Help for those in Tornado ravaged areas:

Thank you to our friends at ICAAP for sharing this information.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has identified guiding principles for members, child advocates, and communities to promote emergency preparedness and protect children during and after tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, storms, or other disasters.  Information is available on the AAP web site on Children & Disasters. Specific tips and resources include:

• When children are exposed to situations that are traumatic they may have difficulty understanding or may develop a range of stress-related symptoms. Adults may need to take steps to promote adjustment and help children cope.
• Resources such as the After the Injury: Helping Parents Help Their Kids Recover website (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) provides tools and resources to help providers support children and families.

The IAFP's Family Health Foundation of Illinois has set up a special fund for tornado relief.  You can make a donation by printing this form and writing Tornado Relief anywhere on the form before you return it by fax to 630-435-433, email to joleary@iafp.com or by mail. AAFP has information on disaster recovery.

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.

 

QUICK POLL:  If IAFP scheduled a family medicine fun and CME weekend for next year at an indoor water park resort, would you consider attending?  Answer our 1 question survey here

 

President Elect Janet Albers, MD and Teacher of the Year Careyana Brenham, MD

President Ed Blumen, MD and FP of the Year Joseph Welty, MD

President's Award - Steve Stabile, MD & Past President Carrie Nelson, MD

 

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.  Also seven new Fellows of the AAFP received their convocation from AAFP Board Member Rebecca Jaffe, MD. 

Congratulations to

Lauren Oshman, MD, MPH, FAAFP

Paul J. Reger, MD, FAAFP

Rebecca L Weiss-Coleman, MD, FAAFP

Renee M. Poole, MD, MPH, FAAFP

Sanjeeb Khatua, MD, FAAFP

Alvia Siddiqi, MD, FAAFP

Asim Jaffer, MD, FAAFP

 

The Public Health community is gearing up to keep influenza rates down!  They've dedicated Dec. 8-14 as Vaccinate Illinois Week and IAFP is supporting the efforts. We encourage all our members, and their colleagues and staff members to get the flu vaccine and also help ensure their patients are vaccinated.  Here are some tools you can use!

-Download a flu vaccine checklist

Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH), IAFP has produced primary care CME and complementary patient education materials to use for the 2013 flu vaccine season.  The high-quality CME is free and online anytime at www.iafp.com/education.  Check out CME section for two upcoming webinars!

Get the tools for your practice:  Link to the order form her for brochures, posters and an educational DVD video for your practice. You can access the video on the IAFP YouTube channel here, to post on your web site, download, or link from your social media patient education strategies.  

Medical Practice Act passed. 

During the second week of Veto Session in early November, the Illinois General Assembly passed a one-year extension of the Medical Practice Act.  Though the physician community continues to seek a 10-year extension, the House remains committed to annual extensions. So, the Medical Practice Act will sunset on December 31, 2014, unless action is taken again.

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.  Senate Finance Committee scheduled an "open executive session" for Dec. 12 to discuss repealing and replacing the formula. 

CHICAGO 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

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 2^nd Congressional seat vacated by Jesse Jackson, Jr. 

Private Family Practice full time position available in Evergreen Park. Offers busy practice with in house laboratory, DEXA scan, PFT, etc. Established EHR system. In professional building next to Hospital for convenient rounding. Attractive compensation and benefits. Start date January 2014. Contact Dr. Scott Hanlon: 708 423 2662, scotthanlon@sbcglobal.net

Know a good nurse?  ELMHURST CLINIC

The Triage Nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN) responsible for patient care needs through the use of inbound and outbound telephone practice.  The Triage Nurse continuously demonstrates positive customer relationship skills by assessing caller needs through active listening, clinical assessment, education and advanced problem-solving abilities.  The Triage Nurse will actively manage patient's immediate and ongoing needs with attention to acute and preventative intervention.

REQUIRED: Operational knowledge of physician practice, Knowledge of health insurance and managed care, Exceptional interpersonal skills with ability to communicate clearly in English, both oral and written. Must possess basic computer and internet skills; 35 WPM proficiency. Adult and Pediatric experience.

PREFERRED: BSN degree, Prior work in a Family Medicine setting, highly preferred. Minimum 3 - 5 years of clinical experience in an acute care/ambulatory setting, Knowledge of outpatient triage, prescription refills and Medical Home practices preferred, Knowledge of community resources, Telehealth experience. Bilingual Spanish.

Contact:  Kathy Hester,Recruiter

Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Human Resources Department

PHONE - 331-221-0179 E-MAIL Khester@emhc.org

MEDICAL DIRECTOR- Family and Adult Medicine at Erie Family Health Center

Site Medical Director for new Erie Waukegan site opening July 2014 - Apply at www.eriefamilyhealth.org
The Site Medical Director for Waukegan will collaborate with: the Site Health Center Operations Director regarding all aspects of site management; the Medical Directors for Family and Adult Medicine, Child and Adolescent Medicine, and Women's Health to recruit, retain, and develop clinical providers; improves the quality of care of patients at the site by working with site providers, QI and Erie provider leadership to establish evidence-based best practices for the site; leads the clinical team to insure cohesive care throughout the site; maintains referral relationships with the site's hospital partners; gets to YES with Erie's patients and employees to help provide service excellence.
Requirements: MD or D.O from accredited institution, licensed physician in Illinois. Additional master's level degree in public health, management and administration or equivalent experience, preferred. Board Certified in primary care discipline. Federal DEA license, CPR certification. Two or more years of clinical primary care experience. Previous leadership experience preferred. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, proficiency in medical Spanish required.

Along with the Chicago End-of-Life Care Coalition, Life Matters Media presented "End of Life Care in a Changing Health Care Environment: The Impact of the Affordable Care Act and Accountable Care Organizations" to a live audience gathered at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management on November 13th.

You can link to a video that features panelists' presentations and their answers to audience questions. Featured are health care columnist Bruce Japsen of Forbes; IAFP past president Dr. Lee Sacks, Chief Medical Officer of Advocate Health Care; Dr. Josh Hauser, palliative care specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; and Dr. Kayhan Parsi, Professor of Bioethics and Health Policy at Loyola University Chicago's Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics.

Need Help with Meaningful Use?

Training on the Marketplace for you or your staff

EverThrive  (formerly the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition) is doing four-hour presentations to build awareness about the Illinois Marketplace.  This does not qualify persons who attend to be marketplace-Certified Application Counselors but would be a "Marketplace 101" course.  Attendees will be equipped with information on how to connect communities to coverage.  Here is list of presentations.  Plans are underway for more presentations statewide in first quarter 2014.  

If you have a news item to share, email it to Ginnie Flynn at gflynn@iafp.com.