Oregon State Society of American Fall/ Winter 2018 Medical Technologists Volume 35, Issue 2 The Microscoop The Microscoop is published two times a year under the sponsorship of the Oregon State Society of American Medical Technologists-Allied Health Professionals. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and are not necessarily those of AMT or ORSSAMT. The Editor reserves the right to edit any submitted materials. Contents are not to be INSIDE THIS ISSUE reproduced or reprinted without permission of the Editor. The MICROSCOOP-Oregon State Society of American Medical Technologists- ORSSAMT officers .......... 2 Allied Health Professionals. Legislative Report ........... 3 Delegates Report ............ 4 Western District Councillor’s message……5 President’s Message ....... 6 NWMLS 2018 .................... 8 Articles………………….10 Calendar………………...12 AMT– 2018 OREGON STATE SOCIETY OFFICERS Louise Isbell, RMA Susan M. Beard, MT PRESIDENT PRESIDENT– ELECT EDITOR Audrienne Whitley, MT Edna Anderson, MT SECRETARY TREASURER William Dettwyler, MT Susan Potter, MT LEGISLATIVE CHAIR BOARD MEMBER Board MEMBER Sheryl Rounsivill, RMA Marilyn Abertsen, MT Kimberly Cheuront, PhD WESTERN DISTRICT COUNCILLOR PAST PRESIDENT AMT JUDICIAL COUNCILLOR BOARD MEMBER 2 LEGISLATIVE REPORT 2018 AMT NWMLS REPORT October 2018 Legislative Report for the Fall AMT meeting for Oregon Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. Of the many challenges that labs face in the coming years, the most critical one is the PAMA (Patient Access to Medicare Act) concern. This Act initiated by Congress has been to reduce the payment to laboratories selectively over other medical services. The intent of Congress was to pick on a small segment of the Health Care Industry that could not easily combat or fight back these reductions. The original intent was to reduce payments to laboratories by about 100 million dollars. CMS did not follow the intent of Congress and wrote the rules that have resulted in a reduction of close to two thirds of a Billion dollars, approximately $670,000,000. This magnitude of reduction will within a few years reduce the number of laboratories to a very few mega labs that will be able to have a monopoly on the laboratory industry and it will raise havoc with the access of lab services to Medicare recipients. Money will be saved short term as now a Lab courier/phlebotomist is paid about 2 dollars to go out and collect a lab specimen and another $2.94 for the blood draw, costing Medicare about $4.94. In a few years after the small labs are gone and many locations will not have currier service any longer the Hospital Emergency Department will be contacted to send out an ambulance to bring the patient in to the ER, to have the blood drawn and then another ambulance to take the patient back to the Nursing Facility. This 10 to 15 thousand dollar cost will be significantly higher than the present cost of $4.94. Most other concerns for the laboratories will be minor compared to PAMA (Preventing Access to Medicare Act) and the destructive effects that this one Act will have done to Laboratories. Adding to the concerns for laboratories is the shortage of personnel, as the number of new graduates is not keeping up with the demand. Compounding this problem is that the salaries of Techs are now significantly below what the RN’s are paid, and there are less persons wanting to enter a program that is not wage competitive. For a profession that furnishes close to 70% of the information utilized by a physician making a diagnosis, that is a sorry state. My advice, contact your congressperson, have your friends do it also, but it may already be too late. William K. Dettwyler, MT LEGISLATIVE Chair - ORSSAMT 2018 3 DELEGATE REPORT It is always special to attend the AMT convention and reconnect with friends as well meet new members. The scientific program was interesting and relevant. As a 60 year member of AMT I always learn something new in the medical field. All Child abuse is disturbing and the speaker explained “ Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy” form of abuse. The perpetuator is usually the parent of primary caregiver. The perpetuator keeps the child ill by various means. By keeping the child ill they receive attention for caring a chronically sick child. The speaker explained there is a psychiatric condition and it also is a hard form of abuse to prove. “Blood Product Deviation from FDA: Information New Managers Should Know:, The speaker shared the information about what blood product deviation is and what has to be reported to the FDA. It is critical that everyone involved in the manufacture of blood products to the administering of blood products to the patients have the information. The speaker shared what has to