Family Physician Newsletter

IAFP e-News for May 9

IAFP News

** IAFP BOARD GATHERS AT AAFP ANNUAL LEADERSHIP FORUM
Beginning in 2008, the IAFP committed to holding full board meetings at some of AAFP’s largest meetings – the Family Medicine Congressional Conference and the Annual Leadership Forum (ALF). Previously only a few officers attended these meetings. This new approach helps current and future leaders get early exposure to the Academy processes and the opportunity to interact with colleagues from other chapters and AAFP.

Therefore, the Board of Directors met Friday, May 2 in Kansas City.
Highlights from that meeting:
1. From the Task Force on Electronic Voting: The Board agreed to send to the 2008 All Member Assembly the task force’s recommendation to add a second “new physician” slot to the IAFP Board of Directors. Each new physician board member would serve a two-year term. The terms would be staggered so that one new physician member would be elected every year to a two-year term. A bylaws committee has been established to draft bylaws language that would take effect in 2009 if the 2008 All Member Assembly passes the proposal.
2. Also from the Task Force on E-voting: the board approved the task force recommendation to bring a resolution for electronic voting in IAFP elections before the All Member Assembly in December.
3. A separate Task Force on Pharmaceutical and Health Plan Funds proposed the following items that were approved by the Board.
a. IAFP will adopt the AAFP’s Conflict of Interest Form and all board members will submit one each year
b. From 2009-2013, the Board will provide an annual report to the All Member Congress detailing all IAFP revenue sources.
c. The IAFP surveyed members on this issue during the months of March and April. The Task Force will review the results and report out in a future issue of Family Physician
4. The Board approved a co-marketing agreement for the National Procedures Institute, which is managed by Texas AFP in a joint venture with AAFP and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM). The National Procedures Institute is coming to Chicago in September. Look for more information on the NPI in future E-news and in the June Family Physician.

With so much going on at your Academy, this is the year to attend our annual meeting. Plenty of information will be coming your way over the summer, but for now SAVE THE DATES:

IAFP Annual Meeting: December 5-6, 2008
Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark
One South Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-421-1776
Meeting room rate: $109 – cut off is November 21st

Highlights include a wine tasting reception, five CME programs, the All Member Assembly and the annual awards banquet.

NOTES FROM NCSC
The National Conference on Special Constituencies
-Illinois AFP enjoyed the spotlight at the 2008 NCSC as our own treasurer, Michael Temporal, MD of Belleville, served as the conference Convener. In that role, he presided over the election of the delegates, officers and legislative process. Thank you to Dr. Temporal for his outstanding work as NCSC Convener and representing us so well.

- Congratulations to IAFP New Physician board member Tina Brueschke, MD of Geneva who was elected as the AAFP alternate delegate to the AMA’s Young Physicians Section.

-Thank you to our NCSC representatives
Kristin Drynan, MD, new physician
Tamarh Duperval, MD, woman physician
Mayank Shah, MD, minority physician
Gary Bucher, MD, GLBT

** HURRY AND SEND YOUR NOMINATIONS FOR 2008 IAFP AWARDS
Nominations for all the IAFP annual awards are due May 31st. Award winners will be honored at the IAFP Annual Meeting in December in St. Louis.
It’s easy to access award information and nomination forms on the IAFP Web site
- Family Physician of the Year http://www.iafp.com/PR/FPOY2008.htm
- Family Medicine Teachers of the Year (full time and part time nominees) http://www.iafp.com/PR/FPOY2008.htm

** APRIL/MAY FAMILY PHYSICIAN IS NOW ONLINE
Link to the bi-monthly recap of all things IAFP at
http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/aprilmay08.pdf

**SEND YOUR IDEAS OR CONCERNS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
You can contact your IAFP Board of Directors through the IAFP website at http://www.iafp.com/about/officers.htm.

STATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Both chambers extended the deadline for bills to pass their chamber of origin, which means that substantial progress ground to a halt this week. Lawmakers, lobbyists and observers all agree that another overtime session is inevitable.

** CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER HEALTH CARE HOSTS ANNUAL SUBURBAN SUMMIT

COMMUNITY SUMMIT on Health Care
Saturday, May 17, 9:00 am - Noon
@ Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Downers Grove, IL

- Advance screening the film, "Critical Condition" -
- Panel discussion - Resources on health care -
- Free Event - Breakfast provided -

RSVP Today! Call Lydia, (312) 913-9449
For more info visit http://www.cbhconline.org/index.html

FEDERAL Government Relations

**NEW TOBACCO GUIDELINES UNVEILED IN CHICAGO
The United States Public Health Service released its 2008 Update to Clinical Practice Guideline, “Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence,” on May 7. Representing AAFP were Dr. Tom Weida, AAFP speaker and Carlos Jaen, M.D. of Texas, who was vice-chair of the Guidelines Update Panel. IAFP member Martin Doot, M.D., and our colleague Janet Williams, J.D., from the AMA Office on Alcohol, Tobacco and Substance Abuse were also there for the announcement. Ms. Williams was a champion in the fight to establish Smoke Free Illinois.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) officially endorsed the updated U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline on treating tobacco use and dependence. See the full press release at:
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/press/aafpnewsreleases/may-2008/aafp-endorses-tobacco-guidelines.html

The full guideline and its companion products including a consumer guide and a pocket guide for clinicians is available at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/default.htm or by calling 1-800-358-9295.

**MEDICARE UPDATES
HOUSE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE DISCUSSES MEDICARE CUTS
Small medical practices provide essential services and ensure all patients have access to quality care. However, cuts to Medicare physician fee payments threaten the future of these practices. On May 8, the US House Committee on Small Business heard from the Deputy Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). They also received testimony from a panel of health care providers, who noted the planned cuts would greatly limit services to the nation’s neediest communities.

“Undermining physicians who serve millions of disabled, elderly, veterans and disadvantaged patients makes no sense,” said Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez in a press release from the Committee. “There are enormous gaps in the American health care system, and these businesses are helping to fill them. Failing to recognize that fact flies in the face of what is needed.”

The amount paid by Medicare is scheduled to be cut by 10.6% at the end of June. You can view clips from the hearing on You Tube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=hvC0uKFOPQ8

MEDICARE: KEEP THE DOOR OPEN
Act now to stop the Medicare pay cut! Unless Congress stops the Medicare payment cut scheduled to take place in July, family physicians will be hit with a decrease of more than 10 percent in Medicare payments. Go to http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/federal/medicarecut.html for more information.
Dr. Steve Knight, IAFP president, reviews the situation family physicians now face and urges members to utilize AAFP resources in a late March interview, http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/sknightmedicare2.mp3

IAFP PHYSICIAN EDUCATES ILLINOIS HEALTH STAFF ON HOME CARE
Tom Cornwell, MD - Illinois’ expert on home care, had a special date in the Cannon House Office Building in March at the invitation of his congressman, Rep. Peter Roskam. Cornwell was invited to speak to eight Illinois congressional legislative aides and Senator Durbin’s aide about the value of physician house calls and proposed legislation to expand house call programs. Connie Row, the executive director of the American Academy of Home Care Physicians and Jim Pyles, who authored the proposed legislation, joined Dr. Cornwell in addressing the health aides. The drafted legislation calls for house call programs to meet quality and satisfaction goals and save Medicare 5% on the patients we care for. Savings above the 5% benchmark would be subsequently split 80% to the house call program and an additional 20% to Medicare.

NEED TO KNOW: NPI NUMBER

**MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR NPI AND USE IT NOW.
Starting May 23, physicians face the risk of rejected Medicaid and Medicare claims if the billing provider does not provide the individual NPI (national provider identifier) number.

MEDICAID: The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has indicated that they are receiving many claims submitted with a Group NPI number as the Billing Provider instead of an individual NPI number as the Billing Provider. HFS cannot process a claim submitted with a Group NPI as the Billing Provider. Since many of these claims do not contain the provider's HFS number, there is no way for the claims to be processed and no way for HFS to identify or notify the correct Billing Provider. The HFS policy for using the NPI numbers for billing does NOT match the CMS policy and this has generated a great deal of confusion. However, claims for Illinois Medicaid clients must follow the HFS policy or they cannot be processed.
LINK to the HFS Notice http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/NPI.pdf
LINK to FAQs about the NPI http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/FAQdocument.pdf

NPI FOR MEDICARE
The AAFP has signed on to the AMA’s letter urging a delay in the May 23 deadline for using NPI numbers. However no extension has been granted. As such, members should be prepared and in full compliance. Need help? AAFP has some FAQs online at http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/regulatory-compliance/hipaa/natlproviderid.html

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CME Information
** Have you looked at the free resources at http://www.YHPlus.com yet?

