E-news for August 9, 2007 IAFP News ** AN EASY WAY TO SPEAK UP! TAKE THE IAFP MEMBER SURVEY IAFP staff and leadership need member input to help shape the Academy’s direction when the new Board of Directors is installed this October in Chicago. The survey will only take a few minutes of your time, but it adds up to tremendous input when IAFP members provide us their insight.  Access the survey online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wvpir5zuzmGRHtyrRFuyqw_3d_3d  **MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING IAFP EVENTS: View the IAFP Brochure at http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/annualmtg.pdf   Oct. 3: IAFP All-Member Assembly/Town Hall Meeting, Downtown Chicago Marriott.  Oct. 4: IAFP 60th Anniversary Party, Art Institute of Chicago.  For more information on the AAFP meeting in Chicago: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/cme/aafpcourses/conferences/assembly.html   **THE NEXT FAMILY PHYSICIAN SHOULD BE AVAILABLE SOON Be on the look out for the link in an upcoming IAFP e-mail to your August issue of the Family Physician Newsletter.  GOVERNMENT RELATIONS **STATE GOVERNMENT - SPRINGFIELD UPDATE With legislators still in Springfield and the state fair starting this weekend, the General Assembly is ten weeks into overtime with the longest session on record with only a glimmer of hope for adjournment with a sustainable budget. The House passed their version of a state budget (House Amendment 2 to HB 3860 if you’d like to see it) just as this E-news was being finalized. Now, the Senate will have an opportunity to vote on it. If it passes the Senate, no one knows whether or not the Governor will sign it. There is another scenario: a 30-day budget can be passed to keep the state running while a capital budget is ironed out to include some revenue streams, job creation, increased health care access, gaming expansion, mass transit funding, etc. If the Governor proposes this in lieu of signing a budged passed by the House and Senate, no one knows if either or both the House and Senate will pass it! Can we predict the future? No, but we hoped this update may help shed light on the ongoing saga.  News from under the Dome: Four more Republican legislators announced they will not seek re-election. Rep. Jim Meyer (R-48, Naperville) , Rep. Bill Black (R-104 Danville), Rep. Joe Dunn (R-96 Naperville) and Rep. Carolyn Krause (R-66 Mt. Prospect). The loss of these four could lead to further shifts in the Democratic majority in the 2008 elections.  *STATE CIGARETTE TAX COULD BE GOING UP Meanwhile, HB 556 continues to be amended by Sen. John Cullerton (who was instrumental in passing SB 500 Smoke-free Illinois) to get a cigarette tax increase through the General Assembly this year. The proposal has become a major factor in the leadership budget negotiations because of the substantial revenue the higher tax would bring to the state’s coffers. Portions of the new revenue could be to reduce the Medicaid backlog of delayed payments to providers. The new bill will also allow some county governments to impose an additional tax. IAFP and the Illinois Coalition of Tobacco community have been supporting the bill throughout the negotiations.  **FEDERAL UPDATE  1) SCHIP BILLS PASS BOTH HOUSES –  Both the US House and Senate have passed their own bills reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. -The Senate version would provide an additional $35 billion over five years to provide health coverage to an estimated four million additional uninsured children. - The House bill includes an additional $50 billion dollars for SCHIP over five years but also contains a two year halt of scheduled ten percent cuts to physicians, a large rural Medicare package and other changes to the Medicare program.  Congress will need to produce a conference report that would combine the two bills by September 30th. 2) INCREASED FEDERAL TOBACCO TAX PASSES BOTH HOUSES The U.S. Senate late last night voted 68 to 31 to approve a 61-cent increase in the federal cigarette tax as part of legislation to reauthorize and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). It sends a strong signal of support for the legislation that the 68 votes are more than the 67 needed to override a threatened presidential veto. The House has approved a 45-cent cigarette tax increase as part of its SCHIP bill. There will now be a conference committee to negotiate a final bill.  On a related topic, the bill to give the FDA authority to regulate tobacco products did pass out of the Senate HELP (Health Education Labor and Pensions) committee. FOUNDATION TAR WARS POSTER WINNER’S BIG ADVENTURE TO DC Illinois Tar Wars poster contest winner Tyler Kiefer and his father, Tim, traveled to the National Tar Wars Poster Contest in Washington, DC July 16-18. All 39 state winners in attendance were honored at a banquet. Tyler received a special recognition award and a $50 savings bond. New York’s Zane Belden won the grand prize. On July 17th, Tyler and Tim spent time with Majority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin in a special meeting in the Senator’s Capitol Hill office. They also sat in a private box in the Senate Gallery to view the action from above as Sen. John McCain spoke on the Senate floor. View the photos at: http://www.iafp.com/tarwars/2007dcpictures.htm   BE A TAR WARS PRESENTER - Now is a great time to sign up as a Tar Wars presenter for the upcoming school year! It only takes one hour to present to a group of 4th or 5th graders and it’s FUN! You can visit a local school, a scout troop, sports team, after school program – anywhere that would like to include Tar Wars in their efforts to help children.  