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IAFP e-News for April 11
IAFP News
**
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
**
YOUR INPUT NEEDED ON NON-DUES FUNDING FOR IAFP
The
IAFP Board would like to know how members feel about how IAFP funds its
programs and services to members. Please click on the link below to take a
survey to provide your opinions on non-dues funding of IAFP activities.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Nkafc2JW1MBUt34qNYAU7g_3d_3d
The genesis of this survey was a resolution brought to the IAFP All Member
Assembly
A
summary of responses will be used in a report to the IAFP board of
directors for its May 2 meeting. Results will also be shared with IAFP
members through Family Physician and the IAFP E-news.
BONUS:
A $1 donation will be made to the Family Health Foundation of
Illinois by Ashwani Garg, M.D., for each survey completed. Questions???
Email vkeenan@iafp.com or call
630-435-0257, x116.
**STUDENTS
- SIGN UP FOR PREPARING FOR RESIDENCY April 19
You
can register online at: http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?5S,M3,ced9c43b-c8be-4da7-afe1-df0715a9406b
**RESIDENTS
– REGISTER FOR THE RESIDENT ROUNDUP NEAR YOU!
April 17 in
April
26 in
**MORE
FROM THE MATCH
The
data from the
Nationally,
match results showed an increase in the fill rate for residency programs.
In
The
numbers for 2008 were: Positions
offered: 148 Positions filled:
142 Fill rate: 96%
View national Match results and AAFP analysis at http://www.aafp.org/match.
To view Steven Knight, M.D., IAFP
president; Javette Orgain, M.D., IAFP president elect and Scott Levin,
M.D., director of the West Suburban Family Medicine Residency program talk
about workforce issues in family medicine in IAFP’s latest advocacy
video, go to http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/iafpworkforce.wmv
Time to tell us about the best in
Illinois Family Medicine! Nominations
for all the IAFP annual awards are due May 31st.
Award winners will be honored at the IAFP Annual Meeting in
December in
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
**
RURAL
HEALTH INTEREST GROUP TACKLES STUDENT PIPELINE ISSUE
IAFP's
Rural Health Interest Group has identified student recruitment into family
medicine as a top priority for 2008. Dr. Tim Morthland, chair of the
Rural Health Interest Group, describes the activities of the group and
tells why he chose to practice in
** AAFP SEEKS MEMBERS WHO STARTED
AS OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL BEFORE
As
you have seen over the past few months, state legislatures are seeing an
increase in non-physician provider scope expansion. The underlying
rationale varies from state to state but the first card played is usually
"access" to care, followed by direct comparisons to family
medicine/primary care.
State
legislators say the most compelling testimony against scope expansion
presented in committee hearings comes from former non-physician
providers who later did go to medical school, obtained the MD/DO
degree and now practice medicine. AAFP Government Relations
would like to gather these personal stories from members, turn them
into testimony, and provide this testimony to constituent chapters as
another legislative tool that can be used to combat state legislation that
expands non-physician provider scope of practice.
If
you can help, take a few moments to answer the questions below, AAFP can
use this as a basis to build testimony. You would have the
opportunity to review the testimony and we will share with you when and
where it used. Contact Ginnie Flynn directly at gflynn@iafp.com
if you meet the criteria.
1)
What profession were you before you became a family physician?
2)
What were the limitations of your prior profession?
3)
What compelled you to complete medical school?
4)
What are the differences in the care you provide now compared to the care
you provided then?
5)
Based on your educational and practical experience, why can't your
former colleagues provide the same level of quality care that you
currently provide as a family physician?
IAFP
is looking for an International Medical Grad (IMG) member interested in
representing the Academy as a delegate at the National Conference on
Special Constituencies (NCSC) in
**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. The Board would love to hear from you!
**Spring
Into Action 2008 scores for family medicine
“I
think the new format for Spring Into Action (holding five one-day
mini-sessions instead of one two-day session) worked well for IAFP
volunteer leaders and for IAFP’s influence on the Illinois General
Assembly,” stated Steven Knight, M.D., IAFP president.
“We were able to get a briefing on issues, visit with our state
legislators and we had meetings with State Comptroller Dan Hynes and
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director, Dr. Damon Arnold.
All of this in just one day.”