It’s convenient, offers free CME and is quality improvement education at its best. These online, easy-to-use CME activities are timely and relevant to your profession. Your Healthcare Plus (YHPlus) has been developed in partnership by the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and McKesson Health Solutions.
Your Healthcare Plus’ CME activities can be viewed and completed through the http://www.YHPlus.com Web site. Activities can also be downloaded to listen to at your convenience.
The Quality Improvement programs include
-How to Conduct a Quality Improvement Program in Primary Care Practice,
- Managing Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care,
-Managing Adult Depression in Primary Care,
-Managing Childhood Asthma in Primary Care...with more topics on the way.
In addition, through IAFP’s Web site, you will be able to track which CME courses you have completed and obtain your CME certificates - simply with the click of a button at the end of each completed online course.
Your Healthcare Plus includes:
* Education – View slideshow presentations, download audio and other files, review documents and access QI tools
* Workflow Training Modules to help you efficiently and effectively implement quality improvement tools
* Clinical Training Modules to help you evaluate and manage common chronic conditions, such as pediatric asthma and adult depression
* Forums – Post questions, participate in polls, and engage in discussions
* And, more! Answers to FAQs, how to apply for CME and additional links to other CME activities.
This valuable resource is absolutely free. Check it out today at http://www.YHPlus.com

** CME CASE STUDIES ON HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES

IAFP is offering free online CME case studies on “Hypertension in Primary Care Practice” and "Diabetes in Primary Care Practice" at http://www.IAFP.com\education. Each study takes about 45-60 minutes to complete.

*Hypertension in Primary Care Practice: a case study with coding

1 Prescribed Credit or 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit ™ for each case study
A program for Bridging Health Care sponsored by the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians

Links to the Hypertension case studies:

Hypertension case study 1: Ed http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=45
Hypertension case study 2: Gayle http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=46
Hypertension case study 3: Jim http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=44

**DIABETES IN PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE: A CASE STUDY WITH CODING

1 Prescribed Credit or 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit ™ for each case study. A program for Bridging Health Care sponsored by the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians

Links to the Diabetes Case Studies:

Diabetes case study 1: Isabella http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=47
Diabetes case study 2: John http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=48
Diabetes case study 3: Sam http://www.iafp.com/education/CourseListing_Detail.asp?CourseID=49

**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 Update
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.

Chicago, IL – Tuesday & Wednesday, June 10-11, 2008
http://www.pri-med.com/pmo/ViewEvent.aspx?EventCode=30chi08a&CCODE=r12

*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 http://www.pri-med.com/onlineCME .

**HEALTH LITERACY: NEW METHODS FOR PATIENT EDUCATION AND SELF-MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
May 28, 2008

The Illinois Foundation for Quality Health Care is paying the enrollment fee for one telephone line. Any interested family medicine practice can go to the ILFQHC office.

To sign up your practice, contact:
Mary N. Gerard, M.D.
Quality Improvement Director - Physician Office
Illinois Foundation for Quality Health Care
2625 Butterfield Road, Suite 102E
Oakbrook, IL 60523-1234
630-928-5870
mgerard@ilqui.sdps.org

IHI's new Web&ACTION, Health Literacy: New Methods for Patient Education and Self-Management Support, will help participants develop their expertise in health literacy through process diagnostics and test-of-change exercises with patients and families in their care.

Upon completion of this Web&ACTION series, participants will be able to:
-Describe the relationship between health literacy and improving quality and safety of care, managing chronic disease, eliminating health disparities, and focusing on the patient
-Discover how their current patient education materials and processes may underachieve and test improvements
-Identify, test, and evaluate tools and techniques for supporting all members of the health care team in helping patients and families understand medical instructions and information.

