1. sports
2. golf

Service ~ Education ~ Advocacy
January 2008
TIGER WOODS
AND MICHIGAN
OPHTHALMOLOGY
In July of 2006, Tiger Woods won his 11th major
championship, The British Open. So what is the big
deal? We have all come to know Tiger as one of golf ’s
biggest icons. In a game where the best champions lose
much more than they win, we have come to expect that
Tiger will win every tournament he plays. We are even
surprised to see anyone else holding the winner’s cup on
Sunday afternoon. So why was this win so special and
what does it have to do with ophthalmology in Michigan
in 2008? Let me explain.
The British Open for Tiger Woods was a watershed event
for him personally and professionally. His story is worthy
of study for anyone interested in learning more about
strength of character and success. In May of the same
year, Tiger lost his father, mentor and coach to a battle
with cancer. He had been in a “slump” over the last several
months, not even making the cut at the 2006 U.S. Open
one month previously. There were even whispers of how
his success thus far could not be sustained and that maybe
we were witnessing the decline of a great athlete in an ever
competitive world. So it was special for golf fans to see
Tiger roar back with the relentless, steady play that has
worn his competitors down and has been the trademark of
his golf career. Chris DeMarco birdied the 13th hole on the
back 9 the last day of the tournament and came within one
shot of the lead only to have Tiger birdie 14 and 15 and
say “see you later”. It was a storybook ending to witness
him collapse into tears with his arms around his caddy
and his family as the last putt rolled into the cup. Even
though these aspects of the story would be enough for a
Hollywood movie, it is not what caught my attention the
most. So what else could be more instructive?
What captivated me the most
with this story is what Tiger
Woods didn’t do. He did not W. Scott Wilkinson, MD
use his 335 cc. Nike driver.
President
That’s right. No long balls.
Now no one has a bigger reputation for hitting the long
ball than Tiger Woods. His average drive is 299.3 yards
off the tee. There is no one who likes the adrenalin
surge or “rush” of hitting the long ball more than Tiger
Woods. (Incidentally, I have a theory on Tiger’s thriving
under pressure as really being an expression of a need
for an adrenaline surge. He actually has the world record
for the tallest bungie jump – out of a helicopter 10,000
feet above the Grand Canyon.) Tiger has shifted the
old school paradigm of “nice and easy” off the tee to
strength, club speed, and distance off the tee. I can also
recall a clip of Tiger actually driving the ball to the green
on a par 4, and later apologizing to the group in front
of him for “hitting into them.” My point here is that no
one enjoys hitting the long ball more than Tiger Woods
- but not at this tournament. Tiger determined early on
that the course was dry, hot and would “run” more than
usual. He calculated that the course was set up such
that if he hit his usual drive off the tee, he would have a
higher likelihood of landing in a hazard or the rough.
The rough or the hazards at the Royal Liverpool Golf
Club are very difficult places to be. Instead, however, he
used an iron off the tee and hit short of the hazard with
a subsequent shot to the green. While others battled the
tall grass and sand traps of the British countryside, Tiger
was hitting a long iron to the green for his second shot.
Smart. Smart enough to win the championship.
TIGER WOODS, continued on p 3
INSIDE THIS EDITION
2
Calendar of Events
4
Avoiding Identity Theft
6
American Academy of
Ophthalmology’s Annual Meeting
7
Are You an EyeCare America
Volunteer?
