Trump Administration Rolling the Dice on Health Care
AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin writes that the administration's recent decision to not defend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is an interesting gamble ahead of the 2020 elections.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190402itt-acalawsuit.html
EAT-Lancet Recommendations Have Value, but Are They Feasible?
A new report on diet and agriculture aims to improve the health of the earth and its human inhabitants. Lalita Abhyankar, M.D., M.H.S., lauds the commission's effort but questions the feasibility of its recommendations.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190402fp-eatlancet.html
High-deductible Plans Give 'Prevention' a New Meaning
Robert Raspa, M.D., writes in this Leader Voices Blog post that high-deductible plans are causing patients to delay needed care, which leads to more costly urgent care later.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190401lv-hdhp.html
Not Tough Enough? What More Do You Want?
Leonard Reeves, M.D., offers a rebuttal to a speaker who questioned the toughness of physicians amid a burnout crisis.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190325lv-toughenough.html
Are You Kidding Me? We Need More Primary Care Physicians
A recent commentary in The American Journal of Medicine suggests that primary care be left to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. In his latest In the Trenches blog post, AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin points out the ...
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190319itt-workforce.html
We Matched! Now What?
Chandler Stisher was one of thousands of fourth-year medical students who matched to family medicine residency programs on Friday. In this Leader Voices Blog post, he shares some of the words that resonated most strongly with him as he approached Match Day.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190315lv-match.html
Your State Legislature Is a Train Wreck? Don't Look Away
Kimberly Becher, M.D., writes in this Fresh Perspectives blog post that a day in her state capitol during a contentious legislative session rekindled her interest in health policy.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190314fp-stateadvocacy.html
How Do You Deal With the Trauma? VT and Me
Anita Ravi, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.H.P., suffered vicarious trauma while repeatedly caring for patients who had experienced violence. In this Fresh Perspectives blog post, she writes about identifying it and seeking support.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190312fp-vicarioustrauma.html
Spread the Word: Teaching Health Centers Deserve Support
Bills have been introduced in Congress that would authorize funding for the teaching health center program. Resident Michelle Byrne, M.D., M.P.H., makes the case for supporting the model, and tells others how they can help.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190307lv-thcgme.html
Our Maternal Mortality Rate Is Shameful
The United States is the only developed nation with a rapidly increasing maternal mortality rate. Natasha Bhuyan, M.D., examines what should be done about it.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190305fp-maternalmortality.html
Under Pressure: Health Care Needs Reform, Stable Markets
In this In the Trenches blog post, AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin offers an update after legislators from both sides of the aisle introduced bills regarding health insurance.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190305itt-insurancereform.html
Curious About the ABFM Pilot? Here's My Experience So Far
Family physicians have long clamored for an alternative to the high-stakes continuing certification exam. In this Leader Voices Blog post, Tochi Iroku-Malize, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., offers her perspective on the Family Medicine Certification Longitudinal Assessment pilot.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190304lv-fmcla.html
Finding the Right Mentor Is Worth the Quest
Mentors, regardless of specialty, can have a profound effect on students. AAFP President-elect Gary LeRoy, M.D., writes in this Leader Voices Blog post that a surgeon helped start him on his way to a career in medicine.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190225lv-mentoring.html
Take Note of Growing Demand for Subscription Services
Consumer Reports recently advised consumers that direct primary care could save them money and improve their care. Allison Edwards, M.D., makes the case for the subscription model in this Fresh Perspectives blog post.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190222fp-subscriptioncare.html
Shift Health System's Focus From Profit to Prevention
Leonard Reeves, M.D., writes in this Leader Voices Blog post that a single-payer system reserved for primary care would put the focus on keeping people healthy rather than on treating illness.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190221lv-change.html
Bipartisan Work on Crucial Issues Deserves Support
Congress is showing signs of bipartisan agreement on three health care issues. AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin offers an update on prescription drug pricing, physician workforce training and insurance reform.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190219itt-bipartisan.html
Let's Take a Public Health Approach to Climate Change
Nearly 80 percent of Americans believe climate change is happening. M.P.H. candidate Stewart Decker, M.D., offers a public health approach to convincing the rest and addressing the problem.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190218fp-climate.html
Better Health Care for Veterans Requires Better Payment
Ada Stewart, M.D., who cares for active-duty soldiers and veterans as a U.S. Army Reserve physician, as well as in her civilian practice, writes about the urgent need for payment and workforce reform in the nation's veterans health care system.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190218lv-veterans.html
Are Your Patients Wasting Money on Supplements?
According to the latest Fresh Perspectives blog post, a recent survey found that nearly 90 percent of adults take vitamins or supplements, but less than 25 percent of respondents had a confirmed nutrient deficiency.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190213fp-supplements.html
Can Design Thinking Improve Health Care for Patients, Physicians?
Design thinking requires decision-makers to empathize with, and test potential solutions with, users and stakeholders. Lalita Abhyankar, M.D., M.H.S., shares insights from a crash course on the process.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190205fp-designthinking.html
Window of Opportunity Opening to Revalue E/M Codes
Codes for evaluation and management services have not had a comprehensive review by CMS in more than a decade. AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin writes that it's time to correct that oversight.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190205itt-emcodes.html
True Mentors Help Students Find Where They Belong
Medical student Chandler Stisher writes that family medicine mentors should show students how the specialty aligns with their interests.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190204lv-mentors.html
Don't Be Shy About Asking for Help Patients Need
Kimberly Becher, M.D., writes that finding creative ways to solve patients' problems outside of her clinic is good for both her and her patients.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190129fp-grants.html
Our Health Care System Is Sick
The U.S. health care system focuses more on care of the sick than prevention. Leonard Reeves, M.D., writes that even our sick care is less than ideal.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190128lv-sickcare.html
Family of Family Medicine Is Working to Expand the Workforce
An ambitious initiative to expand the family medicine pipeline is the latest example of collaboration among the specialty's eight national organizations.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190123lv-workingparty.html