There is so much in this issue that I will let it speak for itself, mostly. Two things I want to mention: 1) we are seeking volunteers for a new regional Physician Wellness Committee and 2) we are beginning an Immigrant Physicians Connection group. Both groups will have their first Zoom meeting in September. See the details below.

Please call or email me if you are interested in being an active member of the Physician Wellness Committee to help guide wellness resources and activities. We need your expertise!

Sept. 1: AB 890 Long-Fought Nurse Practitioner Independence Bill Heads to Newsom - CALIFORNIA HEALTHLINE

Opponents, primarily the powerful California Medical Association, which is the doctors’ lobbying group, counter that stripping nurse practitioners of physician oversight would lead to a lower standard of care, and that nurse practitioners wouldn’t necessarily flock to rural areas once they’re free of physician supervision.

After years of failed attempts and vociferous opposition, California lawmakers on Monday adopted a measure to grant nurse practitioners the ability to practice without doctor supervision — but only after making big concessions to the powerful doctors’ lobby, which nonetheless remains opposed.

The bill now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration, fenced in by amendments that would stringently limit how much independence nurse practitioners — nurses with advanced training and degrees — can have to practice medicine.

CMA is urging all physicians to contact Gov. Newsom and tell him to veto this dangerous bill and ensure patient safety is protected.

The 149th Annual Session of the California Medical Association (CMA) House of Delegates (HOD) will convene Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. The 2020 major issues to be discussed at HOD are:

Read full CMA Board of Trustees draft of the Major Issues Memorandum here.

Please visit The CMA Website for updates on the House of Delegates.

Hotel rooms for California healthcare workers who have been exposed to or have tested positive for COVID-19. Call 877-454-8785 to complete the screening process.

The emotional stress of responding to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic puts front line healthcare workers at exceptional risk. Caregivers are at an elevated threat of contracting the virus while caring for patients, and they risk emotional burnout from the daily grind of responding to the crisis.

In response, CMA Wellness has launched the Care 4 Caregivers Now program, which focuses on the mental and emotional well-being of caregivers while they fight COVID-19. Care 4 Caregivers Now connects physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists serving on the front lines of the pandemic with a trained peer coach who will provide remote and confidential coaching sessions at

no cost.

Webinar date: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 • 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Moderated by: Rolando Roberto, MD

Who should attend: Pediatricians | Family Medicine Physicians

 REGISTER TODAY  | No Cost

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Why local policy is still necessary if state ban on flavors is passed: All jurisdictions have to abide by the state flavor ban, including those with existing tobacco retailer licenses, but localities are also able to have more stringent policy. Local licensing policies are still considered the gold standard as the license requirement is usually supported by a fee that ensures regular compliance checks will occur. Localities can also confer penalties for violations through local policy. Flavor bans are only one component often found in newer TRL policies. Localities may include any number of additional provisions that can provide further protections for youth. Examples include: minimum price, minimum pack size, discount/coupon bans, and pharmacy sales bans.

Terese Voge and/or Ariel Thomas-Urlik

In case you missed it: View the Powerpoint from Aug. 11:

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Sept. 9, 2020 | 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.: Transmission, Testing and Masks

The 90-minute grand rounds webinars are free and open to all interested clinicians. Participants can receive 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Clinicians likely to encounter COVID-19 in their practice settings (e.g., front line physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assistants) are encouraged to join the monthly case-based presentations, which will include expert panel discussions and audience participation.

If you are unable to attend the live webinars, they will be available for on-demand playback at covidroundsca.org. 

Michael Witte, MD, Family Medicine

Sutter Santa Rosa Family Medicine and

Kaiser Santa Rosa Family Medicine.

As always, Family Medicine Residents in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties

are automatically given SCMA or MLCMS/CMA membership at no cost.

Redwood Empire Dermatology is opening a third location, now sharing office space with Dr. Brien Seeley at 4739 Hoen Ave. in Santa Rosa. Our new centrally located office provides more availability for patients and less wait times. We need additional exam tables for the new space; please advise if you have tables or know of a practice that might.

Dr. James Hunt has moved his general ophthalmology practice to 1140 Sonoma Ave., Suite 2, in Santa Rosa. His new office number is 707-595-1312. Patient referrals and appointments can also be requested via email at DrHuntAppts@sonic.net.

Northern California Wound Care & Hyperbarics Center in Healdsburg, California, now under the management of St Joseph Health, is proud to be the only physician-driven, evidence-based outpatient program in Sonoma County. The center offers the best possible outcome for your patients with chronic wounds that have not healed in 30 days or wounds that have stalled in closing due to aging and underlying comorbidities such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, cardiovascular disease, immunodeficiency et al.

The center provides specialized treatment not typically available in a private office or offered by a home health agency, such as surgical debridement, advanced dressings and compression wraps, offloading, nutritional recommendations, bio-engineered skin and soft tissue substitutes and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Working with the wound care program frees up staff time to see other patients in your office and reduces risk of exposure to infections. To refer your patient, call 707-473-4400, Ext. 3, or fax a signed physician order to 707-433-4405. Patients of all ages and insurances (except Kaiser) are accepted. For additional information, see the complete announcement.

Healdsburg District Hospital is seeking a full-time primary care physician with a background in family practice or internal medicine. Healdsburg Primary Group is an outpatient department of a critical access hospital and independent of large healthcare institutions; For more information, see the ad on SCMA’s Physician Job Board. Contact 707-431-6492 or hbalitzkat@nschd.org.

Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC) is now accepting applications for the third cycle of the graduate medical education (GME) grant program, CalMedForce.

All eligible residency programs are encouraged to apply, and priority will be given to programs in medically underserved areas and populations. CalMedForce dedicates revenues from California’s Proposition 56 tobacco tax to train physicians and help California address its growing physician shortage.

Applications are due by Sept. 21, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.

Application Guidelines. | Application Webinars. | Frequently Asked Questions

Visit CalMedForce.org

Physician Today now available

The current edition of Physician Today, the quarterly practice management publication created by the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP), features an in-depth conversation with CAP’s CEO, Sarah E. Scher, JD, RN, who addresses what physicians and medical groups can soon expect from the medical malpractice coverage market and how an organization like CAP can be such a huge benefit to the state’s physicians, especially now during these uncertain times.

Download Physician Today Here

To learn more about CAP’s options for medical malpractice coverage and supplemental benefits, please call 800-356-5672 or email MD@CAPphysicians.com . To receive a no-obligation quote by email, please Request a Quote.