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2008
31 Saturday
January
17 Thursday
Identity Theft LOSS Prevention workshop
Somerset Inn, Troy
“A Night for Sight” International Wine Auction
Ford Conference and Event Center, Dearborn
June
19 Saturday Board of Directors Orientation & Strategic Planning
Meeting, St. Joseph Hospital, Pontiac
12-14 The 5th Eye & the Chip World Congress on Artificial Vision
Westin Hotel, Detroit Metropolitan Airport
registration: www.acteva.com/go/eyeson
21 Monday
Identity Theft LOSS Prevention workshop
Grand Rapids location TBD
17 Tuesday
24 Thursday
Identify Theft LOSS Prevention workshop
MSMS Headquarters, East Lansing
18 Wednesday
February
20 Wednesday
22-24 Friday – Sunday
26 Tuesday
27 Wednesday
28 Thursday
Board of Directors meeting
CME & Family Ski Meeting
Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville
Coding Seminar
MSMS Headquarters, East Lansing
Coding Seminar
Somerset Inn, Troy
Coding Seminar
Grand Rapids location TBD
March
19 Wednesday
Board of Directors meeting
April
5-9 Saturday – Wednesday
16 Wednesday
17 Friday
22-25
Tuesday – Friday
ASCRS annual meeting
Chicago, IL
Board of Directors meeting
Administrative Staff Day
Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth
AAO MidYear Forum
J. W. Marriott Hotel, Washington, DC
May
21 Wednesday
23 Friday
Board of Directors meeting
Region II MSEPS on the Road
Air Zoo, Portage
30-31 Friday-Saturday 80th Annual Ophthalmology Spring Conference
Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor
24 Monday
Region IV MSEPS on the Road
Mediteranno, Ann Arbor
Board of Directors meeting
Regions V & VI MSEPS on the Road
location TBD
August
7 Thursday
Board of Directors meeting
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
7-9 Thursday – Saturday
40th Annual Conference
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
September
16 Tuesday
Region III MSEPS on the Road
Temple Hotel, Saginaw
17 Wednesday
Board of Directors meeting
October
15 Wednesday
Board of Directors meeting
23 Thursday
24 Friday
Region I MSEPS on the Road
Trattoria Stella, Traverse City
Region VII MSEPS on the Road
Capers, Landmark Inn, Marquette
November
10-13 Monday - Thursday
AAO Annual Meeting
Atlanta, GA
19 Wednesday
August 12-15
August 4-7
Board of Directors meeting
2009
41st Annual Conference
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
2010
42nd Annual Conference
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
If your organization has an event you would like listed, please
contact the MSEPS office at 517-333-6739 or penglerth@msms.org.
Page 2 • November 2007
TIGER WOODS, continued from cover
Most of you see where I am going with this by now. In Michigan, in
ophthalmology we face many challenges today. Some would say that we are
in a “slump” and we are witnessing the decline of a profession. Pressure on
reimbursement from government and third party payers has aggravated all of
us. Optometrists expanding their scope of practice by legislation rather than
education seems inherently unfair. If that is not enough to discourage you, the
sagging Michigan economy in general is enough to take the wind out of the sails
of any thinking human being.
But this is where “Tiger Wood’s thinking” is instructive. As ophthalmologists,
we are among the best and the brightest that American medical schools can offer.
We are smart, resourceful, focused, and skilled. We possess a tried tenacity that
will serve us very well. That is if we use all of our skills and strengths wisely.
Our strategies, business planning and efficiencies must be better than previous
generations’. We must be willing, at least occasionally, to put away the “long ball”
of overly expensive technology without a smart or useful purpose. We must look
for unmet needs and new ways to improve the quality of our patients’ lives. We
must be careful in the planning and the building of our facilities as to not “hit the
hazards” of debt and overcapacity. We must take a multidisciplinary approach
to our profession, marrying the medical/technical skills to business acumen and
common sense.
I am reminded of Tiger Woods describing his dad’s advice on dealing with the
fierce competition of the golf world. Now there is no one more competitive than
Tiger. There is no one that desires to “kick your butt” (his words) more than
Tiger Woods. But his dad always advised him to stop paying attention to what
his competitors were doing and “play the golf course.” Constant, perpetual,
incremental improvement has been Tiger’s mantra. Tiger has always said “no
matter who you are, you can always get better.”
