December is the last month for data collection for the Physician Practice Information Survey. Interventional Pain Management lacks 24 usable surveys to meet the goal of 100 surveys.

While Interventional Pain Management has done very well compared to many other specialties, we really need fulfill the required number of surveys to get the most benefit from this important survey. Please note that if you were selected to take the survey, you would have already received it. ASIPP did not distribute the surveys. They were distributed and are maintained by dmrkynetec survey firm.

ASIPP, AAPM, ISIS, the American Medical Association (AMA), along with several other medical specialty societies are conducting this comprehensive multi- specialty survey of America's physician practices The results will be used to positively influence national decision makers to ensure accurate and fair representation for all physicians and patients, and to articulate the challenges of running a practice that provides expert patient care, while operating a business that is sustainable. It is clear that by sending in your survey, you can directly affect your future.

If you have been selected to participate in this important effort (only a limited number of surveys were set out) and have any questions about this survey, please call 1-877-816-8940 toll-free and ask to speak with one of dmrkynetec's executive interviewers about the 2008 Physician Information and Practice Expense Survey.

ASIPP, AAPM, ISIS, the American Medical Association (AMA), and more than 70 other medical specialty societies are conducting a comprehensive multi- specialty survey of America's physician practices.

If you received a survey, I personally encourage you to respond as soon as possible

Plan to attend the March 6-8, 2008 Interventional TechniquesReview Course, Cadaver Workshop, and ABIPP Part II Preparation.

The review course includes one day of didactics covering various interventional techniques and one and a half days of hands-on cadaver workshop designed to meet the needs of interventional pain physicians seeking to refresh or learn new skills and also for those who desire instruction for the ABIPP Part II examination.

During this 3-day event, you can improve existing skills, learn new skills, prepare for the interventional techniques certification, or prepare for the board examination. Whether you have been practicing interventional pain management for many years or are new to the field with basic skills, we are confident you will find this review course and cadaver workshop to be beneficial as it is essential to keep learning. We trust you will be eager to join us for this exceptional opportunity for professional enhancement.

The seminar will be conducted at the Westin Memphis Beale Street and the world famous Medical Education and Research Institute (MERI) in Memphis, TN. Make your plans early to attend. We look forward to seeing you in Memphis.

Meetings

Even before Congress had closed the book on its 2008 session, leaders in the Senate began laying the groundwork for comprehensive health system reform in 2009 (Trapp, amednews.com, Dec. 8, 2008 issue)

Sen. Max Baucus (D, Mont.), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, on Nov. 12 released an 89-page vision for health system reform. The proposal calls for revising Medicare's physician payment formula, requiring everyone to have insurance and expanding eligibility for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Baucus' "Call To Action: Health Reform 2009" is the culmination of months of committee hearings.

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Bob Monroe survived the rigors of being in an Army Ranger battalion and later getting shot at as a helicopter pilot in his 22-year military career. What finally brought him down was a slippery step on a CH- 47 Chinook at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and the "steel beach" decking he landed on - while fully loaded up with combat gear.

The Mililani man shattered his left elbow. Bits of bone that he says were not removed by Army doctors later sawed at his ulnar nerve. Four years afterward, he still experiences chronic, debilitating pain.

Physicians can expect to see more information about their malpractice payments, disciplinary actions and other identifying data being made easily accessible online (Henry, amednews.com, Dec. 8, 2008 issue).

Nearly half of American adults report knowing someone in recovery from the use or abuse of alcohol or drugs, according to survey results announced last month by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). A large majority of Americans believe that people in recovery from substance addictions can live productive lives and contribute to their community, the report also said.

Eli Lilly & Co. withdrew its application for U.S. regulatory approval of its Cymbalta depression treatment for use as chronic-pain medicine and plans to resubmit the application next year.

Texas Mutual Insurance Company reported today that Ihsan Shanti, M.D. of Houston and Shanti Pain & Wellness Clinic pleaded guilty to felony workers' compensation fraud-related charges. Between January 2003 and March 2006, Shanti and his clinic over-billed workers' compensation carriers for pain management services in excess of hours actually attended by patients, according to the indictments.

The Minnesota Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (MSIPP) meeting will be held at the Medtronic World Headquarters on January 27th, 2009 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Agenda will be annoucnecd soon.

Address: Medtronic World Headquarters 710 Medtronic Parkway Minneapolis, MN 55432-5604 Phone: (763) 514-4000 To join MSIPP or to find out additional information about our organization please call me.

Contact Georgann Gillund Minnesota Society of Interventional Pain Physicians 612-385-8342 for ggillund@painphysicians.com for more information.

Send in your state society's news, annoucements and updates to mmartin@asipp.org.

A new study provides limited evidence that physicians could make fewer mistakes on the job by abandoning paper-based medicine in favor of electronic health records.

Abstract

The Online Abstract Submission (see step-by- step procedures below) for the 11th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) is now open. The meeting will be held June 26- July 1, 2009 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.

To be considered for a presentation at the meeting, abstracts must be submitted and completed by the submission deadline of 5 pm Central Standard Time (CST) Monday, January 19, 2009.

Click on the following link for full instructions and to submit. http://www.asip p.org/abstracts/

The AM CPT 2009 Professional Edition, AMA HCPCS 2009 Level II, and AMA Physician ICD-9-CM 2009 - Vol. 1 & 2 are now available online. Get prepared for the new year by purchasing your copies today.

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ASIPP is now offering a new feature for those who advertise on our Positions Wanted section of the ASIPP Website. As a service to our advertisers and our members, please find the link to each current job posting.

Fellows hip Trained Physician - Northwest Indiana

Out patient Interventional Pain Physician - Atlanta, Georgia

Pain Management Opportunity - Pennsylvania

Entrepre neurial Opportunity - Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Florida Opportunities

Pain Medicine Fellowship Program Opportunity

BC/ BE Physiatrist - Shrewsbury, New Jersey

Part nership Opportunity - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

100% Pain Practice - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Natio nal Pain Institute - Florida

Interv entional Pain Specialist - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

MAYO CLINIC - Cardiac Anesthesiologist

Interven tional Pain Physiatrist Wanted - Nevada