** AAFP PRACTICE ENHANCEMENT FORUM IS COMING TO OAK BROOK
Send three people (one FP and two support staff) to AAFP’s Practice Enhancement Forum October 10-11 in Oak Brook. Along with up to 20 prescribed CME credits, participating FPs will attain the following
Objectives:
The Practice Enhancement Forum (PEF) provides family medicine teams with practical tools, skills and knowledge to begin implementing the Chronic Care Model into their practice. Upon completion of the PEF your family medicine team will be able to:
• Assess your practice and determine where to direct improvement efforts.
• Begin implementing the Chronic Care Model into your practice.
• Motivate your office team to deliver optimal patient care.
• Understand how to implement and sustain improvement.
• Be a champion for change in your practice

Learn more on from AAFP’s web site at
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/quality/cme/pef.html

**FIND IAFP EVENTS AND OTHER CME OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY PHYSICIANS ANY TIME AT http://www.iafp.com/education/

Members in the News

*Tony Miksanek, MD of Benton was a featured speaker at the University of Iowa College of Medicine on April 24. The title of his presentation was "Grumpy Doctors and Difficult Patients." Sounds like something many doctors can relate to!

*Eric Henley, MD, and Margaret Kirkegaard, MD were both panelists at a presentation on "Community Advocacy" at the STFM (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine) Spring Conference in Baltimore, May 1-3. Dr. Henley spoke on "Workforce issues" and Dr. Kirkegaard’s presentation addressed ways to teach residents/students about community advocacy.

*Scott Sarran, MD is the new Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.

*In the April 24th installment of “From the Doctor’s Office” in the Wall Street Journal, Ben Brewer, MD discusses the many prescription medications that can cause significant weight gain for patients and the challenge of balancing treatments for disease with the costs of medication and the potential undesirable weight gain that can accompany some drugs.

*IAFP Board Member Carrie Nelson, MD was elected vice president of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago.

*Tamarah Duperval-Brownlee, MD, MPH is one of 53 leaders representing 17 states and the District of Columbia that have been awarded the prestigious Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) for 2008. Recipients will spend 23 days in Europe visiting institutions, societies and cultures and learning about economic, political and social issues facing the United States and Europe. The goal of the Fellowship is to educate the next generation of American and European leaders on the importance of the transatlantic relationship and encourage them to work with each other on a range of international and domestic policy challenges. Dr Duperval-Brownlee is on the IAFP Public Relations task force and medical director of Mile Square Health Center.

*A May 7th Chicago Tribune editorial harshly criticized County Board President Todd Stroger about several of the nine finalists submitted to lead the County Health Services Board going forward. The Tribune noted the glaring absence of a single physician on the list, and also advocated that IAFP past president and current Foundation co-chair Carolyn Lopez, MD should be on the board.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

**NATIONAL WOMEN’S HEALTH WEEK IS MAY 11-17
The 9th annual National Women's Health Week will kick off on Mother's Day, May 11, 2008 and will be celebrated until May 17, 2008. National Women's Check-Up Day will be Monday, May 12, 2008.
The nationwide initiative, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH), encourages women to make their health a top priority and take simple steps for a longer, healthier and happier life. During the week, families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations and other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and prevent disease.

Find Illinois Women’s health events online at:
http://www.4woman.gov/whw/events/findeventStateDetail.cfm?postalCode=IL&state=Illinois

** STATE ONLINE RESOURCE TO CHECK RX HISTORY
The Illinois Dept. of Human Services has a new web site for Illinois Prescription Monitoring. Physicians can register and use the web site to review a patient's prescription history for controlled substances. This resource can enable physicians to identify patients who are visiting multiple doctors to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances. Log on and register at https://www.ilpmp.org/index.php . You will need your DEA number and your medical license number for verification.

**May 27: WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY AND CHICAGO’S QUIT DAY
Since Illinois became a smoke-free state on January 1, we’re all breathing a little easier when we go out in public. And yes, some smokers continue to complain when given the chance. But for many others - smokers and non-smokers - the new law is actually helped them on the road to better health.

IAFP Board Chair Katie Miller, MD is now the medical director for the Decatur Women’s Correctional Facility. Those incarcerated women had to give up smoking entirely when the state law took effect. Dr. Miller is happy to report that the women she cares for there who were smokers have not had problems quitting since there is no one around to smoke and provide temptation or fuel cravings. These women also report that they feel better than they have in years. Residents with asthma reported not needing their emergency inhalers since quitting and/or no longer being exposed to secondhand smoke.

Meanwhile board member Jim Cunnar, MD of Naperville told IAFP that two of his patients who are bartenders – one male and one female – both smokers, are happier at work now that the cloud of smoke is gone. Even better, the new law is helping them in their own journeys towards a smoke-free future.

