FLORIDA SOCIETY OF NEONATOLOGISTS, INC.
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
MARCO ISLAND MARRIOTT GOLF CLUB & SPA
MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA
MAY 18, 2007 2:00 PM
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CALL TO ORDER: | APPROVAL OF MINUTES: | NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD: | FINANCIAL REPORT: | MEMBERSHIP REPORT: | PERINATAL SECTION REPORT: | LEGISLATIVE ISSUES: | OLD BUSINESS: | NEW BUSINESS: | ATTENDEES
Meeting Minutes
Dr. Ernesto Valdes called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm. Dr. Valdes presided over the meeting since Dr. Michael McMahan, the current President could not attend the meeting.
The minutes from the 2005 meeting were accepted as written.
The new Executive Board was introduced. They are as follows:
Dr. Ernesto Valdes, Miami President
Dr. Don Garrison, Jacksonville President Elect
Dr. William Driscoll, Jacksonville Secretary/Treasurer
Faye Long, Jacksonville Executive Director
Faye Long presented the financial report in the absence of the newly elected Secretary/Treasurer, Dr. William Driscoll.
Beginning Balance $12,630.28
Income from Dues 5,500.00
Grant Award (Bristol Myers/Mead Johnson 2006) 3,000.00
Expenses (Includes 2006 Annual Meeting Exp.) 8,384.73
Ending Balance $12,745.55
Projected dues income for 2007 (144 @$50.00 ea) $7,200.00
Projected Grant income for 2007 meeting 2,600.00
Total projected income $9,800.00
Projected meeting expenses for 2007:
Luncheon $1,200.00
Av Equipment 800.00
Honorarium 1,000.00
Other (Miscellaneous expenses) 500.00
Total projected Expenses $3,500.00
Faye spoke about the number of members that had to be deleted due to nonpayment of the dues. Most of these were Pediatrix Neonatologists who joined in 2003 and have paid no dues since. Others moved away and some will not respond to any mailings. The mail was not returned so it is assumed that they received the notices.
Dr. Garrison presented this report.
Total members as of 5/1/06 159
Deleted members (non-pay of dues) 36
New member 1
Total current members 124
Total dues billed for 2006 159
Dues paid members to date 102
Dues paid members for 2007 5
Dues paid for 2005 in 2006 2
Non dues paid members 22
Dr. Ernesto Valdes gave this report as submitted by Dr. David Burchfield who could not attend the meeting.
The Perinatal Section Program at the NCE October 27 – 30, 2007 is planned and will focus on management of hypoxic-ischemic encepholaphy. As usual there will also be an abstract session. The number of abstracts this year has doubled.
In 2010, to maintain sub-specialty certification there will be a 4-step process. These 4 steps are:
Maintenance of licensure
Life long learning (CME, NeoReviews +)
Knowledge (exam)
Quality Improvement
Quality Improvement is one that will catch people off guard. There will be 2 pathways, but both will require evidence of PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT in quality improvement efforts. Just belonging to Vermont Oxford is not enough and having someone in your group working on QA is not enough. Further investigation into this is needed.
Neo-Prep will be August 19-25 in Atlanta. This is an intensive review of neonatology which many use in preparation for boards. This cycle of neonatology boards is pushed back to March 2008. Neo-Prep could not be pushed back due to contracts for the hotel had already been signed and speakers confirmed for August.
The section website will be changing as will many AAP sites. Many have complained about the difficulty navigating the site and consultants will work with the Academy to re-work the look and feel of the websites.
The 3 strikes you are out issue seem to have calmed down for now. Malpractice Attorneys are making less money.
The American Board and Pediatric Society are working together to make the recertification better. Dr. Tanfulla said that taking the exam was very humiliating in the way they were treated. During a lecture at Miami, outstanding issues were that taking the exam on a computer had a time limitation and you are not able to cross out answers and make corrections. If you took the exam before and had to take it now after 20 years, it could be a career ender. In RPICC Centers, you could lose your job. All hospitals may go this route. Dr. Lance Wyble was at a meeting and tried to address this with the Academy but nothing came out of that effort.
We discussed the Louisiana disaster at last year’s meeting regarding the devastation on medical care. A lot of logistical things have to be in place. We could learn from Dr. Jay Goldsmith, a Neonatologist who went through Katrina.
We should plan to have him or someone speak at our next meetings about post Katrina disaster preparedness.
The RSV prophylaxis problem is still with us. Insurance companies are refusing to pay for Synagis. If discharging a patient in June, you may not be aable to prescribe more in June. Different regions have their seasons. In Florida, it is a yearly issue. This needs to be addressed. If the hospital does not absorb the cost of Synagis, a child may not get treated. Coverage for only 5 or 6 months is allowed. We need to be aware of this.
Moms and babies are being kicked out of hospital in 24 hours. Dr. Valdes was called and asked about mom and baby bonding the President of the Greater Miami Pediatric Society spoke out about this for all. The fear is personal retribution. We need to serve as an entity rather than personal. The bottom line is that everyone is concerned.
Dr. Valdes spoke about the Florida Society of Neonatologists being more involved. He suggested town meetings. He proposed one in September to be held in Jacksonville. Mead Johnson is willing to sponsor some meetings. Dr. Tanfulla said 2 conferences would be going on around that time in Orlando and Miami. Maybe the first one could be in Miami and not Jacksonville. We need to look for the best central place to meet – Orlando, Tampa, Pensacola, Ft. Lauderdale or Gainesville. He is looking for bodies and ideas to review issues in regional areas. Dr. Tanfulla recalled that one President did the town meetings in the past. Dr. Lugo said that more people attended the meetings in the past. Some think that Pediatrix and Sheridan take care of the Neonatologists needs as a group so why would they want to come? Pediatrix owns 25% of units in the US. Maybe we should call a successful society to get information on how they manage their society. The California Society of Neonatologists is one that could be called. In large groups, you are a number and can be dropped anytime. Dr. Valdes wants to attract more Neonatologists. It is uncertain just how many are in Florida. The Board of Medicine should be able to provide a list.
Dr. Lugo suggested the Society write a letter to the State of Florida asking them to reconsider paying for circumcisions. Dr. Garrison said that Duval and Broward Counties instructed that the plans had to include payment for circumcisions and most have squirmed out of doing this.
A new admission code is forthcoming.
The meeting adjourned at 3:15 pm.
Ernesto Valdes, M.D. Don Garrison, M.D.
Eduardo Lugo, M.D. Jonathan Schwartz, M.D.
Lester McIntyre, M.D. Luciano Tanfulla, M.D,
Magaly Diaz-Barbosa, M.D. Faye Long