The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) has given an atta boy (or atta girl) to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for deciding to relax requirements on marijuana research.
PAMED has been urging the FDA to make marijuana a Schedule II substance, so more research can be done on it for potential medical uses.
There's No Clock in Baseball
This week, Governor Wolf submits his proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The only problem is the state doesn't have a finished budget for THIS year. The Pennsylvania state budget is now seven months past due. The Governor signed a partial budget at the end of December, but that document doesn't help pay for many programs that depend on state money, including health-related items such as hospital-based burn centers, obstetrics and neonatal services, and regional cancer institutes.
If you know when the rest of the budget will be passed, you should be playing the lottery.
A bill in the state house would streamline the physician credentialing process. Right now it takes pretty close to forever - well, often several months -- for a licensed health care professional to get fully credentialed. Insurers don't reimburse hospitals and physician practices for the work done by these newly hired health care professionals until the credentialing process is complete. The delays are costing those parties a lot of money. HB 1663 would change all of that. Learn more at
www.pamedsoc.org/credentialing.
Going SRO in the Fight Against Breast Cancer
The Kimmel Center will be packed on Saturday February 13, for an entertainment extravaganza honoring the heroic efforts being made in our area to battle breast cancer.
Former PCMS President, Dr. Curtis Miyamoto, who is Chair of Temple University Hospital's Department of Radiation Oncology, is medical Co-Director of Strength & Survival: The Universal Language.
The event is sponsored by Komen Philadelphia, which is a part of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.
Twenty-five local doctors will be on stage, paired with 25 breast cancer survivors, to give testimonials on the effort to overcome the disease.
Their presentations will be augmented by performances by the Philly Pops
and other entertainers.
AWARDS SEASON
It's our version of the Oscars, but no acting skills are needed. All you have to do to be honored, is be one heck of a good doctor.
STRITTMATTER AWARD - To a PCMS physician who has demonstrated to the Society the most valuable contributions to the healing art, surgical or medical.
PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR AWARD - To a PCMS member for excellence in patient care and community service.
THE VANITHA APPPADORAI VAIDYA AWARD FOR HUMANENESS IN -MEDICINE - To a resident/fellow physician for his/her exceptional ability to work with people, patients, and their families, and for their understanding of human as well as clinical needs.
CRISTOL AWARD - To a PCMS physician member who has made a significant contribution to the Society by furthering and enhancing functions of organized medicine.
Please phone (215) 563-5343 X 113 for information.
Nomination deadline for all Awards is February 14, 2016.
Falling Off the Weight Watchers Wagon
The winner of the 94 WIP Sports Radio's 24th annual Wing Bowl is Molly Schuyler. She won for the second time in three years by wolfing down 429 buffalo wings.
If you count her calorie intake, you'd come up with a very big number - in the neighborhood of about 21,450. That means the 125 pound Schuyler consumed about the same number of calories that the average woman consumes in just under two weeks.
Six contestants were disqualified for vomiting.