As ophthalmologists in the state of Michigan we have a similar challenge. It is
my pledge to help facilitate our “playing the golf course” better than we have
before. Efficient practices, wise use of technology, leadership in the office and in
the operating room, advocacy at many levels and smart consultation or education
to stay out of the hazards of a very complex medical/economic environment.
Very few of us will ever be able to claim that we are the best in the world as
Tiger Woods can claim, but we can all participate in “Tiger Woods’ thinking”
by using every skill and resource at our disposal for incremental, constant and
tenacious improvement in the way we deliver care to our patients and manage our
businesses, and I welcome any help or input any of you can give me in facilitating
this task and I feel privileged to lead the charge for the coming year.
Annual Joint MSEPS/MOPS CME & Family Ski Meeting
February 22-24, 2008
Crystal Mountain Resort
Watch for details in the
upcoming Eye on Michigan
and in your mail!
For more information or to
register, call 517.336.6739
or emaili penglerth@msms.org
is a publication of the
Michigan Society of Eye Physicians
and Surgeons
President
W. Scott Wilkinson, MD
President-elect
Arezo Amirikia, MD
Treasurer
A. Luisa Di Lorenzo. MD
Secretary
Lance C. Lemon, MD
Immediate Past President
Patrick J. Droste, MD
Region I Director
Daniel D. Thuente, MD
Region II Director
Ralph P. Crew, MD
Region III Director
David D. Krebs, MD
Region IV Director
vacant
Region V Director
Timothy P. Page, MD
Region VI Director
vacant
Senior AAO Councilor
A. Luisa Di Lorenzo, MD
Junior AAO Councilor
Robert J. Granadier, MD
Executive Director
Penny Englerth
Michigan Society of Eye Physicians
and Surgeons
120 West Saginaw
East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: 517-333-6739
Fax: 517-336-5797
Email: penglerth@msms.org
Web address: www.miseps.org
Underwritten by Alcon Laboratories
November 2007 • Page 3
Avoiding Identify Theft
By Frank R. Mitchell, CITRMS and Thomas Glanville, CITRMS
Identity theft has become a major problem in the U.S. within the last few years. The Privacy Rights Clearninghouse has
documented that over 165,000,000 records have been compromised from government agencies, businesses, and other
organizations since 2005. According to a Javelin Strategy & Research Survey, the total cost of identity theft in 2006 was
$55.7 billion. In approximately 25% of cases, the information was stolen from a retail business, which includes hospitals
and doctor offices.
While HIPAA protects medical information, there was not law to protect financial and other personal information until
recently. The federal government now has several statutes that expose businesses to civil and criminal liability for failure to
take appropriate measures to safeguard information. Thirty-states now have laws regarding the protection of information.
The Michigan Identity Theft Protection Act became effective on July 1, 2007. The Act requires any person, business,
or agency to encrypt sensitive information and to notify potential victims if a potential security breach occurs.
Violation of this act can result in fines,
imprisonment, or both.
How can you protect yourself and your
practice from risk? All businesses, including
medical practices, are subject to enforcement
by the Federal Trade Commission, the FBI,
the Department of Justice, the state Attorney
General, and local law enforcement. These
laws affect everyone that handles personal,
business, financial, or medical information.
Some of the causes of information breaches
are poorly trained personnel, inadequate
security measures, insufficient support from
management, unsupervised third party
providers, dishonest employees, inadequate IT
systems, hackers, and organized crime.
Identity Theft Loss Prevention Training
Somerset Inn, Troy – Thursday, January 17, 2008
Holiday Inn South,
Grand Rapids – Monday, January 21, 2008
Michigan State Medical Society,
East Lansing – Thursday, January 24
Each session runs from 8:30 – 12:30 followed by lunch.
Cost: $189 per person
You can create a “safe harbor” by making a
reasonable effort to safeguard confidential and
sensitive information. This reasonable effort includes the designation of an Information Security Officer, as risk assessment
of material internal and external risks, the design and implementation of a written Information Seucity Policy, mandatory
employee training on security policies, evaluation and adjustment of the results of testing and ongoing monitoring of the
program, and a plan for security incidents.
