http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp.html en-us Copyright 2013 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130507prescripcoalition.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130507prescripcoalition.html The AAFP has joined a broad-based coalition that wants to improve patient care and save billions in health care costs by implementing strategies to improve the nation's medication adherence rates. Known as Prescriptions for a Healthy America, the coalition is made up of 30 organizations that represent a broad range of stakeholders, including physicians, pharmacists, health care industry leaders and consumers, among others. Coalition members held a press conference on Capitol Hill on May 2 to announce the launch of the initiative and to identify ways of improving medication adherence rates in the United States. ann@aafp.org Tue, 07 May 2013 12:30:00 CDT Inside the Academy http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130501advocacyncsc.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130501advocacyncsc.html With unintended pregnancies accounting for about half of all pregnancies in the United States, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended last year that women be allowed to skip obtaining a doctor's prescription and instead purchase oral contraceptives OTC in drugstores. Family physician delegates to the AAFP's National Conference of Special Constituencies were divided on whether the Academy should adopt a similar position and, ultimately, referred a resolution to the Board of Directors during their April 27 business session. ann@aafp.org Wed, 01 May 2013 15:20:00 CDT Inside the Academy http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130430ncscorgfinpracen.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130430ncscorgfinpracen.html At the 2013 National Conference of Special Constituencies (NCSC) held April 25-27 in Kansas City, Mo., AAFP members from five constituent groups -- women, minorities, new physicians, international medical graduates (IMGs) and physicians interested in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) issues -- adopted a number of resolutions put forth by the Reference Committees on Organization and Finance and Practice Enhancement, including a resolution related to creating a new special interest group to represent solo and small-practice physicians and a resolution on physician credentialing and hospital privileges. ann@aafp.org Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:45:00 CDT Inside the Academy http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130430ncschopsedu.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130430ncschopsedu.html Delegates from the AAFP special constituencies -- women, minorities, new physicians, international medical graduates (IMGs) and physicians interested in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) issues -- got down to business on April 27 at the National Conference of Special Constituencies (NCSC), adopting or voting down measures concerning education and health of the public issues with a limited amount of fanfare. ann@aafp.org Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:30:00 CDT Inside the Academy http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130430townhall.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130430townhall.html The AAFP is willing and able to help family physicians advocate on state-level issues, but it cannot get involved without a request from a constituent chapter. That clarification was made multiple times during a Town Hall meeting at the Annual Leadership Forum and National Conference of Special Constituencies April 26 in Kansas City, Mo. "We don't swoop into state issues on our own even with the best of intentions," said AAFP Board Chair Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash. "You need to reach out and see how we can work together." The reason, Stream said, is that efforts by the Academy and its constituent chapters need to be coordinated. ann@aafp.org Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:40:00 CDT Inside the Academy http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130429ncscopening.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130429ncscopening.html "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." That quote, attributed to Martin Luther King Jr., set the tone for a message delivered at the opening plenary session of the 2013 Annual Leadership Forum/National Conference of Special Constituencies held April 25-27 in Kansas City, Mo. Speaker James Galloway, M.D., urged a room packed with family physicians to develop a sense of confidence in their work as physician leaders because doing so would enable them to face formidable challenges presented on any front -- be they from senators or hospital CEOs -- with courage and conviction. ann@aafp.org Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:10:00 CDT Inside the Academy http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130429ncscelections.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20130429ncscelections.html AAFP constituent chapter delegates who attended the Academy's National Conference of Special Constituencies (NCSC) April 25-27 in Kansas City, Mo., elected colleagues to fill various leadership positions. ann@aafp.org Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:05:00 CDT Inside the Academy