New emergency declaration issued
On Thursday, Gov. Kelly issued a new 15-day state of emergency and signed two executive orders aimed at addressing staffing shortages at hospitals and nursing homes as COVID-19 cases climb in Kansas.
Among other things, the first executive order allows nursing staff with an inactive or lapsed license to provide “medical services appropriate to the professional's education, training, and experience.” It also allows health care professionals licensed in other jurisdictions to practice in Kansas. The second executive order is similar in nature but applies to nursing homes.
On Friday, the orders were approved by the Legislative Coordinating Council. The orders will expire Jan. 21, unless extended or altered by the Legislature after it returns on Monday. It is expected to be the subject of early discussion and action.
Immediate response requested: Your ballot for KMS election of officers
The KMS Nominating Committee presents the following slate of candidates for KMS annual elections to be held on Monday, January 24, 2022, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the KMS Annual Meeting to be held in the Vanguard Ballroom at the Cyrus Hotel, 920 S Kansas Avenue in Topeka. Trustees and officers will serve two-year terms. (*As indicated below, currently serves on the Board, and is eligible for re-election.)
President Mark Brady, MD; Anesthesiology-Overland Park
President-elect G. Aron Fast, MD; Family Medicine-Hesston
Central District Trustee I Chad Schroeder, MD; Family Medicine-Salina*
Eastern District Trustee I Scott Coates, MD; General Surgery-Parsons*
Western District Trustee I Jill Linville, MD; Family Medicine-Lakin*
AMA Delegate Art Snow, MD; Family Medicine-Shawnee Mission*
AMA Delegate Richard Warner, MD; Psychiatry-Overland Park*
Proxy ballots are due by 1:00 p.m. on January 24, 2022. [Further information redacted for non-KMS-members. If you are a KMS member, please contact Phil Cauthon for your ballot:
Join your physician leader peers at Advocacy Day
KMS Advocacy Day is set for January 25 in Topeka. Among other things, Advocacy Day is your chance to meet with legislative leaders, to meet with your specialty society peers, and to hear from KMS leadership about the upcoming legislative session. While some specialty societies may also hold events later in the year, Advocacy Day is the one event of the year for all Kansas physicians. The event schedule and registration are available here: www.kmsonline.org/AdvocacyDay. We hope you will join us!
Register for CE webinar on KSBHA Category III and K-TRACS Use
The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts (KSBHA) and K-TRACS is offering a free continuing education webinar open to all Kansas licensed physicians, physician assistants, chiropractors, and podiatrists from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, January 27, 2022. The webinar is intended to help Kansas prescribers: Review the new Category III continuing education requirement and the transition into this requirement; identify Kansas prescription drug monitoring program goals and utilization benefits; apply best practices for how and when K-TRACS should be used in clinical decision-making; and describe K-TRACS and KSBHA communication and case review processes to improve prescribing patterns and patient safety. Register here.
KONZA electronic medical record survey
KONZA — one of two health information exchange vendors in Kansas — is seeking to catalog the EMR technology used by all Kansas providers to help inform its customer service. By taking this short survey (2 minutes), you will help KONZA in its efforts to best serve Kansas providers.
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If you have questions about this update or other matters, please contact KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo:
