Archive for the ‘AAFP News’ Category

AAFP’s Resources for Well Being and Physician Wellness – Tips from Your Colleagues

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Your well-being matters. When you care for yourself, you can be more present for your loved ones and colleagues, and stay passionate about your purpose: providing quality patient care.

The AAFP’s Well-being Planner will help you identify your goals and collect Planner resources to address the five primary factors that affect your well-being as a family physician.

https://www.aafp.org/membership/benefits/physician-health-first/planner/get-started.mem.html

How Georgia Academy Members Embrace Wellness – A Few Tips from Your Colleagues

 

  • When I am feeling burned out, I take some deep breaths, listen to music or do a few Yoga poses.
  • I have always tried to follow the adage from my anatomy professor during my 1st year of medical school: “Work hard, play hard.” (Imagine it said with his refined British accent).
  • The key though, is to SCHEDULE play time so you look forward to it and HAVE to do it. It can be vacation, gardening, theater, parties, sports, dinners out — whatever you love to do.
  • I also have found it critical to “unplug” from technology for several hours — during my crazy business travel days, my favorite part of it all was being “unreachable” through phone, text or email while I was on an airplane for several hours — we need to savor those times
  • I make time each week (even if it is just for an hour to two) to do something I like to do and want to do–not something that I “have to do.”
  • This could be any number of things, like doing yard work (yes, my John Deere is my “happy pill”), pleasure reading (not a medical journal for goodness sakes), watching a movie, spending time with family and/or friends, and fishing or hunting. This one or two hours washes off the stress of the week, and I (and others) can tell a difference when I don’t allow myself this time each week.
  • For me it’s exercise and having goals to train for a 5K race or triathlon.
  • Another way I unwind is to plan a sick day into my week calling it a mental health day and I don’t tell my kids or family I am off, and I stay home hidden away all day doing something that makes me feel less overwhelmed (like organizing a closet)!
  • My way to unwind is to get up before anyone at my home and go for a run! I am up before the sun comes up and it makes dealing with the day a lot easier!
  • I shut it down and play golf
  • Remember that we all can become a patient at anytime
  • We must take time to take care of ourselves the same way we take care of our patients
  • Listen to good music in your office
  • Cut the phones off at lunch and leave the office – even if for a short walk
  • Exercise daily
  • When I feel burned out and can’t travel out of the state, I take a staycation. I get a hotel room for the weekend within the state in a vicinity I haven’t explored before and plan fun activities around there such as a live jazz lounge, local activities, spa or some great restaurants.
  • Whenever the burnout level gets high I just take a couple days off.  Used to take just an afternoon. As the needed break gets longer I will eventually call it retirement.
  • I usually relieve stress with a quick intense workout.  That is usually my quick fix.  For long term stress relief, I usually schedule a quarterly spa day with some friends.  These activities allow me to keep pushing forward.
  • My tip would be to make time for yourself with things you like to do. I like to golf, exercise, hike, go to the beach, and play with my dog.
  • When I am starting to feel burnt out, I plan a weekend trip for the family, and I play! The kids enjoy when mommy uses them as a stress relief.
  • Now I understand that we don’t have much time in this profession to do all of these things, so sometimes I like to make little positive notes and reminders about things I am grateful. That particularly helped during my Step 1 preparations, and during times I needed to work and study while rotation in my third year. These little positive reminders really go a long way because there are times I forget during the stressful times and the hustle of why I started the journey, how I made it, and the little things and those that helped me along the way.
  • For months I added a daily note about positive things that happened throughout the day, things I was proud of, and things I was thankful for, and at the end of the month I went over them and reflected upon them and I believe it really helped me through a particularly tough burnout period in my medical school journey.
  • I pray every night and start with thank you God for this day. I make myself go to the gym and run or do elliptical and sweat!  I take 20 min for yoga for beginners. I play tennis with my 80-year-old dad. I spend 10 minutes listing all of the things I’m grateful for and if all else fails I grab my girlfriends and go drink wine!
  • Every day, in the middle of my shift, I take 15 minutes to myself. Whether it’s to read, take a walk, eat a snack, or just sit in the quiet, it helps to center my outlook away from all the busy-ness and slow down.
  • When I am starting to feel burned out, I find that I must start saying “no” to my colleagues. I try to do these 8 times a week.”
  • Take up a new hobby. For fun I started decorating my house with silk flowers. I was so surprised that this actually relaxes me. My Pastor will not let anyone else decorate the church. Friends and family only want a centerpiece as a gift. Who would of thought?!!!!!

 

 

AAFP Supports Interim Recommendation That Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) Should Not Be Used

The AAFP supports the interim recommendation that the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) should not be used during the 2016-2017 influenza season for any age group.

