August 2005

(08/31/2005)  --  Perhaps you've hit a clinical puzzle and need to solve it. Or perhaps you want to give a CME presentation brimming with evidence-based content. More

(08/31/2005)  --  On the heels of recent questions about whether specialty hospitals harm the nation's health care system by effectively skimming off the most profitable patients comes a call for CMS to investigate whether these hospitals practice racial discrimination. More

(08/31/2005)  --  As AAFP president-elect in August 2003, Michael Fleming, M.D., of Shreveport, La., began a public effort to combat obesity in America, starting with himself. Two years later and 68 pounds lighter, Fleming says, "This has been a life-altering experience. My tailor thinks so, too!" More

(08/30/2005)  --  If an increasing number of your young patients have weight issues, consider attending the annual Conference on Patient Education, Nov. 17 - 20 at the Hilton Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Fla. More

(08/26/2005)  --  Family physicians' knowledge of prescription assistance programs will become invaluable to their Medicaid-eligible patients if a recommendation by the Medicaid Advisory Commission takes effect. More

(08/25/2005)  --  Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as “statins” may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, especially in aggressive cases, according to a recent report published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. More

(08/25/2005)  --  In response to Dr. Forfa’s letter, I would like to respectfully point out that the conscience is a fundamental human right. It is not possible for me to demand another to act in opposition to that right without violating an essential aspect of our humanity. More

(08/25/2005)  --  If you teach family medicine in the classroom or your office, chances are medical students and residents have questioned you about genetics. You actually may be teaching genetics without intending to More

(08/24/2005)  --  Dr. Forfa in his June 26 Letter to the Editor states that, "medicine in its ideal form is an institution that knows no political, religious or private beliefs." I agree that politics has no place in medicine. But the opposite is true regarding religious and cultural beliefs. More

(08/23/2005)  --  For non-Spanish-speaking physicians, communicating simple information with Spanish-speaking patients can present a significant challenge. That challenge is magnified when it comes to sharing more complex medical information. More

(08/23/2005)  --  The slowest, most mundane day at your practice can be instantly transformed by a life-threatening medical crisis. What better reason could there be to keep your clinical skills honed to their sharpest edge? You can do just that by attending the AAFP’s Emergency and Urgent Care Course Oct. 26 - 29 in San Antonio. More

(08/23/2005)  --  The furor over pharmacists' refusal to dispense a medication whose function is, in their opinion, morally repugnant has a direct analogy to physicians' practices. More

(08/22/2005)  --  CMS caused a stir last month when it announced a giveaway to America's physicians: a free electronic health records system long used in the Veterans Health Administration's more than 1,300 inpatient and outpatient facilities. More

(08/22/2005)  --  Patients with diabetes often need disease-management services that extend beyond what can be reasonably provided during periodic office visits. Issues such as diet management and cardiac care are often difficult to summarize in a single visit, or even in two or three visits. Now you can give your patients something to take home to help them optimize their self-management skills, thanks to the National Diabetes Education Program’s evidence-based online resources. More

(08/19/2005)  --  In a recent letter to CMS, the Academy stated its case regarding a 2006 CPT code for self-contained hemoglobin A1c testing systems for physician office use, recommending a payment of about $21 per test. More

(08/19/2005)  --  The Internet has revolutionized many areas of people's lives, but the senses of smell and taste are not among them. NIH is out to change that. More

(08/18/2005)  --  Autumn marks the beginning of enrollment for Medicare Part D prescription benefits for your Medicare-eligible patients, and you can expect an onslaught of questions in the coming months. More

(08/18/2005)  --  "I feel as though I toured the future of family medicine, at least with respect to health IT," said David C. Kibbe, M.D., director of AAFP's Center for Health Information Technology, after recently going "on the road" to visit a few FPs happy with their electronic health records systems More

(08/17/2005)  --  Do you wonder how to encourage your patients to make changes in areas such as diet, exercise, tobacco use and alcohol use? Perhaps an automated telephone system could help do the trick. The Academy's National Research Network will test that theory, thanks to a $300,000 grant for a "telephony" project to assess improvements in patients' health behaviors through telephone-linked care. More

(08/16/2005)  --  I'd like to compliment you on the AAFP News Now article, "Buprenorphine Mentoring Program Debuts Nationwide." As a family physician now one and one-half years into my medical practice treating patients with addictions and chronic pain, I truly believe buprenorphine is an underutilized resource that many FPs can and should be prescribing. More

(08/15/2005)  --  Check out the July issue of Modern Physician to see its list of the 50 most powerful physician executives. A name familiar to AAFP members and to folks in health information technology circles will no doubt stand out: David C. Kibbe, M.D., director of AAFP's Center for Health Information Technology, ranked 40th on the list. More

(08/15/2005)  --  If it seems as though more patients are walking into your practice with allergy problems these days, you’re not imagining things. More

(08/15/2005)  --  If your practice is looking for patient education materials that target basic gynecologic health, AAFP Family Health Facts brochures may fit that need. More

(08/12/2005)  --  Family physicians filing Medicare claims take note: Beginning Oct. 1, CMS won't process Medicare claims unless they are in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. More

(08/11/2005)  --  The Academy's strong and consistent message to insurance companies -- that the development and implementation of performance improvement and quality enhancement programs would go more smoothly with physician input up front -- has been heard by one of the country's largest insurance groups. More

