On September 22nd, the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled in Shoemaker v. UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals that a county judge had erred in issuing an injunction that compelled a hospital to allow a non-credentialed physician to administer ivermectin to a COVID patient.

Earlier this year, PAMED sat down with Representative Joanna McClinton (D – Delaware County, Philadelphia) to learn more her background, serving as the House Democratic Leader, and how she feels about issues affecting patients and physicians in the Pennsylvania. This sit-down interview was conducted as a part of PAMED’s Behind the Scenes Series.

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During a pandemic, when health care is paramount and physicians have been called heroes, the Pennsylvania Medical Society asks lawmakers and bureaucrats to stay out of the exam room. Physicians train for years to be able to provide clinically sound and proven care to their patients. Medical decisions should be between the patient and their health care team

According to Riddhi Shah, M.D., there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to self-care. “For some people its travel or going on a spa day. And other people, it’s taking a day at home to relax, not talk to anyone and put your phone on airplane mode.” For Dr. Shah, writing has been that self-care outlet. She and her colleagues at the ACP created a monthly workshop using narrative medicine to aid with physician wellness.

Every marathon that I ran was a physical ordeal and a desperate challenge to make it to the finish line within the 6-hour course cut-off time. As much as I tried to improve and would have liked to be in the middle of the pack with average marathon runners, I needed to accept that my best effort involved finishing nearly last every time. My most effective tool for coping with pain and exhaustion during a race was to remind myself to be grateful that my family would be waiting for me at the finish line.

You may believe that to be a good physician you must sacrifice your health, your emotional needs, your family, your friends, and a life outside of medicine. This is not true. You can and must have a work/life balance. It’s obviously essential for your own survival and your patient’s safety.

Earlier this year, PAMED sat down with Representative Aaron Kaufer (R – Luzerne) to learn more his background and his role on the Professional Licensure Committee. This sit-down interview was conducted as a part of PAMED’s Behind the Scenes Series.

By Dr. Ed Balaban, Chair of the Board of Trustees ‘Tis the season. Well, maybe not quite THAT season, but it is the season for PAMED to ramp up its call to members for the multitude of initiatives going on this time of year.

Today the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania adopted amendments to the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedures to rescind the 2003 rule governing venue in medical professional liability actions.

PAMED has been informed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) that a provider has voluntarily surrendered their DEA license, which means that provider is currently not able to prescribe controlled substances.

Earlier this year, PAMED sat down with Representative Torren Ecker (R – Adams, Cumberland) to learn more about his legislation on restrictive covenants and the drama surrounding his first election. This sit-down interview was conducted as a part of PAMED’s Behind the Scenes Series.

Amit Munshi Sharma, M.D., board-certified and fellowship-trained specialist in infectious disease with Geisinger Community Medical Center has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) with its Everyday Hero award.

The section meetings will be held on October 17, 18, and 19.