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KAAP Awarded 2010 Outstanding Chapter! |
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From Left to Right:
Chris Steege,
Executive Director;
Dennis Cooley, MD, President;
Kathy Ellerbeck, MD, President Elect;
Mike Severson, MD, District VI Chair;
Pam Shaw, MD,
District VI Vice-Chair |
The Kansas Chapter was awarded the Outstanding Medium Chapter Award at the Annual Leadership Forum (ALF) held in Chicago March 25-27. This marks the second time the Chapter has won this prestigious award. Along with the award comes a plaque and a $3,000 honorarium. The Chapter will also be recognized at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition held this year in Boston.
" This is such a great honor. I want to thank the staff and the Chapter members who work so hard to make the KAAP a truly outstanding chapter " said Chapter president Dennis Cooley. Click here for full article
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President's Perspective |
By Dennis Cooley, MD, FAAP
It has been a very busy time since the first of the year and I thought I would use this chance to update members on a number of important policy issues facing us.
State Budget. This may be the number one issue facing everyone providing services for children. The state budget is so tight there are no easy cuts left. This affects all pediatricians in a number of ways. First, the Medicaid and CHIP programs have had further cuts proposed. For the rest of this fiscal year payments to physicians for services has been maintained but there is no guarantee they will not be cut for next year. These payments are notoriously low now so further cuts would likely decrease the state's pediatricians ability to care for these patients. The state newborn screening program could also be in jeopardy. Proposals to have the program funded by a fee schedule as every other state in the country does could be an answer to the problem. But the likelihood of passage of such legislation is problematic in the current climate.
Click here for full article |
Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back... | by Jon Jantz, MD, FAAP
[email protected]
Since the last newsletter, pediatric council has been very busy and frustrating in some ways. After what seemed like a solid step forward on negotiations with Kansas HealthWave officials to reimburse for vaccines without limits to the number of vaccines given on a day, the federal government stepped in to re-establish the limit in Kansas and other states that had negotiated individual agreements. To summarize a month of working to get groups to meet and discuss options, we are right back where we started.
Click here for full article |
Issues & Commentary |
Noted Producer Comes To Kansas To Talk About Infant Mortality
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Susan McLoughlin; Tonya Lewis Lee; Dennis Cooley, MD |
As part of a state-wide awareness campaign on infant mortality best selling author and award winning TV producer Tonya Lewis Lee undertook a 3 city tour of Kansas April 20-22.
Ms. Lee is the face of a national infant mortality campaign, "A Healthy Baby Begins with You," sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Last year she produced a documentary entitled, Crisis in the Crib: Saving Our Nation's Babies, for HHS. The video documents the issue of the infant mortality crisis in America as well as grassroots efforts of the campaign.
Click here for full article |
New Born Screening Newsletter |
New Screening Protocol for Cystic Fibrosis Implemented on December 1, 2010
On December 1, 2010, the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories (KHEL) went live with a new screening protocol for cystic fibrosis (CF) using blood spots cards. KHEL performed a three month pilot project prior to implementation. The previous protocol used for CF was IRT/IRT in which the immune-reactive trypsinogen (IRT) levels were tested on an initial blood spot card. If the specimen IRT levels were elevated, a second specimen was requested. A sweat chloride test was recommended if the second specimen also had abnormal levels of IRT to determine if the infant had cystic fibrosis. The new protocol is known as IRT/DNA. KHEL determines the IRT levels of IRT to determine if the infant had cystic fibrosis.
Link to NBS Newsletter - March |
TAP - TAM Update! |
Turn a Page. Touch a Mind. has grown to include 43 active TAP-TAM sites in 22 Kansas communities that will distribute over 75,000 books to kids each year. Since 2004, TAP-TAM sites have collectively given out over 175,000 books at well check visits 6 months through 5 years old. Each time one of these new, developmentally appropriate books is given to a child, the parents are advised to read to their child daily. Fourteen peer reviewed studies have shown that when parents are encouraged by their child's health care provider to read to their child, and given the tools (or books) to do so, they will follow through and include reading into their daily routine.
Over 250 physicians and medical providers in Kansas prescribe reading at well check visits through TAP-TAM including Dr. Lynne Fruechting in Newton, KS, who says, "giving out books is the most fun part of my day."
