WOMEN IN MEDICINE – 2024 ANNUAL RETREAT
TOPIC: Contracts, Noncompetes, MedMal, Oh My: Medicolegal 101

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024

A maximum of 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits will be awarded

Fee:

Physician Members: $200
Physician Nonmembers: $300*
Resident/Student Members:  $100

Registration required

NOTE: This event is only for female ISMA physicians and medical student members. 

* Nonmember physicians: When joining ISMA for $490, you’ll receive a $100 discount on this event, and other benefits, including:

• Free access to all on-demand CME content on the ISMA Online mobile app.
• Free access to live, monthly CME webinars.
• Practice management resources.
• Publications that update you on important news and legislation.    

Learn more and join at www.ismanet.org/join!

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

ISMA is thrilled to once again offer an in-person Women in Medicine Retreat at the internationally acclaimed Bottleworks Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. This art-deco boutique hotel, recently named Yelp's top place to stay nationally for 2023, is located in what was once part of the largest Coca-Cola bottling plant in the world. The hotel has an onsite spa, The Woodhouse Day Spa, and is surrounded by the Bottleworks District for your enjoyment throughout the weekend.

SPEAKER:

Stacia Dearmin, MD, FAAP
Founder, Thrive, LLC

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Whether or not we acknowledge our suffering, difficult patient outcomes and malpractice lawsuits are traumatic experiences for many physicians. Science has clearly demonstrated that accumulated trauma can be harmful to us at every level. Is it possible, however, for our encounters with trauma to strengthen and enrich us? To beautify our lives and us? Join us for a heartfelt conversation regarding caring for ourselves through the challenges of a malpractice lawsuit, as well as post-traumatic growth and how we can find some for ourselves.

PROGRAM TITLE: 
In Search of Our Beautiful Future: Post-Traumatic Growth and Us

OBJECTIVES:

• Define the term "trauma" and elaborate on the clues that trauma may have occurred in our professional or personal lives.
• Explore the meaning of "post-traumatic growth" and its relationship to post-traumatic stress.
• Describe four keys to unlocking post-traumatic growth and the most important factor to full healing.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Stacia Dearmin, MD, is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and ICF-certified professional coach focused on supporting and inspiring physicians and other health care providers facing adverse patient outcomes and malpractice litigation. A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine graduate, she spent 25 years in pediatric bedside practice and teaching. Her years in pediatric emergency medicine taught her how hard difficult outcomes and med-mal lawsuits can be for physicians, leading to her founding Thrive, LLC, in 2017. Her goal is to relieve pain and isolation among physicians and other healers confronted with the toughest experiences they many ever have.

SPEAKER:



Wendy Ledesma, MD
Hospitalist, Sauk Prairie Healthcare

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The American Medical Association (AMA) reports that 1 in 3 physicians will be sued at least once throughout their career, with some surgical specialties having an even greater risk of being sued. The career and psychological implications of medical malpractice are severe, yet we don't talk about it as a medical community. The shame involved in being named in a medical malpractice lawsuit prevents us from sharing and growing from our experience and perpetuates trauma in our professional and personal lives. Even though in 88% of cases that go to trial for medical malpractice the physicians ultimately prevail, we blame ourselves. Clinicians equate potential errors with failure, with a breach of public trust and with harming patients despite their mandate to first do no harm.

PROGRAM TITLE: 
Overcoming Bad Outcomes: Moving Forward with Purpose

OBJECTIVE:

• Analyze the stages of the litigation process and identify which resources and tools can help overcome being named in a medical malpractice lawsuit.  

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Wendy Ledesma, MD is a graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the Aurora Internal Medicine Residency Program, where she was a chief resident from 2009-2010.  Dr. Ledesma is a board-certified internal medicine hospitalist. She helped grow a hospitalist program at Sauk Prairie Healthcare for underserved patients in a rural community outside of Madison, Wisconsin. She has championed improvements in sepsis care and patient satisfaction, resulting in state and national recognition.

