New Jersey Healthcare Executives Leadership Academy’s 2019 Class Completes Program

The Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ), New Jersey Association of Health Plans (NJAHP), and New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) are proud to announce that the 2019 class for their jointly sponsored New Jersey Healthcare Executive Leadership Academy (NJHELA) recently completed this year’s program.

In its third year, NJHELA seeks to build collaborative leadership skills among physicians and executives from both hospitals and health insurance companies. The graduates of the 2019 class include:

• Eric Alcera, MD – Associate Corporate Medical Director, Hackensack Meridian Health
• James Baird, DO – Attending Emergency Medicine Physician, Assistant Medical Director of Emergency Department, Team Health Northeast | Jefferson Health
• Laura Balsamini, PharmD, BCPS – National Vice President, Pharmacy Services, Summit Health Management
• Edith Calamia, DO, MPN, CMD – Chief Medical Officer, NJ, E&I, M&R, UnitedHealthcare
• Rachel Corus, MA, LAC – Director, Behavioral Health, Horizon Health/CarePoint
• Mary Ditri, DHA – Director, Professional Practice, New Jersey Hospital Association
• Brian Freed, DO – Interventional Pain Management, Summit Medical Group
• Kennedy Ganti, MD, FAAFP – Primary Care Physician, Physician Informatician, Chair – Advisory Committee – OneHealth NJ, Medical Society of New Jersey
• JoAnn Karcic, MPA – Behavioral Health Programs, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
• John Kulin, DO, FCUCM – CEO, The Urgent Care Group
• Michael Litterer, CHES, CPS – Director of Prevention and Recovery, RWJBarnabas Health
• Sarah Lynn Geiger, MPA – Vice President, New Jersey Association of Health Plans
• Ravi Maharajh, EdS, LPC, ACS – Program Manager, Rutgers Health – University Behavioral Health Care
• Tina Miles, LCSW – Director, Behavioral Health Services | Psychiatry Administration, Joseph’s Health
• Steven Orland, MD – Physician & 2^nd Vice President, Board of Trustees, Medical Society of New Jersey
• Tracy Parris-Benjamin, LMSW – Clinical Design Liaison, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
• Kenneth Rodenbaugh, RN, BSN, CARN, CEN – Southern Ocean Medical Center | Hackensack Meridian Health
• Gloria-Ann Seel, LCSW, LCADC, MAC – Sr. Director of Addictions, AtlantiCare
• Ramon Solhkhah, MD – Chair, Department of Psychiatry; and Corporate Medical Director, HMH Behavioral Health Care Transformation Service, Hackensack Meridian Health
• Jill Squiers – Government Relations Manager, AmeriHealth New Jersey
• Ishani Ved, MHA, CPHQ – Director, Performance Improvement Analytics & Quality, Saint Peter’s University Healthcare System
• Peter “Tucker” Woods, DO – CMO, Christ Hospital | CarePoint Health

The 2019 program began in January and ran through June, offering in-depth sessions focusing on the opioid crisis in the state of New Jersey. The program was kicked-off in January with Former NJ Governor Jim McGreevey and Dr. Aakash Shah, Medical Director at NJ Reentry Corporation. During the program, members of the class were divided into groups, with each industry represented, to develop and formally present projects that highlighted different aspects of this important issue and providing solutions to combat this crisis. The program wrapped up with Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland, who led the plenary session on Thursday, June 6, followed by group presentations of their projects at the program’s closing ceremony and reception held on Friday, June 7 at the Nassau Inn in Princeton, NJ. Healthcare leaders and executives from each industry were present to hear more about the 2019 Class’s recommendations and receive insight on how they would try to implement these proposed solutions and strategic tactics within their own facilities, companies and/or practices.

Seton Hall University returned for its third consecutive year as NJHELA’s academic partner. Faculty from Seton Hall’s School of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS) developed the curriculum and presented alongside esteemed Guest Faculty for each session.

Partial funding for this year’s NJHELA program was provided by The Physicians Foundation and the Institute of Medicine & Public Health of NJ. The program was first initiated in 2017 through a collaborative of payers, physicians and hospitals convened by the Fannie Rippel Foundation.