Background

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted last week that live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) should not be used during the 2016-2017 flu season for any age group. The ACIP continues to recommend annual flu vaccination, with either the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV), for everyone six months and older.

The ACIP had concerns about the lack of effectiveness of the vaccine. Of particular concern was the lack of LAIV effectiveness in providing protection against H1N1. Given that the target population coincides with the population most susceptible to severe morbidity and mortality if infected with H1N1, this is especially concerning.

Preliminary Data

The ACIP reported in May of 2016 that preliminary data on the effectiveness of LAIV among children two through 17 years during the 2015-2016 season had become available from the U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network. That data showed the estimate for LAIV vaccine effectiveness (VE) among study participants in that age group against any flu virus was 3 percent (with a 95 percent1 confidence interval (CI)(www.cdc.gov)(http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm) of -49 percent to 37 percent). The 3 percent estimate means no protective benefit could be measured. In comparison, IIV (flu shots) had a VE estimate of 63 percent (with a 95 percent CI of 52 percent to 72 percent) against any flu virus among children two through 17 years. Additional non-CDC studies support the conclusion that LAIV worked less effectively than IIV this season. The data from 2015-2016 follows two previous seasons2 (2013-2014 and 2014-2015(www.cdc.gov)(http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/s0226-acip.html) ) showing poor and/or lower than expected vaccine effectiveness for LAIV.

Vaccine Supply

CHPS will follow this issue closely and will work to advise members about influenza vaccine supply issues as the ACIP recommendation is finalized and implemented.

Georgia Shines at AAFP National Conference for Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students

Georgia, along with family medicine residency programs from twenty-five additional states, set up decorative booths at the Kansas City Convention Center July 28th-30th to attract medical student candidates to Georgia to attend residency in our state.  Current residents from our programs were there to offer information and share their passion for family medicine with medical students, who were excited and energetic about family medicine and the future.  The steady stream of medical students visiting the Georgia programs was non-stop for three days, and our programs engaged with hundreds of prospective applicants where our programs united to create a strong presence to the students.

In addition, we had a full delegation representing us in both the resident and student categories.  Drs. Daniel Gordon from the Memorial Health Program in Savannah and Chetan Patel from the Columbus Family Medicine Residency Program, two of our resident Board members, were our delegate and alternate respectively, and Joey Krakowiak and Tim Hutton, two of our student Board members, served as our student delegate and alternate.

Our resident delegates reported that the total conference attendance was 4,565-a record high composed of 1,210 Residents and 1,349 Students, and that out of 66 resolutions submitted, another record high, 46 were adopted.

Student and Resident National Meeting

SPECIAL NEWS: Chetan Patel, MD was elected as 1 of the 2 National Resident Alternate Delegates to the AAFP Congress of Delegates for 2016-2017!  Congratulations to Dr. Patel, who is pictured here with AAFP Board member Dr. Jack Chou from California and Dr. Gerry Tolbert, NCCL Convener. The main stage sessions during the conference were inspirational and challenging. They enjoyed hearing from the panel of doctors who discussed various issues that impact family medicine, including how increasing the number of primary care doctors and utilizing them well would help solve our nationwide healthcare spending problem. They were challenged by Dr. Jeffrey Brenner about innovative ways to think about our healthcare system. He shared convincing data about the benefits of healthcare hotspotting through his work with the Camden Coalition.

Our student delegates, Joey Krakowiak and Tim Hutton, reported that they appreciated the opportunity to represent the Georgia Academy at the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students Congress of Delegates last week.  It was their first time attending and were thrilled to meet so many like-minded people who are excited and passionate about Family Medicine and striving to provide the best care for their patients.

S&R National Conf

And they even got a chance to meet and talk with Dr. Wanda Filer, the president of the AAFP, as pictured here.

MACRA Bytes: Payment Primer Helps Family Physicians Digest MACRA Implementation Details

MACRA_ArticleOpener.jpg.daijpg.380Sometimes, when an upcoming project seems overwhelmingly complicated, it’s nice to be presented with a simple step-by-step plan in this format: “Do this now, then do that.”

That clearly was the idea behind the latest Family Practice Management supplement created by the AAFP as a resource for family physicians whose brains are bursting with an excess of information from CMS about how the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) is being implemented.

The long-term goal of MACRA is commendable: building a creative new Medicare payment system that focuses on the value of health care provided to patients. And with a huge focus on the value of care — and elements such as team-based care, chronic care management and quality measurement — family physicians stand to benefit.

Unfortunately, too many physicians currently are mired in the muck of endless detail.