These accomplishments have led Dr. Ledesma to her current role as chief medical patient safety and quality officer. She continues growing wellness initiatives at her hospital for physicians and advanced practice providers to prevent burnout and promote high-quality patient care. Most recently, she implemented a program called “Coaching: A Blueprint to Thrive!” with the expertise of a physician life coach. Additionally, Dr. Ledesma is a speaker on the topic of physician wellness through various physician-focused forums and conferences. She has spoken internationally to teams of physicians about burnout, medical malpractice, physician leadership and how to overcome the challenges of healthcare systems and deliver medical care with a renewed passion.

Dr. Ledesma is a member of the American College of Physicians, Society of Hospital Medicine, American College of Healthcare Executives; board member of the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives; a graduate of the Wisconsin Hospital Association Leadership Academy, and is active with WHA’s annual physician leadership conferences.

Dr. Ledesma serves as a volunteer bilingual, bicultural provider at the Good Neighbor Clinic, a free clinic for rural patients with minimal or no health insurance. She is a mentor for undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working with minority students from the same scholarship program from which she graduated.


SPEAKER:



Suzanne Courtney, Psy.D, HSPP
Psychologist, Private Practice

PROGRAM TITLE:
Sick of Hearing about Wellness?  Quick Substantial Takeaways that Matter

OBJECTIVES:

• Define trauma and burnout from a system’s perspective.
• Explain the term Personal Data Inventory.
• Examine the role of personal narrative construction in professional and individual well-being.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Suzanne Courtney, Psy.D, HSPP is a clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience working with adults, families, and children in the most difficult circumstances.  She has occupied field and consulting command positions in some of the largest mass casualty and disaster events of our time, such as: Columbine, 9-11, and Katrina, in addition to many smaller scale events. Consequently, she knows trauma, quite intimately. 

During the pandemic, Dr. Courtney served on multiple ACGME committees pertaining to physician wellness, while in her role as Director of Behavioral Science in a family medicine residency program.  It was during this time that she became highly invested in the factors creating optimum health for physicians. 

Dr. Courtney is an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame, and in collaboration with IU School of Medicine on Integrated Care initiatives.  Her current research focuses on AI in medicine and its impact on physician and patient well-being.  In her private practice, and coaching practice, she continues to serve physicians both personally and in their roles as system thought leaders.

SPEAKER:

Amy Adolay, JD
Partner, Krieg Devault

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
An overview of the latest legal developments under federal and Indiana law regarding the legality and enforceability of physician restrictive covenants, including non-competition and non-solicitation of patients and employees.

PROGRAM TITLE: 
NonCompetes

OBJECTIVES:

• Understand the 2020 and 2023 changes to Indiana law regarding physician non-competes (both primary care and non-primary care).
• Discuss the federal trends concerning non-competes.
• Analyze non-compete enforceability issues based on geographic scope, time, and activities prohibited.
• Summarize the reason for non-solicitation covenants both with respect to patients and employees.
• Explain physician buyouts of non-competes and determining a “reasonable price”.
• Explore mediation requirements and when the reason for termination of employment may impact enforceability of a non-compete.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Amy Adolay, JD, counsels employers on complex human resources issues that arise daily in the workplace and defends employers before administrative agencies and in state and federal courts. Ms. Adolay handles a wide variety of types of claims, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, family and medical leave, disabilities, unemployment compensation, wage and hour, and restrictive covenants. Adolay also routinely reviews, revises, and drafts employment-related documents such as employee handbooks, employment policies and procedures, employment agreements, severance, and retention agreements, and noncompete and non-solicitation agreements. Adolay’s extensive employment law experience has included representing employers in collective actions and litigating complex claims relating to discrimination, restrictive covenants, and other employment and contract disputes. She also regularly speaks and writes on important changes facing employers in employment law.

SPEAKER:



Mary Ruth Feldhake, JD
Partner, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP

PROGRAM TITLE: 
Medical Malpractice


OBJECTIVES:

• Identify the reality of medical malpractice.
• Examine ways to assist your attorney when you are named in a malpractice claim.
• Consider what you should expect from your attorney.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Mary Feldhake, JD, is a partner at Bose McKinney & Evans LLP, who concentrates her practice primarily in medical malpractice defense and healthcare litigation. In her 30-plus years of practice, Feldhake has represented multiple organizations and individuals in the health care field throughout Indiana – hospitals, physicians, and resident physicians. From her experience, Feldhake knows that every case is different and requires a unique combination of legal and interpersonal skills. She utilizes a detailed and thoughtful approach to each case, from reviewing complex information to identifying key facts and witnesses.

