http://www.tdcpeople.com/standard

Congratulations to our winners at last week's quarterly meeting!

Amy Daneke - Direct Services Support of the Quarter

Stephanie Glass - Recruiter of the Quarter

Mark Wise - Marketer of the Quarter

Matt Houser, MBA  |  Recruiter Consultant
(214) 442-4276 |  mhouser@deltalocums.com

On 12/23/09 we learned that nearly 5 million doses of nasal spray (swine flu) vaccine had been recalled because they lose potency over time.  With this issue it is necessary to question the credibility of the vaccine and the manufacturer (MedImmune).  Also, where do rights the rights of citizens in their choice not to be vaccinated take precedent over a company, government or other entity that wants to require vaccinations?  Are we really being provided accurate information from a manufacturer that can’t even get its shelf life accurate, necessitating a mass recall?  Is the vaccine even strong enough to do what it claims?  Is the manufacturer just covering its own self interest?  Some groups want to make the vaccine mandatory for US citizens.  We should ask, is this necessary and is it a violation of our rights?
 
If we search “mandatory swine flu vaccinations” on yahoo or google, a disturbing amount of hits appear describing entities that want mandatory vaccinations.
This is a violation of rights, and other major countries such as Canada have struck down mandatory vaccinations.
Below is an example of this one such instance of the many internet hits.  
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/25/AR2009092503854.html
 
Here are some basics about the swine flu vaccine and why it should not be mandatory:

• Scientific data suggests the vaccination is not as safe or effective as we are told.  The vaccine is not PROVEN safe or effective, and infections have occurred as a result of vaccinations.
• Secondary transmission of a live virus vaccine, may actually increase transmission of the virus.  It has 2.3 times more genetic mutability and added adjuvant toxicity than a natural virus because it includes Squalene, which has proven autoimmune and inflammatory effects.
• Based on scientific evidence, mass mandatory vaccinations with a highly mutable live virus could actually activate a real and lethal pandemic rather than prevent it.  
• Analysis from the British Medical Journal article titled, Influenza Vaccination: Policy Versus Evidence, presents evidence from a systematic review based on a metaanalysis of all the research that shows inactivated vaccines have little or no effect on preventing or minimizing the flu.
• Inconclusive scientific data as to the vaccines effectiveness is one reason the Canadian government chose to stop debate on making the swine flu vaccine mandatory.  All people still have a right, whether religious, constitutional  or medical, not to be vaccinated against their will.

Zach Worley  | Recruiting Consultant
(877) 456-2867 x4270  |  zworley@deltalocums.com

That’s right folks, it is blowing snow all across this country.  Last week it was the Northeastern US (maybe you saw snow piled up during the NFL games there).  It looks like the upper Midwest is going to get slammed this week.  What does this mean for facilities that use locums physicians?  It means being flexible with what it takes to get a doctor to a facility in a blizzard.  Just today we had to upgrade a physician’s rental car to a 4x4 so he could navigate his way through the white to get to the ER.  Doctors in four wheel drives… awesome.  

So if things have to change in the 11th hour due to weather, roll with the punches; there just might have to be a Jeep in the physician’s parking lot.

The internal revenue service has announced the new mileage reimbursement rate for 2010.  This year the mileage rate will be dropping from fifty five cents per mile in 2009, to fifty cents per mile for the 2010 year.  The change in rate as stated by the IRS is due in part by lower transportation costs as compared to a year ago.

[ IRS Announces 2010 Standard Mileage Rates - irs.gov ]

DALLAS, TEXAS – November 12, 2009 – The Delta Companies recently competed for the American Staffing Association’s VOICE (vision, originality, innovation, creativity, and effectiveness) awards, honoring the best communications campaigns in the staffing industry.  

The firm’s in-house advertising team took home 11 awards in eight categories and won Best of Show, given to the best overall single entry in each class.  The Delta Companies has taken the top honor twice in the last three years.  

The enterprise and each of The Delta Companies’ four healthcare staffing business units were recognized in the categories of print advertising, specialty advertising, multimedia, media relations, web site, public service, publication, and company identification.

No other staffing firm was honored with more awards in this year’s competition.  The Delta Companies has now won a total of 24 VOICE Awards in the last four years, including twice winning Best of Show.

