more information on MCC, please contact CMS(312) 670-2550; or visit: www.cmsdocs.org.


ClassiFied adVertising

Personnel wanted AMERiCAN’S DiSABLED—PHySiCiANHome Visits, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organiza-tion, is looking for additional primary carephysicians to make house calls in theChicagoland area. We are looking for full- andpart-time physicians. Call Richard Ansfield(773) 774-7300.

PARt-tiME PHySiCiANS iN tHE CHiCAGO-land area. Anesthesiology, ob-gyn, familypractice, gastroenterology (GI), and other spe-cialties. Please send resumes by fax to: (847)398-4585, or email to: [email protected].

OB-GyN NEEDED (PARt-tiME OR fULL-time) to perform pregnancy terminations for afamily practice clinic. Please send resumes byfax to (847) 398-4585, or email to: [email protected].

Practice for salePRACtiCE fOR SALE. SOLO PEDiAtRiCpractice in Evergreen Park/Oak Lawn area.Call (708) 229-2764.

SUCCESSfUL NEUROLOGy/PAiN MAN-agement practice for sale. Located in north-west Chicago area. Practice averaged 1.8MMin collections over last four years. Owner’sdiscretionary income well above national av-erage. 90% insurance. Well-trained workforceto remain. Physician will stay for transition.Motivated seller. Beautiful 5,000 sq. ft. officefor sale as separate transaction. For informa-tion, contact Terry Flanagan at: (877) 988-0911or email: [email protected].

Office/building forsale/rent/leasefULLy BUiLt-OUt MEDiCAL OffiCEspace for lease in Lincoln Park. Recent up-grades, easily accessible, and prime signageopportunity. Contact Noah O’Neill (312) 527-6200 or email: [email protected].

SPACE fOR RENt iN GRAySLAKE At 430N. Barron Blvd.; two-story building with fullybuilt-out medical office on first floor, with eleva-tor, nine ft. ceiling, 3800 sq. ft. windows. Locat-ed on busy Rte. 83 and Liberty Lane, adjacent toGrayslake Middle School, on direct access road

to senior citizens home, library, skate park, andwater park. Contact [email protected].

SPACE fOR RENt. WiNNEtKA PRO-fessional Center. Great downtown location.Two available suites can be rented separatelyor together for up to six operatories. Call(847) 446-0970 for details.

Business servicesKM MEDiCAL BiLLiNG, iNC. SiNCE 1997.Visit us at kMMedicalBilling.com. Call (773)324-0119.

PHySiCiANS’ AttORNEy—ExPERiENCEDand affordable physicians’ legal services in-cluding practice purchases; sales and forma-tions; partnership and associate contracts; col-lections; licensing problems; credentialing; es-tate planning and real estate. Initial consulta-tion without charge. Representing practition-ers since 1980. Steven H. Jesser (800) 424-0060; or (847) 212-5620 (mobile); 790 FrontageRd., Suite #110, Northfield, Ill., 60093; [email protected]; www.sjesser.com.

ad index

Affinity/PBT ......................................................3

American Physicians/Doctors Company....13

Athena Health ................................Back Cover

CMS Insurance .................................................6

CMS OSHA offerings.....................................18

CMS Midwest Clinical Conference .............21

Echo Imaging ....................................................9

Global Insight Solutions, Inc. .......................10

IntelliQuick......................................................15

ISMIE..................................................................5

kindred............................................................17

Leon Fox ............................................................7

Marca................................................................22

PNC ..................................................................19

Pro Assurance .................................................14

Professional Solutions ...................................11

Prompt Medical Billing ...................................7

Ritz-Carlton Residences ..................................8

RMk Holdings..................................................4

Vision Infonet..................................................23

For information on placing a classified ad, please go to www.cmsdocs.org(under “Advertise in Chicago Medicine” on home page)

or contact: Scott Warner at [email protected] (312) 670-2550.

Tame the beast.Running a practice is getting more complicated – and frustrating. And in

your gut, you know that buying and managing expensive software won’t

make it any simpler. Join 24,000 other providers who use our web-based

services for practice management, electronic medical records, and patient

communications and we’ll unleash your practice’s potential. More money.

More control. Beast tamed.

MORE MONEY

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To learn more call 800.981.5085or visit www.athenahealth.com/tamethebeast

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