If only the entire world would quit smoking! The Chicago 2nd Wind Collaboration (of which IAFP is a member) is hosting a Chicagoland “Quit Day” in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day on May 27th.

If you are based in the Chicago area, would you like to hold a quit day at your practice? You can request FREE Quit Day Kits from the Chicago 2nd Wind campaign and then put them to use with EVERY patient who smokes. Just contact Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com with the number of kits you would like and where they should be sent.

You can always go to AAFP’s Ask and Act program and make your plans to make any day and every day a Quit Day for your patients. Just go to http://www.askandact.org.

Foundation News
**TAR WARS POSTER CONTEST RESULTS
Alexandra Slane, a fourth grader at Peoria Academy, received a big surprise at school Wednesday morning. In a surprise announcement, she learned that she designed the winning poster in the Family Health Foundation of Illinois Tar Wars Poster Contest. Alexandra will represent Illinois at the National Tar Wars Poster Contest July 21-22 in Washington, D.C. The Family Health Foundation of Illinois will provide air travel and lodging for the trip.

Just down the road in Morton, fifth grader, Tanner Meiss got a surprise visit of his own from Ginnie Flynn, who coordinates the Tar Wars program for IAFP Foundation. For his outstanding work, he received a gift basket loaded with art supplies, along with a Tar Wars plaque and T-shirt. Dr. Chris Miles, a resident family physician at Methodist Medical Center taught Tar Wars to Tanner’s class, where his wife Dawn Miles is the science teacher for the fifth graders. Last year, the state contest’s third place winner came from Mrs. Miles’ class.

The 2008 Illinois Tar Wars Poster Contest Results:

WINNER: Alexandra Slane – Peoria Academy, Peoria
2nd Place: Tanner Meiss – Lincoln Elementary, Morton
3rd Place: Jared Riley – Rochester Middle School, Rochester
View photos of the Alexandra and Tanner at http://www.iafp.com/tarwars/Poster%20winner%202008/1stplace.htm

View photos of the top three posters at http://www.iafp.com/tarwars/Poster%20winner%202008/2008winner.htm

**WHITE SOX GAME FUNDRAISER FOR TAR WARS

BASEBALL SEASON IS HERE!! The White Sox are off to a great start. Mark your calendars now for this summer’s best fundraiser—Tar Wars at the White Sox! Doesn’t matter if you’re a Sox fan or a Cubs fan, we’re all fans of family medicine. This one fundraising event ensures our state poster winner can attend the National Tar Wars poster contest in Washington, DC and that all the poster contest entrants are honored for their work.

Each ticket = $15 tax-deductible donation to Tar Wars!
Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7:11 p.m. at US Cellular Field, the White Sox vs. the Detroit Tigers. For ticket information, go to http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/sox08.pdf

**RESIDENTS: APPLY NOW FOR IAFP LEADERSHIP POSITIONS The Deadline to apply is MAY 15
LINK to the Resident application at http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/residentofficerapp.pdf

** RESIDENTS: One more Resident Roundup and we need some information from YOU to help us make plans. Please read the article online and give us some input on when we should hold the third and final Resident Roundup and what topics we should try to cover for you. Link to the article http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/RRevents.pdf

**STUDENTS – If you are a third year and couldn’t make it to IAFP’s “Preparing for Residency” event on April 19th, you missed some great information. IAFP has a limited number of AAFP’s “Strolling through the MATCH” books. To request a copy to be mailed to you, please e-mail Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com .

News from AAFP and its Foundation

** AAFP PRACTICE ENHANCEMENT FORUM IS COMING TO OAK BROOK
Send three people (one FP and two support staff) to AAFP’s Practice Enhancement Forum October 10-11 in Oak Brook. Along with up to 20 prescribed CME credits, participating FPs will attain the following
Objectives:
The Practice Enhancement Forum (PEF) provides family medicine teams with practical tools, skills and knowledge to begin implementing the Chronic Care Model into their practice. Upon completion of the PEF your family medicine team will be able to:
• Assess your practice and determine where to direct improvement efforts.
• Begin implementing the Chronic Care Model into your practice.
• Motivate your office team to deliver optimal patient care.
• Understand how to implement and sustain improvement.
• Be a champion for change in your practice

