Ahern elected to SCAPCA board: Health-policy professor favored over incumbent. - The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA)

Byline: Jonathan Brunt

Jan. 5--Members of Spokane County's clean-air agency board deadlocked twice Thursday before agreeing to appoint a new member.

Melissa Ahern, a Washington State University-Spokane health policy and administration associate professor, won a third vote for the at-large seat of the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority board.

She will replace Michele Pope, a former nurse who has been on the board for two terms and applied for reappointment.

Board members interviewed Ahern, Pope and a third candidate, Dr. Darryl Potyk, Deaconess Medical Center's medical education director, before the vote.

Ahern, who is not related to Republican state Rep. John Ahern of Spokane, earned a doctorate in economics from Florida State University. An expert on global oil depletion, she is studying the health impacts of coal production. She also teaches a class about health care policy and politics.

In her presentation to the board, she stressed that as a health care economist she has studied ways to prevent the need for hospitalization. Improving air quality will prevent illnesses, she said.

'This type of board is absolutely central to limiting health care costs,' she said.

Pope was criticized at the meeting by board member Jeff Corkill, who represents the city of Spokane, for putting business interests ahead of public interests.

'Most of her decisions have not been from a public health point of view,' Corkill said.

He pointed to a debate last year when Pope questioned the science behind studies that show human activity as a major cause behind global warming.

In an interview after Thursday's meeting, Ahern said she believes the evidence points the other way: that humans are a factor.

Airway Heights Mayor Matthew Pederson defended Pope and said she has been 'balanced' by showing concerns for public health and small businesses.

'I appreciate somebody who is willing to stand up and say, 'Hey, what about the little guy,' ' Pederson said.

County Commissioner Todd Mielke argued that Pope, who has been on the board for eight years, provides important historical perspective.

'My concern is that we do have some kind of consistency,' Mielke said. 'I think it's important that we don't fall into the same mistakes we have made in the past.'

But Spokane Valley City Councilman Mike DeVleming said change should not be feared.

'A fresh perspective on a board is good,' DeVleming said.Ahern was nominated by Corkill immediately after her interviews. But her candidacy failed on a 2-2 vote.

Mielke then nominated Pope. But that also failed on a 2-2 vote.

That left board members asking how to resolve the situation until Mielke nominated Ahern again and changed his vote to support her.

'I didn't see where waiting until next week or next month would make a difference,' Mielke said after the meeting. 'The decision was easily resolved because of the quality of the candidates.'

Only Pederson opposed Ahern's appointment on the final vote.

Much of the interviews and discussion involved a new law that requires the at-large member to have 'significant professional experience' in public health, air quality protection or meteorology. Mielke and DeVleming said they felt all three candidates met the standard. Corkill questioned Pope's health care strengths.

Pederson said Ahern's background doesn't meet the intent of the new law.

'Although she studies health issues, she has no experience in any medical field,' Pederson said.

After the meeting, Pope, who has a master's degree in health service administration, said she didn't want to respond to the concerns raised about her candidacy. She said she originally volunteered for SCAPCA after moving to the area.

'I have lived in other places where the air was cleaner and knew that there would be room for improvement and I wanted to be part of it,' she said.

Copyright (c) 2007, The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business

News.

FLORIDA BOARD OF MEDICINE CHAIRMAN RECOGNIZES TAMPA PHYSICIAN WHO IS BATTLING CANCER - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

The Florida Department of Health issued the following news release:

Stephen Tebes, M.D., of Tampa, has been selected as the recipient of the Florida Board of Medicine Chair's Recognition Award. Tebes was honored with the award at the Board's bimonthly meeting at Sirata Beach Resort and Conference Center in St. Petersburg Beach this past weekend.

'Dr. Tebes is a true testimony of dedication and perseverance,' Florida Board of Medicine Chair Mammen P. Zachariah, M.D., said. 'Despite enduring his own day-to-day cancer battle, this skilled practitioner continues to care for other cancer patients with enthusiasm and humor.'

Tebes, who specializes in gynecologic oncology at Tampa General Hospital, was diagnosed with a rare cancer at age 28. He is currently 31 years old, and though his cancer is at a life-threatening stage, Tebes continues to work 10 to 12 hour days at the hospital.

Tebes was chosen for his outstanding contribution and service to the people of Florida and the medical profession in his dedicated treatment of cancer patients.

Zachariah added, 'Tebes sets the highest standard for caring, self-sacrifice and courage. He merits the highest commendation from his fellow physicians.'

