June 22, 2021
In California, 62% of adults have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) and 16% have experienced four or more ACEs. Among Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal, 69% report that they have at least one ACE and 23% have four or more ACEs.
ACEs and toxic stress are a root cause to some of the most harmful, persistent and expensive societal and health challenges facing the world today. In California alone, it is estimated that preventing ACEs and toxic stress could save the state at least $112.5 billion annually ($10.5 billion in personal health care spending and $102 billion in years of productive life lost).
The California Medical Association’s (CMA) wellness program (CMA Wellness) has launched free, online wellness engagement groups for health care teams that screen for ACEs and toxic stress to empower their personal wellness and prevent feelings of professional burnout.
The engagement groups will offer subject matter experts, best practices and an open forum to share experiences, facilitated by trained, volunteer physicians.
Registration is required, and providers can choose between joining the Tuesday series for a 6-month duration, running June through December 2021. Each monthly session (presented via live webinar) is organized around a prevailing theme with a stakeholder co-host to provide a variety of perspectives with a general discussion and breakout rooms.
And let CMA Wellness pick up your meal or snack, so the whole care team can participate! CMA is providing health care teams with up to $100 per webinar to encourage physicians to invite their care teams to better integrate ACEs screening and treatment comprehensively into patient care.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of CMA and CMA Wellness. CMA is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. CMA designates this live activity for a maximum of 6 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Not currently screening patients for ACEs? CMA encourages all physicians, particularly Medi-Cal providers, to receive the free, two-hour training to learn how screening, risk assessment and evidence-based care can effectively intervene on toxic stress. Physicians may receive 2.0 Continuing Medical Education (CME) and 2.0 Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits upon completion - and can receive reimbursement for providing ACEs screening to Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
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