Plans for NJHELA’s 2020 program are currently in the works. For more information about NJHELA and this year’s graduating class, visit www.njhela.com.

Members of NJHELA’s 2019 graduating class presented a project entitled “Educate For Change: #ADDICTIONIMPACTSME” and were awarded a certificate of completion in Advanced Health Care Leadership from the program’s academic partner Seton Hall University by Dr. Stephen Wagner, Seton Hall University Faculty member, Larry Downs, Esq., CEO of the Medical Society of New Jersey, Ward Sanders, Esq., President of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans and Victoria Brogan, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives of the New Jersey Hospital Association. Group members pictured here are: JoAnn Karcic, MPA – Behavioral Health Programs, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey; Ravi Maharajh, EdS, LPC, ACS – Program Manager, Rutgers Health – University Behavioral Health Care; Tina Miles, LCSW – Director, Behavioral Health Services | Psychiatry Administration, St. Joseph’s Health; and Kenneth Rodenbaugh, RN, BSN, CARN, CEN – Southern Ocean Medical Center | Hackensack Meridian Health.

Members of NJHELA’s 2019 graduating class presented a project entitled “Getting Guidance: Evaluation of Guideline Driven Care for Opiate Use Disorder Across Healthcare: A Multi-Stakeholder Study” and were awarded a certificate of completion in Advanced Health Care Leadership from the program’s academic partner Seton Hall University by Dr. Anne Hewitt, Seton Hall University Faculty member, Larry Downs, Esq., CEO of the Medical Society of New Jersey, Ward Sanders, Esq., President of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans and Victoria Brogan, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives of the New Jersey Hospital Association. Group members pictured here are: Eric Alcera, MD – Associate Corporate Medical Director, Hackensack Meridian Health; Laura Balsamini, PharmD, BCPS – National Vice President, Pharmacy Services, Summit Health Management; and Kennedy Ganti, MD, FAAFP – Primary Care Physician, Physician Informatician, Chair – Advisory Committee – OneHealth NJ, Medical Society of New Jersey. Group members not pictured: Edith Calamia, DO, MPN, CMD – Chief Medical Officer, NJ, E&I, M&R, UnitedHealthcare and Brian Freed, DO – Interventional Pain Management, Summit Medical Group.

Members of NJHELA’s 2019 graduating class presented a project entitled “Entry Points to Recovery Pathways for Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)” and were awarded a certificate of completion in Advanced Health Care Leadership from the program’s academic partner Seton Hall University by Dr. Terry Cahill, Seton Hall University faculty member, Larry Downs, Esq., CEO of the Medical Society of New Jersey, Ward Sanders, Esq., President of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans and Victoria Brogan, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives of the New Jersey Hospital Association. Group members pictured here are: John Kulin, DO, FCUCM – CEO, The Urgent Care Group; Tracy Parris-Benjamin, LMSW – Clinical Design Liaison, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey; Gloria-Ann Seel, LCSW, LCADC, MAC – Sr. Director of Addictions, AtlantiCare; and Peter “Tucker” Woods, DO – CMO, Christ Hospital | CarePoint Health.

Members of NJHELA’s 2019 graduating class presented a project entitled “Using Trigger Point Injections as an Opportunity to Expand the ALTO Program and to Reduce Opiate Prescribing” and were awarded a certificate of completion in Advanced Health Care Leadership from the program’s academic partner Seton Hall University by Dr. Nalin Johri, Seton Hall University faculty member, Larry Downs, Esq., CEO of the Medical Society of New Jersey, Ward Sanders, Esq., President of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans and Victoria Brogan, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives of the New Jersey Hospital Association. Group members pictured here are: James Baird, DO – Attending Emergency Medicine Physician, Assistant Medical Director of Emergency Department, Team Health Northeast | Jefferson Health; Sarah Lynn Geiger, MPA – Vice President, New Jersey Association of Health Plans; Ramon Solhkhah, MD – Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Corporate Medical Director, HMH Behavioral Health Care Transformation Service, Hackensack Meridian Health; and Jill Squiers – Government Relations Manager, AmeriHealth New Jersey.

