Social Media and Medicine: The New "Instagram for Doctors"

According to the BBC, a new social media app has been developed which allows doctors to share pictures of their patients for medical and educational purposes. The app, called Figure 1, is already available in North America, Ireland and the United Kingdom and joins services like UpToDate and DynaMed in the emerging market of social media for physicians and healthcare professionals. In the article from the BBC, Dr. Josh Landy, the founder of Figure 1, is quoted as responding to patient privacy concerns by stating, "We do not possess any personal medical data at all... We are not an organization that delivers healthcare." While anyone can download the app, only physicians and other healthcare practitioners whose credentials have been verified can post photos or provide commentary on other posted photos. For a full discussion of this new app, please read the BBC article HERE.

Hospital Leaders Brief Congress on Importance of CME

From AHA and AAMC:

"At an AHA- and Association of American Medical Colleges-sponsored briefing on Tuesday, October 7, on Capitol Hill, hospital leaders shared with congressional staff the important role that Medicare funding for graduate medical education plays in helping teaching hospitals train the next generation of health care providers. “We need to train a workforce today that will meet the needs of the population of our country,” said Thomas Burke, M.D., executive vice president for the MD Anderson Cancer Network®, which is part of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Burke also is a member of the AHA Board of Trustees. Hospital leaders from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic and Oregon Health & Science University also described how direct and indirect GME payments are critical to supporting their efforts to provide highly-specialized services to patients in rural and urban communities. For more on GME and teaching hospitals, including why the AHA supports the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2013 (S. 577), read today’s AHAStat blog post."

California Ballot Measure Calls for Drug Testing for Doctors

A measure which will appear on California's ballot during this November's election - Proposition 46 - would require drug testing for doctors at random or "after a patient suffers an 'adverse event,' which encompasses a long list of complications including developing a more serious ulcer while in the hospital and death from a medication error." If passed, California would become the first state in the nation with such a drug testing policy for physicians. Read more HERE.

UPDATE: 15 States Considering Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

In response to the finalization of the Federation of State Medical Boards' (FSMB) Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, several states and large healthcare organizations, such as the American Medical Association (AMA), have expressed support and the possibility of endorsement. According to Humayan Chaudhry, DO, president and CEO of the FSMB, “many stakeholders across the spectrum [are] expressing support.” Read here for a full account of the latest developments.

This post is a follow-up to previous posts on September 9 and August 7 regarding the FSMB's proposed interstate compact. Scroll down to learn more.

Hydrocodone Combo Products Moved from Schedule III to Schedule II: What It Means For You

Beginning on October 6, 2014, hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) will be moved from Schedule III to Schedule II substances at the recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services. This change was included in the Federal Register as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s recent publication of its final rule on the matter.  Read here for important need-to-know information on what this change means for family physicians and their patients.

UPDATE: FSMB Compact Proposal Released

According to an article by ModernHealthcare.com, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) has released its finalized plan for an interstate compact for physician licensure “under which physicians who are licensed in one state can use a streamlined process to be quickly licensed in another.” (Read the full article here)

This post is a follow-up to the August 7, 2014 post regarding FSMB’s initial proposal for this interstate compact. Scroll down to view the original post.

DEA to Increase Hydrocodone Combination Product Oversight

Yesterday, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that it will enforce stronger regulations for individuals who handle hydrocodone combination products (HCPs).  This rule will shift HCPs from Schedule III to Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act -- the designation for products that are most subject to abuse and mishandling.  This rule will go into effect 45 days from DEA's official announcement.