Link
to the full recap of the final Spring Into Action on April 10 at http://www.iafp.com/legislative/SiaArticle.htm
Link
to more information about all the SIA meetings and photos at http://www.iafp.com/legislative/index.htm
As part of his efforts to improve
Over
85 percent of all licensed physicians and surgeons have provided the
information necessary to create their profile in categories that include:
the location and scope of practice, the type of insurance the physician
accepts, specialties and certifications, legal and disciplinary actions
taken against the physician, his or her educational background and any
professional activities or honors the physician would like to add.
Physicians’ licenses are subject to renewal in July 2008. Before a
license is renewed, physicians must provide the information for their
profiles.
**MEDICARE
PAYMENT REFORM STILL TOPS LIST FOR AAFP AND IAFP
Unfortunately
the news is the same as it was during the last quarter of 2007.
Unless Congress acts by July 1, Medicare payments will decrease 10.6%, and
then are scheduled to decrease another 5% in 2009.
AAFP
and others are supporting, though not thoroughly pleased with, legislation
by Senator Debbie Stabenow, a member of the Senate Finance Committee.
S.B. 2785 provides a 0.5% increase in the Medicare physician
payment rate for the final six months of 2008 and a 1.8% increase for
2009. AAFP likes the 18 month length of the provision; however the
payment amounts are still too low.
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
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 and to take a stand!
FINANCING
MEDICARE - AN ISSUE BRIEF FROM AAFP
This
brief provides an overview of Medicare's financing and the fiscal
challenges the program faces in the coming decades. To view, http://chapters.aafp.org/online/execs/home/news/archives/march08news/finanmed.html.
**
IAFP BOARD MEMBER MEETS WITH NEWLY ELECTED CONGRESSMAN BILL FOSTER
IAFP
Board member Tina Brueschke, MD of Elburn met with newly elected
Congressman Bill Foster in his district office.
Dr. Brueschke was part
of a group asking for Rep. Foster’s support and co-sponsorship of HR
1108 – the bill that would give the US FDA authority to regulate tobacco
products.
BILL UPDATE:
On a bipartisan 38-12 vote, the House Energy & Commerce
Committee sent the FDA tobacco bill to the full House. This
clears a big hurdle on the path to passing this legislation. Illinois
Representatives on the committee Janice Schakowsky and John Shimkus both
voted in favor of the bill. The
Family Smoking and Tobacco Prevention Act (H.R. 1108/S.625) has broad
bi-partisan support including Illinois Republicans
Kirk, LaHood, Roskam and Weller and Democrats Bean, Costello, Davis,
Emanuel, Gutierrez, Hare, Jackson, Lipinski, Rush and Schakowsky and both
Senators Durbin and Obama.
CME
Information
** FREE CME WEBINAR ON: MANAGING
ADULT DEPRESSION IN PRIMARY CARE: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
April 23, 2008
12 – 1 p.m. CST
Presented by Josie Tenore, MD
Managing Adult Depression in Primary Care: a QI Program focuses on the
epidemiology, etiology and symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD),
risk factors, screening tools and techniques and treatment.
This FREE course will also:
1) Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions
2) Review the indications and side effects of antidepressants and
3) State considerations for discontinuing therapy. In addition, providers
will be given tools and assistance on how to start a quality improvement
program on depression in their practice.
To participate in the program you will need a computer with access to the
internet and a telephone.
To join the online meeting:
1. Go to https://vgseminars.webex.com/vgseminars/j.php?ED=100395357&UID=0
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the meeting number: 920 577 693
4. Enter the meeting password: iafp
5. Click "Join".
6. You will be connected to the webinar, and a pop up box with a toll-free
call in number (866-469-3239) will appear.
The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians/Family Practice Education
Network designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA
Category 1 credit ™. Physicians should claim commensurate with the
extent of their participation in the activity.
SUPPORTED BY AN EDUCATIONAL GRANT FROM MCKESSON HEALTH SOLUTIONS.
Contact Kate at 630.435.0257, e-mail at kvalentine@iafp.com.
For more information on the Your Healthcare Plus program, visit 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.
There are three case studies for each topic.
The patient in each case study is uniquely different and represents
what you see in your everyday practice. Each study takes about 45-60
minutes to complete.
*Hypertension in Primary Care
Practice: a case study with coding
Three cases on Hypertension.
Learn how to diagnose and treat “Ed, Gayle & Jim”
1 Prescribed Credit or 1 AMA PRA
Category 1 credit ™ for each case study
A program for Bridging Health Care sponsored by the
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
Three cases on Diabetes.
