Correction
Resolutions Due March 8

Do you have an issue you’d like the OOA to address? Submit a resolution to the OOA House of Delegates BY MARCH 8 for consideration. Resolutions may address legislative and health policy topics as well as OOA governance matters. For tips on writing resolutions, see the guidance here.

The House of Delegates meets April 19 in conjunction with the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium. If you would like to serve as a delegate, contact your local district academy.

Resolutions must be submitted by March 8 to Teri Collins at tcollins@OhioDO.org.

Video, Webinar Available Regarding Confidential Monitoring Program

Physicians spend countless hours attending to the needs and wellness of their patients, many times neglecting their own health. Increasing regulatory demands and workload, loss of autonomy, decreased reimbursement, and constant pressure to achieve high marks for patient satisfaction have led to intolerable rates of physician burnout and suicide.

The Ohio Professionals Health Program (OhioPHP) facilitates health and wellness services and serves as a confidential resource for physicians and other health care professionals who may be affected by emotional, mental, and behavioral illnesses as well as substance-related and addictive disorders.

OhioPHP released a video that provides an overview of the new Confidential Monitoring Program in Ohio. View the 13-minute video on YouTube here. In addition, there is a monthly training about the program. When a Healthcare Professional Needs Help is held via Zoom once a month at lunchtime. See the schedule here.

WELLNESS RESOURCES

Ohio Professionals Health Program
Encourages health care professionals to improve their health and well-being through educational and confidential programs.

Ohio Physician Wellness Coalition
Provides resources address physician burnout by providing physician wellness initiatives. 

Physician Support Line
Free, nationwide confidential telehealth service established by a DO.

Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741
Free, 24/7 support via text message.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Dial 9-8-8 for a national network of local crisis centers that provides free, confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7.

Seven Weeks Away!

The Ohio Osteopathic Symposium starts Thursday April 18 at 1:00 pm and concludes Sunday, April 21 at noon. Have you put in for time off work? Have you registered? Have you made your reservation at the Columbus Hilton?

The Symposium, the largest osteopathic CME conference in the state, is a mix of lectures on timely topics, engaging speakers, and a celebration of the Ohio osteopathic family. Since its start in 2010, this collaborative program of the OOA and OU-HCOM has remained true to its primary objective: provide practical and clinically relevant information that attendees can put to immediate use in their practice.

Attend in-person or online. If you’re coming to Columbus, the discounted hotel room rate is only available until March 23 or until the group block is sold-out. Call the Hilton at 614-414-5000 or reserve online here.

Register for the OOS here. Your OOA membership gets you a discount on registration!

DCC, SMBO Issue Proposed Rules

The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) is seeking public comment on proposed rules by Tuesday, March 12. The Business Impact Analysis and full text of the proposed rules can be found here. The rules delete fees for patients and caregivers; establish a process for employee IDs; and outline changes for medical marijuana cultivators, processors, and testing laboratories.

Comments must be emailed to both DCCRules@com.ohio.gov and CSIPublicComments@governor.ohio.gov.

The State Medical Board of Ohio will hold a public hearing, March 27 in Columbus, regarding office-based surgery rules. Details about the hearing and the proposed rules are here.

Oral or written testimony may be presented. Written comments may be sent to Nathan.Smith@med.ohio.gov.

During its February 14 board meeting, the Medical Board adopted new rules regarding retired license status and medical marijuana. They took effect yesterday, February 29.

Experts Needed to Review Petitions

The State Medical Board of Ohio is seeking medical experts to review petitions for qualifying conditions to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. If you are interested in becoming a subject matter expert reviewer, submit a completed questionnaire and a copy of your CV to donald.davis@med.ohio.gov.

Following receipt of this information, your name will be added to the SMBO list of subject matter experts. If a petition matches your background, experience, and specialty, board personnel will contact you with further details.

As a reminder, the OOA Medical Marijuana Education Course is available on-demand. It is an approved course for both your initial certificate to recommend (CTR) application and the required annual education. OOA members get a $50 discount on the registration fee. Details are here.

SMBO Launches New Page on Website

As a result of the Working Group on Reviewing of the Medical Board’s Handling of the Investigation Involving Richard Strauss, the SMBO has developed a new page on its website that highlights the importance of reporting sexual misconduct and explains the tools used to properly address the complaints.

The new page includes:

• Instructions and information specific to patients, licensees, and stakeholders.
• Medical Board presentations describing the handling of complaints.
• Videos of Medical Board staff discussing the board’s practices.
• Human trafficking resources. 

Strauss, who was employed as a physician by Ohio State University in the athletics department and Student Health Center in the late 1970s to mid-1990s, sexually assaulted at least 177 students.

View the new webpage here.

A Look at Rare Diseases

Yesterday, February 29, was Rare Disease Day. It is a global initiative to raise awareness among the general public and decision-makers and generate support for everyone who is on a rare medical journey.

While each disease may be rare, collectively, they impact 300 million people worldwide who live with a rare disease. Other stats:

• One out of every 10 Americans is living with a rare disease. 
• Direct medical costs for people with rare diseases are 3-5 times higher than those for non-rare diseases. Yearly, they amount to an estimated $400 billion.
• There are more than 10,000 known rare diseases and fewer than 5% have an FDA-approved treatment.
• Any disease, disorder, illness, or condition affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States is considered rare.
• An estimated 15 million children in the US have a rare disease.
• 72% of rare diseases are genetic.

Last year, the rare disease community commemorated the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) into law. Before the ODA became law, there was little biopharmaceutical interest in developing medications for rare diseases. In the four decades since its enactment, the FDA has issued more than 1,100 orphan designated approvals to treat rare diseases and disorders. While the law has been successful, 95% of all rare diseases and disorders still lack any FDA-approved treatment.

Ohio Ombudsman Programs Support Long-Term Care Residents

The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) plans to distribute $2.3 million to regional Ombudsman programs across the state to strengthen support for residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Regional Ombudsman programs are coordinated by ODA’s Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (SLTCO), which works to resolve problems related to the health, safety, welfare, and rights of individuals who receive long-term care services in facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other residential care communities. Strengthening the program was among the recommendations of Gov. Mike DeWine’s Nursing Home Quality & Accountability Task Force.

The funding will be used to recruit and hire additional resident advocates while supporting employee retention efforts and acquire next generation technologies that help programs strategically deploy staff where there is greatest need. According to ODA, these enhancements will allow for improved program efficiency, increasing the ability of ombudsmen to visit and speak with long-term care residents, while also increasing their ability to respond to complaints.

Last week, ODA launched the Ohio Nursing Home Quality Navigator, an online database of care quality metrics.