'You can't change the cards you've been dealt,' Tebes stated in a June 22, 2006 St. Petersburg Times news article. 'You can only change your attitude.'

The Florida Board of Medicine protects the health and safety of Florida's residents and visitors by establishing requirements for licensure and through diligent discipline of practitioners who violate practice acts defined by Chapters 456 and 458, Florida Statutes and 64B-8, Florida Administrative Code. The legislative intent of the practice act is to ensure that every physician practicing in the state of Florida meets minimum requirements for safe practice. The Board's responsibility is to ensure that physicians who fall below minimum competency or who otherwise present a danger to the public are disciplined or prohibited from practicing in the state. The Board also establishes and monitors continuing education of physicians to ensure their knowledge and skills remain current, oversees the regulation of physician assistants, electrologists, dietitians, nutritionists and physician office surgery centers.Contact: Thometta Cozart, 850/245-4111.

Fitch Upgrades University of Central Florida's Health Center Revs to 'A+' from 'A-'; Outlook Stable. - Health & Beauty Close-Up

Fitch Ratings upgrades its unenhanced rating on approximately $6.5 million of outstanding student health center revenue bonds issued by the Florida Board of Education and Florida Board of Governors, on behalf of the University of Central Florida (UCF), to 'A+' from 'A-'.

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

RATING RATIONALE:

--The rating upgrade reflects consistently solid coverage of health center revenue bond debt service, which is paid from a mandatory student health fee assessed to all students at the main campus.

--UCF's strong demand and continued enrollment growth has strengthened the pool of pledged revenues from which student health center revenue bonds are paid.

--Unlike other UCF auxiliaries, the student health center has a low debt burden, with no additional borrowing plans over the near term.

KEY RATING DRIVERS:

--Maintenance of student health care center revenue bond debt service coverage at or above current levels.

--Enrollment stability and/or timely increases in student health fees facilitating the sufficiency of pledged revenues.

SECURITY:

The bonds are secured by a lien on student health fees and associated investment earnings.

CREDIT SUMMARY:

UCF Health Services' main purpose is to provide students with medical care and wellness services. The students are charged a health fee which is part of the tuition for each credit hour for the main campus.

UCF Health Services' operating margins have averaged 10.5 percent for the past three fiscal years. Operating revenues in fiscal 2009 increased due to higher student health fees; the student health fee has been increased to $8.99 per credit hour for fiscal 2010 and the University Fees Committee, made up of faculty and student representatives, has recommended an increase to $9.52 for fiscal 2011. Periodic fee increases provide stability for ongoing operations. However, the health center fee along with the activity and service fee and the athletic fee combined cannot exceed 40 percent of the base undergraduate tuition.

At fiscal year end 2009, outstanding student health center revenue bond debt totaled $6.5 million. Pledged revenues totaled $9.8 million covering MADS by 15.7 times (x). No additional borrowing in support of the student health center is expected over the near term.

Available funds, defined as cash and investments not permanently restricted, while modest at $1.1 million, increased by 105 percent from fiscal 2008. Available funds cover operating expenses of $12 million and MADS of $621,000 by 9.9 percent and 190 percent, respectively.

Outstanding debt totals a low $6.5 million, and currently no additional capacity is required for the health center. The debt burden is low at 4.6 percent, offset by unrestricted revenues of $13.4 million. Pledged revenues as reported totaled $9.7 million covering MADS 15.7x.

Established in 1963 and initiating classes in 1968 as Florida Technological University, UCF is one of 11 institutions of public higher education in the State University System of Florida (rated 'AA' by Fitch). A comprehensive, metropolitan university, UCF offers 214 bachelor and advanced degree programs through 12 colleges, serving over 53,000 students.

Applicable criteria available on Fitch's web site at 'fitchratings.com' include:

'College and University Rating Criteria', Dec. 29.

'Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria', Dec. 29.

Additional information is available at 'fitchratings.com'.

What led Florida board to pass moratorium? - Same-Day Surgery

What led Florida board to pass moratorium?

Florida has a history of closely monitoring office-based surgery. The Board of Medicine adopted rules relating to office surgery in 1994. Over the last two years, the board has developed additional standards of practice to try to increase patient safety.

Florida passed a law that became effective in March, which requires physicians to report adverse incidents that occurred in their offices.

In August, the board learned there had been 20 adverse incidents in Level III office-based surgeries this year in which patients had to be transferred to hospitals, and five of those patients died. Fifteen of the 20 adverse incidents related to surgical procedures, and nine of the 15 surgically related adverse incidents related to plastic or cosmetic surgery. The nine plastic/cosmetic surgery patients included four of the five patient deaths. The board was advised that the deaths were anesthesia-related and that the rate of deaths was higher than that occurring in ambulatory surgical centers, for which there were five reported deaths in 1999.