ASA VOICE Awards winners were honored October 23rd at Staffing World® 2009, the ASA convention and expo, in Orlando, Florida.

For more information on The Delta Companies, please visit www.TDCpeople.com.

About The Delta Companies
The Delta Companies offer permanent and temporary staffing solutions nationwide for physicians and allied healthcare professionals through four companies:  Delta Physician Placement, Delta Healthcare Placement, Delta Locum Tenens and Delta Flex Travelers.

Contact:    Marc Bowles
Chief Marketing Officer, The Delta Companies
        Four Hickory Centre
        1755 Wittington Place, Suite 175
        Dallas, TX  75234
        (800) 521-5060 x4102
        PR@tdcpeople.com
        http://www.TDCpeople.com

James Heil  |  Director of Recruiting
(877) 456-2867 x4212  |  jheil@deltalocums.com

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Clay Smith from Vanderbilt University, who exhibited next to us at last month’s American College of Emergency Physician’s Scientific Assembly in Boston.  Upon learning about Keeping Up, I thought I’d use my next blog posting to share this great resource with all our readers.  Here’s a note from Clay to find out more:

Are you tired of feeling guilty about that stack of journals you need to read?  We are too!  That’s why we started Keeping Up.  The field of Emergency Medicine is so broad, it can feel overwhelming to stay current with the medical literature.  Keeping Up is an educational tool developed by the Vanderbilt University Department of Emergency Medicine to help you keep up with Emergency Medicine literature.  Every week, we bring you a concise written summary of the ten most important, most current articles relevant to Emergency Medicine.  Not only that, we also record these as a 25-30 minute podcast that you can download and listen to while you commute or exercise!  Podcasts have both audio and visual content.  If we are talking about Sgarbossa’s criteria, you will see a left bundle branch block ECG on screen!  The articles we choose are NOT esoteric.  We work full time in the ED and know what articles are important and will change your practice.  Also, the written and audio summaries take a just-the-facts approach, are fast-moving, and copiously sprinkled with laughter!  This is not meant to be journal club.  We don’t dwell on sleepy statistics and minutiae.  Of course, we tell you the key limitations and point out the major flaws but focus primarily on the important facts of the articles and on how they will change what you do on your next shift in the ED.  We search 45 journals, present 10 articles per week (50 weeks/year), cover 500 articles per year, and provide 25 CME credits per year.  Each article ends with a one-liner bullet summary, and all ten bullet points are summarized at the end in < 90 seconds!  Finally, we offer all this free until 2010!  Starting in 2010 we will charge $0.99/week ($49.50/year) for full content, including all archived content, or $1.98/week ($99/year) for full content plus 25 CME credits.  So stop feeling guilty and start Keeping Up with Emergency Medicine literature!”

Clay B. Smith, MD FAAP, FACEP
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics
Department of Emergency Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
(615)936-0093
http://www.keepingup.org

Jennifer Roe | Senior Recruiting Consultant
(877) 456-2867 x 4237  |  jroe@deltalocums.com

Congressional health care negotiators are considering proposals to foster alternatives to medical malpractice lawsuits.  Senators on the Finance Committee are looking at the possibility of special courts in which a judge with medical expertise would hear malpractice cases.  The theory is that medical judges wouldn't be as easily swayed by emotion as are lay juries. Other possibilities include the option of arbitration, as well as some liability protection for doctors who follow "best practice" clinical standards in treating their patients.
 
Many economists are skeptical that malpractice insurance premiums paid by doctors are major reasons for soaring health care costs.  But the issue looms large politically because many conservatives in both parties are convinced that doctors routinely order up tests their patients don't need because they're afraid of getting sued.
 
President Obama said that while he doesn't see malpractice changes as a "silver bullet," he's talked to enough doctors to suspect that fear of litigation contributes to unnecessary costs. He's directing the Health and Human Services Department to provide funding for pilot programs to test some alternatives to litigation.

[ Health Negotiators Look at Malpractice Changes - ABCnews.com ]

The latest, free issue of The Physician Recruiting Standard is now available, featuring the latest compensation information, placement data, market trends and analysis. Follow the link below to download your free issue.

[ The Physician Recruiting Standard ]