The Kansas Pediatric Foundation provides 100% of the funding for TAP-TAM sites to purchase books to distribute at well check visits from 6 months to 5 years old. TAP-TAM is still expanding across the state, and is accepting applications from interested physicians. If you would like to be a part of this important and rewarding program, contact Mel Hudelson at [email protected] or (913)940-8965. |
Breastfeeding Update |
by Jennifer Brannon, MD
Did you know that Kansas has a Breastfeeding Coalition? This multidisciplinary coalition aims to bring together healthcare providers, public health officials, lactation consultants, businessmen, school officials and educators, child care center directors, civic organizers and policy makers to discuss what is working in our state and what needs to be improved. The group meets on the 2nd Friday of even months in varying locations around Kansas, and members can also participate via phone.
Click here for full article
Invitation To Join
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PROS Update |
PROS (Pediatric Research in the Office Setting) is a GREAT way to be a part of on going research projects that can help your "Little Friends" It also helps you to rethink your on practices! There will be some exciting new studies coming up in the next year! If questions, go to the PROS section at the AAP website, or contact Greta McFarland @ [email protected] |
YP Update |
KAAP Receives AAP Grant for YP Events
The Kansas Chapter received one of the grants from the AAP Friends of Children Fund Chapter Outreach Grants for Young Physicians. KAAP will plan two YP events partnering with the Missouri Chapter of AAP for a summer event. More information will be available in the next month. |
Grant Update...Cavity Free Kids (CFK) |
...Vanish Cavities
with Varnish in Under a Minute!
Our Cavity Free Kids program is up and running! We have done several presentations and have received great feedback on the ease of the fluoride varnish application. This is something that can really make a difference in children's lives for under a minute of work.
Cavity Free Kids (CFK) is a free educational program for physicians and nurses on the importance of oral health and the application of fluoride varnish for children ages 0-3 years.
Application:
http://www.kansasaap.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Application_Cavity-Free-Kids_2011v2.pdf
Or for more information, contact Leslie Sherman at [email protected], or go online at www.kansasaap.org and click on our logo!
Click here for full article |
KAAP Nutrition Committee Update:
Kansas Coordinated School Health |
By Sarah Hampl, MD
For the past 2 years, I've had the pleasure of being on the advisory board of KS Coordinated School Health (KCSH). KCSH follows the CDC Coordinated School Health model, which emphasizes 8 components of school health, including: Health Education, Physical Education, Health Services, Nutrition Services, Counseling/Psychological/Social Services, Healthy School Environment, Health Promotion for Staff and Family/Community Involvement. KCSH awards grants to school districts to implement one or more of these components. In the 2010-11 school year, 64 grants have been awarded, reaching approximately 124,423 students in 39 counties. KCSH had held regional conferences in Shawnee Mission, Pittsburg, Wichita, Garden City, Hays, and Manhattan. In addition to grantee schools and districts, 41 non-grantee school districts were represented. Topics addressed included development of media relationships for schools, Green Schools and School Gardens, physical activity and academic success and others. An exciting project that KCSH is heading up is called K-FIT. This project, funded by the Kansas Health Foundation, will allow access to Fitnessgram testing by 900 schools in Kansas over the next 3 years. Fitness testing results will be compared to academic measures to look for relationships.
Click here for full article |
Grant Update...
Medication Administration In The Child Care Setting
by Brenda Nickel RN |
Healthy Futures: Improving Health Outcomes for Young Children medication administration training is will be available as Web-based on-line training beginning mid-May.
The training is offered for two audiences: Child care providers and professional nurses who want to conduct face to face training in their communities or practice settings with care givers of children, for instance parents, foster parents, and grandparents. Online: Medication Administration Training Details |
Grant Update.. MOBI-Immunizations & Kids |
MOBI (Maximizing Office Based Immunizations) is a Whale of a program to improve immunization rates in Kansas! This year, 2011, MOBI-KS has already trained 11 officesand has 1 pending!!! If you need assistance with funding your immunization program MOBI-KS can help!
Sign up to have a MOBI-KS presentation and you can qualify for grant funding towards your program! The online application link is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MOBI-KSApplication
But wait! MOBI-KS will be reaching out to practices who haven't been offering vaccines in the past! If you are interested in learning about giving immunizations and about the monetary grant that is available, please contact Leslie at l[email protected] or visit www.kansasaap.org!
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