Profession Issues Statement on Physician-led Care

The American Osteopathic Association along with specialty societies and state associations—including the OOA—released a position statement on the title change by physician assistants and non-physician clinician use of the title ‘Doctor.’ It reads, in part:

The American Osteopathic Association calls for truth in advertising, intellectual honesty and transparency with the use of professional designations of non-physician clinicians in service of the public interest. We also call for organized, collaborative discussions among stakeholder organizations in the Physician, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Physician Assistant communities to find common ground on these important topics.

Non-physician clinicians, including APRNs and PAs, are an integral part of physician-led healthcare teams. Healthy discussions and collaboration, regarding safe and appropriate skill set substitution, roles and responsibilities are in order, and we welcome them. However, recent rhetoric has limited this important discussion to claimed territory and optical positioning through the use of professional titles, such as “Doctor” in a clinical setting by non-physicians and “Physician Associate” without consultation with the physician community. Further, we recognize the struggle of achieving professional parity (i.e. scope of practice, prescribing and compensation) between APRNs and PAs. However, efforts to seek parity among non-physician clinicians must not be at the expense of the truth in advertising and clarity of roles in our healthcare system.

Last week, the American Academy of Physician Assistants adopted “physician associate” as the official title for the PA profession.

Take Action on Far-Reaching Vaccine Bill

A bill under consideration in the Ohio House of Representatives Health Committee would destroy the current public health framework that prevents outbreaks of potentially lethal diseases. It also removes a key motivating factor for parents to take children to see their health care provider—which will have catastrophic, long-term effects on both the mental and physical health of children and adolescents.
 
HB 248, the Vaccine Choice and Anti-Discrimination Act, has been framed as a bill to stop the COVID-19 vaccines from becoming mandatory, but it would actually apply to all immunizations including childhood vaccines. 

Help us inform legislators of the dangers of HB 248 (draft #11). Current Ohio law already allows patients to opt out of vaccines for philosophical, religious, or personal reasons. Largely as a result of this leniency, Ohio’s vaccination rates are already among the lowest in the country. HB 248-11 would dangerously erode the public health infrastructure by taking away the rights of business owners to implement important safety measures meant to protect their employees, clients, and others. Take action today and urge your state representative to reject HB 248-11 and protect Ohioans.

In other Statehouse news, the Senate passed legislation this week to legalize discharge of consumer fireworks on certain holidays, despite the many safety issues. The OOA issued an action alert urging members to contact their state senator. Thanks to all who emailed their legislator to voice concerns.

SB 113 allows Ohioans to set off fireworks on New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day weekend, Juneteenth, days and weekends surrounding the Fourth of July, Labor Day weekend and New Year’s Eve. The bill also requires retailers to issue glasses and safety pamphlets and deny sales to those under the influence; creates the Ohio Fire Code Rule Committee to make recommendations to the state fire marshal; and allows local governments to restrict or ban fireworks.

SB 113 passed with a 26-7 vote and now goes to the Ohio House of Representatives for further debate.

ODH Hosting VOMS Webinar on Tuesday

As the COVID-19 vaccine is now widely available, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is transitioning the responsibility of ordering vaccine to individual providers. Effective Monday, June 7, all enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers will be required to directly order COVID-19 vaccine doses each week using the Vaccine Ordering Management System (VOMS). This includes first and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna products, as well as the single-dose Johnson & Johnson. To learn about VOMS, ODH is hosting a free, one-hour webinar:

Tuesday, June 8
2:00-3:00 pm
Use this link to log on

Call-In (audio only): 1-408-418-9388
Access code: 173 907 0062

The webinar will be held using WebEx videoconferencing platform. If you do not have WebEx installed on your computer, you will be prompted to connect to the videoconference call using a temporary browser application. Participants may also call-in to the meeting.

For questions or issues, contact the ODH Provider Call Center, 8:00 am-7:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am-5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday, at 1-844-9ODHVAX (1-844-963-4829) or email COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov. 

Ohio Health Orders Rescinded

Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud signed an order to end most of the COVID-19-related health orders, including the mask mandate, effective 12:01 am this past Wednesday.

