I am writing this article on the flight to Corpus Christi where I will be attending TSMSS. As I reflect upon who I want to catch up with this year when I arrive, I am reminded that two of our long time members will not be there --Sally Boesdoerfer and Lynne Glover. Why? because they have retired.

I have always admired Lynne and Sally and looked to each of them as mentors over the years, so I could not let their retirement go by unnoticed and wanted to take this opportunity to recognize their contributions to our profession.

Decision upholding the Austin court of appeals, which held that the Texas Podiatry Board exceed its statutory authority when it tried to expand the scope of podiatry practice by defining the term “foot” very expansively. See link below for further information.

http://www.foot.state.tx.us/agencydocuments/6August2010-TSBPME-StaffReso...

THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS
Orders Pronounced July 30, 2010
ORDERS ON MOTIONS FOR REHEARING

THE MOTIONS FOR REHEARING OF THE FOLLOWING PETITIONS FOR REVIEW ARE DENIED:

Lifestyle management - illusive or non-existent for you?

MSPs wear many hats. By the end of the week you have no energy to put on your own hat - placing yourself first instead of last. Want a new "you"? 

Sundays and involving the entire family are the keys to changing the picture! In just 15 minutes, you can create a different Monday. To your success... 
Try it!

Georgia Day, speaker, trainer, and mentor, is President of Kamama, LLC, a management consultancy specializing in professional development for companies and individuals. Georgia served the National Association of Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) as the Public Member of the Education Council for three years and is currently collaborating with Donna Goestenkors and Team Med Global LLC (TMG), to bring a comprehensive platform for career development programs for MSPs.

I caught up with Debbie Marre at the TSMSS conference. After thirty years in Medical Staff Services in hospital, managed care and consulting roles, Debbie is retiring.

Debbie was most recently Director of Medical Staff Services and Education and Sr. Project Manager at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston responsible for the functioning of the Medical Staff Services Department and implementation of an accredited continuing medical education program. She has served as President and Member at Large of TSMSS, a member of the TSMSS faculty, and was recognized in 2004 as outstanding CPMSM by the Texas Society for Medical Services Specialists (TSMSS).

I wanted to get Debbie's pearls of wisdom caught on tape before she leaves our industry to her new world of retirement. Here is what she wanted us to know.....

In 2009, El Centro College began to offer a series of affordable online continuing education courses in medical staff services.

The first of these courses, Basics of Credentialing, a four-week course, will be offered again beginning July 12 through August 6, 2010. Tuition is $99.00. To register and pay by credit card, call the Continuing Education Division at 214-860-2260 or 214-860-2696 and ask for course number MSST 2000.54101.

NAMSS has accredited the program for 10 CEU’s. Other courses will be offered at a later date.

Credentialing Specialist Position available at Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake

The applicant must have two years hospital medical staff/credentialing experience. This is a full time position, Monday- Friday. CPMSM/CPCS is not required

Job Duties:
Conducts the credentialing process for Medical Staff and AHP applicants.
Conducts the credentialing process for Medical Staff and AHP reappointments

From The ECFMG Reporter: Issue 153 - May 4, 2010

Currently, the USMLE program accepts either a valid Standard ECFMG Certificate or a valid Fifth Pathway certificate (issued through December 31, 2009) from international medical graduates for purposes of meeting Step 3 eligibility requirements. The governing committee of the USMLE program and the USMLE parent organizations (the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners) have determined that the USMLE program will cease acceptance of Fifth Pathway certificates for the purpose of meeting Step 3 eligibility requirements, effective January 1, 2017. Individuals who hold valid Fifth Pathway certificates, and are otherwise eligible, may use their Fifth Pathway certificates to meet Step 3 eligibility requirements, and may apply for Step 3, through December 31, 2016.

Individuals holding Fifth Pathway certificates that are not accepted by the USMLE program for purposes of meeting Step 3 eligibility will be required to obtain ECFMG certification in order to be eligible for Step 3.

If you hold a valid Fifth Pathway certificate but have not completed the full USMLE sequence, you should remain mindful of the December 31, 2016 deadline, after which use of your Fifth Pathway certificate to meet Step 3 eligibility requirements will not be permitted.

Information on Step 3 eligibility requirements is found at the USMLE website at

www.usmle.org

A few weeks ago I attended the TSMSS conference and caught up with Kathy Matzka, CPMSM, CPCS. Kathy is a national consultant and has the opportunity to see our industry from a unique and global perspective. I was anxious to get Kathy's opinion about where she sees the future of our industry going. Here is her perspective.

F. Y. I.    Methodist Health System - Dallas has two positions open:

1)   Assistant Manager position - Methodist Charlton Campus.

2)   Manager position open - Methodist Dallas Campus.

For more information please go to http://www.methodisthealthsystem.org

It’s that time of year again when physicians who are completing their training begin (if not already) applying for medical staff membership and privileges at hospitals and other health care facilities. I’m sure you’ve all encountered the physician whose training program ends on June 30^th and the new physician’s partners want him or her to begin work on July 1 and cover for them during the July 4^th weekend. The applicant has no office address in the vicinity, no malpractice coverage for hospital practice, and no documentation that they satisfactorily completed their training program – the one that hasn’t ended yet. And, by the way, the practice partners want to rush the application process so the physician can get on all of the managed care plans/contracts ASAP.

A dilemma? Maybe. And maybe not. After several attempts by one of our physicians to convince a TJC surveyor that approving a new physician before they completed their training should be allowed, we decided to help resolve the dilemma. Our solution was to create a new membership status called “Preliminary.” Medical Staff Bylaws changes were approved to accommodate this new status. Here are bulleted points relating to the Preliminary Status.