Board Briefs
February 26, 2001
SBCMS President-elect Jay Shankar, M.D. announced that Dr. Gnanadev suffered a heart attack early this month and his recuperation is going well. The board welcomed Theresa L. Siefken, D.O., the new 2001-2002 House Officer board representative from ARMC.
IEHP Medical Director Bradley Gilbert, M.D. reported that total IEHP membership is 186,822. Total Inland Empire Healthy Families enrollment was 44,084 in January.
Public Health Officer and SBCMS board member Thomas J. Prendergast, M.D. announced that a former analyst for the Board of Supervisors has been appointed the Interim Public Health Program Administrator, and Dr. Prendergast feels there will be a fairly clear definition in the administrative relationship between the Public Health and County Administrator’s departments. This may result in Dr. Prendergast having more time to spend on Public Health issues, and he assured the board that he will be better able to communicate the interests of medicine.
Dr. Kenneth Lane, SBCMS representative on the Arrowhead Health Administrators’ Board, reported that the Board of Supervisors has requested RFPs from a number of private entities to take over the work currently conducted by AHA. Dr. Lane feels AHA is more cost effective than a private entity would be. He encouraged the Board to support AHA. The Board agreed to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors in support of the continuation of Arrowhead Health Administrators in their present form.
The Board approved a request from Dr. Edward Hess, Electronic Communications Committee Chair, for an unbudgeted expenditure of approximately $2500 for the cost of upgrading the Medical Society’s Internet and e-mail system, including the installation of a firewall and upgrading the file server. The changes will eliminate the software problems and improve the Society’s Internet and e-mail communication to a faster and more reliable system.
Ms. Stratton reported that SBCMS members were sent the "Brain Drain Survey." CMA will tabulate all surveys and attempt to show the legislators how and why physicians are leaving the practice of medicine or the state because of the difficult medical environment. The results will be discussed at the March House of Delegates.
Board members were provided information from CMA regarding recent developments in CMA’s advocacy for physicians impacted by the KPC bankruptcy. It describes how physicians may file a proof of claim form with the bankruptcy court. CMA has also been working with NORCAL to provide tail coverage for KPC physicians and has also assisted physicians to obtain medical records of their former KPC patients.
Dr. Thelma Korpman discussed the Medical Museum Open House held Sunday afternoon, February 4th. Nearly 140 people attended, filling the conference room to capacity. Dr. Hans Davidson spoke on medicine in the Civil War. Dr. Korpman said that the Open House was a very positive public relations experience for the community.
Ms. Stratton reported that Dr. Susan Bangasser has asked that SBCMS’ Mentor Program, which has been inactive for nearly three years, be reinstated. In the program, pre-medical students attending San Bernardino Valley College shadow a physician in his practice for a few days. Ms. Stratton will find three to five physicians who are willing to participate,
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