Members of NJHELA’s 2019 graduating class presented a project entitled “L.A.W.S.: Level-setting Assessment for Working with Substance Use Disorders” and were awarded a certificate of completion in Advanced Health Care Leadership from the program’s academic partner Seton Hall University by Dr. Terry Cahill, Seton Hall University faculty member, Larry Downs, Esq., CEO of the Medical Society of New Jersey, Ward Sanders, Esq., President of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans and Victoria Brogan, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives of the New Jersey Hospital Association. Group members pictured here are: Mary Ditri, DHA – Director, Professional Practice, New Jersey Hospital Association; Michael Litterer, CHES, CPS – Director of Prevention and Recovery, RWJBarnabas Health; Steven Orland, MD – Physician & 2^nd Vice President, Board of Trustees, Medical Society of New Jersey; and Ishani Ved, MHA, CPHQ – Director, Performance Improvement Analytics & Quality, Saint Peter’s University Healthcare System. Group members not pictured: Rachel Corus, MA, LAC – Director, Behavioral Health, Horizon Health/CarePoint.

 

About the Medical Society of New Jersey:

Founded in 1766, the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) is the oldest professional society in the United States. MSNJ has a mission to promote the betterment of the public health and the science and the art of medicine, to enlighten public opinion in regard to the problems of medicine, and to safeguard the rights of the practitioners of medicine. MSNJ represents all medical disciplines and serves as an advocate for patient and physician rights. Its members are dedicated to ensuring delivery of the highest quality medical care throughout New Jersey. For more information, visit www.msnj.org.

About the New Jersey Association of Health Plans:

Founded in 1994, the New Jersey Association of Health Plans (NJAHP) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster improved understanding of the value that health plans contribute to New Jersey’s health care system. Among its core objectives, the NJAHP promotes collaborative efforts among health plans, providers, purchasers, brokers and consumers to expand access to high-quality, affordable, and accessible health care. For more information about NJAHP, visit www.njahp.org.

About the New Jersey Hospital Association:

The New Jersey Hospital Association is a not-for-profit trade organization committed to delivering support and services to the state’s hospitals and other healthcare providers. We share a collective goal of providing quality, affordable and accessible healthcare to the people of the Garden State. Founded in 1918, NJHA has grown to become one of the largest and most influential healthcare organizations in the state. Our membership has grown in numbers and diversity, with close to 400 healthcare organizations including hospitals, health systems, nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice providers and healthcare-related business and educational institutions in our membership ranks. NJHA provides leadership in advocacy, policy analysis, quality and financial data, education and community outreach. For more information about NJHA, visit www.njha.com.

About Seton Hall University and the School of Health and Medical Sciences:

One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall University has been a catalyst for leadership — developing students in mind, heart and spirit — since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 academic programs, Seton Hall’s academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek. The university’s School of Health and Medical Sciences provides exemplary academic and clinical training in graduate-level health sciences and health administration, with a focus on interprofessional education. Its fully accredited degree programs include professional graduate education programs in Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant and Speech-Language Pathology; the Master of Healthcare Administration program, offered in both online and on-campus formats; and the post-professional PhD in Health Sciences program. For more information, visit www.shu.edu/health.

 

Medical Society of New Jersey Joins The Physicians Foundation and Five States to Create Fund to Improve Health Information Exchange

This is the largest investment of private funds to assist physicians with sharing health information across medical practices

The Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ), in association with five other state medical societies and The Physicians Foundation, today announced the formation of the first of its kind $500,000 interoperability fund, known as The Physicians Foundation Interoperability Fund, which will assist medical practices in effectively sharing clinical information with other physicians and hospitals through health information exchanges (HIE). Funding is available for physicians in participating states with an electronic health record system (EHR) and will be allocated to practices on a first come basis

Larry Downs, CEO of MSNJ

“The Physicians Foundation Interoperability Fund comes at a time when many voices are calling for interoperability of EMR systems. This grant is the largest investment of private funds to assist physicians with health information exchange,” said Larry Downs, CEO of MSNJ. “The establishment of this fund demonstrates the commitment and support of the Foundation for practicing physicians.”

Sharing timely clinical patient information among physicians and hospitals with disparate EHRs relies upon a connection to a HIE. Through The Physicians Foundation Interoperability Fund, HIE participants can access patient data regardless of where the patient received care. Sharing of this timely information will improve clinical outcomes, reduce inefficiencies and improve patient safety when fully implemented.