You can link to a sign up form at http://www.iafp.com/tarwars/corporate/presentersignup.htm  or contact Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com for more information.  Don’t have time to present, but wan to help? Make a tax-deductible donation or donate prizes for the 2008 poster contest! You can even donate frequent flyer miles for next year’s poster contest winner. Contact Ginnie with your ideas. CME Information: ** CME CONNECTION IAFP launched a new electronic newsletter called “CME Connection” in June dedicated entirely to IAFP CME opportunities and products as well as CME offerings from partner organizations and more. The publication connects IAFP members with CME options that meet their needs. Those interested in listing their CME product or event should contact Kate Valentine at kvalentine@iafp.com .  **FIND IAFP EVENTS AND OTHER CME OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY PHYSICIANS ANY TIME AT http://www.iafp.com/calendar/   Pri-Med CME information Partnering with the IAFP, Pri-Med Updates offers world-class CME programs in your area. Taught by leading experts, you can earn Continuing Medical Education credits at no cost. All activities listed are approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Application for AAFP Prescribed credit has been submitted.  *Pri-Med Updates Two-day continuing medical education programs designed for Primary Care Physicians currently engaged in patient care. This program features new and emerging guidelines, therapies, and evidence- based information on multiple therapeutic areas encountered in primary care.  • Oakbrook Terrace, IL-Wednesday and Thursday, September 26-27, 2007 (link here)- http://www.pri-med.com/pmo/LiveProgramDetail.aspx?url=/pmo/30/events/30OAK07B/Conference  • St. Louis, MO-Thursday and Friday, December 6-7, 2007(link here) http://www.pri-med.com/pmo/LiveProgramDetail.aspx?url=/pmo/30/events/30STL07B/Conference  • Chicago, IL-Thursday and Friday, November 1-2, 2007(link here http://www.pri-med.com/pmo/LiveProgramDetail.aspx?url=/pmo/30/events/30CHI07B/Conference  *Pri-Med Updates in Women’s Health Introducing a new one-day program designed for Obstetricians, Gynecologists and Family Physicians. By attending, you will gain a better understanding of screening techniques and management strategies that will serve the unique needs of your female patients • Chicago, IL-Saturday, November 3, 2007 http://www.pri-med.com/pmo/LiveProgramDetail.aspx?url=/pmo/43/cities/43CHI  *Pri-Med Online  Pri-Med.com offers over 200 primary care focused eCME activities at no-cost in 15 key Condition Resource Centers including: ADHD, Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, Cancer in Primary Care, Congestive Heart Failure, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, Hypertension, Infectious Disease, Sleep Disorders and more. Plus, four eCME activity types are offered so you can thoroughly examine a topic, including: Patient case studies, Clinical reviews, Expert perspectives and Multi-media slide lecture series. Earn high-quality physician-authored eCME anytime at www.pri-med.com/onlineCME  . __________________ Members in the News – If you would like a copy of any of the articles below or you have any news items to share with the IAFP membership, contact Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com   *Jacqueline Bardwell, MD at Advocate Christ Medical Center is quoted in a July 30 Sun Times story about the annual summer baby boom. More babies are born in the months of July and August than any other time of the year. Bardwell confirms that family physicians who deliver and obstetricians are much busier in the summer.  *Martin Lipsky, MD, dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford was interviewed in the July 31 Rockford Register Star about the college securing a $26 million loan to begin a major expansion of the medical campus. Groundbreaking is expected in fall 2008. *Ben Brewer, MD tackles the sticky issue of fighting cholesterol in the July 31 installment of “From the Doctor’s Office” in the Wall Street Journal. He shares the many challenges he has in lowering his patient’s cholesterol levels through diet and exercise recommendations and the various pharmacological options.  *The Smoke-free Oak Park coalition was honored with a Fitzsimmons Award for Excellence in Public Health from the Village of Oak Park. This award is named after Dr. William Fitzsimmons, a physician and humanitarian, who served as the Village's medical consultant from 1976 to 1992. IAFP second vice president and Oak Park resident Patrick Tranmer was a leader on this tireless and victorious coalition.  * On August 1, Steve Sauerberg, MD of Western Springs officially launched his campaign to be the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate to challenge incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin in 2008. The launch was covered by the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald WIFR-TV in Rockford and Crain’s Chicago Business.  *People are talking about the new documentary “SiCKO” and American Medical News asked IAFP past-president Ed Hirsch, MD of Peoria for his insights along with a panel of primary care physicians from around the country. The article appears in the August 6 issue of AM News. ------------------------------- FOR STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS: **STUDENTS:  1) IAFP Student Delegate to the AAFP National Conference of Student Members enjoyed a memorable and valuable experience in Kansas City. Read her entire report on the IAFP Web site at: http://www.iafp.com/Students/nationalconference.htm   2) SAVE THE DATE!! Mark your calendars for the next IAFP Foundation Fall Family Medicine Program! Date: Saturday, September 29th Time: 9 am – 2:30 pm Location: Oak Brook Marriott For more information please contact Crishelle O’Rourke at corourke@iafp.com . ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON! BE SURE TO CHECK THE IAFP WEB SITE’S STUDENT PAGE AT http://www.iafp.com/students/   For now, click here for a flyer you can print out and save: http://www.iafp.com/students/Fall%20forum.htm   **RESIDENTS:  1) SAVE THE DATE: IAFP’S 3RD RESIDENT ROUNDUP IN CHICAGO Saturday October 20th from noon to 2 p.m. at a Lake View restaurant location to be determined very soon!  Money, Money, Money!!! Mark your calendar now for this valuable networking and educational opportunity on personal and professional finance issues. Previous roundups in Oak Park and Springfield drew rave reviews from Illinois Family Medicine residents.  Learn more at: http://www.iafp.com/residents/residentroundupoct20.htm   2) EXIBITOR REGISTRATION FOR THE FALL FORUM IS ONLINE Has your program made plans to exhibit at the IAFP Foundation Fall Forum? For details, visit: http://www.iafp.com/students/exhibitor%20prospectus.htm   3) JOB LISTINGS AND OTHER INFO ON-LINE Here is a place to start: http://www.iafp.com/JobListings/   4) Link to resources for residents IAFP web site http://www.iafp.com/Residents/index.htm   ----------------------------- NEWS YOU CAN USE ** CDC LAUNCHES PRETEEN VACCINE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN The CDC′s Preteen Vaccine campaign is designed to inform parents, caregivers, family physicians and pediatricians about CDC′s new vaccination recommendations for 11- and 12-year-olds. The three preteen vaccines include MCV4, which protects against meningitis and its complications; Tdap, which is a booster against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis or "whooping cough," and for girls, which protects against HPVs that are the most common causes of cervical cancer. The campaign’s launch coincides with National Immunization Awareness Month in August. A new Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/ , provides easy-to-understand, downloadable educational materials in English and Spanish for parents and health care providers about the vaccines and the diseases they prevent. The campaign provides health care providers with the latest information about preteen vaccines and the preteen check-up with fact sheets and posters. CDC′s preteen vaccine recommendations are supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Society for Adolescent Medicine. **ILLINOIS HEALTH CONNECT UPDATES: [EDITOR’S NOTE: IAFP is committed to ensuring our members have the necessary information about Illinois Health Connect to make an informed decision on their participation] Mandatory enrollment in Illinois Health Connect will expand into the Central and Southern Regions beginning August 13, 2007. Client enrollment and education packets will begin to be mailed to most HFS and All Kids Medical Card holders requesting that they pick a primary care provider (PCP) for their medical home.  Illinois Health Connect www.illinoishealthconnect.com  1-877-912-1999 Your Healthcare Plus www.yourhealthcareplusdr.com    1-800-973-6792  Find an updated Fact Sheet about IHC at http://www.iafp.com/legislative/fact%20sheet.htm  ______  REMINDERS WORTH REPEATING ** “DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS” IS COMING TO CHICAGO! “Put Your Ideals Into Practice: Doctors Without Borders Recruitment Information Session” Thursday, September 20 – 6:00 PM Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Lurie Building – Hughes Auditorium 303 E. Superior, Chicago IL 60611 On September 20, all prospective medical aid workers are invited to a presentation and Q&A session about working in the field with Doctors Without Borders.  Registration and more information are at http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/recruitment.  **BRIDGING CARE PLANNER – FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AT YOUR PRACTICE The Solution Enhance your quality improvement efforts and chronic care management with the BridgingCare® Planner (BCP) patient registry.  