As with all compliance issues, meeting the “definition” of each of these steps is as important as implementing them. For
example, an employee does not qualify as an “Information Security Officer” without completing the mandatory training.
As a member benefit, MSEPS is offering training in identity theft protection. This training is designed for the Information
Security Officer in your practice. The training session is four hours long and will be held in three locations in January.
Watch your mail, the web site, your email, and fax machine for more information. Or contact the MSEPS office at
517-336-6739 or penglerth@msms.org.
Thomas Glanville is a certified identity theft risk management specialist and the CEO of Identity Theft LOSS Prevention,
LLC. Frank R. Mitchell is a certified identity theft risk management specialist and the COO of Identity Theft LOSS
Prevention, LLC.
Page 4 • November 2007
What’s Up,
Doc?
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR AND ABOUT MSEPS MEMBERS
David Zacks, MD of Kellogg Eye Center was quoted in an article
about ophthalmic imaging in the Detroit Free Press November
27. The article announced a $1.5 grant for construction of an
ophthalmic imaging center in the new Kellogg Eye Center. The
article recounted the background of ophthalmic imaging and the
role of Kellogg’s Director of Ophthalmic Imaging, Richard Hackel,
in developing current technologies.
Petra von Kulajta, MD was nominated for the MSMS 2007
Woman of the Year Award. Doctor von Kulajta was cited for her
service to Medicaid patients and her participation in CHAPS, a
program that provides free eye care to underserved individuals in
the Grand Traverse community. She practices at Grand Traverse
Ophthalmology.
MEMBER BENEFIT OF THE MONTH
You can now save 4½% on gasoline
and other purchases at Speedway
SuperAmerica. At $3.20 per gallon, that’s
a savings of 14¢ per gallon! To take
advantage of this program, you must
be a paid up MSEPS member. The cost
to join the program is $24 and can be
extended to your family and staff. For
an application
form, contact the
MSEPS office at
517-333-6739 or
penglerth@msms.org.
A. Luisa Di Lorenzo, MD represented the American Academy of
Ophthalmology to the Italian Society of Ophthalmology at their
national meeting in Venice on October 25. The talk, which she
gave in Italian, covered the U.S. recertification process as well as a
new online educational product, call compass, that the Academy
is making available to ophthalmologists in other countries
through their national societies. The Department of Health in
Italy wants to mandate a recertification program there.
Physician-Patient Communication is Key to
Preventing Lawsuits
Various studies on the reasons patients and families sue physicians
for malpractice show that financial gain is often low on the list. More
frequent reasons include:
•
•
•
A feeling of being lied to by health care professionals
The physician’s unwillingness to explain what happened
Arrogance or lack of empathy on the part of the physician
Because patients may bring suit in order to obtain the truth about what
happened, improved physician-patient communication can be one of
the most effective methods of preventing malpractice claims.
Doctors who are insured with American Physicians can take advantage
of two free, on-line courses designed to improve communication skills:
“Disclosing Unexpected Events,” and “Great Expectations.” For more
information, visit the company’s website at www.apassurance.com.
American Physicians Assurance Corporation (American Physicians)
is the exclusively preferred professional liability insurer of the
Michigan Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.
November 2007 • Page 5
News From The American
Academy of Ophthalmology’s
Annual Meeting
The AAO’s Annual Meeting is an important week for
ophthalmology, not only for the scientific education offered, but
for the governance and advocacy activities.
AAO Advisory Council
Under heading of governance comes the Advisory Council.
Representatives from each state and from qualified subspecialty
societies have seats on the Advisory Council, whose responsibility
it is to advise the Board of Trustees on AAO policy issues. A. Luisa
Di Lorenzo, MD of Birmingham and Robert J. Granadier, MD
of Bloomfield Hills are the councilors representing MSEPS. New
Council Advisory Resolutions (CARs) are introduced only at the
spring council meeting during the Mid Year Forum. At the fall
council meeting, the status of each outstanding CAR is reviewed.
