Message from the Chair
Dr. Jimmy Chung, Chair
While every year brings new issues and changes, the past year has been uniquely challenging for the commission. This was the year of coming out of COVID-19 and transitioning back to in-person meetings, while leveraging lessons learned as opportunities to overhaul the commission?s methods and processes to be more efficient. My biggest fear as we emerged from the pandemic was losing the identity and purpose we had worked so hard to build over decades.
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Executive Director Report?
Almost nine years ago I became the Executive Director of the WMC and I will retire this September. When I applied for this position, I had been a staff attorney for the Commission seven years prior, so I understood its mission at a very high level. Little did I know that the next nine years would be the most rewarding and challenging of my career. Continue Reading
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PA News -
Election Season is Here!
It is time, once again for elections to take place at the American Academy of Physician Associates. Not enough of us avail ourselves of the vote when the time comes around. I encourage you to head over to the AAPA website and read about the candidates that are available and what issues are affecting PAs, as well as how the candidates plan to direct resources and their insight into the future of our profession.?Continue Reading?
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QUICK FACT
The Washington Medical Commission received 1662 reports in Fiscal Year 2023?
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2023 Legislative Summary
The WMC was hard at work this year for the return to in-person legislative session for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Due to the toned-down nature of two prior virtual sessions, legislators hit the ground running with a deluge of early pre-filed bills. Here is a recap of the new laws that practitioners should be aware of.
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WPHP Report -
Financial Barriers to Physician Health Program Utilization
In the Spring 2023 issue of Update!, I took a moment to celebrate WPHP advocacy efforts particularly with respect to licensure and credentialing question reform. However, I also noted concern that physicians will continue to avoid care for mental health and substance use disorders until we take measures to dismantle the processes and systems that unfairly burden them when seeking care. This is especially true for physicians and PAs needing assistance from the Washington Physician Health Program (WPHP). Continue Reading
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Weight Bias
People who are overweight are highly stigmatized in our society. Negative perceptions that characterize people who are overweight as lazy, incompetent, noncompliant, sloppy, lacking in self discipline, and willpower are pervasive. Research has documented the impacts of weight-based discrimination in all realms of a person?s life. Weight bias leads to distressing childhood experiences, inequities in employment, disadvantages in education, and disparities in health care. Continue Reading
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