Dear Members and Friends of TOMA,

            This afternoon, I threw caution to the wind and followed the advice that I give to patients. You know the one, to improve your cardiovascular health, to stimulate your immune system, and to help your waistline, exercise 30 minutes every day. You don’t have to sweat, just get your pulse rate up. I was sitting in front of a warm and cheery fire, and was watching the light rain bring needed ingredients for our spring flowers. Our dog began begging to go for a walk. Rex is a 15 year-old cocker spaniel who is very healthy because he spent the first 13 years of his life running the hills around Grand Lake. He now lives for his walks, and he makes it known when he is ready. I remembered my advice to others, if it is cold put on a coat, and if it is wet, put on a hat. So we went out to a nearby field for our bonding experience. It rained the entire 45 minutes that we were out, and he had to be corralled to come back. Eddie Chiles was an oilman and was a former owner of the Texas Rangers. He famously said ‘If you don’t have an oil well, get one”. Well, my thought is, if you don’t have a dog, get one, and take him/her for a walk every day. Your heart will thank you, and your dog will faithfully follow you to the ends of the earth. 

Dear Members and Friends of TOMA,

            Ah, just another perfect Sunday morning in North Dallas, with the temperature climbing into the 60s, clear blue skies, and the first election season is almost over. I don’t know about you, but I am no longer impressed by various claims of too much government, too much Washington, and too much cronyism in Austin. Politicians will do what they do, and we will pay the bill. Our national leaders called for ‘Change that we can believe in’. but the only change that I see is that they are going to pay for their programs with our income.

     The televised photo-op on health care finance reform occurred on Thursday, with the usual commentators wisdom supplied as if we cared. One of the statistics showed that the president talked for 1/3 of the session, with the other two stakeholders almost even. I guess since he called the meeting, and it was his home in which they were sharing their views, it was his right to answer every opinion with his own. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, a practicing physician, received the ultimate accolade when the president called him after the session for elaboration on his views. The senator called for tort reform and repeal of the SGR formula for CMS payments.

      The elephant in the room for all of us is the 21.7% cut in Medicare payments that will occur beginning on March 1^st. It is my thought that Congress will have great difficulty in passing a permanent correction to the SGR formula because it is projected to cost around $280 billion over the next 10 years. The problem is that the Obama program has already claimed that money as savings for their universal health care reform proposal. The administration has said that their initiative would result in savings of $500 billion over ten years. That includes the money for physicians. We have always known that any ‘savings’ would cut benefits and access, and they can’t have it both ways.

Dear Members and Friends of TOMA,

            The TOMA 54^th Mid-Winter Conference and Legislative Symposium was attended by a large group of your friends in Dallas. Program Chair Florence Spitler and committee chair Robert DeLuca coordinated a team effort that resulted in one of the best educational opportunities that we have ever experienced. The evaluations from both physicians and exhibitors were positive, and we were exposed to new treatment options and to contemporary ideas regarding older techniques. One of the new features was I-Click, an electronic interactive device that allowed presenters to ask questions that were answered by the attendees, and that computed outcomes data for each lecture. The weekend concluded with a comprehensive presentation by Texas Medical Board Executive Director Mari Robinson and Medical Director Alan Moore that summarized recent legislative changes that affect Texas physicians. The record snowfall in North Texas made travel difficult, but the convention facility was marvelous, and we had a great time connecting with our friends.

Dear Members and Friends of TOMA,

                'WHO DAT' ?  Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints and to all of their long-suffering fans. Sean Payton and Drew Brees brought their team back from a 10 point deficit to capture the NFL title. Queen Latifah started the festivities with a stirring rendition of America the Beautiful, and the team took it from there. Kenny Rodgers may be 'The Gambler', but coach Payton seized that name forever with his on-side kick-off to start the second half. Some of our TOMA folks will be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras that starts next week. This year may set a record for the longest celebration in history, as the revelry began last night.

                It is still winter in our lovely Texas, but the drought is officially over in many areas. The Northeast, including Washington D.C., was visited by a huge snowstorm this weekend, shutting down many government functions. Too bad it didn’t happen in the middle of the week, when closing the halls of Congress would mean that they couldn’t hurt us for a few days.

       One of the most dedicated educators at TCOM has left the public life for the rigors of private practice. Scott Stoll was honored by a reception in the atrium at the school for his contributions to the OMM department and to the Osteopathic Research Center. Scott has grown the department during his tenure and he has elevated the perception of osteopathic medicine on all levels, including research grants from the National Institute of Health. Interim department chair Russ Gamber joined other department faculty in paying homage to his courage, his vision, and his dedicated efforts on behalf of the students and the profession. He will be missed at the school, but he will be available for electro-diagnostic consultations at his new office in Fort Worth.