Several CARs that had been introduced or supported by the
Michigan delegation had been disposed. CAR #07-01 to ban
papers from being presented at Academy meetings if there were
optometrist co-authors was not referred to the Board of Trustees
for action. CAR #07-09 to reassess the non-expiration of council
waivers was also not referred to the Board of Trustees. The
purpose of this CAR was to reassess the way waivers are issued
for sub-specialty societies to have representation on the Council
when they don’t meet all of the qualifications.
CAR #07-10 to formalize the Council voting process would
have required Council votes to be counted individually, rather
than as a group show of hands. That CAR was not referred to
the Board of Trustees. CAR #07-11 had been withdrawn by the
Michigan delegation last spring. It would have made Council
recommendations binding on the Board of Trustees.
Surgery by Surgeons Forum
The Surgery by Surgeons Forum has become a regular part
of the Council meetings. During this meeting the status of
optometric surgical scope bills around the country is reviewed
and legislative strategies shared. As an outgrowth of this
program, the Academy is planning a training session for state
legislative chairs during the MidYear forum in Washington,
DC next April. This session is being planned by MSEPS
legislative co-chair, John D. Roarty, MD of Grosse Point Shores,
who serves on the AAO Committee for State Organizational
Development as the regional representative of the Secretariat for
State Affairs to Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Opening Session
During the opening session of the annual meeting, many awards
were presented. This year’s Distinguished Service Award was
presented to the legislative committee chairs of the state societies.
Doctor Roarty was there to accept the accolades for himself and
legislative co-chair, Paul P. Fecko, MD, MBA. Paul Lichter, MD of
Kellogg Eye Center had the privilege again this year of introducing
the Academy’s Laureate Award winner, Claes H. Dohlman, MD.
Leadership Development Program
This year’s graduates from the LDP include Arezo Amirikia,
MD and Thomas M. Aaberg, Jr., representing the Retina Society.
Shahzad I. Mian, MD has been accepted into the 2007-2008 LDP
class, representing the Cornea Society.
Page 6 • November 2007
EyeSmart Kits
The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the EyeCare
America Foundation have recently implemented a campaign
to educate Americans about the risks for eye disease. (See Eye
on Michigan, October 2007). Kit of educational materials are
available at no cost to ophthalmologists for use in their offices.
As a member service, the MSEPS staff have ordered an
EyeSmart kit for each ophthalmology practice in Michigan that
has at least one MSEPS member. We hope that each practice
will distribute the materials to their patients. Additional
materials are available from the AAO Store.
A letter has gone out to each MSEPS member and each
practice manager explaining that an EyeSmart package
has been ordered on their behalf. The Academy was very
pleased with the early participation in this program and has
had to order additional materials. If you haven’t received
your EyeSmart by December 31 or if you have any questions,
please contact the MSEPS office at 517-333-6739 or
penglerth@msms.org.
Fifth “The Eye and the Chip”
World Congress Scheduled
Philip C Hessburg MD, President, Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology
The lead article in the AAO’s EyeNet Nov/Dec issue was entitled
“Ophthalmology on the Nanofrontier.” Next June, the World
Ophthalmology Congress in Hong Kong lists the first Scientific
Program Highlight to be “Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.”
In June, the ROPARD Children’s Vision Award will go to Mark
Humayun MD, a leading researcher in the field of nano-electronic
artificial vision. Obviously there is suddenly a great deal of interest
in the possible wedding of neuro-biology and nano-electronics.
Some day there will be devices within the eye or the brain that
will allow many persons now blind to recover some level of useful
vision. When the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology and the
Harvard Medical School’s Joseph Rizzo MD first contemplated a
world congress on this subject a decade ago there were probably
less than ten serious programs around the world studying
this. Today there are at least 40 programs, working with about
150 departments, research labs, academic institutions, and
governmental units in 19 countries.