Learn more on from AAFP’s web site at
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/quality/cme/pef.html
** PRACTICE MANAGEMENT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: THE NEW REALITY
August 7-9, 2008
San Antonio, Texas
Hyatt Regency
Managing for today. Preparing for tomorrow. A conference for physicians, practice managers, and front office staff. With featured speakers, new pre-conference and evening events.
Register before July 1 to save $100. http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/cme/aafpcourses/pracmgmtcourses/21stcentury.html

Worth Repeating
**SIGN UP FOR VACCINE PURCHASING

IAFP’s new partner – Atlantic Health Partners – can help our member practices save precious dollars and advocate on your behalf with payers and manufacturers. Atlantic, a physician purchasing program, works directly with Sanofi Pasteur and Merck and has obtained very favorable pricing and purchasing terms for a wide variety of pediatric, adolescent, adult, and travel vaccines. Participation is voluntary and there is no cost to enroll in the Atlantic program. To learn more about the vaccine purchasing program, contact Jeff Winokur, 800-741-2044 or at jwinokur@atlantichealthpartners.com .

** RENEW YOUR ILLINOIS LICENSE BY JULY 31
You should have received a postcard from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announcing your opportunity to renew your medical license online. To renew go to the IDFPR web site http://www.IDFPR.com and enter the PIN provided on your postcard.
Physicians’ licenses MUST be renewed by July 31, 2008. Before a license is renewed, physicians must provide the information for their profiles. You can do that at https://www.idfpr.com/applications/ProfessionProfile/ProfileUpdateMain.aspx

** NEW SEARCH ENGINE AVAILABLE TO IDENTIFY GENERIC/BRAND NAME AND PA

IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services has announced a drug search engine that has been incorporated into its website that will allow providers to search for drugs by both generic and brand names to immediately determine if the drug requires prior authorization (PA). This web page also contains links to information regarding the PA process, PA forms and PA requirements so that prescribing for HFS clients can be streamlined. Click: http://ilpriorauth.com/hfs/searchadv.asp

CLASSIFIED ADS
1. ROCKFORD - The Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford is seeking family physician faculty for: 1) our innovative longitudinal family medicine clerkship incorporating clinical care and medical student education in an office setting; 2) our family medicine residency program, OB desirable. Either position may be combined with responsibility for the department’s community health programs. The Department offers an on-site MPH program, faculty development, and research opportunities. Candidates should be board certified or board eligible. Rank is commensurate with qualifications.

Please send a cover letter and resume to Eric Henley, MD, MPH; Head, Department of Family and Community Medicine; 1601 Parkview Ave, Rockford, IL 61107 or by email to ehenley@uic.edu . Call 815-395-5805 for further information.
The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

2. Is patient charting taking too much of your time? Try SpringCharts® Electronic Health Records, the only easy-to-use, affordable charting application available for both Macintosh and Windows computers. It’s perfect for physicians in single or group practice. SpringCharts will allow you to document office visits with little or no typing, will virtually eliminate your office’s records transcription costs, and allows you to print and electronically sign patient prescriptions. Visit http://www.woodedisleconsult.com for examples, to download a demo, or just to see how easy it is to use SpringCharts! Or contact Wooded Isle Computer Consultants at 773-256-1099 for more information.

3. CHAMPAIGN, IL--Christie Clinic is a physician-owned multi-specialty group of 90 physicians that is recruiting for Family Physicians for its satellite offices in nearby Danville and Tuscola.
Danville: 35 miles east of Champaign. Join 3 Family Physicians. Call of 1/4.
Tuscola: 25 miles south of Champaign. Solo practice. Call of 1/9.
Starting salary range of $170-200K. With productivity, incomes are well above national and regional averages. Champaign is the home of the University of Illinois, with many cultural, social, and athletic amenities. 2.5 hours south of Chicago. Contact Christopher Kashnig at Christie Clinic. Phone 217-366-5374. E-mail address: ckashnig@christieclinic.com . Website: http://www.christieclinic.com.

4. IAFP’S RESOURCES FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH OR POSTING

The RIGHT job or job candidate is out there in family medicine, and we’re here to help find it! We post jobs here in e-News, in Family Physician and at our Web site http://www.iafp.com for Jobs Online. Select “Job Listings” from the menu on the left to learn more.