Learn how to diagnose and treat “Isabella, John & Sam”
1 Prescribed Credit or 1 AMA PRA
Category 1 credit ™ for each case study
A program for Bridging Health Care sponsored by the
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
**TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS OF THE TRADE:
HANDS-ON TRAINING TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA AND COPD
The Chicago Asthma Consortium (CAC), Suburban Asthma Consortium (SAC), and
Will/Kankakee Asthma Network (WKAN) invite you to attend this special
hands-on training program where you will have the opportunity to learn the
latest techniques to properly administer asthma and COPD medications from
the top asthma educators in Chicagoland.
To LEARN more about the meeting including
program goals, meeting agenda, continuing education credits, participating
faculty, and directions, or to register, visit http://www.chicagoasthma.org
or call (773) 769-6060.
**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.
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
.
Members
in the News
* CHRISTOPHER M.
GUERRERO, MD of
*Missed one!
Our 2007 IAFP Family Physician of the Year, JIM VALEK, MD of
Evergreen Park was featured in a Feb. 25th American Medical
News article showcasing his Vista Family Medicine practice and their
simple method of staying on top of the various requirements and constant
rules changes for the various patient insurance plans.
*Board member JIM
CUNNAR, MD of
*RUSSELL
ROBERTSON, MD Chair of Family Medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of
Medicine is quoted in an April 6 Chicago Tribune article on how to decide
whether to go to work or stay home and whether to send your children to
school or not.
*ROBERT MILLAR, MD
and his Lakeside Family Practice are featured in an April 8 article in the
*BEN BREWER, MD
talks about the fiscal and scheduling impact of no- shows on his family
medicine practice in the April 9th installment of “From the
Doctor’s Office” in the Wall Street Journal.
**May
27: WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY AND CHICAGO’S QUIT DAY
If
only the entire world would quit smoking!
The
**
LYME DISEASE AND
TICKBORNE DISEASE INFORMATION FOR PHYSICIANS
Although
measles is no longer an endemic disease in the
An
outbreak of measles has been reported in
http://www2a.cdc.gov/HAN/ArchiveSys/ViewMsgV.asp?AlertNum=00273
Sundays in
August of 2008 for "Special Needs" Summer Camp
The
Spina Bifida Association of Illinois (SBAIL) is seeking two to three
volunteer physicians per weekend, across each of the first three Sundays
in August of 2008. They require assistance with check-in physicals at
a summer overnight camp for children, teens, and adults with spina bifida.
Children 7-12 arrive on 8/3, teens 13-17 arrive on 8/10, and
adults 18+ arrive on 8/17.
Physicians
would sign-up for one (or more) Sunday(s), August 3rd, 10th, and/or 17th
of 2008, with a time commitment from around
The
Spina Bifida Association of Illinois (SBAIL) is a not-for-profit
organization, located in
The
Urban Institute estimated that 22,000 adults died in 2006 because they did
not have health insurance. To find out what this means for people across
the nation, Families USA has generated the first-ever state-level
estimates of the number of deaths due to lack of health insurance. Their
estimates are based on both the
The
individual reports, available on the Families USA Web site, provide
eye-opening numbers for every state. Among the figures cited is the fact
that approximately 960 people in
View the
Illinois Report at http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/dying-for-coverage/illinois.pdf
Summer Externship Program, Tar
Wars, Students and Resident Activities
Your support NOW will help ensure
these events are available to the next generation of students and family
medicine residents
You
can register online at:
http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?5S,M3,ced9c43b-c8be-4da7-afe1-df0715a9406b
April 17 in
April
26 in
Thursday,
Aug. 7 at
**** IAFP RESIDENT ROUND-UPS ARE HERE
Join us for a FREE networking event
with speakers on professional issues tailored to residents.
The program is co-sponsored by the IAFP Foundation and funding
through a grant from the AAFP Foundation.
Mingle, relax and learn along with your fellow residents.
We have two events at locations to
serve your needs:
1.
Thursday, April 17th at
– Scheduled to coincide with SIU Family Medicine’s Complete Practice
Management Seminar for Family Medicine Residents.
- Join us for a reception and relax
with appetizers and drinks
- Educational program will focus on
government relations -- legislative issues that affect you, your patients
and how you can act and advocate on behalf of yourself, your specialty and
your patients
Link to information and registration
form at http://www.iafp.com/residents/residentroundupSpringfield.htm
2.
