February 11, 2018 - In This Issue:
Physician Collegiality Dinners:  Five Dates & Locations 

In place of our usual Winter General Membership Meeting, MCMS invites you to attend one of our five PHYSICIAN COLLEGIALITY DINNERS.  It's a chance to congregate, commiserate, collaborate, and celebrate with each other! We are going back to the basics of physician collegiality where sharing cases and supporting each other was the norm. When mutual respect and understanding was key to your success and professional satisfaction.

Dates & Locations:
  • Wed., 2.21.18, 6PM Stanford Grill, 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard, Rockville
  • Wed., 2.28.18, 6PM Oakville Grille & Wine Bar, 10257 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda
  • Wed., 3.14.18, 6PM Mrs. K's Tollhouse, 9201 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring
  • Wed., 3.21.18, 6PM Copper Canyon Grill, 100 Boardwalk Place, Gaithersburg
  • Wed., 4.11.18, 6PM Mon Ami Gabi, 7239 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda
You may only attend ONE dinner.  There is no cost to attend for active physician members. Emeritus members and prospective members may attend for $50, and are asked to  submit this form to RSVP .
Practice Management Update: Top Practice Marketing Secrets
Tuesday, February 27, 8 - 9:15 AM
MCMS Headquarters

Over 85% of your patients will research you online before making an appointment. Cut through the noise and learn simple ways you can improve your online image.
  • Social media tips, how to get clicks, and ideas for posts
  • Online reputation sites - how do deal with patient reviews
  • To Blog or Not To Blog - what content matters for your website
  • Video - from practice tours to procedure videos, learn how to use video to promote your practice
  • HIPAA/HITECH Compliance and Security for online presence
Presenters: 
MARK A. ZAWODNY founded Web Partners in 2001 and serves as President and CEO. With almost 20 years of leadership and healthcare marketing experience, he has positioned Web Partners as a national leader in healthcare-focused website and digital marketing services.
RANDY LIZARDO, M.D. of Capital Women's Care will share the strategies and successes his practice has had through digital marketing, including web-work and social media.

Thank you to our sponsor,  webpartners.us.
Lobbying Day in Annapolis
Wednesday, March 7
MedChi Annapolis HQ

Join us as MCMS members to make a "house call" on the Maryland Assembly.
  • 8:00 am Meet at MedChi Annapolis Headquarters for Legislative Briefing
  • 8:30 am Appointments with MC Delegation Members
  • 11:30 am Lunch - Harry Browne's Restaurant
  • 1:15 pm Depart for Montgomery County
It is worth your time to ensure that the MC Legislative Delegation knows where we stand on the issues!  Interested in carpooling to Annapolis on March 7? MCMS will coordinate a carpool to/from Annapolis if there's adequate interest. We will depart from a central Montgomery County location at approximately 7 am, and return at 3 pm. Please note your interest when you RSVP by selecting the 'carpool' ticket option!
NON-US BORN WOMEN ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN HALF OF FETAL /  INFANT LOSSES
More than 55% of women who experienced a fetal or infant loss in 2016 were born outside the United States. Central & South American countries accounted for 25% of mothers born outside the U.S., and another 13% were from African nations. Some 9% of women who had a loss that year were from Asia, 4% were from European countries and 4% were from the Middle East. A similar pattern was seen among fathers, though the country of birth was not recorded for nearly 10% of this  group. 

This alert appears courtesy of the Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services. 
For more information, contact Sheilah O'Connor at 240-777-3967 or sheilah.o'connor@montgomerycountymd.gov.
New Foundation Initiated by Montgomery County Medical Society Offers Counseling to Physicians Suffering From Stress & Burnout
In a 2014 study conducted by Mayo Clinic & the AMA, 54.4% of physician respondents indicated they were exhibiting at least one symptom of burnout. In MCMS's 2016 Physician Practice Survey, 53.7% of physician respondents indicated they are experiencing moderate to high levels of burnout. 70 physicians indicated they would use an early intervention, confidential, no cost physician counseling service if offered.
 
This information led Montgomery County Medical Society to initiate the formation of The National Capital Physicians Foundation (NCPF) which is a 501(c)3 educational and charitable tax-exempt foundation. The organization's first initiative is dedicated to physician health and well-being. Healthy physicians = healthy communities.
 
As a result, initial efforts of the National Capital Physicians Foundation are focused on development of PRN, the Physicians' Resources Network, which has initiated a Physician Well-being program, which includes confidential counseling provided by MSWs and PhD psychologists. Modeled after a successful physician counseling program in Eugene, Oregon, this service is now available to all physicians who are practicing in Montgomery County. NCPF President, Robert B. Karp, M.D., said, "We anticipate broadening the availability of counseling services to additional physicians throughout the National Capital area as funding is received." At present, PRN funds three visits with therapists who have residence-based practices.
 
Physician stress is increasing. In MCMS's 2017 survey, the percentage of physician respondents indicating moderate to high levels of burnout went from 53.7% to 62.5%. Louis Ari Kopolow, MD, is the Medical Director of PRN, and indicated, "The Foundation's program is focused on early intervention long before impairment or suicide, and it has worked cooperatively with The Center for a Healthy Maryland's Physician Health Program in its development."
 
The program could serve as a model for the rest of the state. While education and awareness is important, PRN is a direct way to help physicians learn resilience and personal and professional balance.

To learn more about the program, to access counseling, or to make a tax-deductible donation, contact PRN at 301.921.4300, ext. 300, or go to www.dedicatedtohealth.org.
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