Family physicians, do yourselves a huge favor and check out the new supplement available in the July/August Family Practice Management that is available at no charge to all AAFP members and FPM subscribers.

The title says it all: “Making Sense of MACRA: Start Today, Prepare for Tomorrow.” Pull it up online, print it out it, post it in a prominent spot in the office, and then use the supplement as a guide through the next couple of years of Medicare payment reform.

The article starts with a quick overview of current Medicare payment and quality programs — think Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the valued-based payment modifier (VBPM) initiative, and the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive programs that hatched meaningful use (MU) — and then outlines what happens to those programs in the coming years.

At this point, it’s time to become familiar with a new term — the Quality Payment Program (QPP) — that HHS introduced in April when the massive MACRA implementation proposed rule rolled out. Everything MACRA-related now falls under this giant payment program umbrella.

From there, the article launches into an explanation about how each of the current payment and quality programs will be assimilated into one of two new payment pathways created as part of the QPP — namely, the Merit-based Incentive Payment System.

The MACRA preparedness supplement is written in an easy-to-understand format that first explains topic areas related to PQRS, VBPM and MU and then answers two basic questions for each that family physicians across the country are likely struggling with:

What can I do now?

What comes next?

The supplement includes colorful charts and graphics that help make sense of the various programs and that point out those definitely-need-to-know dates and timelines, as well as highlight potentials for additional earnings or penalties.

Are You Prepared for Zika?

This webinar is hosted by Nina Ahmad, M.D., Medical Director of the Division of Epidemiology for the New York State Department of Health.

At the end of this activity, participants should be able to:

·        Discuss epidemiology transmission patterns
·        Recognize clinical manifestations
·        Identify complications
·        Know reporting guidelines

The Zika virus webinar can be reviewed at the AAFP website.

Reeves Gears up for 2016 AAFP Board of Directors Election

 

 Although the presidential election grabs much of the spotlight this year, keep an important AAFP election on your radar as well.

Earlier this year, the Georgia Academy announced the nomination of its own Leonard Reeves, MD, FAAFP as a candidate for the AAFP Board of Directors. With that nomination, the chapter declared that Reeves’ unique background gave him invaluable tools for responding to the changing healthcare atmosphere on the national, state and local levels.

Reeves built solid careers as a radio broadcaster and public school teacher before returning to medical school at the age of 38. These media skills benefit a board position where both internal and external communication is key. Georgia Academy members witnessed this firsthand as Reeves guided the state chapter in the challenging months following passage of the Affordable Care Act.

“Each of us – no matter where or how we practice today – didn’t want to be stuck in a lab or see patients briefly, then never again,” Reeves said in his personal statement recently published by the AAFP. “We want ‘family’ in our title. These things that pull us together, keep other forces from tearing us apart.”

 

Reeves notes that payment schedules, recertification and training the next generation of family physicians continue to be principal issues for family physicians. Reeves would also like to see family physicians prominent in shaping how the nation deals with the looming crisis of a growing diabetic population. Reeves feels he can uniquely speak on this issue not only a family physician, but also as an insulin-dependent diabetic.

 

“Lawmakers know the rising number of diabetic patients is a gigantic topic – and an issue eagerly covered by the media,” Reeves said. “It involves public health, coordination of chronic care, economics and, at the essential core, our culture. It’s vital for our patients that family physicians play a leading role determining how healthcare policy will shape diabetes care.”

 

Reeves also believes changing healthcare delivery systems and expanding healthcare technology require a renewed emphasis on physician-patient connections during training. Reeves founded the new Clinical Campus of the Medical College of Georgia in Rome (Northwest Georgia), which stresses patient relationships through a longitudinal training design.

 

“Students follow patients for a year to see how healthcare, or the lack of it, impacts a person’s life,” Reeves said describing the program. “I often tell them you can’t follow a pregnant woman to term in six weeks … it takes a little longer.”

 

We urge you to actively follow this campaign and support Reeves in his efforts to steer national leadership. Please review his campaign materials on the Georgia Academy’s website here: http://bit.ly/GAFPReeves or the American Academy website here: http://www.aafp.org/candidates.html

 

Elections for the AAFP Board of Directors takes place this year on September 21 in Orlando. Please contact Alesa McArthur (email: amcarthur@gafp.org) at the Georgia Academy if you’re planning on attending the 2016 American Academy of Family Physicians Congress of Delegates as we would love to have you as part of Team Georgia (September 19-21).