“MSNJ is leading the effort to connect medical practices through OneHealth New Jersey. The Physicians Foundation Interoperability Fund is designed to offset costs for small medical practices to connect to the HIE,” according to the Kennedy Ganti, MD, Chair of the OneHealth New Jersey Advisory Board. “Many EMR vendors charge medical practices considerable fees to build EMR connections. These grant funds help remove the cost barrier.”

Other medical societies participating in the fund include Connecticut State Medical Society, Medical Association of Georgia, Louisiana State Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association and the South Carolina Medical Association.

“EHRs continue to be a major source of burden for physicians across the country. In conjunction with these state medical societies, The Physicians Foundation Interoperability Fund will provide resources for improving information exchange across participating states,” said Gary Price, M.D., president of The Physicians Foundation. “Our hope is that this initial Fund can be scaled nationwide to ensure physicians can effectively share timely and critical health information to ultimately improve health outcomes and care quality for their patients.”

Physicians in New Jersey seeking more information about The Physicians Foundation Interoperability Fund or about OneHealth New Jersey should contact MSNJ’s CEO Larry Downs at (609) 896-1766 or ldowns@msnj.org.

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About the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ)

MSNJ is the oldest professional medical society in the United States, with over 6,500 members. MSNJ is the leading advocate for physicians in the state of New Jersey, including physicians in every specialty and practice setting. Its mission is to promote the betterment of the public health and the science and art of medicine, to enlighten public opinion in regard to the problems of medicine, and to safeguard the rights of the practitioners of medicine. For more information, visit www.msnj.org.

About OneHealth New Jersey

OneHealth New Jersey is a physician-led statewide health information exchange (HIE) delivered in partnership with the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) and KAMMCO. OneHealth New Jersey offers a suite of health information technology tools that allows connected physicians to share patient information while employing powerful analytic reports designed to help improve clinical outcomes, reduce inefficiencies, and positively impact patient safety. For more information, visit www.onehealthnewjersey.com.

About the Physicians Foundation

The Physicians Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to advance the work of practicing physicians and helps them facilitate the delivery of health care to patients. It pursues its mission through a variety of activities including grant-making, research, white papers and policy studies. Since 2005, the Foundation has awarded numerous multi-year grants totaling more than $50 million. In addition, the Foundation focuses on the following core areas: physician leadership, physician wellness, physician practice trends, drivers of health, and the impact of health care reform on physicians and patients. As the health care system in America continues to evolve, The Physicians Foundation is steadfast in its determination to strengthen the physician-patient relationship and assist physicians in sustaining their medical practices in today’s practice environment. For more information, visit www.PhysiciansFoundation.org.

Marc J. Levine, MD Installed as 227th President of the Medical Society of New Jersey

Marc J. Levine, MD was recently installed as the 227th President of the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) at the organization’s 2019 Annual Meeting & Convention on May 3 & 4 at Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City. Dr. Levine has served as a member of MSNJ’s Board of Trustees for more than ten years in various positions, and will assume the presidency from John W. Poole, MD.

“Dr. Levine intricately understands how our organization operates on behalf of patients and physicians throughout New Jersey,” said Larry Downs, CEO of MSNJ. “He possesses the knowledge and expertise needed to engage with members, advocate on issues of importance to the medical community and lead our organization into the future. On behalf of MSNJ and our physician members, we congratulate Dr. Levine and officially welcome him to his new role as our president.”

In his inaugural speech as President, Dr. Levine expressed his vision for the future of the MSNJ and outlined his goals for his upcoming term:

“I will continue to capitalize on MSNJ’s previous successes, while examining new avenues for growth and encouraging further engagement from our members,” he explained. “I firmly believe MSNJ’s work is crucial – we remain a voice for physicians and patients in New Jersey at a time when our healthcare landscape continues to evolve and is poised for further change. I welcome more collaborative initiatives between medical professionals, legislators, hospital administrators and insurance company executives that evaluate issues from all angles, and urge physicians across the state to actively participate in this process. The time is now to engage with the citizens of New Jersey directly and build bridges to those who continue to fight for quality care and better coverage options for our patients.”

