IAFP Supports Healthy Hearts Week in Chicago

Photo provided by American Heart Association

This week was Healthy Hearts Week in Chicago, as declared by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.  IAFP was a proud partner of this awareness effort to implement a city wide strategy to reduce heart disease.  IAFP Past President Carolyn Lopez, MD, President of the Chicago Board of Health participated in the opening day panel conversation on Monday September 29.

Lopez was able to explain the role family physicians play in the prevention and wellness process as well as our interest in working collaboratively. "The Healthy Hearts plan is a city-wide version of a national plan that was developed previously by the CDC," reports Lopez. Their template can be a model for communities beyond Chicago.  Events were held throughout the week.  Check out their great patient education poster you can print and use. 

State Update

Illinois General Election Guide

The Illinois state elections are just over a month away; Election Day is Nov. 4^th .  Our contracted lobbying firm, Cook-Witter, Inc. has provided this 4-page Election Guide showing all the races, as well as the ballot questions, including Constitutional Amendments. If you need polling information, please visit:  http://www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/RegistrationLookup.aspx

Federal Update

Illinois leaders make FamMedPAC contribution to Rep. Roskam

Dr. Hagan, Rep. Roskam and Dr. Pulluru

Former IAFP board member Chinni Pulluru, MD of Naperville hosted a dinner for U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-6) on Sunday, September 28.  IAFP past president and Delegate to AAFP David J. Hagan, MD also attended, where he presented an AAFP FamMedPAC contribution. 

IAFP was also featured in this most recent AAFP FamMedPAC update newsletter.

Illinois is currently ranked #4 of large chapters for total contributions.  Learn more and make your contribution today.

Are Narrow Networks Squeezing You and Your Patients?

AAFP needs to hear from you!  Check out the following AAFP Resources including the In The Trenches advocacy blog post about the issue, links to AAFP's letters on the issue to America's Health Insurance Plans, United Healthcare, and to CMS.  Here is an article from this week's Academy News Now encouraging YOU send AAFP information about their network complications via an online survey tool. Lastly, please find this link to a helpful overview paper from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners about the issue.

We encourage members to share their stories to the collective arsenal being compiled by AAFP, who will in turn share your story back with us. 

Family Physician Briefs Congress on Opioid Epidemic in US Cities

Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health and family physician Bechara Choucair, MD reported to a crowded Senate meeting on the opioid epidemic facing America's big cities. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) hosted the Big Cities Health Coalition and the National Association of County & City Health Officials on September 16 in support of his bill, The Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT) Act (S 2645) to expand the availability of medication-assisted therapy. Dr. Choucair called for a focus on upstream remedies to opioid addiction as well as on treatment. He also noted that drug companies must end deceptive claims of safety which mislead physicians and fuel addiction. 

Click here for full information on each of the positions listed below:

Assistant / Associate Professor of Family & Community Medicine -

Springfield (3 Positions)

Assistant Professor (2) - SIU Quincy and Carbondale

Assistant Professor & Asst. Chair of Geriatrics Program - SIU Springfield

Cermak Health Systems - Cook County

Private Practice - North Shore

Medical Director - Friend Family Health Center in Chicago

Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine Residency

UIC Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Residency

Faculty position opening

Prime Care Community Health

Multiple positions available with teaching opportunities

PCC Wellness Center

PCC has openings for physicians at their clinics on the Near West Side and in Oak Park and seeks Medical Directors for the Austin and Loretto clinics.

 Access all our FREE self-study CME that meets your needs! Log on at with www.iafp.com/education

Presented by:Glenn Skow MD, MPH, Chief of Staff, Medical Director, Emergency Department, Fayette County Hospital

October 30, 2014, 12:00-1:00pm CST

• Understand the current guidelines for immunizing adolescents against HPV and meningococcal disease. 
• Educate patients and their parents/guardians about the importance of immunization. Develop an office-wide strategy to improve the immunization rate with adolescent patients (e.g., patient recall and reminder systems, standing orders).

Register for the 5th Annual ABC (Autism, Behavior Complex Medical Needs) Conference, "Interprofessional Approach to Caring for Children with Special Healthcare Needs," Friday, November 21 at Moraine Business and Conference Center in Palos Hills. Join pediatricians, family physicians, other healthcare professional and community service providers, including home visitors, child care providers, and Early Intervention professionals, for a day of excellent educational content, valuable resources, and networking with colleagues from around the state.

ICAAP has extended their discounted member rate to IAFP members!

Download the full brochure for more information, or click here

CHITREC Clinical Implementation Manager Sam Ross will provide two more webinars to discuss the new

2014 CEHRT Flexibility Rule. Join them for an overview of the final rule and an explanation on what it means to those attesting to Meaningful Use for 2014. A question and answer portion will follow the presentation.

California Academy of Family Physicians CO*RE ER/LA Opioid REMS :  Achieving Safe Use While Improving Patient Care live Webinar (given at four remaining times, beginning September 23):

You can visit the series landing page here to find registration links to all the webinars. 

These 90-minute webinars meet the FDA requirements for ER/LA opioid risk evaluation and mitigation strategies [REMS], and include a wide range of topics relevant to your practice and patients. The webinars include the latest evidence-based information and practical tools you will put immediately to use, and much more. Upon completion of the assessment and evaluation you will receive 1.5 AAFP Prescribed credits, and receive both the faculty slides and additional resources you can use to improve your care of patients.

New DEA law on effective Oct. 6

On Oct. 6, the DEA will move hydrocodone combination products from Schedule III to Schedule II, so family physicians need to prepare for the change. Refills will be valid only if the original prescription was written before Oct. 6 and is filled before April 8, 2015. 

Read more in AAFP News here

Prescriber's Letter has a patient handout to help patients better understand how these changes affect them.

Illinois Resources on Opioid Safety

DuPage County hosted a conference in Elmhurst on Opioid Safety. Seminar presentation audio, slides, and resources have been posted at the following link:  www.dupagehealth.org/opioidsafety.

You can also join the IAFP Safe Prescriber recognition program here for CME, sample office policies and a patient contract to help you safeguard your practice and your patients.

There's an app for that

The Flu Clinic Map app is loaded and available. It can be found at http://chicagoflushots.org/

IAFP's Influenza Vaccine resources for you and your practice

Visit http://www.iafp.com/immunization/ for CME, free patient education materials for your practice and a video you can link to from your practice website.