E-news for June 29, 2007 IAFP News **FAMILY MEDICINE TAKES ISSUE WITH WALL STREET JOURNAL LETTERS ** ACTION ALERT ** Send your letter to the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board BACKGROUND: On June 21 Peter Bach, MD published a column, “How Many Doctors Does It Take to Treat a Patient,” criticizing the current fee-for-service system where patients bounce around various specialists without efficient coordination of care. Dr Bach advocated for few physicians providing better coordinated care for the entire person. Over the days that followed, the Journal published several physician letters that assailed family medicine. READ MORE AT http://www.iafp.com/PR/WSJalert.htm   Members are welcome to respond to the Wall Street Journal with their own letters to the editor. AAFP has provided chapters with the letter they sent from President Rick Kellerman, MD as an example and that letter is posted at http://www.iafp.com/PR/kellerman.htm . Letters should be faxed or e-mailed ASAP to the following:  Letters to the Editor The Wall Street Journal Fax: (212) 416-2255 E-mail: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com  **IAFP REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE The Illinois Public Health Institute has offered IAFP a position on its advisory board (thanks to IAFP first vice president Dr. Javette Orgain). Dr. Henley, chair of the IAFP Public Health Interest Group, has offered to serve as IAFP’s temporary appointment. However, each of the four meetings held annually are in Chicago. Dr. Henley, who is from Rockford, would love to share or allow another IAFP member to share this important post. Please respond to Dr. Henley, ehenley@uic.edu  if you have an interest in serving. **THE JUNE/JULY ISSUE OF FAMILY PHYSICIAN IS AVAILABLE ONLINE -  Go to http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/junejuly07.pdf  to learn everything going on with your Academy the past two months. ** 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  **LOOKING FOR THE NEXT IAFP LEADERS Members are invited to self-nominate for IAFP Board of Directors positions. The IAFP Leadership Development Committee, chaired by Ellen Brull, MD of Glenview, is accepting nominations for the following positions: president-elect (this position is a three year commitment), first vice president, second vice president, a new physician board member (all one year terms) and three directors for a three-year term. Nominations are also accepted for AAFP delegate and alternate delegate.  Send your nomination letter and CV to the IAFP office at iafp@iafp.com  no later than July 31. Job descriptions are available by contacting Vince Keenan, CAE, IAFP executive vice president at vkeenan@iafp.com  or call 800-826-7944 x116.  **MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING IAFP EVENTS: July 25: IAFP Presidential Inauguration: Golf Outing, Dinner and CME, Franklin County Country Club, West Frankfort. Steve Knight, MD of Harrisburg will be sworn in by AAFP Speaker Tom Wieda, M.D. of Pennsylvania and assume the office of President in a Southern Illinois celebration. For more information, contact Christi Emerson at cemerson@iafp.com .  Oct. 3: IAFP All-Member Assembly/Town Hall Meeting, Downtown Chicago Marriott. Join us for this evening event during the AAFP’s Congress of Delegates and Annual Scientific Assembly where IAFP specific issues will be addressed.  Oct. 4: IAFP 60th Anniversary Party, Art Institute of Chicago. Can it really be 60 years? Celebrate our successes and gear up for the challenges and successes to come as we toast to another 60 years! IAFP will have private access to the museum that night.  You’ll receive more information on all the IAFP events during AAF Annual Assembly week throughout the summer.  For more information on the AAFP meeting in Chicago: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/cme/aafpcourses/conferences/assembly.html   GOVERNMENT RELATIONS **STATE GOVERNMENT  The General Assembly adjourned today and will take the next week off to celebrate Fourth of July. The legislature did manage to pass a one-month budget to keep the state running while they continue to wrangle over the bigger issues of the FY2008 budget.  ** CALL TO ACTION!! CASINOS CONTINUE TO FIGHT SMOKE-FREE ILLINOIS – CALL YOUR REPRENTATIVE! Just when you think Smoke-free Illinois is a done deal, the casinos are trying to blow the first hole in our iron-clad ordinance with an amendment tacked onto a live Senate bill. Please take one minute and log a call to your State Representative in the district office.  Please call your Illinois State Representative with the following messages: 1) Vote NO on Senate Bill 1370, House Amendment 1 (which would exempt casino gaming floors from the Smoke Free Illinois Act) 2) Protect ALL workers in Illinois 3) The Illinois General Assembly did the right thing when they passed the Smoke Free Illinois Act – they should be PROUD of this Act. It is a fair bill that includes all workers. Please do not start making exemptions now. Even if you NEVER go to casinos – PLEASE MAKE THIS CALL. We do not want to open the Smoke Free Illinois Act to ANY exemptions. An exemption like this could lead to other exemptions.  If you need contact information for your state Rep, go to http://www.ilga.gov/house/  and look up their DISTRICT office.  *Other News: Several bills and resolutions of interest to IAFP did move this week: The Senate concurred with House Amendment 1 to SB 545. The bill creates the Culturally Competent Healthcare Demonstration Program and defines "culturally competent health care". The Program shall establish models that reflect best practices in culturally competent health care and that expand the delivery of culturally competent health care in Illinois. House Amendment 1 provides that the 2007 State Health Improvement Plan calls for increased cultural competence in Illinois health care settings, based on national standards that indicate cultural competence is an important aspect of the quality of health care delivered to racial, ethnic, religious, and “other”(instead of "sexual") minorities.  IAFP supported the bill. Here is a link: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=545&GAID=9&GA=95&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=28368&SessionID=51  SB 929 was approved by the Governor. The law defined informed consent for authorizing an HIV test and gives the provider parameters for enabling a patient or their representative to “opt-out.” IAFP supported this bill, which takes effect June 1, 2008. Link to the bill at http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09500SB0929sam001&GA=95&SessionId=51&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=29051&DocNum=929&GAID=9&Ses  ion=    **FEDERAL UPDATE -  *IAFP PAST PRESIDENT ASSISTS AAFP ON MEDICAL HOME ISSUE AAFP Alternate Delegate Ellen S. Brull, MD of Glenview (also a past president) represented AAFP at the National Conference of State Legislators, an annual meeting of state legislators and staff in the judicial and executive branches of government from all 50 states. At this annual conference, policy is discussed and then transmitted to all the 50 states and U.S. territories. AAFP’s primary goal was to introduce the concept of the medical home. Many participants around the table already had some idea about the concept, but Dr. Brull was able to further explain it. Besides legislators, the discussion included pharmaceutical representatives, insurance companies and other health care players. As a result, AAFP will then present in November a resolution to the Council of State Governments about the concept which will then be sent to all the States. Dr. Brull reports she was also able to spend time with Illinois state senator Mattie Hunter to discuss medical homes as a priority for Illinois. DON’T FORGET TO ORDER YOUR SOX TICKETS! **TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME… AND BENEFIT TAR WARS!! Tar Wars Night with the White Sox is Thursday August 9th Root on the Chicago White Sox and raise money for the IAFP Foundation’s Tar Wars program! Each ticket you purchase means a donation of between $10 and $13 per ticket. Tar Wars teaches tobacco prevention to 4th and 5th graders throughout the state.  Seats are available in both Lower Reserved and Bleachers sections.  Bleachers: $25 Lower Reserved: $30 For an order form, go to http://www.iafp.com/tarwars/soxflyer07.htm  or contact Tar Wars Coordinator Ginnie Flynn at 630-435-0356 x118 or gflynn@iafp.com. Tickets MUST be ordered by JULY 25th to ensure delivery in time for the game.  _____ CME Information: ** DID YOU RECEIVE YOUR CME CONNECTION? IAFP debuted a new electronic newsletter called “CME Connection” on June 21 which will be dedicated entirely to IAFP CME opportunities and products as well as CME offerings from partner organizations and more. The publication will be sent monthly allowing IAFP members the chance to find the 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 (link here) 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, contact Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com.   *IAFP student member Kate Emmerich received kudos from her hometown paper, the Pleasant Plains Press, as a new graduate of SIU School of Medicine. Dr. Emmerich will begin her family medicine residency training at Saint Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wis.  *Past president Carolyn Lopez, MD continues to be a voice bringing focus on the disarray in the Cook County health system. She is quoted in a June 19 Chicago Tribune story on the current revenue shortfall in the County system and how that could further erode services and quality of care for County patients.  *Past board member Janice Benson, MD could be heard on Chicago Public Radio on June 19 in an investigative story about the low morale throughout the Cook County health system employee ranks. Dr. Benson cited the specific challenges in the physician ranks – both the current good physicians leaving County due to the instability of their job and the County being unable to attract more quality physicians.  *Ben Brewer, MD of Forrest tackled the difficult topic of diagnosing and treating autism in children. His June 19th “From the Doctor’s Office” in the Wall Street Journal Online launched quite an online discussion among parents of autistic children around the country.  *AAFP News Now brought part two of their look at home care on June 20th and once again they talked to Illinois home care physician Tom Cornwell, MD. This time Dr. Cornwell shared what comprises the essential “black bag” for the home care physician.  *Past-president Lee Sacks, MD talks about the difficulty for physicians to practice solo in today’s health care environment in the June 25th issue of Crain’s Chicago Business. Dr. Sacks is currently medical director for Advocate Healthcare, but at one time was in a private practice himself.  ------------------------------- FOR STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS: **STUDENTS: 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 . Click here for a flyer you can print out and save: http://www.iafp.com/students/Fall%20forum.htm   **RESIDENTS:  *ILLINOIS RESIDENT HONORED WITH AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Grace L. Park, MD of Carle Family Medicine Residency in Urbana is one of twenty 2007 recipients of the AAFP/Bristol Myers Squibb Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Park will be recognized at an Awards Recognition breakfast on Friday October 5 as part of the AAFP Annual Scientific Assembly in Chicago. Congratulations! *RESIDENTS, PREPARE TO ADOPT AN FMIG! Family medicine residents are in a unique position to encourage, guide and support medical students who would make fantastic family physicians.  IAFP Foundation will continue to advance our “Adopt-an-FMIG” system between the medical school FMIGs and affiliated or nearby family medicine residency programs. We would like to create and facilitate a coordinated effort so that every Illinois FMIG has a dedicated support system from a family medicine residency.  The American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation Family Medicine Philanthropic Consortium (AAFP/F FMPC) has provided IAFP Foundation a grant of $5,000 to facilitate “Adopt-an-FMIG.”  We hope you can offer outings, workshops, education, social outlets, mentoring or any other outreach that will showcase family medicine’s value and special place in health care. Each program will be contacted directly later this summer with details.  *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   *JOB LISTINGS AND OTHER INFO ON-LINE Here is a place to start: http://www.iafp.com/JobListings/   *Link to new resources for residents IAFP web site http://www.iafp.com/Residents/index.htm   ----------------------------- NEWS YOU CAN USE **PayerView: You be the Judge — PayerView Reveals Who Treats Physicians Right For the second year in a row, Physicians Practice has teamed with athenahealth, inc., to produce hard data on how well payers are treating physicians. Our national results indicate that, overall, Cigna is the best-performing national payer, upsetting Humana, which took top honors last year. Cigna’s top ranking was thanks largely to its high 96.3 percent first pass resolve rate and low 5.9 percent denial rate. http://www.physicianspractice.com/index/fuseaction/articles.details&articleID=1022.htm   **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] Connect By Participating in Monthly Webinars Illinois Health Connect will be hosting monthly educational Webinars on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 8:30 to 9:30 am. The first webinar took place this past week and covered “How to Use Panel Rosters.” Now’s your opportunity to have your questions answered. Submit a topic idea for the July or August IHC webinar by e-mailing Kristen Jackson at IAFP, kjackson@iafp.com , or contacting IHC's Medical Director and fellow IAFP member Margaret Kirkegaard, MD, at 1-888-912-9120 ext 2218 or mkirkegaard@automated-health.com.  **Illinois Health Connect presents “Community Provider Training Sessions beginning July 18 Find training sessions in Southern Illinois at http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/Illinois%20Health%20Connect%20Flyer-Southern%20Region.pdf  Locate training sessions in Central Illinois at http://www.iafp.com/pdfs/Illinois%20Health%20Connect%20Flyer-Central%20Region.pdf  Find an updated Fact Sheet about IHC at http://www.iafp.com/legislative/fact%20sheet.htm  Provider Information can be found on the Illinois Health Connect Web site at http://www.illinoishealthconnect.com/providerinfo.aspx   For additional information, call Illinois Health Connect Provider Services Helpdesk at 1-877-912-1999. ______  REMINDERS WORTH REPEATING **BRIDGING CARE PLANNER – FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AT YOUR PRACTICE The Problem - Did you know… • 46 percent of people in the U.S. have a chronic medical condition • 49 percent of these persons have more than one chronic condition • A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that patients with chronic conditions received only 56 percent of recommended care 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   **AAFP UNVEILS RESULTS OF “GRADE YOUR PAYERS” SURVEY AAFP has published their 2007 “Grade Your Payers” survey, a project of the AAFP Practice Support Division and Family Practice Management, in the June issue of FPM, posted online on June 5th. While respondents to the survey rated more than 250 health plans, the article reports results only for the 32 payers who were graded by at least 10 members each. The regional payers are referenced in the FPM article - http://www.aafp.org/fpm/20070600/43arep.html.  **PHYSICIAN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - UPDATED 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: 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!  JOB OPENINGS PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO IAFP 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 its 9-7-7 residency program that includes a rural track. OB optional. The Department has research, faculty development, an MPH program, and a myriad of community activities. The College is a WHO Collaborating Center for Medical Education. Candidates should be board certified/board eligible. Rank and salary commensurate with qualifications. Please send a cover letter and resume to Farion R. Williams, MD; Program Director; 1221 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61104 or by email to farionw@uic.edu . The University of Illinois 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  If you have any news items to share with the IAFP membership, please e-mail Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com