Childhood exposure to lead may be more common than you think. Yet Texas falls behind when it comes to testing and reporting blood lead levels in children under age 15. Could more of your patients than you realize suffer from lead poisoning?  Listen to this expert panel discuss the why, what, and how of blood lead-level testing and reporting to learn what you can do to protect and educate your patients. To access resources discussed and to claim CME for this episode, visit texmed.org/CMEtoGo.

TMA reimbursement specialist gives an overview of four major health plans physician ranking programs in this Quick Tips episode. TMA members can access TMA’s toolkit to help challenge unfair rankings at www.texmed.org/PhysicianRatingSchemes.

Maybe you're planning to retire semi- or fully and sell your practice, maybe you're merging with another group and relieving some of the administrative burden. It can be overwhelming and even daunting to make any kind of change at the corporate level. Play this episode to discover some red flags you should watch for when you're considering selling or making a formal change to your medical practice. To claim CME for this episode, visit texmed.org/CMEtoGO, and to receive a summary and tips, contact Amanda Hill via hillhealthlaw.com.

Employed physicians and their colleagues in independent practice face different challenges. In this episode experts answer questions about key aspects for employed physicians. Health care attorney Michael Kreager and TMA staff  discuss contract provision, options regarding post-employment noncompete restrictions, salary draw, and more.  To claim CME for this episode, visit texmed.org/CMEtoGO and find all the Ask the Expert episodes here.

This short Hot Topics CME to Go episode will help you manage your practice for success. Health care attorney Amanda Hill shares some of the most common things that slip through the cracks when practices don't grow intentionally. To claim CME for this episode, visit texmed.org/CMEtoGO, and to receive a summary and tips, contact Amanda Hill via hillhealthlaw.com.

We hope you take time this summer to enjoy friends and family and recharge. We’ll be back in two weeks with a new Hot Topics episode with health care attorney Amanda Hill. If you want to take advantage of the slower pace of summer and get in CME hours, check out the TMA Education Center at www.texmed.org/education. TMA members can take advantage of hundreds of CME and ethics hours available at no cost to you, compliments of TMA Insurance Trust. This is just one of the ways we are working to support you, and thank you for all you do.

How Physicians Change Their Behavior to Become Better Doctors

Physicians are used to making decisions and leading with authority. Sometimes, however, they lose sight of manners and leadership skills, and rub people the wrong way. Might this describe you, or a physician you work with?

In this hot topics episode, attorney Amanda Hill pulls from her experience shadowing physicians to share common reasons for patient and staff complaints against doctors, and tactics to help physicians amend their behavior. To claim CME for this episode, visit texmed.org/CMEtoGO, and to receive a summary and tips, contact Amanda Hill via hillhealthlaw.com.

Recent mass shootings, including at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on March 24 and at a medical office building in Tulsa, Okla., on June 1, have spotlighted the tragic need for attack preparedness. Personal safety expert, Fred Burton, answers physicians’ questions and shares personal safety and protection tips you can use at work and in your personal life. To claim CME credit and to access more education on this topic visit the TMA Education Center at www.texmed.org/Education. 

There are many controversial topics in medicine today and physicians frequently start uncomfortable conversations in the exam room about topics that patients would rather not discuss. In this snippet from the George Hughman, III, MD Ethics Forum recorded at TMA’s annual conference, you’ll get a taste of this popular panel discussion.  To get the complete course and earn CME credit, go to www.texmed.org/education and select the Addressing Communication Barriers in a Controversial Environment ondemand webinar.

What can you do when there’s trouble in the partnership? A business partnership is a lot like a marriage, and at times it can get rough. Sometimes it’s best to dissolve the partnership, as stressful as that may be. Before you get to that point, though, can the partnership be salvaged? This Hot Topics episode delves into reasons why the partnership dynamic may be failing and what you should have in place if one of the partners really ought to leave. To claim CME for this episode, visit texmed.org/CMEtoGO, and to receive a summary and tips, contact Amanda Hill via hillhealthlaw.com.