Oral Health Assessment and Fluoride Varnish Application Training for Academy of Family Physicians

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), Maternal and Child Health Section, Oral Health Program would like to offer the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians oral health assessment training and fluoride varnish workshops around the state. We have already launched this initiative. The DPH Oral Health Program provided a short half hour oral health assessment and fluoride varnish application overview during the Conclave Meeting at Callaway Gardens in March. The presentation evaluations demonstrated a strong interest by the attendees to include oral health assessments, anticipatory guidance, and fluoride varnish applications as part of their practice protocols.

 Research has demonstrated inclusion of oral health in the family practice for non-dental health care providers complements the comprehensive care model of family medicine and has the potential of improving the overall health of your patients. This is not a substitute for the dental home, but a collaborative opportunity to offer comprehensive care for your patients and determine when early dental practice referrals are needed.

The DPH Oral Health Program will have an oral health staff member, Jorge Bernal, DDS, at the Annual Session in Hilton Head in June. If you are interested in a regional meeting next year, either in Columbus, Savannah, or another region of the state please let Dr. Bernal know at the meeting. He will have a sign-up sheet so we can contact you to schedule presentations beginning in September. Dr. Bernal will also have samples of single-application fluoride varnish for member, as well as copies of handouts for Academy members and educational materials for families. Stop by and visit the Maternal and Child Health exhibit table.

Additional workshops are planned around the state and will continue with hands-on practice training.

Question you may have: How is fluoride varnish different from other professionally applied fluorides?

Fluoride varnish offers several advantages over other professionally applied fluorides:

  • The higher concentration of fluoride and greater viscosity make it less likely to be ingested and only a small amount needed
  •  Varnish comes in child-friendly flavors and is easily tolerated, especially by infants, toddlers, and developmentally disabled people.
  •  Providers find it easy to use and fast to apply.
  •  Fluoride varnish is swabbed onto the teeth in less than two minutes and sets within a minute of contact with saliva.
  •  Fluoride varnish is safe.
  •  It can be applied in any setting and does not require dental equipment.
  • Medicaid will reimburse the practice for this service.

Not all members of the Academy were able to attend the Conclave meeting in March. Due to the positive response to the presentation we would like to offer a slightly longer and more detailed workshop presentation in locations convenient to the members of the Academy. If you have a group of members interested in a workshop please contact Carol Smith at: carol.smith@dph.ga.gov.

What would be recommended after hands on training? The Oral Health staff recommends the medical practice pilot a few test cases to assess office flow, billing, patient satisfaction, and staff satisfaction. Have a meeting to get input from all employees. Have handouts to explain to families the value of the fluoride varnish. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that physicians refer patients to the dentist at eruption of the first tooth and no later than 12 months of age. The medical practice should have a dental referral list; if you need assistance finding a dentist in your community please contact the state oral health office for assistance.

Additionally, online training can be found on a few sites:

The Smiles for Life, a National Oral Health Program (endorsed by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine) One CME credit is available through the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) upon completion. http://www.smilesforlifeoralhealth.org

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Oral Health Risk Assessment Training for Pediatricians and Other Child Health Professionals. One CME credit available upon completion.

The DPH Oral Health staff are available to assist you. Please feel free to contact Carol Smith, Director of Oral Health, at carol.smith@dph.ga.gov if you need assistance with your oral health training.

Georgia Academy Leaders Swarm Kansas City during Annual Leadership Events

Sixteen members of the Georgia Academy constituted a full delegation to the AAFP’s Annual Chapter Leadership Forum and the National Conference for Constituency leaders the first week in May. These two meetings, held concurrently, together form the AAFP’s premier policy and development event for chapter-elected leaders, aspiring leaders, and chapter staff. Thank you to the following Georgia leaders who took time away from their families and practices to attend the meeting:

Cecil Bennett, MD, Karla Booker, MD, Samuel “Le” Church, MD, Chip Cowart, MD, Ellie Daniels, MD, Tom Fausett, MD, Donnie Fordham, MD, Jay Goberdhan, MD, Wayne Hoffman, MD, Beulette Hooks, MD, Alesa McArthur, Monica Parker, MD, Leonard Reeves, MD, Eddie Richardson, MD, Mitzi Rubin, MD, Dan Singleton, MD and Collyn Steele, MD.

In addition, they brought home two awards for membership-one being winning second place in the highest percentage increase in active members and the other for having 100% of Georgia residents as members.

Our delegation

With our AAFP colleagues from Idaho, Montana and South Dakota…

What You Need to Know from the AAFP- AAFP Launches MACRA Ready Web Page to Aid Family Physicians

 AAFP launches MACRA Ready Web page to aid family physicians

AAFP President Wanda Filer, M.D., announced the official launch of the Academy’s member communication and education initiative to help physicians prepare for new payment models under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act. Filer told attendees of a town hall event at the AAFP’s 2016 Leadership Conference that the MACRA Ready Web page is “designed to help simplify the transition and provide the guidance that you will need to realize the benefits of MACRA and value-based payments.”

