stethoSCOPE

As you know firsthand, there has been an increase in physician burnout. The most recent study found that 45.2% of physicians reported at least one symptom of burnout.  Our guest Dr. Eric Zacharias will explore the spread of burnout in medicine and the causes behind this. In addition, we’ll develop a toolkit to improve provider wellness and coping skills. We hope this discussion helps you interpret factors that lead to burnout and dissatisfaction in our careers so we can better address our need for self-care and reach out for support.

The Colorado Medical Society launched the CPHP Doc2Doc Wellbeing Consulting program. This provides all Colorado physicians and medical students three free, confidential, pre-clinical peer wellbeing consultation sessions. Keep in mind if you’re in a crisis or know someone who needs assistance, you can call 988 for support. Both CMS and NCMS offer resources for those struggling with mental health issues, so please reach out if you want more information.

Whether you’re looking to buy an existing practice, partner up, or venture into opening one from scratch, understanding your options is key to making informed decisions. By the end of today’s session, you’ll have a solid grasp of career pathways, financial considerations, and how your personal situation impacts your practice decisions. 

We're speaking with Senior Vice President of the healthcare business banking industry segment advisor Michael Olson and Senior Healthcare Relationship Manager Shelly Doan.  PNC Bank is a sponsor of NCMS.  

COPIC’s Risk Management Consultant for Health Information Technology Dr. Michael Victoroff discusses all aspects of artificial intelligence including it's social and economic impacts, healthcare industry applications, fears and regulatory aspects, and what we need to prepare for in the future.  COPIC is a diamond sponsor for the Northern Colorado Medical Society and provides an array of resources to our members.  You can learn more on their website: https://www.callcopic.com/  We're hosting our 2024 NCMS Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 22nd in which Ascertain CEO Dr. Mark Michalski will be our featured speaker presenting on "AI Implementation in Healthcare Systems."  If you're interested in attending, please register here: https://www.nocomedsoc.org/event/2024-ncms-annual-meeting/

SB23-144 was recently passed to address the barriers on care for people with chronic pain and risks of opioid tapering.  Find out what you need to know regarding this new legislation.  Our guests include Kate M. Nicholson, J.D. who is the founder and Executive Director of the National Pain Advocacy Center. She is a civil rights attorney and a nationally recognized expert on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She was a Senior Fellow at Dartmouth College and is a graduate of Harvard Law School.  She was joined by Kenny Maestas who is currently the Legislative Coordinator for The Colorado Cross Disability Coalition where he actively works supporting legislation to improve the lives of People with Disabilities in Colorado. Kenny is very active in Health Equity and is a Colorado Health Commissioner serving on the Health Equity Commission (HEC). In addition, he also serves on the Disability Funding Committee and participates in the Colorado Outdoor Equity Coalition which helps underserved youth in Colorado have access to the beautiful outdoors.  For more information about the bill please go to the Colorado Medical Society Advocacy page: https://cms.org/advocacy/tapering-studies

I interviewed NCMS President and Hospital Neurologist Dr. Sean Pauzauskie and UC Health Stroke Program Manager Amanda Werner, BSN, RN, ONC, MEDSURG-BC, SCRN. May is stroke awareness month. It's the leading cause of serious long-term disability and reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors aged 65 and older. Learn more about the latest screening techniques, treatments, and community programs UC Health offers to educate physicians, patients, and first responders. They'll be hosting events throughout the month of May. Most notably will be the Life After Stroke Support Group Art Show on May 18th in which stroke survivors have created art work to benefit the cause and showcase their creative talents.

The City of Fort Collins Senior Recreation Coordinator Ashley Ruffer has been with the recreation department for over 12 years.  Her goal is to provide opportunities for older adults who want more socialization and opportunities to work with their peers and build relationships.  She talks about many Senior center programs including Silver Sneakers, aqua aerobics, an inclusive group called the Rainbow Club, an acting troupe,  live music, and more.   You can check out all of the recreational programs the city of Fort Collins offers at https://www.fcgov.com/recreation/

The Director of Medical Education for COPIC's Patient Safety and Risk Management department Eric Zacharias, MD gives you an overview of medical malpractice.  Learn best practices when dealing with a lawsuit, differences in risk areas for procedure-based and cognitive-based care, and COPIC's practice quality review option.  Eric Zacharias, MD is also the Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado.

Certified Financial Planner Brad Conover discusses the current market and how that's effecting investments along with tips on financial planning from medical school through retirement.  SHJ Wealth Advisors are a Platinum Sponsor of NCMS and will be hosting an event June 15th, 2022 at Old Elk Distillery.

Executive Director Cyndy Luzinski from Dementia Together discusses local resources for patients and medical providers.  Cyndy has taken her own life experience to leverage it for a greater good.  She has diligently studied with the Contented Dementia Trust in England for the past 12 years and is the first and only credentialed SPECAL (pronounced SPECKLE) Practitioner in North America.  She is currently mentoring 5 other SPECAL coaches and soon-to-be practitioners, leading the way in the United States to introduce this family driven dementia care model throughout Northern CO and beyond. Cyndy is a leading voice in dementia-friendly community initiatives and innovative dementia care approaches. 

Steven Haden is a mental health and social justice advocate with a focus on the disproportionate burden behavioral health concerns have on marginalized communities, especially those that identify as LGBTQ+. In 2018, Steven co-founded Envision:You, an initiative that works to improve behavioral health outcomes by addressing the disparity in care that LGBTQ+ individuals encounter every day. In this episode, learn about statistics surrounding substance use disorder in the LGBTQ+ community, trauma and stress to be aware of in this patient population, and what you need to know as a physician to be an LGBTQ+ competent provider.