http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now.html The family physician's trusted source for news -- ANN is the official news publication of the American Academy of Family Physicians. en-us Copyright 2013 American Academy of Family Physicians http://blogs.aafp.org/cfr/leadervoices/entry/we_all_play_a_role http://blogs.aafp.org/cfr/leadervoices/entry/we_all_play_a_role The role of an AAFP officer can be challenging. We have intense travel schedules; deal with myriad government agencies, health care organizations and committees, along with the accompanying alphabet soup of abbreviations and acronyms to memorize; represent diverse opinions within our own membership; and challenge our elected officials at every level to make changes in our dysfunctional health care system. That system is broken, and our country seems unable to move forward in addressing this critical failure despite great need. Whenever I get frustrated, however, I can count on reminders of why family physicians are so important, and how we must strive for success. Fri, 24 May 2013 15:45:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130523novelcoronavirus.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130523novelcoronavirus.html As of May 22, 43 laboratory-confirmed cases -- 21 of which have proved fatal -- of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection had been reported to the World Health Organization. According to a recent update from the CDC, which is closely monitoring the outbreak, 31 of the nCoV cases were reported in Saudi Arabia, along with a handful of others from Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere. Other cases -- three in the United Kingdom, two in France and one in Germany -- were reported in Europe. ann@aafp.org Thu, 23 May 2013 17:05:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130522dtap-shortage.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/health-of-the-public/20130522dtap-shortage.html For the second consecutive summer, the CDC is issuing guidance on immunizing children during an ongoing shortage of certain combination vaccines. According to a notice on the CDC website, Sanofi Pasteur's diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed, inactivated poliovirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib), marketed as Pentacel, as well as its diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed, marketed as Daptacel, are expected to remain in short supply throughout summer 2013. ann@aafp.org Wed, 22 May 2013 14:40:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://blogs.aafp.org/cfr/leadervoices/entry/aafp_joins_cdc_campaign_urging http://blogs.aafp.org/cfr/leadervoices/entry/aafp_joins_cdc_campaign_urging During a busy day in the office, have you ever stopped to ask yourself which of the myriad of services we provide are the most effective in improving our patients' health? Perhaps it is when we screen for cholesterol, perform a Pap smear, or recommend a mammogram. All of these are important and proven to be effective in improving our patients' health. But you might be surprised to know that, according to The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, we are at our most effective when we are talking with our patients about tobacco cessation. How can that be? On the surface, the success rate for getting patients to quit seems frustratingly low. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:55:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/practice-professional-issues/20130522practicespaceweb.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/practice-professional-issues/20130522practicespaceweb.html Could your patient-centered medical home (PCMH) practice operate more efficiently with better-designed clinic space? Most family physicians likely would answer "yes," and many would like advice on how to move forward with such practice design changes. Help is on the way via a free webinar on May 29 from 1-2 p.m. CDT. The webinar, Clinical Office Design Elements of a PCMH …Putting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together, will be offered by TransforMED's Delta-Exchange network. ann@aafp.org Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/opinion/20130522transparencyedl.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/opinion/20130522transparencyedl.html Depending on whom you ask, the hospital pricing data recently released by HHS represents either a remarkable move toward health care transparency or a giant waste of printer toner. Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between. On May 8, the agency released prices from more than 3,000 U.S. hospitals for the 100 most common inpatient treatment services provided in 2011. More than four times longer than Atlas Shrugged, Les Miserables and War and Peace combined, it's an OfficeMax manager's dream come true (if anyone actually prints it) at more than 17,500 pages. ann@aafp.org Wed, 22 May 2013 12:45:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/news-in-brief/20130522wklynewsbrfs.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/news-in-brief/20130522wklynewsbrfs.html This roundup includes the following news briefs: USPSTF Recommends Oral Fluoride Supplementation Starting at 6 Months; CMS Seeks More Participants for First Bundled Payment Initiative; Online Tool Shows Working Pharmacy Locations in Disaster Areas; EHR Uptake Among Physicians, Hospitals Since 2008 Significant, Says HHS; and CMS Invites Physicians to Learn About $1 Billion Funding Opportunity. ann@aafp.org Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130521diabetesregs.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130521diabetesregs.html The AAFP is calling on CMS to simplify the Medicare requirements for prescribing diabetic supplies by allowing physicians to use more generic terms when writing prescriptions for the items and to write open-ended prescriptions. In a letter to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, M.A., AAFP Board Chair Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash., said physicians should be able to use the term "diabetic supplies" when prescribing the products, a change in regulatory requirements that would benefit both patients and physicians without compromising the integrity of the Medicare program. It would lead to better patient outcomes and lower costs, according to Stream. ann@aafp.org Tue, 21 May 2013 16:00:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/education-professional-development/20130520enrollment.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/education-professional-development/20130520enrollment.html New survey results released by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) show that enrollment at U.S. medical schools and schools of osteopathic medicine continues to increase at a steady pace. However, the same survey highlights increasing concern from the nation's medical school deans that insufficient numbers of residency training positions will be available to meet matriculating students' graduate medical education needs. ann@aafp.org Mon, 20 May 2013 15:50:00 CDT AAFP News Now