A registry is a practical tool that enables you to monitor patient care on a routine basis. A registry provides a systematic approach to documenting the quality of care provided. The information is organized in one place for tracking and monitoring the care of either individual patients or a group of patients over time. Through a dynamic reporting capability, a practice can identify patients due for evaluation or intervention and follow specific indicators (e.g. A1c).  Link to more information at http://www.iafp.com/whatsnew/BCP.htm   **PHYSICIAN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED  CommunityHealth is seeking physicians to volunteer at our clinic located at 2611 W. Chicago Ave. A volunteer commitment of just one clinic session (four hours) every month would be welcome. We are in need of primary care physicians and specialists (Gynecologists, Endocrinologists, Ophthalmologists, and Rheumatologists). Physicians must be licensed and boarded in Illinois to volunteer.  In addition, other volunteers such as, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, interpreters (Spanish and Polish), and clerical support are always needed.  Founded in 1993, CommunityHealth is Illinois' largest volunteer-based clinic serving the uninsured, serving 6000 patients annually.  For more information about CommunityHealth or to become a volunteer: go to http://www.communityhealth.org/volunteers  or contact: Kelly Jordan, Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 773-395-9901 ex. 23 or kjordan@communityhealth.org   CLASSIFIED ADS: 1. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO MILE SQUARE HEALTH CENTER The University of Illinois at Chicago MSHC seeks a full and part time physician. Responsibilities will include reviewing developmental and medical history of patient; examining patient and obtaining medical history from patient, parents, guardians or responsible adults to prepare profile on patient for presentation at diagnostic staffing; participating in diagnostic staffing to correlate findings, determine diagnosis and develop appropriate treatment recommendations; if indicated, along with relevant member(s) of the team, discussing findings and recommendations with clients, parents, agencies, etc., responsible for medication management; supervising medical residents and other health professionals as appropriate; may include consulting to school/work/residential settings. Doctor of medicine degree from an accredited medical college; Board certification in required specialty; Illinois license to practice medicine or Illinois license eligible. Bilingual providers in Spanish/English preferred.  For full consideration, please submit your resume by August 13, 2007 to: Ms. Tammi Washington University of Illinois at Chicago Mile Square Health Center 2045 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60612-2494 Fax: 312-413-7812 The University of Illinois at Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer 2. ORLAND PARK - Looking for FT Family Physician in growing suburban practice. Orland Park is a thriving family suburb with excellent schools, housing, and shopping in the South suburban Chicago area, within 30 minutes of downtown Chicago. Salary based on level of experience and partnership possibilities considered after two years of employment. No OB required. Resident or seasoned FP welcome. Contact Dr. Susan Rife - fax CV to 708-873-1204, e-mail to drsrife@pol.net  or phone 708-873-1187 for more information.  3. CHAMPAIGN, IL--Christie Clinic is a multi-specialty group of 90 physicians that is recruiting for a FP for its satellite office in Rantoul, 15 miles north of Champaign. Call: 1/8. No OB. The clinic is looking for a highly motivated FP who wants to work hard and be rewarded for it. Starting salary could be $190K, with lucrative bonus potential. Earnings well above national and regional averages. Champaign is the home of the University of Illinois, with comfortable college town lifestyle and many cultural amenities. 2.5 hours south of Chicago. Contact Christopher Kashnig at Christie Clinic. Phone 217-366-5374. E-mail address: ckashnig@christieclinic.com   **IAFP Members, Don’t Miss this Opportunity. Find the perfect employee or employer with IAFP’s comprehensive online job bank at FPJobs Online.  Candidates, find your ideal job to fit your lifestyle at http://www.iafp.com/JobListings/   • Expand your personal and professional growth by finding the right job from the most comprehensive resource of family medicine jobs available. • Present yourself in the most professional light possible with the state-of-the-art, customizable Resume Builder. • Keep up-to-date records of your professional accomplishments in one highly organized format. • Access the most coveted family medicine opportunities in the industry. • Uncover your professional style and identify optimum work opportunities. Recruiters, simplify and optimize the hiring process at FPJobs Online • Improve recruitment efficiencies–skip the broad job boards and hone in on preferred candidates. • Make the most of direct, targeted access to over 2,000 IAFP active members and hundreds of residents about to graduate. • Screen all candidates for your specific criteria. • Secure volume-pricing discounts with your multiple recruitment needs. Log on to http://www.iafp.com/JobListings/  today to learn more!