| November Issue | |
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Find inspiration in the final issue of the year. Meet our award winners and check out the Family Medicine Midwest recap!
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Join Our List
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| Academy in Action | |
Members gathered in Naperville November 8-10 for the annual meeting. From SAM's workshops to 15-minute up-to-date CME topics to heartwarming awards and the All-Member Assembly, members came away informed, engaged and inspired.
You can get involved, too! Join a committee or task force. Learn more and sign up here.
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President-elect Janet Albers, MD and Teacher of the Year Careyana Brenham, MD of SIU-Springfield
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IAFP Awards It's the lead story and front page of the November December issue of Illinois Family Physician and you can also link to the full press release here to meet our Family Physician of the Year, Family Medicine Teacher of the Year and President's Award honoree.
Meet your 2013-2014 Board of Directors
About your new president, Edward A. Blumen, MD
The All-Member Assembly approved changes to the bylaws and a Resolution on Tdap booster. Additionally they accepted two Resolutions of Condolence: for Vanessa Noboa, MD and Warren Barrow, MD.
Check out the photo gallery on Facebook. You can download photos and tag yourself.
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| Student Opportunities | |
Illinois FMIG leaders met by conference call with student president Aaron Goldstein and president-elect Kristina Dakis (both from UIC) to share ideas for FMIG activities. If you haven't joined YOUR campus FMIG, send an email to Kristina or Aaron and they'll connect you to your campus FMIG leaders.
AAFP Video Contest 2013-2014
The AAFP Video Contest deadline is December 13th! Submit a 30 second ad/commercial or a two minute short video about family medicine. Make it fun. Make a new hit that's even better than "What Does the Fox Say"! $1,000 prize for Best Overall Winner, $500 prize for two Categorical winners. Apply here
Tar Wars FMIG Award Program
Do you think you have the best Tar Wars program?! Med students who present to the most children and communities between Sept 1st, 2013 and April 1, 2014 have the opportunity to win up to $500 for their FMIG! More info
Check out some amazing new resources for Tar Wars presentations:
Side by side photos of twins
New fact sheet and word search for class presentations or physician practices!
Primary Care Interdisciplinary Leadership Institute
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) and the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) have partnered again to put on the second annual Primary Care Interprofessional Leadership Institute (PCILI).From February 7 - 9, 2014, 24 hand-selected students from the allied healthcare professions will take part in interactive sessions, speakers, and an integrative experience in Washington D.C. that will prepare them to become the future leaders in primary care. Applications Due December 6th http://studentdo.com/PCILI
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Great American Smokeout and Chicago cigarette tax increase
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November 21 was the 38th
annual Great American Smokeout, created by the American Cancer Society. IAFP Past President Javette C. Orgain, MD joined advocates to use this occasion to encourage smokers to quit and urge the Chicago City Council to pass Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proposed 75 cent cigarette tax increase. "The health care community's reasons for supporting higher tobacco taxes are simple. Higher tobacco taxes are a proven strategy to reduce tobacco use, compelling smokers to quit, and keeping youth from starting," said Orgain. "We still have too many people smoking and dying in Chicago and we need to keep up the fight." Read her entire statement hereCHICAGO MEMBERS - You can support the proposed cigarette tax increase
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed a 75-cent increase to the City's cigarette tax. If you live or work in Chicago, your Alderman needs to hear why this tax is important in cutting smoking rates.
This proposal is part of the Mayor's ongoing efforts to reduce tobacco use among Chicago youth. Studies show that increasing the price of tobacco products is the single most effective way to keep kids from picking up the habit in the first place. IAFP supports increased tobacco taxes to deter use and encourage quitting. Carolyn Lopez, MD testified for IAFP before the City's budget committee, and you can read her testimony here.
Chicago members may use any of these tools to use if you wish to contact your Alderman directly to support this proposal. Use this list to find your Alderman's contact information
-Link to sample language to use in an email or phone call
-Link to a fact sheet about tobacco taxes
-Social Media: Use #Yes4CigTax
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| Government Relations | |
ACA and Expansion Member Briefings
Earlier this week IAFP emailed to all members our first two Member Briefings addressing aspects of the Affordable Care Act currently underway. Briefing #1 addresses the Health Insurance Marketplace, called GetCoveredIllinois. Briefing #2 addresses Medicaid expansion, which is processed through ABE (Application for Benefits Eligibility).
