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Welcome to the
Bucks County Medical Society
Community Bulletin Board
for the
Physician
FROSTBITE PREVENTION
With frigid temperatures hitting this week, the Institute for Good Medicine at the Pennsylvania Medical Society
has released its latest Web show on frostbite
Click Here for details and links
CANCER AWARENESS
Click Here for the articlees
SKIN CANCER BULLETIN
Summer 2008
With summer just around the corner, the Pennsylvania Medical Society recently collaborated with the Pennsylvania
Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery to raise awareness of sunscreen use and skin cancer prevention.
Pasted below is the news release that was issued today.
Chuck Moran
Director, Media Relations
Pennsylvania Medical Society
MYTH:
SUNSCREEN IS ALL YOU NEED TO PREVENT SKIN CANCER
Harrisburg, PA - As the weather warms up and Pennsylvanians emerge from hibernation, we dust off the sunscreen,
dab it on and head outside -- feeling safe from the sun.
But we're not, says the Pennsylvania Medical Society. "There is no such thing as a healthy tan. UV rays can
kill you," notes dermatologist John Laskas, Jr., MD, current president of the PA Academy of Dermatology and
Dermatologic Surgery, and Pennsylvania Medical Society member. "It doesn't mean you have to stay in the basement.
But it does mean you need to do more than apply a little
sunscreen."
Fellow dermatologist and Medical Society member Bruce Brod, MD, agrees. "Unfortunately, sunscreen gives us
a false sense of security. It's like driving a car. A seatbelt can save your life, but you also need to drive responsibly.
The same goes for sun exposure - you can apply sunscreen, but that alone won't prevent skin cancer, " adds
Dr. Brod.
According to the Medical Society's recent statewide Patient Poll, more than 60 percent of respondents indicated
that they rarely wore sunscreen, even though they also stated that they were concerned about cancer. Between 2001
and 2005, more than 2000 Pennsylvanians died of melanoma of the skin and 60 percent were men[1]. The Patient Poll
also showed that males were less likely to wear sunscreen than females, putting them at significantly higher risk
for skin cancer.
But Pennsylvanians don't need to worry as much as people who live in warmer climates, right? Contrary to popular
belief, skin cancer is not just a summer issue. UV rays damage the skin 365 days a year, reflecting off snow and
passing through car windows. There is also a popular misconception that a "base tan" can make you better
protected as you go outdoors. "Patients come back from vacation and tell me proudly that they had a good "
base" and used sunscreen. And I tell them that the fact that you're tan means there's skin damage," adds
Dr. Brod.
Both physicians are particularly concerned about the use of tanning beds and booths, especially by teens. The intense
UV rays cause significant skin damage which results in premature aging of the skin and a higher incidence of melanoma
- the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Dr. Laskas advises patients to be reasonable. "Don't sunbathe, indoors or outdoors. When you do go outdoors,
wear a sunblock that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. If you're bald, wear a hat and if you absolutely have
to be tan, try some of the new self-tanning products to get that 'golden glow'."
Sun Safety Tips
* Keep sunscreen handy -- bathroom, purse, car. Apply at least one ounce first thing in the morning before you
go outside. Reapply often if you are outdoors and immediately after swimming. Choose an SPF 30 or higher that protects
against both UVA and UVB rays.
* Cover up. Wear a hat that covers your ears. Wear sunglasses. Wear a lightweight shirt and pants that cover as
much skin as possible.
* Avoid peak hours. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest. And stay in the
shade whenever possible.
* Avoid tanning salons. Ten minutes in a tanning bed equals two hours in the sun.
* Examine your skin regularly. Also schedule a yearly exam with a physician.
To learn more about skin cancer prevention, visit the Pennsylvania Medical Society's Family Health & Wellness
website by Clicking Here
EMBARGOED: New Pennsylvania law
defines end-of-life decision making process
January 19, 2004
Starting January 29, a new Pennsylvania law will help define the
end-of-life care decision making process. The Pennsylvania Medical
Society has been working to bring physicians and hospitals up-to-date with
the new law. In addition, we'd like to help educate the public on the new
law.
As part of our efforts, on January 28, the Pennsylvania Medical
Society will have ready at www.myfamilywellness.org information
available to assist the public. Pasted below is an embargoed news
release related to the new law and the efforts of the Pennsylvania
Medical Society.
Chuck Moran
Director, Media Relations
Pennsylvania Medical Society
Bulletin
July 19, 2002
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND NEW LAW REQUIRING MENINGITIS SHOTS
Statement attributable to Howard A. Richter, MD, President, Pennsylvania Medical Society
On June 28, Governor Schweiker approved a bill that requires students living in college housing units in Pennsylvania
to be vaccinated for meningitis or sign a waiver. Within the new law are exceptions for religious and other reasons.
The student may sign a waiver for exemption if the college provides detailed information to the student on the
risks associated with meningococcal disease.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society recommends that students and their families
listen closely for instructions from their college. Colleges are not required to provide the vaccination, although
some may make it available at a cost. Students who compete in a fall sport and must report early to begin practice
should especially pay close attention for information from their colleges so that they can join their teammates
on time.