Feldhake is an experienced trial attorney. She has been lead counsel in many medical malpractice cases, even winning a directed verdict in one. Feldhake has also been involved in a significant number of medical malpractice appellate cases. For example, she served as lead attorney in a significant default judgment win in the Indiana Supreme Court that is now used as a landmark case, not only in medical malpractice cases but in all areas involving default judgments.

SPEAKER:

Stacy Cook, JD
Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

During this presentation an experienced healthcare attorney will present information and insight about employment contracts from a physician’s perspective.  The session will cover the important terms in most employment contracts, tips for physicians when negotiating their contracts, and how to efficiently partner with legal counsel when approaching a contract.

PROGRAM TITLE: 
Contracts

OBJECTIVES:

• Identify the key terms used in most physician employment contracts.
• Effectively negotiate an employment contract.
• Specify how to work efficiently with an attorney when reviewing an employment contract. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Stacy Cook’s clients include a wide variety of health care providers, medical societies and health care technology companies. Her practice encompasses a broad range of regulatory matters, including fraud and abuse laws. She assists clients in establishing compliance and in responding to government investigations and audits. She defends clients facing disciplinary action before the Medical Licensing Board and other state and federal health care regulatory agencies. She advises physicians and hospitals on medical staff matters.

Cook, JD, also guides clients through the various aspects of HIPAA compliance, including drafting policies and procedures, drafting, and negotiating business associate agreements, handling large and small breaches, and defending clients under investigation by the Office for Civil Rights. She advises clients on privacy laws that apply to substance abuse treatment facilities and has assisted several national health care specialty societies in creating and operating quality improvement and clinical research databases.

SCHEDULE

All dining on Friday evening and Sunday morning are on your own. However, there will be a small informal group dinner on Friday at 8 p.m.

If you would like to join the group, please indicate that by answering the required questions during the registration process. The workshop registration fee covers all other functions (Saturday’s CME event, breakfast, lunch, reception and dinner). 

We look forward to good food and great conversation!  

ACCOMODATIONS

A group room block has been reserved for Feb. 23, and Feb. 24.  When booking your room, please identify yourself as attending the Indiana State Medical Association’s weekend retreat to receive the special room rate of $239 per night (plus tax).

Attendees can reserve discounted hotel rooms by calling Bottleworks Hotel at 317-556-1234 or by using the online booking link https://reservations.travelclick.com/112191?groupID=4130939.  
The reservation cut-off date is Wednesday, Jan. 31.   

Unreserved rooms will be released and will be subject to availability thereafter.

Check-in time:  3 p.m.

Check-out time: 11 a.m.

The Bottleworks Hotel offers valet parking at a cost of $48 per night. Additional garage parking is available for a cost and is located on the Northwest Corner of Carrollton and Massachusetts avenues. Rates may vary.
 

If you have questions, contact ISMA Education staff at 800-257-4762 or seminars@ismanet.org.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:  Feb. 15, 2024

REGISTRATION DETAILS

When registering, please ensure you are taking the following steps to complete the order.

1. Click on the orange “Register” button at the bottom of the event landing page.
2. Your registration will then be “pending checkout.”  Please click on the orange “Proceed to Checkout” button.
3. Your Shopping Cart will display.  Please click on the orange “Submit Order” button.
4. Once you’ve successfully submitted the order, an Order Confirmation page pops up indicating that “a confirmation email is being sent to you” at the email address on file.  That confirmation email will contain additional details for the weekend.  

Supported by: 

 


CME INFORMATION:

Designation Statement: The Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) designates this live workshop for a maximum of 5.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Accreditation Statement: The Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Disclosure Policy: In accordance with The Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, educational programs sponsored by the ISMA must demonstrate balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor. Prior to the activity, all faculty, authors, editors and planning committee members participating in an ISMA-sponsored activity are required to disclose to attendees any financial relationships with an “ineligible company” whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Disclosure Statement:  There are no relevant financial relationships with an ineligible company to identify, mitigate or disclose because the content of this activity is non-clinical in nature.