Dr. Levine is a board-certified spinal surgeon with more than 20 years of experience and currently practices in Mercer County. As a part of Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Dr. Levine specializes in reconstructive spinal surgery, using both traditional open surgery as well as state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgical techniques. In addition to his clinical practice of medicine, Dr. Levine serves as a clinical assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and is the director of the spine surgery program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. He is diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Dr. Levine currently serves as vice-president of the Eastern Orthopaedic Association and continues to serve as scientific program chair for both regional and national meetings.  Additionally, he serves on the Advocacy Committee for Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, has served as president of the Mercer County Medical Society and was a member of the inaugural class of the New Jersey Healthcare Executives Leadership Academy.

Dr. Levine received his undergraduate degree from Lehigh University. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, now the Sidney Kimmel Medical College, at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Levine completed his surgery internship at Pennsylvania Hospital, his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and fellowship in orthopaedic spinal surgery at the Emory Spine Center at Emory University.

Statement from MSNJ President, Dr. John Poole on Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

“The Medical Society of New Jersey, on behalf its members and the patients they are privileged to serve, expresses grave concerns over reports indicating legislative leaders and the Governor have reached agreement on legislation to legalize adult use marijuana in New Jersey.

The physician community urges the legislature and the administration to exercise restraint in in their effort to legalize marijuana. While physicians support decriminalizing adult use for social justice reasons, they oppose legalizing recreational use. 

Creating an entire new industry to sell an intoxicating product to adult users is antithetical to improving the health status of our citizenry. Adult use products, such as alcohol and tobacco, are enticing to adolescents and young adults. Legal marijuana will be no different.  Despite protections found in law, industries exist to sell as much of their products as possible, and to every possible consumer.

Our state faces high rates of chronic disease, poor maternal health outcomes and sedentary lifestyles. These conditions will not be improved by legalizing marijuana and promoting its use.

We urge our elected members of the NJ State Senate and NJ General Assembly to stand with us by acting in the interest of the public health and welfare of our state and opposing the legalization of marijuana.”

 

The Medical Society of New Jersey Welcomes Holy Name Medical Partners

Lawrenceville, NJ – The Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ), the country’s oldest professional society established in 1766, is pleased to welcome Holy Name Medical Partners (HNMP) to its membership ranks.

This alignment offers HNMP physicians the access to professional membership in MSNJ and provides additional benefits through the association. As members, HNMP physicians will benefit from having a recognized, mission-driven organization representing their specific interests at a state-level. Hospital-owned physician practices are becoming more common, and have their own, distinct issues that require collaboration and attention with legislators and regulators.

“Physician shortages, onerous billing issues, reimbursement, burnout – these are all daily challenges facing our state’s physicians,” explained Larry Downs, CEO of MSNJ. “We are deeply immersed in these matters on both a state and national level and are in the unique position to help bring these issues to the forefront and develop solutions. By welcoming HNMP into our membership base, we continue to serve as an advocate for the profession and voice for physicians throughout the state.”

HNMP physicians are eligible for all the member benefits MSNJ has to offer – access to leadership development programs, service on MSNJ councils and committees and special member pricing on programming and services, including access to the OneHealth New Jersey health information exchange.

“More than 150 Holy Name Medical Partners physicians are on the front lines every day, delivering superior care to diverse populations with any and every medical issue,” said Dr. Adam Jarrett, chief medical officer at Holy Name Medical Center. “It is their experience and perspective that enhances Holy Name’s involvement in New Jersey’s public policy issues, including end-of-life care and value-based care initiatives. Their voices and concerns deserve to be heard, and we cannot think of any better advocates than MSNJ.”

MSNJ welcomes both independent physicians and physician groups – with the physicians’ best interests at the core of their mission.

“We are hopeful that other hospital physician practice groups will learn of this new partnership and consider all the benefits of an affiliation with MSNJ. As we continue to align with physician groups across the state, MSNJ will continue its work to address issues facing physicians and effecting their practices,” added Dr. John Poole, President of MSNJ and board-certified general surgeon at North Jersey Surgical Specialists in Hackensack, NJ, a member of Holy Name Medical Partners. 

