Category Archives: Medical News and Notes

Information gleaned from various and often unique sources relating to medically-related topics covering a variety of areas.

Only 35 Days Left to Avoid Medicare eRx Penalties in 2013

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Originally Posted by MSMS, May 25th

We hate to say it, but the time for “I’ll deal with this later” is officially over.

There are only 36 days left for physicians to become successful electronic prescribers (or qualify for an exemption) for the purpose of avoiding the Medicare Part B payment adjustment of 1.5% in 2013.

Physicians who take one of the following steps by June 30, can avoid this scheduled reduction to their Medicare Part B payments:

• Report via claims code G8644 at least one if he/she does not have prescribing privileges.
• Report via claims either G8642 or G8643 if he/she practices in a rural area without sufficient high speed internet access or practices in an area without sufficient available pharmacies for electronic prescribing, respectively.
• Report via claims at least 10 separate electronic prescribing events.
• File for one of the permitted hardships here.  Continue reading →

New EECP Medical Director at Borgess

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New medical director appointed for Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Enhanced External Counterpulsation.

Daniel Goldberger, MD, is the new medical director of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and the Enhanced External Counterpulsation Program (EECP) at Borgess Health & Fitness Center.

As medical director, Dr. Goldberger will coordinate care of cardiac patients with their referring physician during their treatment time. He also is a physician with ProMed Family Practice in Portage, Mich. In addition, Dr. Goldberger has served as medical director with Borgess VNA Home Care and Borgess Visiting Nurse & Hospice since 2009, and also is chairman of the Borgess Visiting Nurse & Hospice Medical Advisory Board.

Prior to joining Borgess in 1992, Dr. Goldberger was an attending physician with Meadville
Medical Center in Meadville, Penn., and was a private practice physician in Cochranton, Penn. He also served as attending physician with Shawano Community Hospital in Shawano, Wis., and was a physician with the Menominee Tribal Clinic in Keshena, Wis.

Dr. Goldberg received a bachelor of science degree the University of Michigan, and earned his MD degree from Medical College of Ohio at Toledo. He was a pediatric intern with Graduate Medical Education Inc. in Lansing, Mich., and also completed a residency in family practice at St. Lawrence Hospital in Lansing, part of the Michigan State University program.

For information on Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and the Enhanced External Counterpulsation Program (EECP) or to schedule an appointment, call (269) 552.2200 or visit www.borgess.com.


$2M Gift Enhances Surgical Procedures at Borgess

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Donation to Foundation spurs latest in robotic technology -

A $2 million gift from a group of anonymous donors to the Borgess
Foundation is strengthening minimally invasive surgical capabilities throughout Borgess Health. Continue reading →

The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA), installed Edward J. Canfield, D.O. as its 114th president

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The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA), represents more than 8,000 osteopathic physicians and students, installed Edward J. Canfield, D.O. as its 114th president during its annual House of Delegates meeting in Dearborn on May 16, 2012.  Continue reading →

Keystone Pharmacy Approved for Reaccreditation by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board

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Keystone Pharmacy is proud to announce that it has been approved for reaccreditation by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board, or PCAB, for sterile and non-sterile compounding through Feb. 1, 2015.

Keystone Pharmacy is one of only five pharmacies in Michigan that has received this accreditation and is the first to go through reaccreditation.  It was also among the original 50 pharmacies in the nation to receive the accreditation; today there are approximately 140 pharmacies that are PCAB accredited.

PCAB was created by eight of the leading organizations in the pharmacy profession for the purpose of recognizing those compounding pharmacies that have demonstrated their outstanding commitment to quality.  Accreditation means that the pharmacy ranks among the best in the nation for compliance with quality standards.

“We are exceptionally pleased to receive re-accreditation from the PCAB,” said Dave Miller, chief formulation scientist and co-owner.  “Demand for compounded medications continues to increase and quality remains of the utmost importance.  We are committed to providing the highest quality compounding services to our patients and are proud to be acknowledged for our efforts once again.”

Hospice Of Michigan Reaccredited by Community Health Accreditation Program

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Community Health Accreditation Program, Inc. announced that Hospice of Michigan has been reaccredited under the CHAP Standards of Excellence through December 2014.

Continue reading →

U-M News: Large-scale study finds treatment standard for rare cancer

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Initial results from a first-of-its-kind international consortium of adrenal cancer researchers published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest there might be a treatment standard for patients with this extremely rare and deadly disease.

The study, which was conducted at 40 adrenal cancer specialty centers across 12 countries, randomly assigned 304 patients with advanced adrenal cancer to undergo one of the two most successful combination chemotherapy treatments. One treatment combined the chemotherapy drugs etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin (EDP) with mitotane, and another combined streptozocin with mitotane.

Researchers found that the EDP plus mitotane treatment staved off progression of the disease longer than the other option. Neither regimen improved how long patients lived.

The consortium – which grew out of an international adrenal cancer symposium at the University of Michigan Health System in 2003 – is the first effort to compare treatment regimens in patients with advanced adrenal cancer. About 600 Americans a year are diagnosed with adrenal cancer and almost all will die within five years of diagnosis.

To read the full story please visit: http://www.uofmhealth.org/news/adrenal-cancer-0516

WEST MICHIGAN CANCER CENTER RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR BREAST CANCER PROGRAM

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West Michigan Cancer Center, in collaboration with Borgess Medical Center and Bronson Methodist Hospital, has been granted a three-year/full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast

Centers (NAPBC). NAPBC is a program administered by the American College
of Surgeons. Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that
have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and
that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. Continue reading →

Metro Health Promotes Allen-Fedor to Executive Vice President, Berghoef and Duncan to Vice President

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Metro Health today announced the promotion of Cindy Allen-Fedor to executive vice president and chief quality officer, Helen Berghoef to vice president of ancillary and emergency services, and Erika Duncan to vice president of human resources. Continue reading →

Allegan General Hospital Introducing Better Breathers Club

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Allegan General Hospital (AGH) is starting a Better Breathers Club in connection with the American Lung Association.  The Better Breathers Club provides the opportunity for individuals with COPD or other chronic lung diseases to learn how to better cope with the disease and receive support from others who share in the same struggles.

Participants will learn from healthcare professionals how to manage their condition, take part in discussions, practice new skills and tips to live life to the fullest. The Better Breathers Club features educational presentations each month on a wide range of relevant topics.

The club is a free support group that meets on the hospital campus in the Jenner Building (545 Jenner Drive, Allegan) the third Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m.  The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 16.  Upcoming topics include laughing matters, breathing techniques, oxygen therapy and medications.  To learn more about AGH’s Better Breathers Club or to RSVP, please call 269-686-4386.

Allegan General Hospital is a community hospital that focuses on providing exceptional, compassionate and personalized healthcare to the community it serves.  The hospital recently received Michigan Rural Health Quality Improvement Award and has been named two years in a row by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of the nation’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare.  Allegan General provides a wide range of healthcare services, including bariatrics, surgery, sleep center, emergency, physical rehabilitation and mental health.  For more information about the hospital, visit www.allegangeneral.org.