Federal Update - An end to the SGR?
Once again, U.S. physicians stand on the cliff of a massive Medicare payment cut, estimated at 24.4 percent, to welcome the New Year on Jan. 1. But could we finally see an end to SGR formula and the annual consternation it brings to physicians nationwide? The Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees are considering a bipartisan, bicameral proposal that would repeal the SGR and implement several measures to transform Medicare payment from a fee-for-service system to a value-based system. The proposal is a start - that needs improvement. AAFP has given the committees its qualified support for the proposal, and has submitted a list of recommendations (www.aafp.org) -
Among their points, AAFP argues that a 10-year pay freeze will not help solo and small family medicine practices keep their doors open to Medicare patients. The proposal would freeze physician payment levels through 2023, but it creates a set of performance-based incentives for practice and quality improvements. It also includes bonus payments for physicians participating in alternate payment models, like patient-centered medical homes, and it provides some, but not enough money to help small practices in rural areas participate in alternative payment models. The Senate Finance Committee is hosting an "open discussion" on December 12.
Rural Health Day
Last month, Gov. Pat Quinn proclaimed November 21 as Rural Health Day with the resolution that closes with "THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Governor of the state of Illinois do hereby proclaim November 21, 2013, to be RURAL HEALTH DAY in Illinois in order to support the health care needs and opportunities that exist in rural communities, and to recognize the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Center for Rural Health, and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health for the valuable services they provide to address those needs and opportunities." You can read the full proclamation here.
AAFP FamMedPAC money in Illinois
AAFP FamMedPAC recently delivered a contribution to recently-elected Congresswoman Robin Kelly. Kelly was elected earlier this year to the 2nd Congressional seat vacated by Jesse Jackson, Jr.
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| Members in the News | |
If you have a news item to share, email it to Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com.
Tom Golemon, MD and Jeffrey Leman, MD (UICOM-Peoria Family Medicine Residency) were featured in in the October 30 Peoria Journal Star, not only for their holistic approach to patient care, but also their own work in providing nutrition and cooking classes for their residents at the Univ. of Illinois Methodist Medical Center Family Medicine Residency program, ensuring those residents are better trained to help patients going forward.
John Devaney, MD, of Antioch, president-elect of the Medical Staff of Vista Health System, accepted the Patient Safety Award by Community Health Systems (CHS) on behalf of the hospital. The Patient Safety Award recognizes hospitals that have consistently achieved improvements in quality of care and patient safety. Vista currently is completing its second year of intense focus on High Reliability Safety to prevent errors and harm. The story ran in the Oct. 30 Daily Herald.
Catherine Plonka, MD has assumed the position of program director at UIC/Advocate Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Residency Program, following the long career of Margaret Wiedmann, M.D., who continues as Associate Director.
Two IAFP members have been honored by the Illinois Rural Health Association with Physician of Excellence Awards honoring physicians who exhibit a special commitment to rural healthcare.. Roger McFarlin, MD was honored Oct. 30th in Hillsboro and IAFP Past President David Hagan, MD received his award on November 11 in Gibson City. Congratulations to them both.
Kimberley Hanneken, DO of Decatur was featuredon WAND-TV with her input to help patients better ascertain when you need to get to the doctor and when you need to tough out that cold with over the counter remedies and rest.
Congratulations to Angela Bond, MD who has been named to the Foundation Board of Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, according to an article in the November 8 Bolingbrook Patch.
IAFP Past President Ed Hirsch, MD has been named Chief Medical Officer for the Children's Hospital of Illinois Physician Enterprise. He will oversee planning and directing of care strategy, enhancing quality and safety, and promoting effective use of resources and clinical integration for the hospital's Physician Enterprise. Since joining OSF in 2006, Dr. Hirsch has served as Medical Director of OSF HealthPlans, Medical Director of Regional Development, and, most recently, Director of Medical Affairs for OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.
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