To learn more about membership with MSNJ, visit www.msnj.org/membership.

To learn more about Holy Name Medical Partners, visit holynamemedicalpartners.org.

 

ABOUT THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY:

Founded in 1766, the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) is the oldest professional society in the United States. MSNJ has a mission to promote the betterment of the public health and the science and the art of medicine, to enlighten public opinion in regard to the problems of medicine, and to safeguard the rights of the practitioners of medicine. MSNJ represents all medical disciplines and serves as an advocate for patient and physician rights. Its members are dedicated to ensuring delivery of the highest quality medical care throughout New Jersey. For more information, visit www.msnj.org.

ABOUT HOLY NAME MEDICAL PARTNERS:    

Holy Name Medical Partners is the physician network of Holy Name Medical Center, comprising more than 150 multi-specialty providers with convenient practice locations throughout Northern New Jersey. Holy Name Medical Partners was established to enhance the patient experience through expanded access to care, resources, and seamless collaboration among its multidisciplinary team of experts.

ABOUT HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER:

Holy Name Medical Center is a fully accredited, not-for-profit healthcare facility based in Teaneck, New Jersey, with off-site locations throughout Bergen County.  Founded and sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1925, the comprehensive 361-bed medical center offers leading-edge medical practice and technology administered in an environment rooted in a tradition of compassion and respect for every patient. Holy Name provides high quality health care across a continuum that encompasses education, prevention, early intervention, comprehensive treatment options, rehabilitation and wellness maintenance.

 

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Medical Society of New Jersey Salutes New Jersey Physicians on National Doctors’ Day

Lawrenceville, New Jersey – Today the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ), the nation’s oldest professional association, is honoring physicians on National Doctors’ Day. Celebrated each year on March 30^th, National Doctors’ Day is a day to recognize physicians across the nation for the work they do to ensure the health and well-being of their patients.

Founded in 1776, MSNJ continues to focus on promoting the betterment of the public health and science and the art of medicine as a whole – enlightening public opinion with regard to the problems of medicine and safeguarding the rights of the practitioners of medicine.

With more than 6,000 members, MSNJ is proud to recognize the many contributions its physician members have made over its more than 250 year history – from insisting race, color and creed should not be barrier to professional membership (1870), successfully banning indoor smoking throughout the state of New Jersey (2006) and the society’s recent launch of OneHealth New Jersey, a physician-led statewide health information exchange offering a suite of health information technology tools to connected physician members for the overall benefit of patients throughout the state (2017).

In further recognition of its physician members, healthcare professionals and aspiring physicians throughout the state, MSNJ will be hosting its 5^th Annual Physicians’ Advocacy Conference, House of Delegates Meeting and Inaugural Gala on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch. Open to members, non-members and medical students, the conference will feature a variety of highly-respected subject matter experts and workshops designed to address current issues of importance to the health care community. The gala that evening will honor the incoming 226^th President of the society, John W. Poole, MD, and recognize 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Robert S. Rigolosi, MD. For more information about the conference and gala, visit www.msnj.org/2018annualmeeting.

For more information about MSNJ and membership, visit www.msnj.org.

Connecting for Better Care with New Statewide Health Information Exchange

Lawrenceville, NJ, Dec. 5, 2017:  The Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) announces the launch of OneHealth New Jersey, a statewide health information exchange (HIE) that is now live. OneHealth New Jersey encompasses an interoperable health information exchange, as well as a patient health portal, extensive data analytics tools, and population health solutions.

OneHealth New Jersey’s proven technology is already successfully operating in Kansas and similar efforts are under development in Georgia, South Carolina, Connecticut, Missouri and Louisiana. This tool also eases the reporting burden for physicians and medical practices.

“OneHealth New Jersey provides a common-sense solution for our state. With growing demands of patient data from Medicare, Medicaid and private payers, OneHealth New Jersey is ready to go at no additional cost to the state,” said MSNJ Board President, Christopher E. Gribbin, MD. “It’s technology developed by physicians for physicians and other clinicians—people who understand patient care and the demands of a business practice.”

