News - December 2023UTMB Announces the First-Ever Combined Emergency Medicine/Aerospace Medicine Residency ProgramGalveston, TX – December 12, 2023 - The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) announced the launch of the first-ever 4-year Emergency Medicine/Aerospace Medicine Combined Residency Program in the nation. Recently approved by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Preventive Medicine, this innovative program integrates the essential aspects of Emergency and Aerospace Medicine to offer a unique educational and training experience. The program is designed to equip doctors with a dual skill set, preparing them for top-tier emergency medical care both on earth and in space. Graduates will be adept at addressing the health and medical challenges of space travel, contributing to advancements in aerospace medicine. The curriculum includes immersive rotations, hands-on experiences, and collaborations with leading experts and organizations in the field. Residents will have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research, policy development, and train to provide support for operational space missions. Applications are now being accepted for its inaugural class of two Emergency Medicine/Aerospace residents, commencing in July 2024. To learn more about the new program, visit www.utmb.edu/spph/aerospace-medicine/residency-program/... for more details, including eligibility criteria (US citizenship) and the application process. Interested candidates should also email Dr. Dietrich Jehle at [email protected] and Yvette Schultz at [email protected] to express their intent to apply. Help Stop the Cut to Medicare Physician PaymentsCongress needs to hear directly from emergency physicians like you by the end of the year to prevent a scheduled 3.4% cut to Medicare physician reimbursement. As you urge Congress to stop the cut, ACEP continues to work with lawmakers to identify policy solutions to provide long-term stability. Take Action Now. Win for Christus Spohn EM Residency ProgramThe Nueces County Hospital District approved funding for the Christus Spohn Emergency Medicine (EM) Residency Program in a unanimous 6-0 vote. The decision includes safeguards against potential closures, allowing for the transfer of the program to another institution, if necessary. The approval also permits the recruitment of full classes of 12 residents for the next six (6) years, marking a significant achievement as the program successfully reverses a closure decision. The decision to close the EM Residency Program had initially raised concerns, leading to interventions by organizations including TCEP, ACEP, and the Nueces County Medical Society. ACEP urged the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System to consider various factors related to their workforce study, highlighting the importance of EM residency training programs in enhancing the quality of care, addressing social determinants of health, and preparing for emergencies. ACEP also emphasized the enduring benefits of such programs beyond simple financial analysis. In response to the closure announcement, the Texas College of Emergency Physicians (TCEP) opposed the decision and took a lead role in educating the public and hospital administrators about the program's significance. TCEP engaged in discussions with ACEP leaders, legislators, and the media, with President Dr. Sandra Williams actively advocating against the closure. TCEP emphasized the program's crucial role in preparing emergency medicine physicians for critical and life-threatening situations, asserting the collective responsibility to prevent its closure. The approval of funding by the Nueces County Hospital District represents a positive turn of events, ensuring the continued existence of the EM Residency Program. FTC Considers Proposals on Mergers and Noncompete Clauses(11/10 Medscape) According to the FTC, banning noncompete clauses would increase workers' earnings by approximately $300 billion per year, save consumers as much as $148 billion in healthcare costs, and double the number of companies founded by former workers in the same field. Read Article » |