Authors of medical staff self-governance series provide update on CMA, AMA action.

Gerald Murphy, MD * Richard Frankenstein, MD * Amber Sabbatini * David Schechter, MD

Organized medicine lobbies for a permanent fix, while asking for an interim block to the cuts.

Striving until the last moment to make a deal on California healthcare reform this year, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) suggested that they might release details of a bipartisan plan in mid-December, according to the California Medical Association, which has maintained close contact with both sides.

Eliminating the 20/220 rule will have future physicians hurting financially.

Local physicians donate their medical expertise in humanitarian missions abroad, serving those in need and rejuvenating themselves in the process.

Remember these eight tips on integrating practice management systems and EMRs.

The Los Angeles County Medical Association sponsored two Obesity Prevention Champion Training Sessions held by the California Medical Association Foundation on Nov. 1 at LACMA's downtown headquarters and Nov. 3 at Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center in Glendale.

Doctors at nine private hospitals affected by the closure of Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital can take advantage of a new reimbursement program from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, according to Carol Meyer, the agency's director of governmental affairs.

We can capture a bigger pool of healthcare personnel by starting mentoring programs earlier-either in high school or junior high school. Exposing children to medicine at an early age can remove the fear and mystery of the medical sciences from these young minds as well as provoke interest.

Arthur Silk, MD, and Emile Wakim, MD opine on the need to monitor physician performance and the ways it can be done effectively.

There was not a single day in 2007 when the RCMA didn't advocate on behalf of doctors. RCMA leaders met, on several occasions, with Rep. Mary Bono in Washington, D.C., and in Palm Springs. The RCMA Executive Committee also met with Rep. Ken Calvert during its visit to Washington, D.C., for the AMA Leadership Conference. In April, RCMA officers and Legislative Committee members attended the CMA Legislative Leadership Day in Sacramento.

In November, Project K.I.N.D. received a $10,000 grant from the Bank of America Foundation. The funds provide ongoing support for children who come from families that do not qualify for state or federally funded healthcare, but cannot afford private insurance.

Drs. Prabhu and Prabha Dhalla hosted a party welcoming UC Riverside Acting Chancellor Robert Grey in early November. The RCMA has been a strong supporter of expanding the current biomedical sciences program at UCR to a full-fledged medical school. The association donated $25,000 to support this effort.

OSHA Required Annual Staff Training, will be held Wednesday, January 30, 2008, and Become a Certified Medical Coder In Five Days, will be held March 5, 12 and 26, April 2 and 9, 2008.

Doctors who have served in a missionary capacity in developing countries consider their experiences life changing. Similarly, doctors who have become patients in their own hospitals also find the experiences eye opening.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008, is the CMA Annual Legislative Leadership Day in Sacramento, and Sunday, April 27, 2008, is the Southern California Medical Museum Annual Open House and "Medical Quackery" Presentation.

On Nov. 15, the San Bernardino County Medical Society and area High Desert hospitals sponsored the 12th Annual High Desert General Membership Meeting. Nearly 100 SBCMS members, nonmembers and hospital administrators were treated to a complimentary dinner and reception at the Ambassador Hotel in Victorville.

The "Medical Board of California vs. Gregory House, MD" article, which was featured in the November MBC newsletter, arrived at the Ventura County Star editorial desk before I received my copy in the mail. The medical board had e-mailed it to newspapers all around the state to stir discussion. A Star reporter wanted my reaction, but he had to wait until I accessed the MBC Web site to have a look.

Los Angeles County Medical Association Member Serineh Voskanian, MD, returns to work in the hospital where she volunteered as a child.