Alternatives to Opioids in Treating Acute and Chronic Pain

Many providers have asked, “Now that I know that I should avoid opioids as much as possible, what am I supposed to do about patients’ pain?” This program was developed to help meet that need. Optimizing non-opioid treatment for pain provides patients the safest and most effective pain treatment possible, promoting patient satisfaction and outcomes. Read more »

Wisconsin Medical Examining Board Opioid Prescribing Guideline

This program provides a comprehensive review of the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board’s (MEB) Opioid Prescribing Guideline (finalized November 2016). The scope and purpose of the guideline is “to help providers make informed decisions about acute and chronic pain treatment -pain lasting longer than three months or past the time of normal tissue healing. The guideline is not intended for patients who are in active cancer treatment, palliative care, or end-of-life care.” However, the underlying principles upon which the guideline is based will often apply to palliative, cancer, and end-of-life patients because these patients’ opioid physiology is not fundamentally different from other patients, although their duration of use may be. A prescriber practicing according to these guidelines will be providing the best evidence-based treatments for patients needing pain relief. In addition, thanks to a clear understanding of the guidelines, prescribers can be confident that their opioid prescribing protocols remain in compliance with state licensure statutes. Read more »

Determining Decision-Making Capacity

Prior to engaging in shared-decision making for any medical treatments, clinicians must be confident that a patient has decision-making capacity for the specific situation being addressed. Read more »

Increasing Mammography Uptake Through Academic-Community Partnerships Targeting Immigrant and Refugee Communities in Milwaukee (WMJ volume 117, no. 2)

An article selected for CME credit from WMJ, a peer-reviewed, indexed scientific journal published six times a year by the Wisconsin Medical Society. Read more »

Health Care Reform: A synopsis of plans, legislation and next steps

Primer and summary of recent health care reform legislation, tactics and outcomes, as well as a description of possible health care reforms going forward. Read more »

Wisconsin Civil Rights Compliance Alert Webinar

This webinar is designed to help physicians and their health care teams working in Wisconsin health care entities receiving Medicaid reimbursements navigate the recent CRC requirements. Read more »

GunderKids: Design of a Clinical Care Management Program for Parents With Substance Abuse and Their Newborn Children with a Focus on Preventing Child Abuse (WMJ volume 117, no. 1)

Distant Doctoring: The Impact of Telemedicine on the Practice of Medicine

This webinar will provide an overview of federal and Wisconsin law on telemedicine, the impact these laws have on physician practices, and potential opportunities and compliance challenges relating to telemedicine. Read more »

Family, Minors, and Guardians

Medical Records Basics

Mental Health, AODA, and Records

Disclosures to Law Enforcement: Confidentiality Considerations

This session will identify the federal and state legal requirements for (and prohibitions on) medical providers in disclosing various scenarios to law enforcement. The lay of the land has changed considerably over the past few years and contains many nuances due to changing federal and state parameters. This session is an attempt to identify the practical answers to the question of when a provider CAN and when a provider MUST disclose certain patient health information to law enforcement. Read more »

Data Breaches and Security Incidents: Effective Preparation and Incident Response

Navigating a Provider's Ability to Charge Copy Fees and a Patient's Right to Access Records

This session will navigate the balance between a medical provider's ability to charge copy fees for providing medical records and obligation to honor a patient's right to access their medical records. This session will also identify the federal and state legal authority (and prohibitions) regarding copy fees as well as provide practical answers to what fees can be charged and to whom. Read more »

Cameras and Patient Recordings: Maintaining Patient Privacy and Confidentiality

This session will provide guidance on how to address the use of cameras and patient recordings within a medical provider's facility consistent with HIPAA and state privacy and confidentiality laws. This session will offer case examples to provide practical insight into the use of cameras and patient recordings and potential traps for HIPAA and state law violations. Read more »