The board issued a 90-day moratorium on Level III office surgery, which is defined as surgery that involves, or reasonably should require, the use of a general anesthesia or major conduction anesthesia and preoperative sedation.

The board took the position that there was an immediate danger to the health, safety, and welfare of patients in the state. The board does not believe it can just stand by while patients, many of whom are seeking elective procedures, die during surgery, said a released statement from the board.

The purpose of this moratorium is twofold, the board said:

First, to protect the lives of patients who would otherwise undergo Level III surgery in physician offices instead of in the more highly regulated hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.

Second, to help the board and all of the physicians and other parties involved in office surgery to focus on the immediacy of the danger and to try to develop appropriate safeguards so that Level III office surgery can be performed safely in physicians offices or so that a record can be more thoroughly developed upon which a decision may be based as to whether or not Level III surgery is safe in offices.

Many of these deaths were cases in which numerous procedures were being done at one time, says Lisa Tucker, MD, a member of the Florida Board of Medicine. Also, the fact that there were so many deaths with whatever rules were in place suggested that the changes were needed.

The board established an independent Out-patient Surgical Care Commission to collect information about surgeries in offices, surgery centers, and hospitals and make recommendations at

the end of the moratorium. The commission is addressing length of surgeries, amounts of liposuction, equipment necessary for proper anesthesia and monitoring, and the need for transfer agreements with hospitals, and guidelines for performing office procedures on American Society of Anesthesiologists Level III patients.

We currently have a commission reviewing these cases, which we hope will help answer

the questions of Why? and What can we do? Tucker says.

Reaction to the Florida moratorium has been mixed.

I think in general it was a overreaction, which may serve to do more harm than good in the long run, says Marc E. Koch, MD, president and CEO of Resource Anesthesiology Associates, an anesthesiology practice, and physician director of the OR in St. Claires Hospital in New York City.

The moratorium could drive office-based surgery into being an underground profession, Koch says. If patients need liposuction or breast augmentation and cant afford a hospital, they might do it in an office in a clandestine fashion.

Others say that a focus on safety will ultimately be good for the practice of same-day surgery.

Patient safety is first and foremost, says Larry Hornsby, CRNA, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists in Park Ridge, IL, and vice president of Anesthesia Resources Management, a Birmingham, AL-based group practice of anesthesia providers. If Florida can come up with a system that will improve patient care, the system has worked.

Walter L. Erhardt, MD, president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in Arlington Heights, IL, agrees. Any patient adverse reaction, certainly any patient death, particularly with an elective procedure, is too many.

However, Erhardt says the Florida board reacted quickly before adequately analyzing the data. There are several checks and balances in place that help a patient determine a safe place

to have surgery, he says. I think its going to be very, very difficult to legislate good judgment. Theres absolutely no way you can expect the Florida Board of Medicine to do the job of a careful doctor and informed patients.

For more information on the Florida moratorium, contact:

Florida Board of Pharmacy Plans $750,000 Campaign against Canadian Drugs. - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

By Diane C. Lade, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jun. 23--The state board regulating pharmacies wants Floridians to just say no to drugs from Canada.

The Florida Board of Pharmacy has approved a $750,000 media blitz to warn consumers about the dangers of buying from the Canadian connection storefronts that are rapidly popping up throughout the state. The print and newspaper advertisements will begin this fall.

They also will caution against purchasing medications off the Internet.

'People need to be aware they are taking a lot of risks if they are going to unlicensed and unregulated pharmacies,' said state Department of Health spokesman Bill Parizek, whose agency includes the pharmacy board. 'We want to educate the public.'

The $750,000 will come from a $5 unlicensed activity fee that pharmacists pay annually when renewing their licenses.

The move exacerbates the growing tension between the regulatory board and the storeowners, who insist the state is only trying to please the pharmacy industry and shut them down.

Rick Warner, who owns three West and Central Florida storefronts, said he was among about 20 storefront owners who attended the June 9 board meeting where the media campaign was approved. 'They specifically said they were going after Canadian drug-based facilities,' he said.

Warner's storefronts are connected with Discount Drugs of Canada, based in Delray Beach. Started by retired clothing manufacturer Earle Turow nine months ago, the company has 43 affiliates in 13 states, with plans to open another 50 stores by the end of the year.

The issue promises to be touchy if the state does crack down.

