Measles Vaccination and other Preventable Diseases

BCMS and MSNJ both support childhood vaccination, including the MMR vaccination, which is required for children entering school and among a schedule of recommended immunizations before children turn 19 months old. New Jersey's vaccination rate for measles, mumps, and rubella is 95.6 percent for children younger than 3, which is fourth in the country. While Governor Christie was quoted stating that parents should have "some measure of choice" as to whether their children should be vaccinated, he has since clarified that he supports childhood vaccination. Pediatricians and healthcare professionals are unified in support of these vaccinations. This is particularly important as there are now suspected cases of measles in New Jersey.

Read the latest public health alert from the NJDOH.

EBOLA UPDATE

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Public Health Infrastructure, Laboratories and Emergency Preparedness (PHILEP) has set up a single point of contact e-mail address to receive questions/issues regarding Ebola.

NJDOH is requesting that healthcare facilities, Medical Coordination Centers (MCCs), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Local Health Departments (LHDs), Local Information Network Communication System Agencies (LINCS) Agencies, law enforcement, other healthcare continuum stakeholders and anyone needing to reach the 24/7 On-Call Duty Officer at PHILEP regarding Ebola use the following email address: dutyofficer@njlincs.net

Please include "Ebola" in the subject line.

Reporting Reminder for Health Care Providers:

As a reminder, confirmed or suspect cases of any viral hemorrhagic fever, including EVD, should be reported immediately to the local health department where the patient resides. If patient residence is unknown, report to your own local health department. Local health departments are available 24/7. Contact information for local health departments during business hours can be found at: www.localhealth.nj.gov 

Contact information for local health departments after business hours or on weekends can be found at:

http://nj.gov/health/lh/documents/lhd_after_hours_emerg_contact_numbers.pdf

If local health department personnel are unavailable, healthcare providers should report the case to the NJDOH, Communicable Disease Service (CDS) at 609-826-5964, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. On weekends, evenings and holidays, the CDS can be reached at (609) 392-2020.

Reporting Reminder for Local Health Departments:

As a reminder, local health departments that receive notification of a

confirmed or suspect case of any viral hemorrhagic fever, including EVD,

should immediately contact the NJDOH CDS at 609-826-5964, Monday through

Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. On weekends, evenings and holidays, the CDS can

be reached at (609) 392-2020.

PRESCRIPTION BLANK DEADLINE EXTENDED - NOVEMBER 2, 2014

The Medical Society of NJ asked the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) for leniency for practices unable to obtain the new prescription blanks by the original August 18 deadline, due to vendor back-orders. In response to our request, and that of several other groups, the DCA has further extended the deadline to November 2, 2014. Physicians may use the old and/or new prescription blanks through November 2. Only the new prescription blanks may be used effective November 3. Physicians, who have not placed orders for the new blanks, are urged to contact an approved vendor and order immediately. Once you begin using your new prescription blanks, it is important that you destroy your old ones in accordance with DCA guidelines. Please be sure to notify the NJ Drug Control Unit that you have destroyed your old prescription blanks by completing a certification of destruction.

There is no formal deadline for the submission of the Certification of Destruction, however, it should be done within a timely manner after the blanks are destroyed.

Read the DCA's FAQ on prescription blanks.

Update on End-of-Life CME Requirement

Physicians must take two of their required 40 Category 1 CME credits on the topic of end-of-life during each biennial renewal period. MSNJ met with the Board of Medical Examiners this week to discuss the requirement and the process for waivers. The BME expressed its support for the end-of-life training requirement and urged that all physicians take courses on end-of-life. The BME will consider a wide range of topics on end-of-life to meet the new requirement; it has not endorsed specific courses. The BME will not designate certain specialties as exempt from the requirement as the statute requiring end-of-life CME does not support categorical exemptions. However, the BME will accept waiver applications from groups so long as all the members of the group seeking the exemption sign the application.

There is no specific form for the waiver from this or any other exemption or extension of time from CME training requirements. Instead, physicians must send a letter to the BME explaining in detail the reasons that the training has little applicability to his/her practice and that they believe they should be exempt from the training requirement. The BME cautioned that waivers are not freely granted and that historically it has granted extensions of time for CME training, rather than exemptions. Waiver applications must be received by April 30, 2015. MSNJ will update its FAQ on the CME requirement and waiver process.

MSNJ has made arrangements with an on-line resource -  Education in Palliative and End-of-life Care to satisfy the 2 credit end-of-life training requirement via long distance learning - and at a 15% discount to members. Medical Society members, please click here to obtain the promo code.

The following modules are thought to meet the requirements. Each module is designated for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ (cost to Medical Society members about $25.50 per credit)

• Gaps and Elements of Care
• Legal Issues
• Whole Patient Assessment
• Physician Assisted Suicide
• Last Hours of Living
• Withholding/Withdrawing Treatment
• Medical Futility

Choose two that meet your needs!

Prescription Blank Deadline Extended

MSNJ asked the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) for leniency for practices unable to obtain the new prescription blanks by the August 18 deadline, due to vendor back-orders. In response to our request and that of several other groups, the DCA decided to extend the deadline to September 19, 2014 and allow physicians to use the old and/or new prescription blanks from August 19 through September 19. Only the new prescription blanks may be used effective September 20. Physicians, who have not placed orders for the new blanks, are urged to contact an approved vendors and order immediately. Once you begin using your new prescription blanks, it is important that you destroy your old ones in accordance with DCA guidelines. Please be sure to notify the NJ Drug Control Unit that you have destroyed your old prescription blanks by completing a certificate of destruction .  There is no formal deadline for the submission of the Certification of Destruction form, however, it should be done within a timely manner after the blanks are destroyed.

Discount for Medical Society Members