State Medical Board Seeks Input

The State Medical Board of Ohio is seeking comment on rules regarding telehealth and the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.
 
A state rule-making agency may propose to adopt a new rule, amend or rescind an existing rule, or propose to continue a rule without any changes. State agencies are required to draft rules in collaboration with stakeholders; assess and justify any adverse impact on the business community; and provide an opportunity for the affected public to provide input on the proposed rules. The Business Impact Analysis outlines the purpose of the rule and identifies the nature of the adverse impact on licensees. The Common Sense Initiative review must be completed before the formal rule-making process may begin through the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.
 
At this time, public comment is sought on the proposed actions for 4731-38-01 Licenses Issued or Renewed Under the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Comments must be received no later than January 31. Email your comments to both the SMBO (Kimberly.Anderson@med.ohio.gov) and the Common Sense Initiative (CSIPublicComments@governor.ohio.gov).
 
Separately, SMBO has issued proposed telehealth rules for preliminary input. Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB 122 on December 22, 2021.  The new telehealth law, which will become effective on March 23, 2022, authorizes SMBO to adopt necessary rules necessary to implement the law. 
 
The proposed rules are here and here. Note that proposed OAC rule 4731-37-01 is a new rule, and proposed OAC rule 4731-11-09 is proposed as a new rule to replace current OAC rule 4731-11-09. 
 
Submit your comments about the telehealth rules by January 31. Use the form here.

Call for Abstracts

Abstracts are now being accepted for the 2022 Ohio Osteopathic Symposium Research Competition. There is one category, biomedical/clinical research, for the competition.

The poster competition will be held virtually, similar to last year. Authors of the top 20 abstracts will be invited to submit a pre-recorded three-minute thesis for peer-review and the top three will invited to give a live virtual podium presentation during the Symposium. Each author presenting live will receive a cash prize.
 
The guidelines, abstract submission form, and other information is here. The deadline is January 31.

Improvement in NE Ohio, but Omicron Fuels Cases, Hospitalizations in Other Areas

At the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) briefing this week, Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, said the declining number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is giving “renewed hope.” Though he was quick to point out that while the situation has improved in northeast Ohio, the case count in Dayton, Cincinnati, and other southern parts of the state has not.
 
In southwest Ohio, hospitals reported a 14% increase in ICU admissions compared to last week. Western Ohio saw a 13% increase. In Cleveland, hospitalizations have fallen 24% this week. Vanderhoff said more than 90% of Ohioans who have been hospitalized have been unvaccinated.
 
About 400 Ohio National Guard members are in the process of disengaging from the Cleveland area and heading to Dayton and along the southern part of the state. 
 
In addition, a backlog of thousands of COVID-19 tests created inflated numbers of new cases over the weekend. ODH reported more than 41,000 cases on Friday; 50,000 on Saturday; and 26,000 on Sunday. The state has not posted more than 21,000 cases since Monday. The processing delay was caused by the increase in testing driven by the highly-infection Omicron variant.
 
As of this afternoon, 64.83% of eligible Ohioans (age 5 and up) have started the vaccine process.

OHF Supports Mental Health and Addiction Facility

A leadership gift of $2.5 million from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations will help to build the Franklin County Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Center in Columbus. The center is an initiative of Franklin County, the ADAMH Board, and the Central Ohio Hospital Council. The new facility will have an observation unit, a short-term inpatient unit, a walk-in clinic, and on-site pharmacy.
 
“The Osteopathic Heritage Foundations understand the vital need for high-quality and trauma-informed behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services in our community, now more than ever,” said Terri Donlin Huesman, president and CEO for the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations. “The Foundations’ significant investment in this effort reflects osteopathic medicine’s philosophy of treating the whole person – body, mind and spirit – and the vital importance of the center to vulnerable individuals throughout our community. ADAMH leadership and the community of stakeholders are commended for driving improvements to community-based treatment services and the continuum of care in Franklin County.”
 
Franklin County is experiencing high fatal overdose and emergency hospitalization rates and it is estimated that Central Ohio will see a 23% increase in demand for mental health and addiction services over the next 10 years.
 
Groundbreaking for the new crisis center is planned for mid-2022 on a three-acre parcel of land south of I-70.

New Staff at OOA

The OOA welcomes a new staff member! Teri Collins started this week as Office Manager and Director of Education. She brings over 30 years of administrative, database, and event-planning experience to the new role.
 
Teri began her career in accounting and advertising and honed her administrative skills in various industries, including a high-tech startup, communications, higher education, and most recently manufacturing. “I’m excited to utilize all of my knowledge and experience in this position and look forward to being challenged,” she said.
 
You can reach her at the OOA office at 614-299-2107 or tcollins@ohiodo.org.

Seeking Nominations for Board Seat

The State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services (EMFTS) is seeking nominations for Seat #2. It is designated for a trauma surgeon. 
 
The Board is responsible for establishing training and certification standards for emergency medical services personnel, accreditation of EMS training programs, and more. Board members are appointed by the Governor as spelled out in the Ohio Revised Code—which calls for three nominations from the OOA. A list of current Board members is here.
 
Interested candidates should send their CV to OOA Executive Director Matt Harney at mattharney@OhioDO.org.