What happens next?
What happens next?
KCMS November News Updates









What Happens When All the Great Doctors Are Gone?

In commemoration of the late Elihu (Eli) Estey, MD
"I fear that medicine won't be the same. The baton will be dropped. Academic medicine will slide even further into the hands of corporate and donor interests. Freedom of inquiry and scholarship will diminish. I recently heard from a colleague who had criticized just one (!) cancer drug trial that their cancer center had advised them to take it easy, as the company had several more trials on site. More of that will come..."
An Op-Ed by Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH

KCMS is a Member Organization 

Founded by physicians for physicians, KCMS is a member organization that survives based on physician member dues payments. Well, it's that time of year again! 
If you haven't already done so, please renew your membership today. Quick & easy payment by just clicking below. Thank you! 
Click HERE to renew TODAY

Firearm Injury Protection

Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center’s Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program (FIPRP) has created a new interactive toolkit on firearm injury and suicide prevention strategies. FIPRP’s mission is to reduce the impact of firearm injury and death on people’s lives through research and collaboration. 
The interactive toolkit details three interventions available to protect yourself and loved ones from firearm injury or suicide: 
  • Firearm Safe Storage provides an effective way to keep you and your family safe. The toolkit includes an interactive map made to help people in crisis identify temporary firearm storage options outside the home. 
  • Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) allow families or law enforcement to petition a judge to restrict individual possession and purchase of firearms using a civil order. 
  • Voluntary Waiver of Firearm Rights (Voluntary Do-Not-Sell) lets people voluntarily and confidentially restrict immediate access to firearm purchase. 

The toolkit contains downloadable videos and information flyers, social media graphics, and links to additional resources. Questions, comments, or feedback?  hiprccom@uw.edu
HIPRC Toolkit Link

CRISIS STATE

Washington has a shortage of mental-health workers and a high demand for treatment. The UW is at the center of efforts to turn the tide.
"At some point in their lives, nearly a quarter of WA residents will struggle with mental health or addiction problems, but nearly half of the state's 39 counties don't have a single psychiatrist or psychologist to help. According to a recent state-funded study, WA has just one mental-health provider for every 360 people."
"There is no family that hasn't been affected by a brain health, mental health or addiction problem at some point in their lives." 
JÜRGEN UNÜTZER, Head of the UW Dept of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Full UW Magazine Article
nQ Medical and EvergreenHealth are looking for Early Parkinson's Disease Patients to Participate in a Study of Remote Digital Assessment Tool Using Naturalistic Typing
More Information about the study







King County Medical Society member, Dr. Amish Dave, joined Rainier Avenue Radio’s Tony B. to discuss the importance of blood lead testing and how environmental racism has led to higher rates of lead poisoning in BIPOC communities.
Click HERE to view YouTube video of interview

COVID-19 Misinformation

The Washington Medical Commission’s (WMC) position on COVID-19 prevention and treatment is that COVID-19 is a disease process like other disease processes, and as such, treatment and advice provided by physicians and physician assistants will be assessed in the same manner as any other disease process.
Treatments and recommendations regarding this disease that fall below the standard of care as established by medical experts, federal authorities, and legitimate medical research are potentially subject to disciplinary action. Read the full statement here.

Health Equity Advisory Committee

The WMC is in the process of reviewing its policies, guidelines, and interpretive statements to ensure healthcare equity for all patients regardless of race, ethnicity, language, religion, age, spiritual practice, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic class, and mental or physical status. Their next meeting is on November 16th. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can submit your written comments by completing this form.
More About the WMC Health Equity Committee

In Memoria

We regret that we missed the obituaries for some of our friends and colleagues. We are taking the opportunity to share now. Our sincere apologies. Nancy
Joseph Gruss  (2019)
Thomas F Carey (2020) 
Charles E Norton  (2020)
John Hunholz (2021) 
Robert H. Rudolph  (2021) 
PLEASE, RENEW WITH KCMS TODAY
Contact Us
info@kcmsociety.org 
200 Broadway Suite 200 | Seattle, WA 98122 United States
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