Registration Closes 11/2 at Midnight!

 Annual Meeting - Nov. 7-9 

AAFP Congress of Delegates Report

IAFP was well represented in Washington, DC for the annual AAFP Congress of Delegates. Delegates Katie Miller, MD and David Hagan, MD, along with Alternates Steve Knight, MD and Ravi Grivois-Shah, MD represented Illinois in the Congress, and were joined by the following Illinois AFP leaders:

Carrie Nelson, M.D., Board Chair

Edward Blumen, MD, President

Janet Albers, MD, President-Elect

Asim Jaffer, MD, current Board member Class of 2014

Sachin Dixit, MD, current Board member Class of 2014

Javette Orgain, MD, AAFP Vice Speaker

Carolyn Lopez, MD, IAFP Past President

A full report will be included in the November Family Physician, but here's a glimpse of what transpired. Updates from AAFP Officers provided enthusiasm and optimism for big issues (payment reform, PCMH, student interest, and access to health care) with an underlying message that that family physicians deserve better rewards and payments in an improved health care system.  Link to their reports

IAFP submitted two of the resolutions: Resolution #308 (Tdap) was heard the Reference

Committee on Practice Enhancement and adopted. While Resolution #407 was heard in the Reference Committee on Health of the Public and Science but was referred to the AAFP Board of Directors. Link to the full list of reference committee reports:

AAFP Elected a new Board and Officers IAFP ran two candidates for AAFP office:

 Dr. Javette Orgain, current Vice Speaker ran for the same office for a fourth term.

 Dr. David Hagan campaigned for an AAFP Board of Directors position.

Both candidates gave inspiring speeches and adeptly answered questions posed for their respective roles. Dr. Orgain was re-elected as AAFP Vice-Speaker. Unfortunately, Dr. Hagan was not elected to the board of directors but ran a spirited, respectful and passionate campaign.

IAFP Past President Carolyn Lopez, MD was honored by the AAFP Foundation as Co-Philanthropist of the Year with Rick Kellerman, MD of Kansas. AAFP also recognized IAFP Chapter Executive Vincent D. Keenan, CAE for his 25th year with the IAFP.

Health is Primary - Message launched by Family Medicine for America's Health

FMAH can best be defined as aligning the future of family medicine with improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita costs of health care, better known as the Triple Aim. IAFP's own Vince Keenan, CAE was selected to serve as the chapter executive on the 12-person board of directors for Family Medicine for America's Health, www.fmahealth.org  which oversees the Health is Primary campaign. The philosophy is best described in the special edition of Annals of Family Medicine, edited by Bob Phillips, MD, MSPH, of ABFM, and found here, http://www.annfammed.org/content/12/Suppl_1/S1.ful

You can learn more and join the campaign at www.healthisprimary.org.

Illinois General Election Guide

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. View the guide here. If you need polling information, please visit:  http://www.elections.il.gov/VotingInformation/RegistrationLookup.aspx

Health Transformation Summits

The Illinois Governor's Office for Health Innovation and Transformation, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Illinois State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Implementation Coordination Council will conduct a series of Health Transformation Summits around the state during Fall of 2014. Illinois is undertaking a number of initiatives to bring key stakeholders together to work collaboratively to improve the health of our citizens.  

Summit topics include:
*  The Governor's Office of Health Innovation and Transformation, a new entity coordinating health system improvement across the state;
*  Illinois' Medicaid Waiver application, which brings new flexibility to how healthcare providers can achieve health improvement in their communities;
*  Illinois' Innovation Grant application, which if successful, will provide critical local funding for health innovation and improvement;
*  The proposal to create Regional Health Improvement Collaboratives to spur and support local collaboration;
*  State Health Improvement Plan Metrics: Where Illinois stands on critical health priorities, and its goals for improvement;
*  Local examples and models for the kinds of innovative, cross-sector collaboration needed to produce meaningful health improvement in our communities.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED - see the attached flyer.

Federal Update

Medicare Open Enrollment - Repeat Item

The Fall Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their health and drug coverage options without restriction. They have the right to make as many changes as they need, and the last change they make on or before December 7 will go into effect on January 1, 2015. For those who currently have a Medicare Advantage plan (also known as a Medicare private health plan) or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, they should have received their Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) before September 30. The ANOC lists the changes in the plan, such as the premium, copays and drug formulary. The ANOC compares the plan benefits in 2015 with those in 2014 and should be used as a starting point when reviewing plan choices during the Fall Open Enrollment Period.

Vaccinate Illinois Week - December 7-13

Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), IAFP has wonderful tools to help educate patients about the need for an annual flu vaccine.  Remember, everyone over age 6 months and all health care providers should get an annual flu vaccine.

Order these FREE tools for your practice at www.iafp.com/immunization:  

The Influenza Vaccine for Individuals with Diabetes brochure 

The Influenza Vaccine for Individuals with Asthma brochure

Click here (American Lung Association) to find a flu shot clinic near you!

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

Core Faculty position, West Suburban Family Medicine Residency - Click here for details

SIU School of Medicine Department of Family & Community Medicine/ SIU Decatur Family and Community Residency Program

University of Chicago - Director for Community Health, Service Learning and Scholarship + Assistant Professor

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

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