AAFP News (5/6)

CMS officials discuss MACRA at AAFP forum

The AAFP hosted a town hall meeting during its Annual Chapter Leader Forum in which about 300 family physicians and chapter executives had the opportunity to discuss the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act with CMS officials. CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt, who participated via conference call, said making sure regulations are flexible and practice-driven and let physicians customize performance measures are among CMS’ goals during the rule-making process. He urged physicians to provide feedback during the public comment period, which ends on June 27.

AAFP News (5/10)

Article gives physicians guidance on 60-day overpayment rule

A report in the journal Family Practice Management offers guidance to family physicians on the new CMS 60-day overpayment rule, which says Medicare overpayments not paid back to the government within 60 days of being identified will be considered a false claim. The AAFP opposed parts of the regulation during the approval process, and President Wanda Filer, M.D., said most errors linked to Medicare billing and payments are inadvertent and not fraudulent.

AAFP News (5/4)

Task force says evidence is insufficient to recommend celiac screening

The US Preventive Services Task Force’s first draft recommendation statement on celiac disease said there is insufficient evidence to weigh the benefits and harms of screening asymptomatic patients. USPSTF member Alex Krist, M.D., said physicians should use their clinical judgment to decide if patients need screening. The AAFP is reviewing the draft recommendation.

AAFP News (5/5)

NCCL delegates support increased diversity in family medicine

Resolutions supporting research and advocacy to encourage more physicians from diverse backgrounds to become family physicians were adopted by delegates at the 2016 National Conference of Constituency Leaders. Delegates also adopted a resolution asking the AAFP to study workplace violence and recommended ways to address the issue.

AAFP News (5/9)

Georgia Family Physician Leaders Take Advocacy Efforts to Halls of Congress

As part of the AAFP Family Medicine Congressional Conference, the GAFP sent 7 leaders to Washington, DC to advocate on behalf of family medicine and our patients. We thank our following GAFP delegation for their service: Mitch Cook, DO, Samuel “Le” Church, MD, Elvan Daniels, MD, Cedrice Davis, MD, Wayne Hoffman, MD, Leonard Reeves, MD, and Mitzi Rubin, MD.

The delegation met with most of Georgia’s elected federal officials including meetings with Congressmen Doug Collins, Tom Graves, Jody Hice, John Lewis, Tom Price, David Scott, and Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue.

 

 

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From Left to Right: Dr. Elvan Daniels, Congressman John Lewis, and Dr. Wayne Hoffman

From Left to Right: Congressman Doug Collins, Dr. Samuel “Le” Church, Dr. Wayne Hoffman, and Dr. Elvan Daniels

From Left to Right: Dr. Mitzi Rubin, Dr. Wanda Filer, Dr. Mitch Cook, Dr. Samuel “Le” Church, and Dr. Cedrice Davis

From Left to Right: Dr. Elvan Daniels, Dr. Wayne Hoffman, Dr. Mitzi Rubin, Dr. Cedrice Davis, Dr. Mitch Cook, and Dr. Samuel “Le” Church

 

Register NOW for the 2016 Summer Family Medicine Weekend!

Have you registered for the GAFP Summer Family Medicine Weekend yet?Don’t miss your chance to take advantage of the low, member only rate of $358 to earn up to 16 CME* credits!  Join your colleagues at the Summer Family Medicine Weekend, scheduled for June 9-12, 2016 at the Omni Hilton Head in Hilton Head, SC.

In addition to multiple social events, we will offer the latest updates on clinical topics including: Managing Type 2 Diabetes, Sleep Health in Primary Care, Dementia, and much more!  We also balance the CME sessions with family and beach activities.  The full agenda is available to preview at www.gafp.org.

To register, click here and then follow the registration link, or you can always call GAFP offices at 800-392-3841 to register by phone.

If you have any questions about the meeting schedule, registration or other concerns, feel free to contact me at mleverett@gafp.org or Ciera Mitchell at office@gafp.org

* Pending AAFP approval.

Deadline for AAFP Global Health Workshop Abstracts Due May 15

AAFP Global Health Workshop has a diverse call for abstracts- including lectures on global health topics, research in global health, local global health, and expansion of Family Medicine as a discipline. Please distribute this call widely! http://www.aafp.org/events/global-health/abstracts.html

Types of Sessions:

SAVE THE DATE: 2016 AAFP Global Health Workshop September 8-10, ATLANTA, GA