Also next June 12-14, the DIO will host the Fifth The Eye and
The Chip World Congress on artificial vision. For three days,
representatives from virtually all of these programs will be in
Detroit presenting their work. The congress will be held at The
Westin Detroit. Seating will be limited but reservations may be
made via Acteva at www.acteva.com/go/eyeson.
The congress will be open to ophthalmologists, researchers,
neuro-physiologists, nano-electronic engineers and bio-material
experts. No need to fly to Hong Kong. If the subject is of interest
to you, the most comprehensive meeting in the world on the
subject will be held right here in Michigan.
Are you an EyeCare America volunteer?
The Seniors EyeCare Program ensures that every senior has access
to medical eye care and promotes annual, dilated eye exams. It
raises awareness about age-related eye disease, including cataracts,
provides free eye care educational materials and facilitates access
to eye care—at no out-of-pocket cost.
Qualifications
The Seniors EyeCare Program is designed for people who:
• Are US citizens or legal residents
• Are age 65 and older
• Have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years
• Do not belong to an HMO or the VA
Benefits
People eligible for a referral through the program receive a
comprehensive, medical eye exam and up to one year of treatment
— at no out-of-pocket cost —for any disease diagnosed during
the initial exam.
Volunteer ophthalmologists accept Medicare and/or other
insurance reimbursement as payment in full; patients without
insurance receive care at no charge.
EyeCare America offers multiple eye care programs for which
individuals may qualify. Callers will automatically be screened to
determine the program that provides the most appropriate eye
care services. Callers who have not had an eye exam in the past 12
months and are at increased risk for glaucoma may be eligible for
a glaucoma eye exam through our Glaucoma EyeCare Program.
Eyeglasses, prescription drugs, hospital services, and fees of
other medical professionals are not included in this program.
•
•
•
Currently, 7,500 ophthalmologists around involved in the
program. You can volunteer: Call toll-free, 877-887-6327
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. M-F, Pacific Time
E-mail pubserv@aao.org
Enroll Online (AAO Member ID/Password required)
Volunteering for EyeCare America helps your community, helps
your practice, and helps your profession.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT TIP OF
THE MONTH
Remember you don’t have to pay
hundreds of dollars on EEOC and other
required workplace posters! Go to www.
dol.gov/osbp/sbrefa/poster/matrix.htm
to find out which federal poster’s you’re
legally required to display and print
them for free. Go to www.michigan.gov/
medcguide/0,1607,7-149-9414_9512--,00.html
for state mandated requirements and posters.
November 2007 • Page 7
COME CELEBRATE THE 40TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE!
Several national speakers have been booked for the 40th Annual Conference
to take place August 7-9, 2008 at the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island.
Kenneth Cohen, MD
Professor of Ophthalmology
University of North Carolina
Cornea and External Disease
Jonathon J. Dutton, MD, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology
University of North Carolina
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Dean Eliott, MD
Medical Director of the
Doheny Retina Institute and
Professor of Ophthalmology at
the Doheny Eye Institute and
the Keck School of Medicine,
University of Southern
California in Los Angeles
Michigan Society of
Eye Physicians and
Surgeons Mission
Statement
It is the mission of the
Michigan Society of Eye
Physicians and Surgeons
to encourage and promote
high quality medical care
for patients; to enhance
the image of the practice of
ophthalmology; to promote
professional growth of
Michigan ophthalmologists
through continuing
education; and to provide
public policy leadership that
ensures continuing high
standards of medical eye care
in Michigan.
Fort Mackinac will be the site of
this year’s Family Cookout
Call 517.336.6739
or emaili penglerth@msms.org
Bob Milne is known as the
top ragtime/boogie-woogie
pianist around today and
he’s one of the finest
musicians of all time.
Michigan Society of Eye
Physicians and Surgeons
120 W. Saginaw
East Lansing, MI 48823
Plus:
Ronald Davis, MD
AMA President