(08/11/2005)  --  The National Quality Forum's board of directors recently endorsed a set of national consensus standards for gauging and voluntarily reporting the quality of ambulatory care, giving its stamp of approval to 36 standardized performance measures. More

(08/10/2005)  --  Despite an increase in the prevalence of hypertension after age 60, elderly patients are not receiving the treatment they need, according to new findings from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study. More

(08/10/2005)  --  AAFP's Annual Clinical Focus program is offering a new CD-ROM and, in related news, received a "thumbs up" from members in a recent survey. The CD-ROM, which compiles resources for care of the elderly, is free to AAFP members who ask for it. More

(08/10/2005)  --  President Bush and members of Congress have family physicians. Shouldn't the rest of America have them, too? That's the gist of an opinion column that Academy members can make available to their local newspapers in August when U.S. lawmakers are home for their annual recess. More

(08/10/2005)  --  Behavior is estimated to have more impact on health than genetics, social circumstances, environment or health care, says family physician Larry A. Green, M.D., in the preface to a research report. "Indeed, the choices we make about using tobacco and alcohol, physical activity, and diet are powerful, changeable contributors to suffering needlessly and dying prematurely." More

(08/09/2005)  --  Despite the fact that there are twice as many obese adult Americans today as there were 20 years ago, you may not be seeing that many more obese patients in your practice. That's because emotional barriers may lead obese patients to delay seeking needed medical care, including routine services like Pap smears and breast and pelvic exams. More

(08/08/2005)  --  It's all about the patients. See more of them, practice the full scope of family medicine in the hospital setting and you'll likely increase your income. More

(08/05/2005)  --  It happens frequently: At the tail end of a routine visit, the patient you're seeing fires off a barrage of complex questions about a clinical trial covered in yesterday's news. Your next patient is waiting -- in fact, your next three patients are waiting -- and there’s simply not enough time to respond in depth. More

(08/05/2005)  --  Several legislative proposals would implement Medicare pay-for-performance. Some tie P4P to provisions that encourage implementation of electronic health records and other health information technology. One links P4P to permanently "fixing" the formula on which Medicare payment to physicians is based. More

(08/05/2005)  --  An 18-wheeler customized to haul a rather unusual cargo -- a trailerful of family-oriented health exhibits -- may soon be headed your way. More

(08/04/2005)  --  Medicare would increase physician payments by 1.5 percent for 2006, permanently fix the formula by which those payments are calculated and implement a pay-for-performance system under proposed legislation introduced July 28. More

(08/04/2005)  --  Attendees at the 2005 National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students in Kansas City, Mo., spent their days learning, exploring the Exhibit Hall, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, and -- yes -- just plain having a good time. More

(08/04/2005)  --  From dental care to drug companies' gifts to physicians, the National Congress of Family Medicine Residents and National Congress of Student Members debated issues July 30 in Kansas City, Mo. The AAFP Commission on Resident and Student Issues is reviewing the adopted resolutions, which will be forwarded to the AAFP Board of Directors or Academy commissions. More

(08/03/2005)  --  With quotes and cartoon images projected on an overhead screen, Dennis Butler, Ph.D., snagged the attention of a room full of soon-to-be residents July 30 at the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students here. More

(08/03/2005)  --  If you're just starting to wade into the uncertain waters of running a practice -- or if you're on the brink of taking that plunge -- check out a new resource from the Academy that can help put it all in perspective. Family Practice Management has created an online anthology of articles specifically chosen to help residents and new physicians access need-to-know practice information quickly and easily More

(08/03/2005)  --  Total registration at the 2005 National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students topped last year's total by about 240. Registrants at the conference included 485 residents; 637 medical students; and 1,429 exhibitors, many of them residents. More

(08/03/2005)  --  Low cloud cover. Deer, moose or elk on the landing strip. Which way the windsock blows. All these count when 2005 Family Physician of the Year Richard Paris, M.D., tries to land his Cessna 210 on airfields in Idaho mountain towns. More

(08/03/2005)  --  Low cloud cover. Deer, moose or elk on the landing strip. Which way the windsock blows. All these count when 2005 Family Physician of the Year Richard Paris, M.D., tries to land his Cessna 210 on airfields in Idaho mountain towns. More

(08/02/2005)  --  Medical students and family medicine residents packed a conference room -- some even sitting on the floor -- to catch an educational session on childhood obesity July 28 at the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students in Kansas City, Mo. More

(08/02/2005)  --  Strengthening the voice of family medicine has never been easier. That’s because FamMedPAC, the Academy's federal political action committee, has launched a Web page that provides information about FamMedPAC’s purpose and allows members to contribute online. More

(08/02/2005)  --  Looking for ways to be politically active? Volunteer for local committees. Join your AAFP chapter's advocacy efforts. Visit legislators. These are just a few routes to political activism that three speakers pitched at a National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students session in Kansas City, Mo. More

(08/02/2005)  --  From dental care to drug companies' gifts to physicians, the National Congress of Family Medicine Residents and National Congress of Student Members debated issues July 30 in Kansas City, Mo. The AAFP Commission on Resident and Student Issues is reviewing the adopted resolutions, which will be forwarded to the AAFP Board of Directors or Academy commissions. More