News in Brief: Week of March 18-22

This roundup includes the following news briefs:

According to an FDA recall notice, Med Prep Consulting Inc. is recalling all lots of all products compounded at its Tinton Falls, N.J., facility after receiving reports of mold contaminating the company's magnesium sulfate intravenous solution. A complete listing of recalled products is available on the FDA website.

Administration of an intravenous product found to be contaminated with mold could result in a fatal infection.

According to the FDA, all facilities that received any of the recalled products have been notified and instructed to remove and return the product to the pharmacy. Facilities with questions may contact the company at (732) 493-3390, Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT.

Adverse effects that may be related to use of these products can be reported via RxEvent, an adverse drug event reporting service that has partnered with the AAFP, or MedWatch, the FDA's Safety information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

The National Rural Health Resource Center has made available to family physicians and other health care professionals an online toolkit full of resources pertaining to health information exchanges (HIEs).

Information new to the site includes a document outlining basic information about HIEs (5-page PDF; About PDFs); a spreadsheet that serves as a return-on-investment calculator (6-page Excel file; About Downloading; and a privacy and security overview and resources list (15-page PDF).

Questions about any of the materials can directed to the technical assistance team at (218) 727-9390, Ext. 233, or via an e-mail query.

At least 7 million people are facing an impending shortage of primary care physicians and providers as a result of coverage expansions called for by the health care reform law, a development that could limit or perhaps even preclude access to primary care services.

That's the assessment of a new study (abstract) published in a recent edition of the journal Health Affairs.

The study found that 7 million people reside in areas where the expected demand for primary care physicians and providers exceeds 10 percent of the baseline supply, while 44 million people live in areas with an expected increase in demand that is more than 5 percent of the baseline supply.

"These findings highlight the need to promote policies that encourage more primary care providers and community health centers to practice in areas with the greatest expected need for services," the study says.

The greatest demand for primary care services is likely to occur in Texas, Mississippi, Nevada, Idaho and Oklahoma, according to the study. Seven states, meanwhile, have weak primary care capacity but likely will experience large Medicaid expansions as a result of the health care reform law. These states are Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas, according to the study.

The deadline is fast approaching to submit applications for the AAFP Foundation's Outstanding Program and Philanthropist of the Year awards. Nominations for both awards must be postmarked by April 1, according to AAFP Foundation staff.

The Philanthropist of the Year Award is given to individuals who set a standard of excellence in family medicine philanthropy. The Outstanding Program Award recognizes the exceptional philanthropic activities of AAFP chapters and chapter foundations. Each year, the award is presented as part of the AAFP Foundation Annual Recognition Dinner held during the AAFP Scientific Assembly.

Information about the Outstanding Program Award (2-page PDF; About PDFs), including eligibility requirements, criteria and a nomination form (1-page PDF), can be downloaded from the AAFP Foundation award's Web page.Information about the Philanthropist of the Year Award (2-page PDF) and a nomination form (2-page PDF) also are available online.

The AMA Foundation is inviting medical schools to nominate students for various scholarship opportunities.

The Minority Scholars Award was created to reward students' outstanding academic achievement, leadership activities, community involvement and commitment to eliminating health care disparities. Between seven and 12 awards of $10,000 are given annually to eligible first- and second-year students from traditionally underrepresented groups in the medical profession: blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, Native Hawaiians and Alaska Natives. The nomination deadline is April 15.

The Physicians of Tomorrow Award recognizes academic excellence, community involvement and leadership among rising fourth-year students. Typically, eight to 12 recipients of the program's $10,000 scholarships are selected. Eligibility criteria differ for the two types of national awards offered. In addition, awards in two regionally specific categories will be presented. Nominations are due May 29.

Finally, the AMA Alliance works with the AMA Foundation each year to raise money for the Scholars Fund program. The foundation keeps track of donations for each medical school in separate accounts, and schools are notified in March of their respective account balances. No student application forms are required for the awards, which are distributed in increments of no less than $1,000. Instead, schools submit a recipient information form to the foundation, after which funds are released to the schools.

More information about each of these awards is available from the AMA website.