If you have not already done so, please remit your 2010-2011 POMA membership dues to the Central Office immediately. If your dues are not paid, your contact information will not appear in the Directory.
Osteopathic physicians are reminded that the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine (SBOM) requires 100 CME credits for the 2008-2010 licensure cycle, which ends October 31. A minimum of 20 total credits in Category 1A AOA is required. Additionally, physicians must earn 12 patient safety credits (either Category 1 or Category 2). Patient safety credits must be documented by an AOA, ACCME, AMA or AAFP accredited sponsor (institution, health system, professional association, etc.) Physicians who are board certified should contact their certifying board to obtain the number of credits required in their primary specialty.
Please note: If you are a POMA member, we can affirm how many credits you have earned. However, if you have not completed your CME reporting forms and returned them to the POMA Central Office, you will not receive credit.
Physicians may download a licensure renewal application online at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/state_board_of_osteopathic_medicine/12517.
The POMA website allows active POMA members to access their CME credits, pay membership dues and convention registration online, view members-only news, view the POMA Newsletter and The Journal of the POMA archives, and complete online surveys. Non-POMA members may view the public site, but they are restricted from the privileges of active POMA members.
Registration/Login Instructions for POMA Online First Time Users
• Visit www.poma.org.
• Click the Register button on the upper right hand side of the page.
• Enter your AOA number in the box provided.
• Select your POMA membership status by clicking the appropriate button and click Continue.
• Select your osteopathic medical school and graduation year from the pull-down list to verify your identity. Click Continue.
• Verify the information provided and complete the remaining fields.
• Once done, click Register. Log out of the website then log back in to access the CME feature of the website.
Accessing Your CME Credits
• Only active POMA members are able to access the CME page on the new POMA website.
• Click Login on the upper right hand side of the page.
• Enter your AOA number and password then click Login.
• Select My Continuing Medical Education Credits from the POMA drop down menu, or click Go next to View CME Records in the POMA Membership box on the left side of the page.
• You will then be redirected to the continuing medical education page, where your credits will appear.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania law, it is illegal for physicians to stop or withhold medical treatment unless a patient has an advance directive or do not resuscitate order. The patient must also meet several other criteria.
Under Pennsylvania law, it is assumed that an adult patient would want all medical treatment possible unless otherwise stated in a living will or health care power of attorney that allows another person to make decisions on the patient’s behalf. It is also assumed that a mentally competent patient has the right to make decisions on treatment and refuse those that would prolong dying.
Advance directives can only be honored when an adult patient has an end stage medical condition caused by illness or injury, or physicians have determined the adult patient is in an irreversible coma.
Physicians who do not feel they can honor the wishes of an adult patient as stated in a directive should transfer the case to a physician who can.
The law also states that medication may be administered to ease pain. The law does not condone mercy killing, euthanasia or assisted suicide.
For more information, please see the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website at www.health.state.pa.us.
Physicians are reminded that if they change their office address, they are required to report their new address to the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine within 10 days.
If you have an email address, or if your email address has recently changed, please forward it to the POMA Central Office at prc@poma.org.
Osteopathic physicians are reminded that under the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine’s rules and regulations, as found in the Pennsylvania Code §25.212, “(b) Advertising, letterhead, publications or transmissions shall designate or indicate the licensee’s school of medical practice by the term ‘D.O.,’ ‘doctor of osteopathy,’ ‘osteopathic physician’ or ‘osteopathic physician and surgeon.’” These provisions were issued under section 16 of the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act (63 P.S. §271.16); and section 902(b) of the Health Care Services Malpractice Act (40 P. S. §1301.902(b)). The provisions of §25.212 were adopted January 10, 1992, and became effective on January 11, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 209.
The POMA has received more information on an article that appeared in the June 2002 issue of the D.O. Magazine. The article stated that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) was requiring physicians to report their patients to the Bureau of Licensing when they were placed on medication that could impair their driving ability. According to PENNDOT, physicians only need to report patients if they have a mental disorder or a condition, such as seizures or diabetes, that, if left uncontrolled, could cause impairment to driving. PENNDOT requires physicians to report any of their patients that are not taking medication to control these disorders. They also strongly suggest reporting them even if they are on medication.