MSNJ Board of Trustees member and HIE advisory committee chairman, Kennedy Ganti, MD, FAAFP, notes that New Jersey physicians and patients will benefit from this important resource in many ways. “OneHealth New Jersey provides a meaningful solution to the problems medical practices and physician led ACO’s face connecting their Electronic Medical Record systems. Physicians will be able to access clinical information about patients from any location—work, home, the hospital. Timely communication and care coordination will be streamlined between physician offices, hospitals, labs, pharmacies, and referring physicians across the state. It also improves efficiency by reducing time wasted trying to locate information and reduces the need for duplicate tests and procedures.”

Additional members of the HIE advisory committee include: Mary Campagnolo, MD, MBA, Past MSNJ President; Christopher Gribbin, MD, MSNJ’s Current President; Soumen Samaddar, MD, a Board of Trustees member and MSNJ’s Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates, District 3; and Michael Ruiz de Somocurcio, MSNJ member and VP-Payer & Provider Collaboration at Regional Cancer Care Associates (a large group member of MSNJ).

From the patient perspective, OneHealth New Jersey will offer a secure, one stop site for health information. Patients will not need to log into multiple portals, hand-carry their records, or rely on another office sending information via fax. Most importantly, providing the right clinical information in the right place at the right time, OneHealth New Jersey will support the patient-physician relationship which is at the heart of good medical care.

Visit OneHealthNewJersey.com for more information.

About OneHealth New Jersey

The Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) recently announced a new partnership with KaMMCO Health Solutions (KHS) in support of their mission to improve the health of New Jersey through both interoperability and transformative data analytics. A MSNJ physician-led advisory committee is now working with KHS to establish OneHealth New Jersey, a statewide health information exchange (HIE). OneHealth New Jersey will allow connected physicians to share patient information while employing powerful analytic reports designed to help improve clinical outcomes, reduce inefficiencies, and positively impact patient safety.

MSNJ is the oldest professional medical society in the United States, representing all medical disciplines and serves as an advocate for patient and physician rights. KHS is a physician-led subsidiary of the Kansas Medical Mutual Insurance Company, KaMMCO, a medical professional liability insurer affiliated with the Kansas Medical Society.

OneHealth New Jersey contact:

Marlene M. Kalayilparampil, MHA

Project Director

609.218.2061   mkalayil@msnj.org

www.OneHealthNewJersey.com

www.msnj.org

Medical Society of New Jersey to Partner with KaMMCO Health Solutions for Statewide Interoperability and Analytics Tools

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ, Sept. 14, 2017: Physicians and health care professionals nationwide are in the midst of unparalleled industry transformation. Successful adoption of the new performance- based delivery and payment models will rely heavily upon interoperability and development of actionable intelligence through analytics. The Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) has recognized these as critical factors for their statewide membership and is pleased to announce a new partnership with KaMMCO Health Solutions (KHS).

“Partnering with KHS allows us to support the physicians of New Jersey with benefits unlike any other professional association when it comes to data analytics for both patient care and the successful transition to alternative payment models. This is a win-win for our members and their patients,” said MSNJ Board President, Christopher E. Gribbin, MD.

“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with KHS to build a physician led solution for medical practices. We are pleased to work with an organization comprised of leaders that have the actual experience in developing and maintaining a health information network that serves as the foundation for creating and delivering meaningful data analytic reports to doctors,” added MSNJ Chief Executive Officer, Larry Downs.

“MSNJ represents a statewide membership of more than 6,500 engaged and forward-thinking physicians. We are honored to partner with MSNJ to deliver integral solutions to the health care community of New Jersey,” stated KHS President and Chief Executive Officer, Kurt Scott.

Read more about the program.

About KaMMCO Health Solutions, Inc.

KaMMCO Health Solutions, Inc. is a provider-led subsidiary of the Kansas Medical Mutual Insurance Company, KaMMCO, a medical professional liability insurer affiliated with the Kansas Medical Society. KHS’ provider-led approach uniquely positions it to help physicians, other healthcare providers, integrated delivery networks, accountable care organizations, and others seeking to improve patient outcomes and adapt to new performance-based payment models through the use of data analytics and business intelligence tools. In addition to the Medical Society of New Jersey, KHS is now working with the South Carolina Medical Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, the Connecticut State Medical Society, and the Kansas Health Information Network. KHS is led by President and Chief Executive Officer, Kurt Scott.