The rescinded orders include:

• The Director’s Order to Limit Access to Ohio’s Jails and Detention Facilities
• The Director’s Order to Release Protected Health Information to Ohio’s First Responders
• The Director’s Order Requiring the Use of Facial Coverings in Child Education Settings
• The Director’s Order for Retail and Business Compliance for Facial Coverings through the State of Ohio
• The Second Amended Director’s Order on Adult Day Support Services and Vocational Habilitation Services
• The Third Amended Director’s Order on the Opening of Senior Centers
• The Third Amended Director’s Order on the Opening of Adult Day Services Centers
• The Director’s Second Amended Order for Social Distancing, Facial Coverings, and Non-Congregating

The following orders will remain in effect:

• The Order to Require Screening for Admission to State Operated Psychiatric Hospitals or to Department of Youth Services Facilities
• The Director’s Order Designating The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center a Public Health Laboratory
• The Director’s Order to Facilities to Notify Residents, Guardians and Sponsor of Positive or Probable Cases of COVID-19
• The Director’s Order Requiring Reporting and Notification Regarding COVID-19 Cases in Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Businesses, schools, and local authorities can require masks and social distancing, if they choose to do so.

In his press briefings and news releases this week, Gov. Mike DeWine reminded Ohioans who are not fully vaccinated to wear masks indoors, despite the rescinded statewide mask mandate. “…it is important that we all still remember that there are a significant number of Ohioans who remain unvaccinated and are at-risk, including everyone under the age of 12. It’s important that those not fully vaccinated continue to wear masks indoors and follow other preventive measures to keep themselves as healthy as possible.”

State Nears 50 Cases per 110K Goal, Vaccination Update

In March, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine set a goal of 50 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people over two weeks. As of yesterday, Ohio’s rate was 54.9 according to the Ohio Department of Health. During a news conference this week DeWine said it’s been dropping several points daily.

When he set the goal, Ohio was seeing 179 new cases per 100,000 population. For comparison, the first week of December 2020 was at 731.

DeWine aligned with President Joe Biden’s nationwide vaccination goal, hoping for 70% of Ohioans to get vaccinated by July 4. As of this afternoon 45.80% in Ohio have started the vaccine process. That equates to more than 5.35 million Ohioans. Over 4.7 million, or 40.34%, have completed the vaccination series. Vaccinations in Ohio surged after the Vax-A-Million campaign was first announced.

New CME Requirement for License Renewal

Effective May 31, physicians are required to complete one hour of continuing medical education (CME) about a licensee’s duty to report misconduct under section 4731.224 of the Revised Code. Per the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO), enforcement of this requirement will start with renewal applications submitted on or after July 1. Licensees will need to attest to the completion of the course at the time of renewal. 

SMBO has created a free one-hour course that fulfills the requirement. The course video is divided into three sections: duty to report, sexual misconduct, and how to report. A review of questions and answers is at the conclusion of each section. Watch the course on YouTube.

Help the OOA with CME

There are several ways to assist with OOA’s CME efforts. Sign up at the OOA website.

Education Committee. Help develop continuing medical education programs for your fellow physicians. The OOA strives to deliver well-constructed education programs that offer clinically relevant, innovative, and timely information that physicians can immediately put to use in their practice.

CME Presenter. Your patient-centered expertise underscores the osteopathic approach to wellness. Share your knowledge with your peers. Register your interest in serving as a lecturer at a CME seminar.

CME Questionnaire. Take a few minutes to tell us about emerging medical topics and issues you’d like to learn more about. What patient ailments do you see most often that could be addressed through educational programming? What treatment modalities would you like to have covered at a CME event?

State Trauma Committee Seeks Nominations

The Trauma Committee of the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services (EMFTS) is seeking nominations for seat #6 and seat #22.

Seat #6 is designated for a physician who is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation or American Osteopathic Board of Rehabilitation Medicine and actively provides rehabilitative care to trauma victims.

Seat #22 is designated as a representative of a hospital that is not a trauma center and actively provides emergency care to trauma patients. The nominees shall be a hospital administrator, physician, nurse or other clinical professional.

The Trauma Committee was created to advise and assist the EMFTS in all matters regarding trauma care and the Ohio Trauma System. Its membership is spelled out in Revised Code. Of note, the Director shall not appoint to the committee more than one member who is employed by or practices at the same hospital, health system, or emergency medical services organization.

The Committee generally meets every other month. Candidates should submit a CV to OOA Executive Director Matt Harney at mattharney@OhioDO.org.