Seniors, burdened with rising drug costs as health plans cut coverage, are flocking to Canadian storefronts, and many feel it's their right to economize.

Canadian pharmacies can sell some of the drugs most commonly used by Americans at 30 percent to 50 percent less, as a national health-care plan covers its 33 million citizens and the government negotiates bulk medication prices.

On Friday, the U.S. Senate voted to let drugs be imported from Canada and resold at lower prices, as long as it was determined the practice posed no health risks. But the Food and Drug Administration continues to insist it cannot vouch for the safety of Canadian drugs.

State regulators continue to insist Canadian storefronts are unlicensed pharmacies and, therefore, operating illegally, a stand affirmed by the pharmacy board at its June meeting. But the business owners argue they are an information service, as they neither stock nor mail medications. Prescriptions and paperwork are faxed from the Florida stores to a Canadian pharmacy, where the orders are filled and sent directly to the customer.

Turow calls the proposed advertisements 'a smear campaign,' saying it never has been proven that they are operating illegally or are a danger. 'There's never been a directive from the federal government, or even from the government in Florida, for us to [shut down],' he said.

If the storefronts are indeed pharmacies operating without a license, they are breaking the law and could be fined and closed.

But so far, the agencies that would file those charges have been silent, and no Canadian discount stores in Florida have been shuttered.

Mike Edmundson, spokesman for Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer, said no state investigative agency had referred any Canadian drug store cases to them. At this time, no Florida law enforcement agency has rendered an opinion on Canadian storefronts, he said.

Information from The Associated Press was used to supplement this report.

To see more of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel -- including its homes, jobs, cars and other classified listings -- or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sun-sentinel.com.

Dr Zachariah on Florida Board of Governors to oversee state's universities - India Abroad

Haniffa, Aziz
India Abroad
01-31-2003
Florida Governor Jeb Bush has appointed Dr. Zachariah P. Zachariah to the
prestigious Board of Governors that will oversee the state's universities
and colleges.

Zachariah, a cardiologist from Fort Lauderdale and friend of the Bush
family, has been appointed to serve on this body - previously known as the
Board of Regents - by the governor almost immediately on completion of his
third term as chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine in December 2002.

He becomes the first Indian American and physician to be a member of the
17-member board - 14 of whom are appointed by the governor, with the
remaining spots automatically filled by the commissioner of education, the
chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates and the president of the
Florida Student Association.

Bush said 'these appointees offer a broad range of skills. They are highly
qualified and effective leaders who are committed to Florida's higher
education system.'

In an appointment letter to Zachariah, the governor said, 'Because of your
outstanding qualities and commitment to Florida's higher education system,
I am pleased to appoint you as a member of the Florida Board of Governors.
You are appointed for a term beginning January 7, 2003, and not to exceed
seven years.'

'On behalf of Florida's students and the higher education system, I
appreciate your commitment to this important endeavor,' Bush added.

Florida voters overwhelmingly approved the constitutional amendment
creating the Board of Governors in November 18 months after the legislature
abolished the Board of Regents. Under the new law, the board is charged
with setting broad policy and centralizing decision-making for the state's
university system.

Senator Bob Graham, who spearheaded the constitutional amendment campaign,
said he was pleased Bush had made the appointments and hoped the new board
would examine the selection and payment of university presidents.

'I hope the board will put an end to what has become a bidding war among
the universities for compensation rates of presidents, rather than a focus
on academic leadership,' Graham said in a statement.

Zachariah, the Republican Party stalwart who has raised millions of dollars
for GOP coffers over the years, told India Abroad, 'I am absolutely
ecstatic the governor appointed me to this position where I will have an
opportunity to help make a difference in our state's education system. It's
one of the best appointments you can get in Florida and I am so happy he
chose me.'

The Board, which had its first meeting immediately upon its formation, will
meet at least four times during the year, 'and maybe more, depending on the
circumstances,' Zachariah said.

Besides selecting all the presidents for the state's 11 public universities
and deciding their salaries, Zachariah said the board would also deal with
the 'budgets of these universities and have a say in the setting up of the
curriculum that will require a strong commitment to educational excellence
and student achievement.'

'Its mandate will be to work within Florida's seamless, student-centered
school system, allowing coordination and accountability at all levels of
education,' he added.

Zachariah, 53, felt he could 'make a significant contribution, specially
regarding the many medical issues. It's important we make sure the number
of medical schools in Florida is controlled.'

'Today, every university and college wants to have a medical school. I
don't think it is the right thing to do because what you are going to do is
reduce the standard of the quality of students entering the medical school
system,' he argued.

