NEW: Mass Medical Society Policy Opposes Youth Use of E-Cigarettes
Monday, December 09, 2013
The Interim Meeting brought together hundreds of physicians from across the Bay State to consider specific resolutions on public health policy, health care delivery, and organizational administration by the Society’s House of Delegates, its policy-making body. The resolutions adopted by the delegates become policies of the organization.
The policies adopted by the organization include:
Electronic Cigarettes
Delegates voted for a resolution stating that the MMS opposes the marketing, sales, and use of e-cigarettes and other nicotine delivery products among youth, particularly for persons under the age of 18, and that the MMS continue to work with state lawmakers and officials to develop strategies to prevent the marketing, sale, and use of those products for individuals within that age group. In voting for the policy, MMS noted that the use of electronic cigarettes by U.S. middle and high-school students (grades 6-12) more than doubled from 3.3 percent in 2011 to 6.8 percent in 2012 according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The Society also expressed concern that the nicotine containing vapor generated from the battery powered e-cigarettes is often flavored, which can make them more appealing to young people and that the use of e-cigarettes has the potential negative impact of nicotine on adolescent brain development and may encourage young non-smokers to become users of conventional cigarettes or other tobacco products.
Use of Antibiotics
Declaring that the widespread use of antibiotics in animal husbandry presents a threat to personal and public health by increasing the resistance to antibiotics, physicians resolved to educate the public about the antibiotic resistance that arises from excessive use of non-therapeutic doses of antibiotics in farm animals and to advocate for legislation and regulations that prohibit the use of non-therapeutic antibiotics in farm animals in the Commonwealth.
Accountable Care Organizations
With the rapid growth of ACOs as a new model of health care delivery, the MMS adopted an extensive policy on physician participation in these organizations to include such considerations as eligibility, use of health information technology, transparency of information, governance, management and administration, legal and contractual compliance, and standards for quality of care and clinical practice.
Physician Preparedness and Disaster Response
Stating that emergency preparedness and disaster response training are essential parts of public health and with the marathon bombing still in memory, delegates voted to engage physicians in preparedness efforts and to support the development of emergency preparedness and disaster response resources for physicians.
Physicians also voted for resolutions to begin developing guidelines and policies on health information technology mandates imposed by statutes and regulations and to advocate for a more open and affordable process to meeting those mandates; to advocate for legislation to provide funding for the Massachusetts Perinatal Quality Collaborative, a three-year-old agency that brings attention to perinatal public health and safety issues; and to establish principles on maintenance of licensure for physicians. Other resolutions were related to the organization’s bylaws and administrative procedures.
Related Slideshow: Central MA Non-Profit Hospital CEO Pay, From Least To Most
Here are the total annual compensation amounts for the CEOs of the four non-profit hospital groups in Central Massachusetts. The source is each hospital group’s latest available 990 Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, which is filed with the IRS and available at Guidestar.org. The CEOs are shown here, from lowest to highest total compensation.
Related Articles
- NEW: MA Medical Society Testifies on Medical Marijuana Regulations
- MA Medical Society Urges Stricter Regulation of E-Cigarettes
- Mass. Medical Society Releases Annual Access to Care Study
- NEW: MA Medical Society Cites Concerns on Medical Marijuana Law
- NEW: Mass Medical Society Urges Parents to Learn About Child Sex Abuse
- Mass Medical Society Approves Of DPH Marijuana Regulations
- NEW: Massachusetts Medical Society Issues New Policy on Medical Marijuana
- Mass Medical Society: New Medical Marijuana Regulations “Raise Concerns”
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It