While the vaccination will not protect the student from every form of meningitis, the Pennsylvania Medical Society
recommends all college students talk to their doctor and consider being vaccinated.
To avoid last minute stress to students who may feel overwhelmed just before
heading off to college later this summer, the Pennsylvania Medical Society suggests that students not seeking a
waiver schedule their shots soon. This will also allow medical offices to ensure a proper supply of the vaccination.
Plus, it may avoid problems later with starting classes should the student have difficulty scheduling the vaccination.
Also, since colleges are not responsible to pay for the vaccination, students should find out if their health insurers
will cover the cost or if they will need to pay for it themselves.
Whether students are attending college in Pennsylvania or another state, the Pennsylvania Medical Society wants
all students to begin the school year on a positive note. The Society encourages all students to make sure vaccinations
are up to date.
Bulletin
May 31, 2002
PATIENTS AND DOCTORS. Preserve the relationship: IN MEDICAL EMERGENCY, WALLET CARD WORTH
MORE THAN MONEY
* Patient Safety is Goal, Says Pennsylvania Medical Society
Of all the items in your wallet - bank cards, credit cards,currency, etc. - the most valuable could be a simple
piece of paper withsome hard-to-pronounce words on it. Listing your prescription drugs and medical history on a
wallet card and carrying it with you at all times could save your life in a medical emergency, according to the
Pennsylvania Medical Society. That's why the Medical Society and its member physicians are providing complimentary
medical history wallet cards to consumers throughout Pennsylvania.
"If you're rushed by ambulance to a trauma center following an accident, doctors won't know what medications
you're using, and you might not be in any condition to tell them," says Daniel J. Glunk, M.D., a Medical Society
member and an internist with the Susquehanna Health System in Williamsport. "Having that vital information
in your wallet for health care personnel to find when searching for identification will assist them in administering
the correct treatment without delay," he adds. The name of the drugs, dosages, and prescribing doctor should
appear on the card. So should a history of allergies, chronic diseases, and major surgeries.
For your copy of the medical history wallet card, see your Pennsylvania Medical Society member physician or contact
the Business Resource Center of the Pennsylvania Medical Society toll-free at 877 BRC-2425. To find out if your
doctor is a Medical Society member, you may go to www.doctorsoffice.org
and enter your physician's name.
The medical history wallet card is an effective way for patients to provide doctors with sufficient clinical data.
How else would a doctor know that an unconscious person is allergic to a medication that could make him or her
critically ill?
Taking any over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements? Indicate them on the card, too. They may not
mix well with a medication generally used to treat your condition, prompting the doctor to prescribe an alternate
remedy.
Even in routine medical situations, the card comes in handy. A doctor, perhaps a specialist, whom you're seeing
for the first time will want to know what medications you're taking. Forget to bring them along?
Can't remember the names and dosages? No problem. Present the card, and
the doctor will have an important piece of your medical profile in hand. Your dentist can extract useful information
from the card, too, especially if treatment includes a prescription drug, such as antibiotics for a gum infection.
"The card bridges the gap in transferring information from one medical caregiver to another," says Dr.
Glunk. "It facilitates a smooth flow of health information."
While he recommends medical history cards for everyone, Dr. Glunk says older people in particular should carry
one, since they're more likely to be taking several medications. Also, parents ought to compile a card for each
child, recording chronic medical problems and immunizations as well.
The card's value depends on how current it's kept. List medications as soon as you begin them, and remove those
you're no longer taking. Add or delete temporary medical conditions, nonprescription drugs, and natural supplements.
Ask your family doctor to review your card during regular checkups. When the card fills up, transfer only current
information to a new one.
The best place for the card is right there in your wallet, along with your driver's license and other personal
identification. You'll always know where it is, and it's the first place emergency medical personnel are likely
to look when seeking an unconscious patient's identity. Make sure your name is clearly indicated on the cover of
the card, and insert it into a photo window to give it added visibility.
Dr. Glunk envisions the day when medical information will be stored on a computer chip embedded in a wallet card,
much like a credit card. The technology exists - in fact, such cards are already being used in some places - but
the expense may prevent it from becoming common practice for a while.
In the meantime, Dr. Glunk thinks the current low-tech version can serve a vital purpose by filling in the information
blanks and enabling patients to communicate with doctors even when temporarily silenced by illness or injury.
Bulletin
MEMO FROM THE BUCKS CO HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT:
* The new adult health insurance program (adultBasic), funded by the National Tobacco Settlement, will begin coverage
July 2002.
* Enrollment is limited and first-come, first-served basis for those meeting eligiblity criteria
* Please make copies of the flier and distribute
them broadly to uninsured Bucks County adults.
The Bucks Co Health Imporovement Project is a consortium of the 7 acute care hospitals in Bucks County, the Bucks
County Medical Society, and the County Health Department, working together to improve the health of Bucks County's
residents.
Click here for a word document of the flier
Click here for the html
version of the flier
Serving the Physicians and Residents of
Bucks County PA since 1848