Saturday, April 26th,
This event includes lunch and information on how to find and land the
right job. Plus we'll
introduce you to some employment options you may not have thought about
before.
Link to information and registration
form at http://www.iafp.com/residents/residentroundupOakPark.htm
Questions:
Contact Ginnie Flynn at the IAFP offices at 630-435-0356 x118 or gflynn@iafp.com
We are planning a third event for
October in downtown
**RESIDENTS AND
STUDENTS: APPLY NOW FOR AAFP
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS.
The Deadline to apply is
MAY 1, and AAFP has many different scholarships offered for both residents
and students. Visit http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/cme/aafpcourses/conferences/nc/scholarships.html
for more information.
**FMIG LEADERS – have you connected with your “Adopt
an FMIG” resident contacts? If you need assistance, please contact the
resident leaders Ravi Shah or Helen Williams at IAFPResidents@yahoo.com.
Time is running out to apply for funding to support activities with
your FMIG and the assigned residency mentors.
News from AAFP and its Foundation
**RECEIVE
A FREE E-PRESCRIBING READINESS ASSESSMENT
AAFP
is offering a free assessment on the way you prescribe.
The changes to Medicare regulations most likely will impact you.
Will you be in compliance? Go to http://www.getrxconnected.com/AAFP/site.aspx
for information and assessment.
**2008
PFIZER TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS PROGRAM
This program has been developed to honor 15 outstanding,
community-based family physicians who are part-time teachers of family
medicine. The award is $1,500
scholarship to an educational event of each winner’s choice.
For requirements and application go to http://www.aafpfoundation.org/ptda.xm.
The deadline to apply is May 9. Contact
Sondra at sgoodman@aafp.org with
further questions.
**CHILDHOOD
IMMUNIZATION AWARDS FOR FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCIES
AAFP
Foundation is offering three awards for family medicine residency programs
that develop creative solutions to overcome barriers to childhood
immunizations.
The
Best Practices Award is for overall achievement.
The Most Improved Award focuses on change in immunization rates.
The Implement New System Grant is for designing and implementing a
new system. Applications are
due April 21. For more
information on applications, previous award winners, and other
information, http://www.aafpfoundation.org/wyethimmunization.xml
**POSTER/PAPER
PRESENTATIONS AT ASSEMBLY (Due April 18):
Members
interested in presenting a poster or research paper at the AAFP's 2008
Scientific Assembly apply by April 18. For more, http://chapters.aafp.org/online/execs/home/news/archives/feb2008/poster.html.
**NATIONAL
CONFERENCE POSTER COMPETITION (Due April 18):
Poster
Presentations are a new element in the Exhibit Hall at this year’s
National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students
(July 30 - August 2). The deadline for poster applications is April 18.
For more, http://chapters.aafp.org/online/execs/home/news/archives/feb2008/ncposter.html.
**AAFP
OFFERS CODING TUTORIALS ONLINE
AAFP
is offering a series of coding tutorials with CME credit.
Each tutorial consists of a short
pretest; a brief discussion of coding elements, each followed by case
studies; case study answers revealed upon selection of an answer choice,
and a link to an online post-test and evaluation
Tutorials currently available include:
Inpatient
E/M Coding: Selecting a Level of Service
Outpatient
E/M Coding: Selecting a Level of Service
Introduction
to Evaluation and Management Services Coding
at
http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/practicemgt/codingresources/tutorials.printerview.html#Parsys9752#Parsys9752
Worth Repeating
**SIGN
UP FOR VACCINE PURCHASING
IAFP has a strong, new partner to help
members with vaccine purchase savings.
This new partner – Atlantic Health Partners – can help our
member practices save precious dollars and advocate on your behalf with
payers and manufacturers.
One
member using the new program is Dr. Jim Cunnar, IAFP board member from
To
learn more about the vaccine purchasing program, contact Jeff Winokur,
800-741-2044 or at jwinokur@atlantichealthpartners.com
.
**TAMPER-PROOF
RX PADS DEADLINE APRIL 1
Doctors
now must use Rx pads with at least one security feature and will need
three features by Oct. 1. For
more information go to
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/24/gvl10324.htm
HFS 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
This search engine was developed
and is maintained by the
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for more information.
**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.