Zachariah hoped to bring a South Asian American perspective to the
university and college curriculum and 'also make sure these students as
well as the [South Asian American] faculty is not discriminated against.'

Endorsing strongly President George W. Bush's and the governor's opposition
to racial quotas, he said he would emphasize merit-based admissions to
these universities, but admitted 'we have the problem of Indian American
and Asian kids doing so well in SAT [Special Aptitude Test] and other tests
that there's no room for all of them in the top flight universities.'

Zachariah has been in private practice in Fort Lauderdale since 1976.

He also serves as the director of cardiology at Holy Cross Hospital, a
570-bed, not-for-profit community hospital.

In 2001, he was appointed by President Bush to the President's Advisory
Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders - the only South Asian
American to serve on this body - and served as the Special Private Sector
Advisor to the US delegation to the meeting of the 55th session of the
World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization in Geneva in May
2002.

Earlier, he served on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council
of the National Institutes of Health from 1990 to 1993, being appointed to
this position by then President George W. Bush.

Over the years he has received numerous honors including being the first
recipient of the Zachariah P. Zachariah Golden Heart Award, established in
his honor by the American Heart Association to recognize and honor
outstanding members of this specialized medical fraternity for dedicated
service and commitment to humanity.

The governor of Florida and the cabinet proclaimed that day, October 27,
1989, as 'Zachariah P. Zachariah Day' in the state.

Article copyright India Abroad Publications, Inc.
V.XXX

FLORIDA BOARD OF PHARMACY JOINS FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO WARN CONSUMERS OF INGREDIENTS IN SEXUAL ENHANCEMENT 'DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS' - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

The Florida Department of Health issued the following news release:

The Florida Department of Health (DOH), along with the Florida Board of Pharmacy, have joined with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to warn consumers to discontinue the purchase and use of Zimaxx, Libidus, Neophase, Nasutra, Vigor-25, Actra-Rx or 4EVERON. These drugs are advertised as 'dietary supplements' for treating erectile dysfunction and enhancing sexual performance. However, these products are not approved by the FDA, and they contain ingredients that are undeclared and possibly harmful.

'The deceptive labeling of drugs is a threat to public health,' said DOH Secretary M. Rony Fran�ois, M.D., M.S.P.H., Ph.D., 'I encourage Florida's residents and visitors to be aware of these potentially dangerous products. There is no guarantee on the safety and effectiveness of these products. Consumers, therefore, should make informed decisions by seeking the guidance of a health care professional, instead of opting to self-diagnose.'

DOH urges consumers who have used these products to consult their primary health care provider. DOH also advises consumers to verify the status of any drug with the FDA.

'These products contain active ingredients found in prescription drugs and these ingredients can cause harm if not used under the supervision of a doctor,' said Florida Board of Pharmacy and Drugs, Devices, and Cosmetics Executive Director Rebecca Poston, R.Ph.

According to the FDA, 'chemical analysis by FDA revealed that Zimaxx contains sildenafil, which is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Viagra, a prescription drug approved in the United States to treat erectile dysfunction. The other products contain chemical ingredients that are analogues of either sildenafil or a pharmaceutical ingredient called vardenafil. Vardenafil is the active ingredient in Levitra, a prescription drug that, like Viagra, is approved in the United States to treat erectile dysfunction. There is no mention of any of these ingredients on any of the illegal products' labeling.'

The undeclared ingredients in these products may interact with nitrates in some prescription drugs and lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. The nitrates are often found in medications that treat diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease. Men with these conditions commonly experience erectile dysfunction. Many of these men consider taking the products because they claim to be 'allnatural.' There is no assurance that the ingredients of these products are safe, effective or pure since the manufacturing source of the active ingredients of these products is unknown, according to the FDA.

The Board of Pharmacy protects the health and safety of Florida's residents and visitors by establishing requirements for licensure and through diligent discipline of practitioners who violate practice acts defined by Chapters 120, 456, 465, 499 and 893, Florida Statutes and Rule 64B-16, Florida Administrative Code. The legislative intent of the practice act is to ensure that every licensee practicing in the state of Florida meets minimum requirements for safe practice. The Board's responsibility is to ensure that licensees who fall below minimum competency or who otherwise present a danger to the public are disciplined or prohibited from practicing in the state. The Board also establishes and monitors continuing education of licensees to ensure their knowledge and skills remain current. For more information visit www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/pharmacy/.Contact: Thometta Cozart, 850/245-4111.