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Outgoing President's Message from Mark M. Bai, M.D.

OUTGOING PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE FROM DOCTOR MARK. M. BAI – June 25, 2020 Dear Fellow SBCMS Members, It is hard to believe how quickly a year has gone by. I have been honored to serve as the 127th President of the San Bernardino County Medical Society. So much has happened during this time, especially in the past four months, and I’m so proud of the accomplishments we have made together at SBCMS. Our membership is truly engaged – together, we have been able to realize notable progress in operational and policy objectives for ...

SBCMS Executive Committee Statement on Death of George Floyd

SBCMS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD - June 5, 2020 Dear SBCMS Members and Partners, On behalf of our leadership representing San Bernardino County Medical Society, we want to reach out to you during this troubling time to share our anger, sadness, concern and compassion as well as work to create a spirit of unity. Like everyone, we are heartsick over the tragic death of George Floyd. We cannot fully comprehend the pain, especially that which has been experienced disproportionately and more egregiously by some in our community for ...

Virtual Medical Student Advocacy Day June 5

Disappointed that California's Legislative Day was canceled? Fret not! This is your opportunity to champion healthcare legislation as a medical student. California Medical Association - Medical Student Section presents "VIRTUAL MEDICAL STUDENT ADVOCAY DAY" ACTIVITIES FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 5TH AT 8 AM Educational sessions in the week leading up to Advocacy Day to fortify your knowledge about important topics in preparation to meet with representatives One-on-one conversations with the healthcare staffers of California Senate and Assembly members who represent your school's or voting district Keynote speech by Chief Lobbyist and CMA Senior Vice President Janus Norman DEADLINE TO ...

Community EMR Survey (Solo & Medium Group Practices)

During this challenging healthcare era, there’s never been a greater need for an efficient, reliable and affordable electronic medical record (EMR) with full health information exchange and telehealth interoperability.  San Bernardino County Medical Society (SBCMS) and Riverside County Medical Association (RCMA) are conducting an interest survey for a community electronic medical record (EMR). If there is sufficient interest, we may have the opportunity to offer a community EMR product that would be available at low or no cost to physicians in the Inland Empire with minimal annual fees along with ...

CMS Issues Recommendations to Re-Open Health Care Systems in Areas with Low Incidence of COVID-19

As the United States continues to face the unprecedented public health emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic, the tide is turning and some areas throughout the country are seeing a decline in cases. As states and localities begin to stabilize, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing guidance on providing essential non-COVID-19 care to patients without symptoms of COVID-19 in regions with low and stable incidence of COVID-19. This is part of Phase 1 in the Trump Administration’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again.   “By complying with our ...

Extension of Influenza Season in San Bernardino County

PRESS RELEASE HEALTH ADVISORY - Public Health Contact: Erin Gustafson, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Health Officer | (909) 387-6218 Due to elevated and widespread influenza activity within San Bernardino County and surrounding areas, Dr. Erin Gustafson, Acting Health Officer, has ordered an extension of the influenza season period to the newly defined date of April 30, 2020.  Influenza activity is widespread throughout California and statewide outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) hospitalizations remain above the expected levels. Influenza A 2009 H1N1 Pandemic (H1N1 pdm09) viruses are predominating in California, but influenza B (Victoria) viruses are still circulating. Under ...

Call for Physician Volunteers

COVID-19 is putting a tremendous strain on physicians, especially those on the front lines, and the state is in the middle of experiencing an unprecedented surge in patient care needs. We’ve been contacted by Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in Colton who is proactively developing a list of physicians who are willing to obtain emergency privileges though their hospital to assist for the anticipated surge in coronavirus cases. San Bernardino County Medical Society (SBCMS) is calling upon physicians to volunteer their time and talent in service to impacted communities across our ...

NORCAL Group Pandemic COVID-19 Exchange

In order to help our policyholders and the broader medical professional community prepare for and respond to the various challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic – NORCAL Group is offering up its Pandemic: COVID-19 Exchange to the general public on with a ‘mobile-first’ approach for ease of access. Through careful curation and sharing of our bundled and individual educational risk management resources, which will be updated regularly and cover relevant and timely topics, NORCAL Group seeks to provide information protecting both healthcare personnel and patients. NORCAL Group will also use ...

Telehealth Expansion Due to COVID-19

President Donald Trump today announced the federal government is immediately suspending HIPAA enforcement and penalties to facilitate use of telehealth for health care services in both the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As of this morning, March 17, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has announced that Medicare will immediately expand telehealth coverage for seniors so that they can be treated from home and not risk their own health and that of providers by being required to visit a medical office.  Please see important information, guidelines and links here: CMA Newsroom ...

Message from Mark M. Bai, M.D., SBCMS President on COVID-19

MESSAGE FROM SBCMS PRESIDENT MARK M. BAI, M.D. - COVID-19 Updates and Resources (download letter here) March 4, 2020    Dear SBCMS Members, Friends and the Community,    As with our partner medical providers, hospitals, healthcare systems and the community in general, we at the San Bernardino County Medical Society are looking for the best way to approach the news of the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19. We believe the most effective strategy is to provide sensible and up to date information that emphasizes practices that will prevent the spread of ...