be reported , how to report it and where to report it. Finally, “Special Needs of the Geriatric Patient” was helpful in understanding those changes as we age. The speaker explained needs with hearing loss, needs with sight loss and changes in the body. An example of changes is hair loss in some spots and hair gain in other places. The medical staff needs to understand all of the needs and changes in their patents. It will be helpful in helping the patient as well of those in our personal life. I thank the AMT staff and AMT officers, Board of Directors and all of the committees who make the convention terrific every year. Audrienne Whitley, MT DELEGATE REPORT AMT convention was very good as usual this year in Washington DC. I wish more of you could have attended. It is always a pleasure to meet and greet old friends and to make new friends. I attended many sessions but I found I needed to pay attention to this particular class. I went to a class on Melanoma. It is a very deadly and the most common form of skin cancer in the U.S. It can develop any where in the body. Be aware of changes in moles. As in color, asymmetry, diameter etc. It attacks basil cells, and they advised to not use sun tan beds as they increase the possibility of Melanoma, and stay out of the direct sun between 10am and 2pm. UV radiation causes muta- tion in the skin. Especially UV exposure-blistering sunburn before the age of 18. Too much sun when you are young affects you when you are old. In other words if you notice changes of any kind, have it checked out. Care: See your dermatologist who may send you to an oncologist if needed Treatment: Depends on the stage 1,2,3,4. Care could be medication, radiation, chemo or surgery. Thank you for sending me as your RMA delegate to National convention this year. Hope you can attend nest year. Have a good and safe year. 4 Sincerely, Louise Isbell RMA(AMT) WESTERN DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S MESSAGE AMT's 80th Educational Meeting and Educational Program was held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. There were 415 registered members, guests and students in attendance. I hope everyone that had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. and was able to walk around the city, even though it was hot and humid. Some of you might have had the chance to take a tour on their hop on hop off bus. Venture out to see our Nation’s Capital and monuments or maybe you took on the July 4th spectacular at the Capital either way it was another successful AMT convention. Here is some important information I would like to share with you. Award recipients from the Western District received their awards at the awards banquet in Washington, DC as follows: RMA of the Year Nicole Weiss, RMA,RPT,AHI California - Exception Merit Lucy Leyva, RPT Wyoming - Pillar Award Jill Carlson, RMA Colorado – Fr. Ernest, Silva, jr., M. Div, RMA , RPT, AHI, Hawaii – Distinguished Achievement Adrian Rios, RMA California – Silver Service Award Robert L. Newberry, MT Wyoming – Honor Roll State Societies Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Northwest, Oregon, Rocky Mountain – State Society Publication Awards – Journal 3rd place Juanito Naval, MT Editor, New Mexico – Newsletter 1st place Nicole Weiss, RMA,RPT,AHI, Editor California – Editor of the Year Nicole Weiss RMA,RPT,AHI, Editor – Friends of AMT Judy Marchand, New Mexico. Congratulations to you all. Three new members were elected to the Board of Directors. Harry Narine, MT, RPT - CASMET, Martha Hinkel, MT - Rocky Mountain and Francine Orin, RMA-Central Plains were elected to their first term. Your AMT Officers are President: Jeannette Hobson, RMA, RPT, CMAS, AHI; Vice President: Christopher Seay, MT Secretary: Deborah Westervelt, RMA, COLT and Treasurer: Ken Hawker, MT. AMT’s 81st Educational Program and National Meeting will be in Chicago, Illinois at the Chicago Hilton Hotel 720 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 6060 July 1-5, 2019. Room rates will be $ 129 + tax single or double occupancy. Plan your vacation around the AMT national meeting as there is so much to see and do in Chicago. AMT’s 2020 meeting will be held in the Western District. Magnolia and Great Lakes conference October 19-20, 2018 Medical Assistants Recognition Week (MARW) is October 15-19, 2018. Registered Medical Assistants (RMA) will be celebrating the theme “Medical Assistants: At the Heart of Healthcare” Download the 2018 logo and promo kit from the AMT website and help get the word out in your state. Check out the newly released AMTrax video – Quick Guide to AMTrax for CCP, now available for viewing on YouTube. It is about nine minutes in length and is a step-by-step instructional video on how to log your continuing education on AMTrax.