AAPM&R Connection E-Newsletter

Ten seconds. On a day usually measured by marathon times in hours, the 117th Boston Marathon, April 15, 2013, ended when 2 bombs detonated close to the finish line, 10 seconds apart. The race for recovery began moments later with first responders, timely transport, and acute trauma care success leading to the need for high-quality rehabilitation services for dozens of survivors.

David M. Crandell, MD, medical director of the amputee program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, will present our #AAPMR2017 Saturday plenary session. He will discuss some of the unique rehabilitation challenges of taking care of multiple severely-injured patients under a national spotlight. You won’t want to miss this!

Your Academy is seeking a representative to serve as a delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD). AMA delegates play a critical role in the democratic policy-making process that is the foundation of the AMA. Learn more and submit your interest by April 14.

On August 18-20, 2017, take your ultrasound experience to the next level. Next Step Interventional Ultrasound is a cadaver-based course, intended for the intermediate physiatric ultrasonographer. Attendees will learn about joint injections, soft tissue injections, and identification of muscles commonly targeted in EMG or spasticity management. Learn more and stay tuned—registration opens early April.

Continue your brain injury awareness refresher with our case-based learning modules, covering upper limb spasticity, lower limb spasticity, and dystonia. Key takeaways include:

• Compare measurement tools and treatment outcomes in patients with upper limb spasticity
• Identify key clinical elements distinguishing between spasticity, contracture, weakness, and impaired motor control
• Formulate a treatment plan for patients with lower limb spasticity
• Review treatments of dystonia from a physiatric perspective
  
  

Head to www.spineqod.org to access a wealth of information about the Spine Quality Outcomes Database (SQOD). Visitors can watch informational videos, read about the benefits of participation, and submit their information to register for this exciting initiative. The SQOD's mission is to advance the understanding of the ever-growing spine patient population while demonstrating the quality and value of treatments.

On March 15, your Academy and AAPM&R Past President Dr. Barry Smith, met with representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss payment accuracy of the care of people with mobility-related disabilities. View a full recap.

On March 21, the Academy signed on to a letter, along with the American Medical Association (AMA), urging CMS to lessen or not enforce penalties from the 2016 reporting year. These penalties are planned to be realized in 2018 and involve the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), Meaningful Use (MU), and the Value-Based Modifier (VBM). Read the letter here.

A new state legislative tracking system is now available to members to track key issues in their state relevant to Medicare, Medicaid, opioid prescribing and pain management, and scope of practice issues. Each interactive map provides current information on key state legislative issues pertinent to physiatrists. The maps allow users to view the status of relevant bills, view bill text and summary (if available), view author/sponsor information, and view upcoming hearing information. View them here.

The Council for Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) is sponsoring a brief Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs) preparedness survey across member medical specialties to gather information from physicians on their plans to participate in these incentive programs. Findings of this survey will be shared in aggregate to participating specialty societies with sufficient responses. It will take less than 5 minutes—click here.

• Perry Herman, MD, FAAPMR, a private practice physiatrist in Monroe Township, NJ, is featured in this article where he talks about how he started in physiatry and his current practice. Read more.

• David Russo, DO, FAAPMR, physiatrist at Columbia Pain Management P.C., discusses Oregon’s opioid abuse epidemic in his guest editorial, “Putting an End to Oregon’s Opioid Woes.” Read more.
  

Do you have a newsworthy story to share with your peers? Send us an email at: pressinquiries@aapmr.org.