KaMMCO Health Solutions, Inc. contact:

Lisa Ignoto

Vice President, Marketing and Communications 800.435.2104        lignoto@kammco.com www.KaMMCOHealthSolutions.com

RECAP: 2017 Advocacy Conference and Annual House of Delegates Meeting

The Medical Society of New Jersey held its 4^th Annual Physicians’ Advocacy Conference and Annual House of Delegates Meeting on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6, 2017 at the Crowne Plaza Princeton. More than 100 physicians, exhibitors, health care professionals and influencers attended this year’s conference.

The two-day event began on Friday evening with the Officer’s Dinner, a private ticketed event for select conference attendees. On Saturday morning, Dr. Joseph P. Costabile, 224^th President of the Medical Society of the New Jersey (pictured below), delivered welcoming remarks, kicking off the conference.

His remarks were followed by a keynote address from New Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno (pictured below).

Following the keynote, a number of highly-respected, subject matter experts addressed various issues of importance to the physician and health care community through different workshops. This year’s speakers and their presentation topics include:

• Tim Norbeck, CEO of The Physicians Foundation – Trends in Physician Practice

• Stephen P. Goldstein, MD, DABFP, CAQGM, DABHP, Chief Medical Officer at Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice – Defining Goals of Care: Patient Communication Imperatives from Diagnosis through End of Life

• Paul G. Mathew, MD, FAAN, FAHS, Board Member for the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS) – Understanding the Metrics and Goals of Maintenance Certification

• Michael A. Tutty, PhD, Group Vice President of Professional Satisfaction & Practice Sustainability at the American Medical Association – Understanding and Preventing Physician Burnout

• Kevin Joyce, Vice President of Insurance Networks at Atlantic Health System – How Do Tiered Networks, Analytics and New Payment Models Impact Your Practice and Your Patients

MSNJ’s House of Delegates meeting followed the workshops, where all delegates were present for the swearing in of the new 225^th President of the Medical Society, Dr. Christopher Gribbin (pictured below).

Among some of the key issues addressed during this year’s House of Delegates Meeting are:

• Adoption of policy clarifying that reports on physicians to the National Practitioner Databank be related to professional competency in the provision of, or withholding of, care that results in harm to a patient. The policy also requests that reports that currently reside in the databank be removed if not related to the actual provision, or withholding of care.
• Adoption of policy supporting federal legislative efforts to create medical liability reforms.
• Recognition that the PennEast Pipeline is a serious threat to the health and safety of the citizens of New Jersey and recommendation that the legislature and/or the appropriate regulatory agencies not approve the pipeline.
• Approval of a study of pre-authorization problems experienced by physicians and patients for care delivered in both network and non-network settings. This study is to include pre-authorization approval rates, denial rates, time to disposition and total number of services and medications subject to pre-authorization by insurers.

The conference concluded on Saturday evening with the Capital Club Reception.

This year’s conference would not have been possible without support from our 2017 Exhibitors and Sponsors – we are very grateful to have your continued support year after year, and thank you for being a part of this year’s successful event.

2017 National Doctor’s Day: March 30

Happy Doctor’s Day to all of New Jersey’s hard-working and dedicated doctors.  Last year marked the 250^th anniversary of the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ), the nation’s oldest professional association. Founded in 1776, MSNJ has remained focused on promoting the betterment of the public health and science and the art of medicine, enlightening public opinion with regard to the problems of medicine and safeguarding the rights of the practitioners of medicine. The organization advocates for the rights of patients and physicians for access to the highest quality medical care.

“We wish to recognize the contributions New Jersey physicians have made to our state’s overall health on National Doctor’s Day,” said Dr. Joseph Costabile, the 224th president of MSNJ. “We know physicians do much more than diagnose and cure. We thank them for their leadership and desire to adapt their practices during the changing health care landscape, as they continue to provide top-notch care for their patients.”

With more than 7,000 members, MSNJ is proud to celebrate the many contributions physicians have made over its 250 plus year history – from insisting race, color and creed should not be barrier to professional membership (1870) to successfully banning indoor smoking throughout the state of New Jersey (2006). We remain dedicated to the betterment of medicine and our patients’ health.