Misinformation Abounds on PDMP Mandate
The AMS office has received several calls over the past couple of weeks about Act 820, which mandates checking the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program prior to prescribing certain medications. Apparently, some hospitals are incorrectly telling their medical staff that the Act is already in effect. In other cases,…
Prescription Waiver for Disaster Declaration Counties
In April, intense storms and subsequent flooding ravaged parts of our state. The aftermath left Arkansans picking up the pieces. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield wants to help members and is waiving prescription costs for Arkansans whose medications were lost as a result of the devastating weather…
New Officers Elected
The Arkansas Medical Society (AMS), a physician group advocating for health care improvements statewide, met recently at the Doubletree Hotel in Little Rock to elect new officers, attend educational programs and plan advocacy efforts. Pine Bluff Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Amy Cahill, MD, was named president of the group.…
Physicians Honored for 50 Years of Service to Healthcare
Eight physicians were recently inducted into the Arkansas Medical Society’s Fifty Year Club, which is composed of physicians who have practiced medicine for more than fifty years, during the organization’s annual meeting in Little Rock. The society would like to thank Drs. William Nevins (Searcy), Robert Bell (Russellville),…
AMS President-Elect, Dr. Lee Archer, Treating MS Patients with Latest Disease Modifying Techniques
When neurologist Robert L. “Lee” Archer, MD, finished his residency in 1986, there were no disease modifying treatments for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). When the first treatment came out in 1994, demand was so great that a quarter million people with the disease wanted to be on…
Medicine Challenged Insurance Mega-Mergers and Won
On April 28, a federal appeals court upheld the lower court’s ruling to block industry giant Anthem’s proposed acquisition of Cigna. This is a monumental win for America’s patients and physicians, which was made possible through medicine’s joint leadership -- most notably collaboration between the Arkansas Medical Society…
Arkansas Trauma System Saves Lives and Taxpayers’ Money
Journal of the American College of Surgeons study authors report that, after implementation of the publicly funded state trauma system, preventable mortality rate decreased by 48 percent CHICAGO (March 8, 2017): Implementation of a statewide trauma system in Arkansas cut the rate of preventable deaths due to injuries…
Schexnayder named to international pediatric task force
AMS member, Dr. Steve Schexnayder has been appointed to the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Pediatric Task Force, which reviews the latest science to develop pediatric resuscitation guidelines used throughout the world. The task force is made up of 17 pediatric resuscitation experts from North America, Central and South America,…
NEA Baptist to open grief center
AMS group member, NEA Baptist Clinic, recently announced the NEA Baptist Center for Good Grief, as part of the NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation’s continued commitment to the needs of the community. The NEA Baptist Center for Good Grief will open October 2017 at 1717 Executive Square in Jonesboro…
Dr. Smith Honored (x2)
Two long-time AMS members, Dr. David E. Smith of Little Rock and Dr. John D. Smith of Conway, were recently recognized by their communities. Dr. David Smith was the recipient of the Fay Boozman Award, an award given annually by the Arkansas Physicians Resource Council division of Family Council.…
Weight-Loss Surgery Arrives at Heart Hospital
AMS group member, Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock, recently began offering weight-loss surgery as a way to fight heart disease and rising obesity rates in Arkansas. The newly formed Bariatric & Metabolic Institute at the Arkansas Heart Hospital started seeing patients at the first of the year and has had "hundreds of patients"…